The pursuit of a professionally published book with “curb appeal”
Creating a Professionally Published Book
Have you ever pulled a book from your shelf and paused to think about the time, craft, and coordination behind its creation? Or perhaps you’re an author preparing to publish your first book. While writing the manuscript is undeniably the greatest effort, without thoughtful design, layout, and production, that manuscript remains just that — a manuscript.
A successful book requires many key components that contribute to its salability and overall “curb appeal.” Creating a professionally published book that meets industry standards, looks good, and screams “read me”, is essential for both publishers and indie authors.
These requirements fall into two main groups: Content and Production. Content includes the elements every book must contain, while Production encompasses the design etiquette and structural standards that all professionally produced books should follow.
Content: Components all books must include.
Half-Title Page
The half-title page is the very first page of a book and normally includes the title and subtitle of the book with fonts that match the cover fonts. This page is optional but recommended. Half-title and title pages are always recto—right-hand page in publishing.
Title Page
If a half-title page isn’t included, the title page is the very first page of a book and includes:
Title and subtitle of the book
Name of the author
Name of the illustrator, if applicable
Name of the publisher with location
Title font that matches the cover font
Optional design components that connect with the cover
Copyright Page
The copyright page is normally a verso (left-hand page) page and follows the title page. However, in some illustrated books it is often placed in the back matter or back cover. The copyright page must include:
The copyright date and copyright holder name
Illustrator name and copyright date, if applicable
Copyright notice
Title of book
Name of author
Credits for design, illustration, editing, and cover artwork, as applicable
Applicable waivers or disclaimers
Edition information
Library of Congress PCIP or CIP data block or a reference to the LCCN
13-digit ISBN; both the print and electronic ISBN may be included but they need to be clearly distinguishable.
Publishing company name and contact information
If printed overseas, the country of printing
Printing history, if applicable
Dedication
While not required, a dedication is customary. It should be on its own page, normally a rector page following the copyright page.
Table of Contents
A table of contents is not required, but customary for non-fiction and some fiction books. It should follow the dedication page.
Correct Grammar and Copyediting
A correct grammatical style, normally The Chicago Manual of Style, should be followed consistently throughout the book.
All content should be free of grammatical and typographical errors.
The book should be professionally edited to ensure correct grammar and style.
Writing Quality
The manuscript and content should be well written and appropriately styled to the book’s genre or topic.
As suggested in Forward Reviews, good writing is “inviting, direct, nicely phrased, free of clichés”.
Content, including names, facts presented, dates, etc., must be consistent and accurate.
Acknowledgments Page
The acknowledgement page is optional, but sources should be credited when applicable, especially with nonfiction.
For nonfiction, sources may be credited with footnotes or endnotes in lieu of an acknowledgement page.
About the Author
The about the author page can be located in the book’s front matter, back matter, or jacket copy and should include:
A brief, but informative biography, which is appropriate to the genre and topic of the book.
The author’s credentials for writing the topic, if applicable.
Author website URL and social media links, if applicable.
Production: The design etiquette all books should include and follow.
Interior
Professional interior design
Appropriate and readable font for the text
Appropriate margins and trim size
Correctly typeset interior including appropriate leading and kerning, consistent widows and orphans, line alignment, justified alignment, consideration of special characters, paragraph spacing and indention, and even word spacing.
Front Cover
Legible title, subtitle, and author name on print book and digital thumbnail.
Well designed cover with appropriate artwork and colors.
Spine
The spine should include the title, author’s name, and publisher logo/name.
Back Cover
Industry-standard bar code with price and ISBN encoded/embedded into the barcode.
Human-readable ISBN
Publisher name and/or logo
Competitive price. For a hardcover with jacket, the price should be listed on the flap.
All endorsements/blurbs included should be relevant, real, and properly credited.
BISAC subject heading
Additional information to consider for a professionally published book.
Consider the title and front cover matter and make sure they identify the subject matter, category, and benefits of the book.
The cover art and design should be competitive with other books of a similar topic and quality.
Consider the paper chosen for the interior of the book. Make sure the text doesn’t bleed through and that it is readable.
Always, always order a proof of the book before printing more books.
Notes: Front matter is any content that comes before the first chapter or introduction, while back matter is any content which falls after the book’s final chapter. Jacket copy refers to the book’s descriptive copy whether it is on the inside flap of a jacketed hardback or on the back cover of a non-jacketed hardback or paperback book.
Resource: IBPA’s Industry Standards Checklist for a Professionally Published Book by Independent Book Publishers — used as the primary reference for this post.
