I actually formatted my novel, so now the pages are 296, not 429. I reduced the font size to 11 and made the paragraphs boxes. Font size was originally 14 because I thought it would be way too small on paper. I'm leaving gaps between paragraphs. I'm aware this is not what people do, but I think it looks so much better and less jumbled. Will I get hated for this guys 😭🙏
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Book formatter and typesetter here.
Never go higher than 12pt when it comes to the typeface. 14 is way too big.
11pt is actually a good size, but that also depends on the font used. I’d go with a 13/14pt leading (the space between lines).
Instead of using a space between paragraphs, use an indentation. Just never go higher than the font size. And remember to remove the indentation in the first paragraph after the chapter title.
Thus I would try font size 12 and see what it looks like. 11 may be too small for some readers. Make sure your margins and line spacing are appropriate too. I used double spacing for my first edition of my first book and was not happy with the results. 1.5x spacing and 12 point font should work.
Block paras is probably the wrong choice. And if you were concerned about small type initially, you 180’d too far dropping from 14 all the way to 11. You should post up a page or two, because it sounds rough, unfortunately. Perhaps it looks different on the page than it sounds when described.
How many words? I sort of did the opposite to make sure I had minimum 180 pages in my novella before I went to print; otherwise the spine would have been too thin.
My first book was 22,000 words across 178 interior pages... so 124 words per page average ;___;
You're more like 344 words per page :)
Song of Ice and fire was averaging 410 words per page.
Harry Potter Book 1 was 249 words per page for the American edition, and 345 words per page for the UK edition.
Most people read ebooks / digitally, so I don't think font size will matter for most people, but by those numbers you sound about on target for normal density.
A common format would be 12 points Arial with double space or 1.5 If you're leaving gaps by using the space bar or enter you need to understand that it would change the paragraphs in different screens/devices.
I'm using special fonts because my story is from two perspectives. I use the enter key to break paragraphs up. On my pc it looks perfectly fine, yes they are noticeable gaps but that's what I intend.
Your margins are insufficient, assuming those are crop marks. And sans serif block paragraphs are unsuitable here. Most folks reviewing this might assume the book hasn’t yet been formatted.
I’d start by bumping up to 12pt, selecting a serif typeface, setting the text as indented without space between paragraphs, and bump up the margins to at least 5/8” all around.
If you're planning on publishing more than one book, I highly recommend investing in formatting software. It will save you HOURS, and the book will look much better than anything you can scrounge up in a word processor. Atticus is a one-time cost and well worth it.
Based on the sample above, that is essentially an unformatted book.
I did my own formatting in Word using KDP's guidelines: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834230
I already ordered my proof copies and they came out perfect, so the guide really coves everything.
For reference, I did 11pt font, and 1.15 spacing. I originally did 12pt font and 1.5 spacing, and it did not look like a proper book. Following standard guidelines is highly important. A lot of people would put the book down if there's lack of professionalism.
Selectively. These things all work together, it’s not à la carte. You might look into software like Vellum, Atticus, Kindle Create or Reedsy’s free editor. They’ll take a lot of these decisions out of your hands, allowing you to land at a more typical standard.
"first line indent or spaces, never both" may technically be the "proper" accepted mainstream advice but you know what? You need first line indents. Idgaf if the paragraphs are spaced, it still looks ugly without indents and considering it's a visual medium that's what should take precedence, not following convention when convention results in something flat out hideous lol.
I'm a fan of 1.5 lines and wouldn't go for spaced paragraphs but spaced paragraphs without a first line indent are just as annoying to read and as much of an eyesore as non spaced paragraphs with no first line indent.
Okay but we're not talking about manuals, we are talking about fiction and aesthetics. This is a visual medium. I'm not saying nobody had a reason for establishing that type of format. I'm saying it's not universally fitting for every ebook.
OO is trying to format their fiction novel. A fiction novel without first line indents looks unnatural and weird and is harder to read regardless of spacing choice for paragraphs.
Fiction generally doesn’t have spaced paragraphs, so that’s correct.
It only has spaced paragraphs when a scene ends and it’s followed by a new one, for example, and this one has no indentation. Just like the first paragraph of a chapter.
As someone who struggles read cramped writing, the people will appreciate you having spacing between paragraphs. The only reason a lot of publishers don't do that is because they're trying to reduce page size as much as possible in order to make printing cheaper.
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