You have finished your draft. Now you need it to look like a real book. Knowing how to format a book properly is what turns a plain document into a file that a printer, a reader, or a platform like Amazon KDP will accept without trouble. The short answer: set your trim size and margins first, choose a readable font, apply paragraph styles instead of manual spacing, add chapter breaks and page numbers, then export to PDF for print or EPUB for eBooks. This guide walks through each step in Word and Google Docs, explains the difference between manuscript and book formatting, and covers what UK self-publishers need to know.<\/span><\/p>\n If you would rather hand this job to experts, <\/span>professional book publishers<\/a><\/strong> can format your interior for you. Otherwise, follow the steps below.<\/span><\/p>\n These two terms cause a lot of confusion, so start here.<\/span><\/p>\n Manuscript formatting<\/b> is for submitting to agents and publishers. It is plain and standard: double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman, one-inch margins, left-aligned text, and a header with your name and title. Its job is to be easy to read and easy to mark up.<\/span><\/p>\n Book formatting<\/b><\/a> is for the finished product that readers buy. It uses a smaller trim size, tighter line spacing, justified text, professional chapter openings, and front and back matter.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat Is the Difference Between Manuscript Formatting and Book Formatting?<\/b><\/h2>\n