Rethinking paperbacks and hardcovers

[[deleted user]]

There are three ways to approach the formatting of paperbacks and hardcovers on websites like Createspace and Lulu. The first option, and probably the one most taken, is to keep it cheap. Smaller print, no page breaks between chapters, and as few blank pages as possible. I tried that on a couple of my books, and was never pleased with the result.

And what is the basic reason for offering paperbacks and hardcovers? Most of us just want to give the customer as many choices as possible, and hopefully sell a few more books. But how many paperbacks and hardcovers will a little-known or unknown author sell? For my four books combined I've sold fewer than a half-dozen, and I've never sold one to a face-to-face customer. My sales are overwhelmingly ebooks, and I'd bet that most of us experience the same thing.

So why not format it a little less cheaply so it looks a little better on our own bookshelves? That brings us to option two, and moderate a little from "cheap"; begin chapters on the next page instead of cramming them under the end of the previous one, and select a font size that matches the print you see on traditionally published books.

I recently chose a third option: Price Is No Object. If the only result of going with paperbacks and hardcovers is for that extra customer option, and to get a representative sample of your work on your own bookshelves, why not make it beautiful? The cost is really not that much more, considering how high it is to begin with. If a reader won't buy your paperback at $13 they still won't buy it at $11.

I've reformatted paperback versions of all of my books for a better look. You can see one of them right now on Lulu, at http://www.lulu.com/shop/ken-doggett/...
Just click on "preview" beneath the cover display.

The fonts I used for this book were the following: text, Cambria, 11 pt; title and chapter numbers, Felix Titling, 24pt. (title page) and 72 pt. (chapter numbers); French Script MT for the drop caps (space to text after the drop caps is usually .05, but altered in special cases). I started each chapter on a new page, making sure that each one started on a right-hand, odd-numbered page. I also gave extra space between the scene dividers within the chapters, and did a little kerning touchup on the title and elsewhere. I know that trad publishers don't always use these techniques, but I also think the combination of these things will give it a much more professional look.

The result? When I uploaded it to Createspace the page count for the book went from 318 page to 373, and the minimum list price allowed went from $11.65 to $13.33.

I know that doing all this work won't sell any more paperbacks or hardcovers than before, and with this book I've sold none at all, but it'll certainly look nice on my bookshelf. And at the moment that's the primary objective.

What are your thoughts?

[R.F.G.]

It's nice, and similar in ways to what I'm doing with the novel I'm editing for release at the moment.

After the Prologue, I usually let chapters start on either page they land on, but it's always a new page. If I have different sections (as the current work does) The first page of text is right-hand and odd. I also have the blank separator pages in the normal places, a readable font / font size.

You're also right about it not adding much to the cost of a book, and since I've seen a lot of Trade Paperbacks in bookstores costing as much or more, the price isn't bad.

With luck my kids will have some good nicely produced books to read, once they're old enough to read them and understand their poor old pappy writ 'em.

As you've noted, it isn't always about the sales as much as doing it properly.

[Richard]

I agree, it's not a major commercial element, it's to do with the way we feel about our books. I also use the paperback as a proof-reading tool; there are errors I can spot in print that I miss on screen.

[Christina]

Already added my two cents elsewhere, but echoing what RFG and Richard said, no, we're nit likely to see a whole lot of sales of physical books, so price is not an issue. Might as well make them look nice.

[K.P.]

l always aim for pro looking books since my doorstoppers are already expensive ●︿● might as well crank out some good looking weapons to chuck at crackheads. ⊙﹏⊙

[R.F.G.]

K.P. wrote: "l always aim for pro looking books since my doorstoppers are already expensive ●︿● might as well crank out some good looking weapons to chuck at crackheads. ⊙﹏⊙"

I might have to see if I can still weld a good tang and put a handle on a blade for you. Apart from running off those lacking in sense, it's good stress relief.

[K.P.]

(*^_^*)

[Ashe]

I tried to make my paperback as nice as I could on pure principle. I used most of the base formatting (paragraph structure) for the ebook, trying to allow for device preferences while keeping it neat. I learned a lot about doing both.

[[deleted user]]

I figured that the only people who will buy a paperback instead of an ebook are people who really like print books, and will therefore appreciate a good looking book.

I might not sell many, but those physical books are more likely to get lent to friends or given to lending libraries, and so need to be a good advert for the professionalism of my books all round.

[Andrew]

I agree with the sentiments expressed by the previous writers. I believe us self-published writers have a duty to present our work as professionally as we can. It is hard work, but we should not give the 'literati' and book snobs more reasons to mock self-published authors.

[Jim]

Thanks Andrew.