Formatting an EBook at the Beginning

One question, I am routinely asked is how do you set up Microsoft word so that it formats text ebooks correctly. It is easy just follow these systematic instructions on setting it up to format correctly.

When you begin to write an eBook that is the time to begin formatting it. If you are using Microsoft Word, your first step is to go to the page layout and choose page setup. Set your margins to 1-inch settings for left, right, top and bottom.

You will want the first line in your paragraph to be indented, as this makes your eBook easier to read. To do this if are using MS word 2007 click on the page layout settings and look for the word paragraph. Beside that is a little arrow, click that to set up your paragraphs. Under the word general, alignment is left and outline level should be body text. Under indentation, left and right should be Zero, under special section select first line and by .5. Spacing before and after is Zero, and set the line spacing to single.

On the home tab, select your font and size. I always go with Arial, Times New Roman, or Courier for the simple fact that all computers have them and every eBook format can read them. Normal text should be a size 12 and the other text such as chapter titles or special text should be size 14.

There are settings within each eBook so the individual reader can expand the size of text if they need to. If you make the text to large, it will appear hideous on some e-readers and throw off your formatting.

You can still use bold or italicized text for whatever your needs just make sure your book is not all in bold or italicized text. Many fiction writers will use italicized text when they have the character speaking to themselves internally. Some fiction writers will use bold text for chapter titles or scene dividers, both are quite acceptable. Non-fiction writers will benefit from using bold and italicized text to draw attention to key points within the text.

Turn on the paragraph marks so you can see where you have extra spaces that would alter the look of your eBook. You will find it on the home tab, paragraph section. It is that funny looking icon at the far right of the top tool bar.

When you need to add a page rather than hitting enter numerous times, simply choose the insert tab, and select page break. When you hit enter several times, it makes huge white spaces in your eBook and really looks sloppy.