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Formatting for Amazon print?
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I cannot help with formatting the manuscript, sorry, but I can say that I do my own formatting and initially it was very frustrating but finally I cottoned on. Some of the stuff they suggest is not necessary, e.g. I have not emboldened the first letter of each chapter. If you can't find anyone to help, you may find you can do it by circumventing some of their suggestions.
Good advice, Anna. Hugs
I use Writetoprint in UK. Cost under $50 for lots of extras like sketchs, and photos. Less if your ms is perfect. Stef checks for extra space at beginning or end of lines (xxx. P), and all quote marks are in proper direction and doubles. Contraction apostrophes in proper direction (opening vs closing) Double check spelling. She also watch for orphan lines on an otherwise blank page. With the internet Stef could be around the corner with her fast responses.
Talia, You don't need to use the Kindle template. You can use any program that will output a PDF. I use InDesign, but I think Publisher (in the Microsoft Office Suite) will work as well. Yes, you need different headings on each side, shallower than manuscript indents, at least basic tracking so you don't end up with a single line on the last page of a chapter, or a fragment on a line, but there are several programs out there that will do that.
Talia, I use Vellum to format for my paperbacks.
I just saved my Word document as a pdf. But there is more to it than that - I can't remember now. I just hope I have my 'how to' advice stashed away somewhere I can find it.The Kindle template nearly drove me round the bend.
If it all gets too much, I think it is a good idea, as you are doing, to get it done by someone else!
Talia wrote: "As the inventory of my first novel has depleted, I am preparing to re-publish it by printing via Amazon. While formatting for Kindle has been no problem, formatting for print is challenging. e.g. P..."Having just done mine and waiting as we speak for the proof. As a paperback. Sharon Brownlie author and cover deisigner helped me. Contacted her at first about my cover designs for a series called The magic blood inheritance, she designed my covers all three 1 of which I have just done as the paperback. To Pledge a Prophecy. She was great and helped me massively. She knows what she’s talking about too having done it all herself. Her formatting was great. Especially with me nbeimg as green as I am. She great and I would fully recommend her. She has a Facebook and web, aspirebookcovers.com
Anna Faversham wrote: "I just saved my Word document as a pdf. But there is more to it than that - I can't remember now. I just hope I have my 'how to' advice stashed away somewhere I can find it.The Kindle template ne..."
You may find you have to print to pdf instead of saving. I haven't tried KDP yet but had to do that in Createspace.
I use Vellum to format both ebook and print. It makes laying out print interiors easy.
I used BBeBooksThailand (http://bbebooksthailand.com) for my two Ruby Dark mysteries. I know--Thailand? But at the time (late 2017) the cost was $65 per book and they were very accommodating and did a fine job. They were recommended by someone on these Goodreads discussions months before. I plan to self-pub another book this year and I hope they're still around.
Wow! I checked them out on your link. The rates are excellent. I think I'll give them a try with my new book.
Thank you all for your comments. I found someone via a recommendation, and she did a fine job. I have now received my proof, and am pleased with the results.
In short, I'm asking for a recommendation for someone who can format the manuscript at a reasonable rate.
Thanks!