I'm not gonna lie. Atticus is much better. It does all of the work formatting the books. To format a 100k+ fantasy would take longer than writing it in Word. I recommend Atticus instead.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
One of the main reasons why it was made the way it was...that and also to make sure that it works on all computers (and not just Mac).
@droidfan
Жыл бұрын
@@Kindlepreneur Atticus looks great. Except, at least for me personally, I don't want to venture into a writing hobby having to invest $150 first. I already have Word, and if I didn't, what was beautifully taught in this video can be easily applied to Google Docs. Thanks for the video!
@Kindlepreneur
Жыл бұрын
@@droidfan If the process above helps to create exactly what you're looking for, then rock on!
@natalieangelheart2483
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing, 🙏 you're a good teacher! 👏 As someone just starting on this journey, I need to learn as much as possible until I can raise the funds to hire professionals. Your video has been one of the easiest videos, on formatting, to follow. I have been so frustrated with word, so I'm watching all I can on using it.
@Spitfireseven
Жыл бұрын
@@droidfan And does atticus have easy to follow videos? Does it have any videos at all?
@KarinaKantas
2 жыл бұрын
I think a tutorial on how to launch a book effectively would be ideal. Many know how to write and publish a book, but they haven't a clue about what to do next.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Great idea
@tambikhai3601
2 жыл бұрын
This and the previous video are excellent introductions for using Word to format a POD book. I use Word to format my own and my client's books, but I'm an advanced user, so I have other tips and tricks I use. For anyone wanting to use Word to format their book, I would highly recommend learning more about how to use styles, and to create a full style for each type of book you want to format (things like never hitting "enter" between lines, but setting line heights for each paragraph). It's a process that takes some time to master and set up, but it is worth it. That said, it might be too much for those who want to get their book formatted and don't want to add the learning curve for how to use Word. I'm considering Atticus myself because I do like what I'm seeing from the examples. I have to admit that I'm pretty picky, so I'll keep looking to see if it would include the little nuances I would want. Overall, though, great job
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
That's excellent and I totally agree!
@patriciadaly9496
2 жыл бұрын
Yes, I also recommend the use of styles.
@kellyevans8911
2 жыл бұрын
I’m nearly a minute in and, judging by the bullet points and my own experience, I now know you’re formatting a paperback. A beginner wouldn’t know that there are differences between formatting for pb and ebook (SO much easier!! 😂) so perhaps mention in the intro that you’re doing a paperback.
@FrankButterfield
2 жыл бұрын
Want to double-down on the idea of specifically saying that this is for a paperback.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Good point
@a.k.2280
2 жыл бұрын
That is what I wanted to say. Also, that inside margins change a little depending on how many pages the book has.
@vaibhavsrivastva1253
4 ай бұрын
E-books are fake; they literally aren't books.
@aveguevara
9 ай бұрын
My Word version is 15.36 aka "old" and I'm having a helluva time applying what you've taught regarding setting up margins, etc. As time is money here, and I have another book waiting to come out after this one, I think Atticus might be a smart decision. I've been at this almost all day and my left & right brain hemispheres are sizzling on overwhelm. Writing is not just a hobby for me. Then of course there's the marketing aspect, etc. So I don't want to spend a fortune of time/energy trying to figure out margins "the hard way on an old version of Word" if I can zip through it on Atticus. I really like your style of teaching, I actually can understand what you're saying!!! Thank you!
@joslynchase5955
2 жыл бұрын
Like most everyone else, I thought the video was great--very helpful and clear, as usual. Also, like most everyone else, I'm happier to just use Atticus now. My one critique on the video is that the sound quality of Dave's voice is not on a par with the sound effects. I had to crank my volume way up to hear Dave well, but then the effects were super loud. I am continually grateful for all you guys do to help indie authors sparkle!
@authorpreneursecrets
2 жыл бұрын
Yes the volume was low
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
I did not realize that. Thank you ! I'll make sure we have the sound better - because you're right...the sound effects are way 'louder' than my voice. Thanks!
@joslynchase5955
2 жыл бұрын
@@Kindlepreneur Happy to be helpful! Thank you for your constant efforts on our behalf.
@leahdee9547
2 жыл бұрын
I'm using Atticus as well, although if I weren't, this video would be a tremendous help. One thing I didn't see addressed (apologies if I missed it), after formatting, I assume you would save as a PDF for uploading into KDP. Otherwise, this is a great overview of Word formatting in general, no matter what you're working on -- book, research paper, etc.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Awesome - Atticus is a LOT easier than using word. As for PDF, I thought that was in there at the end...but I'll have to check.
@josephbendoski4305
2 жыл бұрын
Great work. I recommend adding bookmark features to the video, so if someone wants to come back, go back to the beginning of a feature explanation, or is only stuck on a certain aspect, they can simply click the bookmark and jump to that section.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Agreed - someone else suggested that too - working to get those added because you're right!
@burtonvoss1744
2 жыл бұрын
This is a detailed video, and you explain it well. If all a person is doing is writing one book and wants to spend their time involved with it, you're giving them a great video. But for doing the actual formatting, forget Word. Atticus gits 'er done.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Burton - and I totally agree
@harjithamsafar
23 күн бұрын
Thank you for sharing, you're a good teacher!
@lyndamcdaniel
2 жыл бұрын
Hi Dave, Great job ... and very generous of you, like always. You do a great job of building confidence and explaining WHY. But since you asked, I did find a few minor glitches. 1. Even though PAGE BREAK is a simple concept, it feels rushed, thrown in at the end of that segment. 2. When you are discussing margins, you arrived at .375 as the best inside margin, and yet the video shows .38 3. When you're discussing line spacing, you illustrate using EXACTLY and 15. But the 15 doesn't mean much. I suggest you add the word POINT, as in 15 POINT. 4. There is an abrupt break in the video between CHAPTER HEADING and SETTING PAGE NUMBERS. 5. Seems to me the headers--BOOK TITLE and AUTHOR NAME--should be centered. Like I said, all minor. You're the best--so kind and generous.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Ah, those are all great points. I'll have to check some of those out. Thank you.
@lorihayes6414
2 жыл бұрын
I think your teaching points are great. I believe this video targets the more unseasoned Word user who has not created a book in Word or at a minimum doesn't know all of the tricks of the trade. Assuming that, my one constructive comment is that I believe it is fast paced for that audience. I would have to keep pausing and backing up to catch digest all of the great info. Perhaps you can provide an outline with the steps to be used as a reference. I think that would be a helpful teaching tool. You make great information videos for us. They are always well done and engaging. We appreciate you, Dave!
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah, someone else suggested I add KZitem bookmarks to the video so people can jump around. I think that might be a huge help.
@kaleyjanenigh
Жыл бұрын
Dave, thank you SO much. I'm new to the KDP world, and you just gave my manuscript a total "glow-up"! It looks SO much better. You're amazing, thank you from the bottom of my heart!
@inyekwechidozie5383
3 ай бұрын
i really need help in this kdp....can you tutor me pls
@l.martin2119
2 жыл бұрын
Hi Dave, good stuff. Maybe include fact that Word file should be virgin, so strip out all formatting before starting? Also, how to set up a TOC s/b a tutorial all in itself (if you haven't already done one already). Best, Loretta
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah, each of those particular pages will get their own Tutorial. Like how to format a copyright page, ToC, etc.
@rickmehta
14 күн бұрын
Thank you so much for posting this video. You did an excellent job of covering a lot of ground in a video that is comprehensive, yet succinct. And your presentation style balances rigour with accessibility to people of all walks of life.
@marywalsh4438
2 жыл бұрын
This is a great quick tutorial! I use MS Word for my books and I learned a few shortcuts from you. A couple things you might want to add - make sure you center justify your header and add spacing before every chapter title so it's not at the top of the page.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Ah, great point!
@dkokol
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Dave. Very helpful. Since many of us have books available in both electronic and pirnt versions, I suggest you discuss the difference in formatting that might require.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Great point!
@philmo35
Жыл бұрын
I trying to format my first book on word while watching this in a split screen! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your efficient instruction! Thank you so much. I was going to buy atticus, but this is a low content book for starters.
@Kindlepreneur
Жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@oldtownpublishing5158
2 жыл бұрын
This is a great video, clear and concise with loads of information. I tried Atticus and I must admit I got confused. But I think I'll give it another try now. I see there's quite a bit I need to do to make my books look truly professional. Thank you for the video.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the video, and best of luck with Atticus. I really think you'll enjoy it :)
@deemack2224
2 жыл бұрын
Hi, I thought this video was awesome. It was a little fast for me but I'm sure I can pause it when I'm ready to format my book. Well done!
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
yeah, i'm going to try to slow down a bit next time. Thanks!
@obrienjonathan1988
3 ай бұрын
Thank you for this video. This is my first book and this video was the most helpful one I've come across.
@SandraKerns
2 жыл бұрын
Looks good. I have always used Word but did purchase Atticus a while back (though I haven't been writing recently). I will probably try it to redo some of my past books and also for new ones. I'm not a fan of the extra space you have between all of the paragraphs, especially if you're going to indent, too. The whole idea of the extra space is to show it's a new paragraph. Personally, it makes it easier for me to put a book down when the paragraphs are spaced like that. Anyway, enjoyed the video and always appreciate your guidance.
@JPMcLeanAuthor
2 жыл бұрын
I too noticed the extra line after the paragraphs. The rule of thumb I was taught is to leave a line when there is no indenting on the paragraph (block formatting), and remove the line when the paragraphs are indented.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Good points
@jlhendricks2090
2 жыл бұрын
I'll just echo that you should note this particular tutorial for for pbk only, not for ebook. But, I use Atticus now. I write in Word and then upload to Atticus. Can you do an Atticus tutorial about making changes to the manuscript once it's all formatted? I am finding that a bit difficult.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Very true. As for Atticus, absolutely - I've got a couple coming soon.
@gecm1948
2 жыл бұрын
It was a little too fast for me, but I've always hired my formatting out since I prefer writing over the tedious task of formatting. But maybe it wouldn't be so tedious if I took the time to learn. I've been tempted to purchase Atticus and would love to hear if it's easier to learn than formatting with Word.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
I can absolutely say it's easier to learn than formatting with Word. As for the speed, I will definitely keep that in mind in the next tutorial. Thank you!
@ursulawong4479
2 жыл бұрын
Hi Dave: Good job. Amazon has written and video instructions for formatting using MS Word. You repeat much of that basic material which is okay - your presentation is good. You add some things that MS doesn't talk about like handling widows and orphans (at least they didn't last time I looked). You also rely on the user to make decisions about font, line spacing, chapter designation and so on based on how the page looks/readability. It might be better to tell users to look at comparable authors in their genre and do what they do. If I were doing this which I'm not, but you asked for feedback, I'd do one section on a review of what Amazon tells you. Another section on what Amazon doesn't tell you. And a third on how to decide the best formatting for your book based on genre and whether you're doing fiction or nonfiction. This would include what to pay attention to like font, chapter heading position, interior blank pages, graphics, self-advertising, and so on. A new session that might be useful is one that breaks down the key formatting decisions for main genre like mystery, thriller, romance, sci-fi etc. based on what the best sellers do. Glad for a chance to offer some feedback - hope it helps, as your videos have helped me through the years.
@authorpreneursecrets
2 жыл бұрын
This was spot on. Great review. Also fonts to use per genre. How to download new fonts could be a video tutorial too. Word may not have the font desired. I know Dave's articles on formatting are comprehensive. He could link to those in his videos too so the viewer can learn more of the formatting rules.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
That's true. I found it hard to prepare the content for this and have it work for all - but not be too long. But perhaps I could make more videos that are specific to genre or nonfiction.
@RosequistJared
2 жыл бұрын
Maybe a video on children’s book covers (different requirements for kdp and ingramspark, difference between sofcover and hardcover, etc) A video on choosing pricing would be helpful (only instruction I’ve really found online is price comparable to competitors- which is a good starting point but I’d love to learn more) I’d love a vid with advice On softcovers on both ingramspark and kdp. Ingram takes 30% min and 55% max, kdp does 40%, can you just have softcover on both platforms and use their free isbns associates with each platform? It would be epic to have some instruction on Spanish versions of books- is it profitable, how does uploading differ, can it be linked to the English version, can kdp rocket search Spanish market in addition to English and German, etc. Just throwing out some ideas :)
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Awesome - marked those down!
@TriciaLynne
2 жыл бұрын
Hey Dave, this is perfect timing. I still write in Word, but I upload everything to Atticus for my formatting, so getting stuff right before I do is pretty important. I bought Atticus last year when it first came out, and published one book, and so much has changed while I'm writing my other ones. Thank you for the videos and thank you, and Jenna and everyone at Atticus. You guys rock.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Oh, super cool and we'll keep adding to it :) Glad you're enjoying it.
@authorpreneursecrets
2 жыл бұрын
This is helpful. For page set up the word gutter appears and that is the inner margin. Creating styles makes formatting easier in Word. I would encourage or suggest you showing how to create normal paragraph styles first, then chapter styles. Styles is key to formatting in word. Discuss more on type of book being formatted and the parts of the book, how to separate front matter from the body or chapters especially for non-fiction books. Also show how you can change the headers to have each chapter title. This is missing. Yes, Atticus is easier but it does not handle non-fiction books well that have special formatting needs and different fonts, images, graphs etc. for some types of non-fiction books.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
yeah, I think I'm going to make more specific videos based on type or genre - which can allow me to get into chapter theme design better.
@Spitfireseven
Жыл бұрын
This is the most comprehensive but easy video I have found on this subject. I've already used all this stuff. There is no way you can remember it all. I usuually fill out an index card with the high points. This is a most excellent video for that.
@argentgrove
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for making these tutorial videos, Dave. Even if we aren't using Word, the concepts carry over nicely. Needs more sci-fi references, though. I'm still all warm inside from the Logan's Run reference in a previous video.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you like it. I'm going to be doing more tutorial styled videos. As for Logans, haha..I'll see what I can do
@susiedinneen147
2 жыл бұрын
Great, easy to follow video. As someone who has formatted in Word before, I am now a VERY happy Atticus user. I really like the clear text on screen to highlight content. It does often fall behind the closed captions (which I usually use). Perhaps keep in mind that the bottom of the screen should be treated as clear space.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Ah, great point - I'll try to work something with the camera and editing so that space is left open. Thanks!
@susiedinneen147
2 жыл бұрын
@@Kindlepreneur it's just the text that needs to move. Having the bottom section of your t-shirt or the Word screen obscured isn't an issue. No offense to your t-shirt, of course :)
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
@@susiedinneen147 Well, the text for CC is always in the same spot on KZitem (they are the ones that put it there). SO I can't adjust where the closed captioning shows. But if I move the camera a bit, that will create a clearer spot for the CC words. As for timing, I'll see if I can better time up YT's CC system. They do have an editing system. Thanks!
@susiedinneen147
2 жыл бұрын
@@Kindlepreneur sorry I should have been clearer. By text I meant the highlights and explanations in the video, nit the cc.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
@@susiedinneen147 Ahhh...okay. Check!
@lori-annclaude8954
2 жыл бұрын
I format my books in Word using styles. The video shows how to create a chapter heading. All styles are created in the same way. Ideally, styles should be created for 1) chapter heading, 2) chapter title (if applicable), 3) the first paragraph of a chapter, 4) the first paragraph of a scene if it's different from the first paragraph of a chapter, and 5) the remaining paragraphs of the story. I use slightly different styles for the front and back matter. But first, for the header to behave properly (title on odd pages, author on even pages + page number), a section break-next page must be used (Layout > Breaks > Section Breaks > Next page in Word 2016). Using section breaks allows the page number and title/author to be dropped on the first page of a chapter (which all professional books do). Even though styles scare many, at the very least, the Normal style should be defined to cover the most commonly used text, which in a book is the body of the text (all paragraphs except the first one in each scene). This ensures that text across all chapters is formatted the same way. Inside margins depend on the number of pages. The greater the number, the greater the margin so that when the book is open, the text is visible between the right/left pages. The outside margin can be picked based on preference (as long as it's >= the KDP minimum). A book should be right/left justified and either use 1) indentation for the first line of a paragraph without a blank line between paragraphs, OR 2) a blank line without first-line paragraph indentation. Never both. The easiest way to ensure that the first scene paragraphs are the same is to create a style for it, and set Format > Paragraph > Indentation > Special = None. For Normal story text, Special = First line, with By = value (I use 0.2"). I would never recommend adjusting line spacing to force a line back on a previous page to control orphans. The way to deal with this is to force text from the previous page to remain with the orphan text (but only as a last resort). Select the start of the paragraph that should fall on the next page with the orphan text and use the option Format > Paragraph > Line and page breaks > Keep lines together". If the line spacing of a page is decreased, even by just a tiny bit, the line spacing has now become inconsistent with the rest of the book. Some readers (I would be one), would notice right away. I would actually reread the text and see if I can edit it down before I would override Word's orphan control. And should some text be added to the chapter in the future, the line spacing might end up changing partway through a page, which would be even more noticeable. The negative of Word is setting up drop capitals at the start of a chapter (or each scene). These have to be done individually and yes, they are quite a pain (at least they are in Word 2016). You might want to add the missing i in the "Style of writing" @ 3:32 min.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
A lot of great suggestions - and thanks.
@emeraldbookreviews4643
2 жыл бұрын
Awesome video. Like someone else said in the comments I would also recommend including bookmarks in the video. It helps to go back and find quickly a particular segment. Congrats on your oldest daughter graduating from college. 😊 Pierce
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Yes, that's a GREAT idea. I'm going to add those.
@MichelleScarberry
3 сағат бұрын
I've seen a lot of modern book releases (especially YA) who choose to omit indentation and add double-space between paragraphs.
@marieseltenrych
2 жыл бұрын
I use Pages in Mac and I find it works very well. Maybe some tutorials for Mac Pages as there are some complications in the structure that beg for instruction by a guru, such as formatted numbering of pages, changing numbering type from roman to arabic, etc. I do download templates from Amazon for each book and work in Pages. Also, Pages sizing are in mm and not inches, which is always a conumdrum. They do not have a standard 6"x9" template, which I use often for many of my titles being prepared. Thanks for everything you do. You are a good and honest man and I respect your views enormously. Born tutor.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Awe, thanks Marie. Yeah, I might do a tutorial for Pages - someone else just suggested that.
@jimmynzioki6647
2 жыл бұрын
Great and timely video Dave. Feel like it's been a crash course on book formatting but great video overall.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Awesome and glad it came when it did then.
@LucasColeBooks
2 жыл бұрын
Got your email asking for feedback (under my real name, not this pen name). 1. Drop the transcript (if you have the option.) 2. Provide timed subject headings in the main video that pop up below. I’ve seen this done elsewhere. 3. Slow down. 4. Offer common wrinkles folks have along the way; they are plentiful. Word is a standard. I appreciate it. I hate it sometimes. I hope to make Atticus my new standard. For Atticus, please provide a detailed reference in text/pdf, not video. Thanks. Good luck to your talented daughter.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Great points - especially the timed headings.
@LeftBrainedArtist
2 жыл бұрын
I formatted my mother's first book last year and unfortunately learned all those lessons the hard way. Thanks for making this video.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Ah, sorry you ran into that - I wish I had gotten this out sooner.
@johnegreek1617
2 жыл бұрын
Hi Dave and oldest daughter, great info regarding book formatting. I'd also suggest a short discussion about templates from KDP. They can be a bit tricky to setup for full formatting as suggested, especially the title and author name in the header and where to start them...
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Great point - I also created a free online Word Template generator that I probably should have mentioned too - kindlepreneur.com/formatting-templates/
@thomasgreenbank6124
2 жыл бұрын
Hi, Dave. Very clearly explained, as usual. I have a Mac, so I now format using Pages. (I used to just let Reedsy do it all but I prefer to be able to tweak it myself) Most of the information here can be applied to Pages and I actually think it's easier to use.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
I should probably make one with Pages.
@chevronross5165
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for asking my opinion, Dave. I have learned a lot from all your videos. This one tells me things about formatting a manuscript that I could never figure out on my own. I spent many frustrating hours with MSWord on my first book before deciding to hire a professional, who described MSWord as "too brittle" to be used. I think you might want to advise subscribers that certain book review services will not accept books that aren't professionally formatted, and that if they can afford it, to spend the money on a good professional service like those recommended by the Alliance of Independent Authors.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Those are really good points - I think I jumped right into the topic of 'how to' and probably should have given more context.
@robertharkess1198
2 жыл бұрын
Dave, great summary. Technically hits all the point (loved the hint about managing widows and orphans. My only cautionary comments are the delivery is machinegun fast, and I had to keep zipping back a few seconds when something wasn't clear. The other thing is your voice is very quiet, so when there's a sound effect, or-worse-youtube throws another ad in, they kind of bellow. Otherwise, a great tutorial
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Ah, great point. And also with the voice. It's too low compared to the sound effects. I'll work on that.
@keithmillward3737
2 жыл бұрын
Great video Guys, a little fast for this old brain. I don't use Word anymore but I know this will be great help to anyone that does..
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Keith, and yea, I think I can slow it a bit down.
@lauralai9694
2 жыл бұрын
I can't wait to use Atticus myself for the beautiful formatting and for the ebook format and export! I use Word now; this video was great, and its tips significantly improve the formatting quality!
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Wonderful and enjoy! Thanks.
@dr.carmencaltagirone5868
2 ай бұрын
Your video is excellent. You are very clear in your delivery and your visuals are outstanding. My only concern is that you said nothing about gutters that I recall. While I understand what gutters are in formatting, I do not understand how you determine the size you assign to the gutter. Please tell me how I choose a number that can work for me in terms of gutter or do I just leave it blank? Please. Sup with a great videos.
@marcelocarvalho8014
2 жыл бұрын
Hi Dave. Great content, the only two comments per your request are 1) The all caps and large fonts seemed a bit too big 2) For those subscribers that want to use CC, the on-the-screen text is positioned exactly where the text is, maybe consider moving it to another place on the screen.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks - yeah, I agree on the font size and call caps. I'm going to work on that. As for the CC, I'll have to move the text with that in mind since we can't control YT's CC. Great observation.
@carabingham3207
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this video. I have always wondered how to change the header so this was very helpful and will probably save me money on book formatting.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
You're welcome!
@jimmymulherin4505
Жыл бұрын
Anyone get the Abro bryggeri ad where the old men play Beethoven's 5th on beer bottles. Finally an ad I didn't skip. Great vid Kinklepreneur also.
@warriormindsetsongsandstories
2 жыл бұрын
Hello Dave. Thank you for the wonderful products that you have created. Could you please do a video on what should be the added to the front matter and back matter of print books. I have been doing e-books for several years now but I am yet to make the jump to print books. Thank You.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Great suggestion!
@ellwynautumn3191
2 жыл бұрын
You did a great job explaining the process, but there was so much information, I got a little lost. Granted, I get others to format my books because I don't have the patience for all the ins and outs involved. I also want to make sure it's done right. Thanks for all your videos, they are very informative and have helped me in the past.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah, there are a LOT of steps to using word for formatting - definitely not the easiest option .
@andreaglass1067
2 жыл бұрын
Great tips. A few comments: I never created a new style so I wonder how that would work with the automated table of contents feature; using the Amazon page template seems a lot easier than figuring the correct margins; does Amazon actually accept a Word doc as I thought it had to be a PDF.
@FrankButterfield
2 жыл бұрын
For paperbacks, it has to be PDF. For ebooks, you can submit a Word doc.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks - as for your question, what Frank said
@AmyLyleauthor
2 жыл бұрын
This is very helpful. I love Word but It's all I've ever used, so I'm biased towards it.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Haha....fully understandable.
@dr.carmencaltagirone5868
Ай бұрын
I am asking you this because I find you to be an expert on formatting for manuscripts. Is there ever a way that one can make corrections and modifications to one’s manuscript while it’s in PDF form on the KDP website and being viewed there as an upload? That would make things so easy. Just a question…
@guillaumemaurice3503
2 жыл бұрын
Great video Dave that was well presented. I use MS Word 2007 and as I am on a budget I am unable to buy the latest MS Word. However saying this there are free versions of MS Word that I am considering. It is because my laptop is now dying away and I will need to purchase a new one; I will definitely consider buying a Chromebook instead of a Windows one.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks - as for the newer versions, I fully understand that. I was a bit reluctant to upgrade.
@anupampandey1652
Жыл бұрын
Nice Information. My two books published on Amazon: 1. Frugality: Being Mindful of Your Expenses 2. Nanu's stories for Amaaya Happy Reading!
@antoniodossantos5960
Жыл бұрын
Very nice video 🌎 Thanks. Me learning and figuring out how to publish...I need to overcome Formatting first... Greetings from Colombia. The Venezuelan immigrant writer 🇻🇪
@divaddrof
2 жыл бұрын
Video is great! - you might mention the non-Mac CTL key is the Mac CMD key for the shortcuts.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Good call!
@jeepgrandcher
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this, Dave, another excellent tutorial that will help so many of us who use Word!
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@robertcooper1952
2 жыл бұрын
Dave, I think the video is excellent and I can't think of any suggestions to improve it.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for that!
@BGLENN-dp4tx
3 ай бұрын
Very, very helpful - thank you! Kind of glossed by the margin discussion on the importance of gutter settings. It makes setting the inside margin so much "safer" and eliminates the trial-and-error approach since the value is number-dependent and predefined. No? I find it so easy to use KDPs page-number-related gutter setting to give my books a very nice result no matter the number of pages. Just sayin' . 🙂 Thanks again.
@martintoddington6823
2 жыл бұрын
Superb! So many times have I burned the midnight oil trying to get my books just right only to find KDP saying 'NOPE!' As you can imagine there were words used that cannot be written on here. Dave, you're awesome! Thanks so much for this very insightful video on how to for mat properly in Word. As soon as my wife will allow, I will get Atticus and be able to produce books of a far more professional quality. Keep up the great work.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Oy - I know exactly what you mean. As for Atticus, that sounds good and I hope you guys enjoy...should definitely cut down on time.
@YassineMs
2 жыл бұрын
Excellent, I learned a lot from the tutorial, and it absolutely escalate my writing book.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@edwardarnold9321
2 жыл бұрын
Excellent, all the info you need. A little too fast-paced for me, could slow down just a little. Overall yet another highly informative and useful tutorial. Nice one!
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Ah super - and I'll definitely work to slow it down.
@ritamoreau
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you Dave for your great video's. Formatting is over my paygrade but the video was in-depth.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you - yeah, this can really be dense topic.
@stephanieclayton3804
7 ай бұрын
I publish a quarterly (genealogy) journal that requires footnotes and index. I know how to create footnotes but now that I am using Mac, can you recommend a video that shows how to do section breaks so that there is not continuous footnote numbering from one article to the next? Also an indexing video would be great.
@CurlyCrowAdventuresTV
2 жыл бұрын
The video is great! I would like to see more videos on formatting picture books. I create children's books and just purchased Atticus. Thank you.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
That's a great idea and enjoy Atticus!
@wendyanderson4295
2 жыл бұрын
Very helpful! Good timing as well because my next book is coming out in September! Thanks! Great, useful, video and excellent content.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@alexfalconer87
2 жыл бұрын
Very useful video as usual, Dave, thank you. Lots of detailed instructions about setup, like the alternative to the tab button for tabbing, and fixing widows and orphans manually. Your windows setup was sufficiently different from mine that I found it a bit difficult. I can only find paper choices in cms! It seemed a bit odd to navigate to paper sizes via margin sizes. Is it possible to do paper sizes first? Lovely explanation of why inner margins are larger than outer ones. One thing that might be helpful is to have time stamps along the way so people can go directly to something they want to check on a re-watch. I can see why people are using Atticus!
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
You totally can...although placement will depend on version. As for time stamps - absolutely. I'm going to get those chapters added to the video asap. Great suggestion.
@NatashaDuncan-Drake
2 жыл бұрын
Nice intro to formatting with Word. Styles are definitely one of the most useful things in Word that so many people don't seem to know how to use. It's such a shame Amazon didn't keep up with the Kindle Create plugin for Word. It has the formatting options of Kindle Create and more, but with the versatility of being able to edit the document with additional styles, as well as not ending up with a Kindle only format document. I still have it and use it all the time, even if it does have a couple of bugs.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah, I think Amazon isn't updating Kindle Create as a whole and just letting it fall further behind as they make changes to their own formatting requirements. But the good news is that I'm working directly with their Head of Kindle software and my organization and theirs are working on something that will help authors. :)
@BradPetersonArt
2 жыл бұрын
I like to use word for the printing format so I don't have to juggle files. if I need to fix something in word, its already formatted to print. very useful tut. thanks!
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Absolutely!
@1anois
2 жыл бұрын
Overall, the video is a very helpful and detailed review of using Word for formatting. I agree with other comments that Dave's audio could be louder, and the sound effects are too loud and jarring. I also much prefer Atticus for formatting.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks - and I agree...we'll get that fixed :)
@tcpip9999
2 жыл бұрын
Enjoyed it a lot ...can't think of anything to even tweak
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Awesome - and glad you liked it.
@mbullwriter
8 ай бұрын
Very helpful video. Thanks so much for this information. One suggestion: please work on your miking setup. Your volume is very low. I had to crank my MacBook's volume nearly to maximum to hear you, and then, of course, the next video that played boomed. A lapel mike would work, or even a boom mike would be great. Thanks again. Keep up the good work.
@live4more
5 ай бұрын
Thank you Dave. Do you think we need a header? if not, should we reduce the margin size of the header and footer so they are not so large?
@TaniasWritingRealm
Жыл бұрын
Good video. How do you feel about the extra spacing between paragraphs? Sometimes i feel it looks strange, especially in a fiction book. Why are so many authors doing this extra spacing more? Also, in word you can also add images and designs at the beginning of chapters, etc.
@12thDecember
Жыл бұрын
I agree. Blank lines between paragraphs is weird. I indent the first line of the first paragraph of the page and the first line of the first paragraph at section breaks, then indent subsequent paragraphs. I think authors are doing it for the same reason people are using apostrophe s to write plurals. I'll leave it at that.
@TaniasWritingRealm
Жыл бұрын
@@12thDecember could be to get a higher page count to
@pasqualepalmieri3844
2 жыл бұрын
Aloha Dave, I'm replying to your email. The video is very helpful and clear, as per your usual style. I guess you are specifically addressing the formatting for a paperback and that were assuming it would be obvious to upload the finished product as a PDF rather than a Word file. That said, the final mention to Atticus made Word look like a revisitation of Jurassic Park. Just one more comment: the audio level was rather low, even if pushed to the max, but this could only be my MacBook Pro. (Worth mentioning?) Regarding your request for suggestions re future videos. there is one I'd love to see... A clear step by step guide (your style, you are the best) on how to build an email list from scratch, or several ways. All I have seen around the internet seem to focus on how to increase on what already there, but nothing on how to start from zero potential addresses. (I have family and friends both very disinterested in my writing, and replacing them would take too long and be quite painful). Thank you, ciao. PS: congratulation to your daughter for her outstanding results! What a champion!
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for that. Yeah, I had someone else say that my voice was lower than the sound effects which caused problems. I'll have to adjust for that. As for the Email List, I've really be toying with this idea. I am a HUGE fan of email lists, and guide like that should include how to get them, and then how keep them engaged. Plus there are so many things you can do with the list. This subject is dear to my heard :) And thank you - she's pretty awesome, just like her momma :)
@conniegorrell
2 жыл бұрын
Jammed packed with great info. Just a bit fast for this old gal. :)
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks and I'll slow it a bit down.
@theodorecline773
2 жыл бұрын
Well done! One question? The extra line between paragraphs and dialog. What is the rule of thumb for that?
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
When it comes to this, there are actually a lot of rules of thumb. I'd say the best way is to look at what books in your genre or subject are doing, that you like, and do that. I know that's not an official thing, but I think emulating what works and what you like is a great approach.
@MuzMURRAY
2 жыл бұрын
Excellent explanations, as usual, Dave. But a little too fast as others noted. And you jumped too quickly to the margins chart so I missed how to get to it.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Good point!
@bryant221
22 күн бұрын
Hello, great video. Is there line spacing requirements for paperback and ebook on KDP. Spend some time researching no definite answer like margins or page size.
@josephtreeby5150
Жыл бұрын
thank you so much, everything looks so much more professional and neat. 😁
@s.m.gillespie2470
11 ай бұрын
When I uploaded with kindle create. The preview looked fine but when I published it and ordered it much of my ebook has large chunks of text randomly highlighted. What happened and better yet how can I fix it. Thanks. Love your work
@wanjiruwarama2016
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for such an informative video. I'll have to replay the part about adding book title and auhor's name. And for some reason, some of my pages leave bigger spaces at the bottom. So much to do, so much to learn. I'm definitely going to check on Atticus. But I wonder whether it's functional for nonfiction. I don't need the artwork. and stylish fonts.
@petalandpearlmedia3058
2 жыл бұрын
Awesome tutorial 💯I didn’t know I could do half of this 😅 very informative
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it!!
@robynwideman9793
2 жыл бұрын
Good and informative video, but formatting paragraphs, line spacing, and indents should all be done using the style guide. Life is much easier when you embrace the style guide!
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Good point!
@FrankButterfield
2 жыл бұрын
1. If an author will be creating more than one paperback, I would show how to set up paragraph styles in case there's some tinkering to be done later on. Maybe that's a later video, but formatting each paragraph one-by-one isn't a good idea unless you are locked into your formatting. 2. I would write my books in Atticus but there's one issue I have that isn't addressed yet (not relevant here other than I can give Atticus a shout-out). I'm 90+ books in so I've played around with all sorts of possible permutations. I use Word for ebooks (I'm KU only, so I can submit Word directly to KDP). For paperbacks, I transfer content to LibreOffice. Word does some odd things at times that I've never been able to figure out how to prevent. LibreOffice doesn't have the same issue. I also do a couple of other work-arounds but they're not relevant to what you're doing here. 3. All that said, this video is excellent and what it covers is clear and cogent. Great job!
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Great points - I'm adding these to my list. I'll probably do a LibreOffice tutorial later.
@victorcesena9155
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you. This was very helpful. If you can add how to enter pictures or drawings. I have a family tree in one of my stories and would like to know the best method to do it.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
That's a great idea!
@staynavytom2963
Жыл бұрын
good video. is step one determining what size paper to use? I normally write in normal sized paper but for my kindle book i want 6x9 format. do i start with 6x9 pages, convert to pdf and upload the pdf?
@olabiyidaniel2688
3 ай бұрын
What is the appropriate size for cookbooks?
@marywoodward7855
Жыл бұрын
First time writer. Do you have to format your book pages and save them into docs first? Before the ebook?
@Kindlepreneur
Жыл бұрын
It's best to write your book first. Then after you're done and have worked in editing it, it is time to focus on formatting your book. If you own a book formatting software, like Atticus, you can enter that into the software then and start making it look the way you want. IF you don't and are using Word to do it, then start following the instructions above. Hope that helps.
@marywoodward7855
Жыл бұрын
@@Kindlepreneur Thank you for answering my question.
@KJ-zr2ko
9 ай бұрын
Are there any specific requirements for title page and published info such as font or type size?
@norapage846
Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for this amazing video. You helped me a lot.
@api.m11
Ай бұрын
Hello. I'm a new author and I was wondering if I've formatted a part of my book by pressing the TAP, do i have to deleted all of them in order to do the indentation correctly?
@sidneywilliams1944
2 жыл бұрын
I love this video! It's very informative and helpful.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@awellspringofworksheets8708
2 жыл бұрын
First of all, I'd have to say that your videos in general are very professional, use your branded colors and logo, and contain lots of helpful information. I would note that you don't look old enough to have a daughter who just graduated from college!!! I don't use Word to create my books (I use Microsoft Publisher), but I found your video to be very informational using different features I've never even heard of before. Makes me wonder if there are this many features I could benefit from in Publisher. The video was very thorough, and in being so, it was a bit quick. At my level of use of Word I would definitely have to go back and watch it again. However, in comparison to your brief overview of Atticus, why use Word at all? It looks like there are so many more options and a more intuitive interface. In all, I would give this video tutorial for how to format a book in Word a double thumbs up for presentation, content, and professionalism.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Haha..I get that a lot. As for Microsoft Publisher - that's a great point. I should probably do a video on using that.
@guilherme_castro32
Жыл бұрын
Could have left a metric reference when mentioning inches when editing....
@globalinsidersthepodcast
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for all that you do Dave.
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Awe shucks...glad to help :)
@jojozepofthejungle2655
3 ай бұрын
please adjust your volume or use bluetooth speakers as i can bearly hear you, and please use the inbuilt recorder adding your face in between this, as cant see the screen, especially in dark mode.
@Kindlepreneur
3 ай бұрын
That's super strange, considering no one else has reported that and with 131k views, I think someone would have said something. Perhaps its your set up?
@reemasingh7374
2 жыл бұрын
How to do a full bleed interior for paperback? Please make video on that
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
Sadly, using something like Word for this would be a major pain. But using something like Atticus.io for that is incredibly simple.
@idjohnson451
2 жыл бұрын
I personally prefer Vellum, but good luck with your new videos!!
@Kindlepreneur
2 жыл бұрын
I'd definitely prefer a program like that or Atticus over Word. So, agreed!
@idjohnson451
2 жыл бұрын
@@Kindlepreneur But this is a great video for people who don't want to spend money on something like that and already have Word! :)
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