Paperbacks tips for the indie author

I waited to do the paperback version of She Dies at the End until after I'd released the ebook on Kindle via Kindle Direct Publishing.  I wanted to gauge the level of interest before I put in the time.  I was surprised to find out that a lot of people, even young people, still prefer a physical copy and asked me when one might be available.  Having a two month gap also allowed me to correct some editing issues that came to light after I published the Kindle edition.

I used CreateSpace, an Amazon subsidiary, to create my paperback.  Here are just a few tips I figured out along the way.

When you upload your text, CreateSpace lets you know the dimensions your cover needs to be based on your pagecount and the size book you choose (6" by 9", for example).  The dimensions include the front and back covers, the spine, and a little extra for bleed.  You can then either use their cover creator or upload a pdf that matches the required dimensions.

I chose to use Canva to design my cover, since that's what I used to do the ebook and I wanted the two to match pretty closely.  Canva lets you do custom dimensions, and I had no problem creating my cover.  Do remember to leave room for the barcode on the back, and make sure the writing on the spine is centered and oriented properly.

I love Canva.  It is free if you use your own images, and the price for their images is quite reasonable.  It is quite versatile, and they have some lovely fonts.  You can hire a cover designer, of course, but if you have to or want to do it yourself, Canva.com is a good choice.

When you upload your book's docx file to Createspace, it converts your document to the new size and can generate a new docx file for you to download with the proper page dimensions and margins.  You then want to save that file so you can add page numbers, tweak spacing and font, etc.  Remember that you need to choose different odd and even pages under page numbers due to the way books are bound.  (You might need bottom right on odd pages and bottom left on even pages, for example.)  Once you have perfected your work, you upload the new file and submit your cover and interior files for approval.

Once your files are approved and you think the digital proof looks right, get a hard copy proof before you approve your files for publishing.  I cannot stress this enough.  It looks so much different in your hands than on the screen.

Good luck, and happy writing!

Why do a paperback?

With e-books becoming so easy to produce, and gaining more and more popularity, many independent authors focus exclusively on that format. Why, then, did I take the time to produce a paperback version of my novel, She Dies at the End?


Paper still has appeal for the reader


Many people, even young people, still enjoy reading paper books. There is something about the feel of the paper, the sensation of turning the pages, even the smell of books, that is incredibly appealing. It's also easier on the eyes than a back-lit screen, though Kindle designers have worked hard on that problem and made considerable progress.


There is also the fact that many people are not comfortable with the constant use of screens, and they will never read a book that isn't printed. I wanted my work to be available to them, too.


Producing something tangible is satisfying


There is something very satisfying for a writer in producing a hard copy of her work. I was so excited to hold my first hard copy proof when it arrived in the mail. I got to admire it and feel the pride that comes with being able to say, "I created this thing my very own self." And in my case, I did it all myself, cover design and formatting included.


Seeing your e-book appear on Amazon and seeing it getting downloaded is also satisfying, but being able to touch your creation is pretty special. And what can be more fun than seeing it on the shelf next to books you've read and loved, books that have influenced your life and your writing?












I would encourage other indie authors to consider publishing paperbacks as well as e-books. With print on demand, there is no longer a huge financial investment required to self-publish on paper. If you have the time to handle the conversion yourself, it is very educational. If you have the money to pay someone else to do it for you, and you don't want the hassle, more power to you. But I think it's worth trying at least once. I'll be blogging soon with some tips for the first-timer. Happy writing, and happy reading!