Templates for Book Sizes - Writers Forum

dreamwriter · 03-13-2007, 10:12 AM

Okay, I admit I'm lazy. I'm also having problems getting the exact book size of 7 x 10 to set up correctly on my laptop. It keeps automatically changing to B5 7.17" x 10.12". I do my work on Microsoft Word 2003. Does anyone know of a place where you can download a text or document template for the various book sizes? Thanks.

silverwriter · 03-13-2007, 08:03 PM

When you submit your work, the specifications are usually 1" margins. I'm not sure why you're going for a standard book size when you're going to have to change it for submitting anyway.

aspiring · 03-14-2007, 05:39 AM

Why are you trying to do this?

daisydaisy · 03-14-2007, 11:31 AM

You don't need to worry about the page sizes, just sub the piece on A4 in the layout that the publisher asks for.

Aspiring - I just had a look at your myspace page. Wow! That's quite an acheivement! The book looks great!

aspiring · 03-14-2007, 11:42 AM

aw thanks daisydaisy!

dreamwriter · 03-22-2007, 06:30 AM

After some fiddling around I have figured it out. Thanks anyway. Since this is my first book, I'm submitting to a POD publisher--Trafford, which requires specific specifications. I know many writers frown on this, but I also know of some who have started this way and when their book was a hit, the traditional publishers CAME TO THEM asking to publish their book. Everyone has their own opinions on this, naturally.

Logos · 03-22-2007, 09:43 PM

I'm guessing the people you know of that did this are people you know from the internet. Do you want a book to validate you as a writer? If you do, I think you should take up a new hobby, because you don't need a book to be a writer, all you're going to get out of this is a whole in your pocket, something to pretentiously display on your coffee table, and a box full of books that you can't sell to anyone but your relatives.

aspiring · 03-23-2007, 05:40 AM

well, good luck, dreamwriter. Sorry you feel you have to publish your first one POD - that's not compulsory, you know. I hope it does well, although I'm sure you're aware of the statistics.

Mike C · 03-23-2007, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreamwriter

Since this is my first book, I'm submitting to a POD publisher.

Of course we all have our own opinions, and mine is that the lower you set your targets, the lower you value your work. Self-publishing is there for the lazy and inept, those who either don't have a hope in hell of ever getting a proper publishing deal, or those who are too lazy to find out.

Getting published is hard work. Sure, Trafford are easy. Send them a shopping list and they'll put a fancy cover around it for you. Is that what you think your book is worth? Trafford don't market books. It's up to you to sell them. Aside from your mother, your aunt and a couple of friends whose arms you'll have to twist, who are you going to sell books to? And how? Had you considered that?

Also, drop the hype. Sure, a tiny handful have moved from vanity publishing to mainstream, but they're a miniscue fraction of 1%. Most publishers will actually run a mile from you if you self-publish.

And as for Trafford: http://www.hastingspress.co.uk/trafford.html

Banzai · 03-23-2007, 08:39 AM

You are perfectly welcome to publish your book with whatever way you choose, dreamwriter. But could I just ask what writers these are who have made it big through POD publishing? I'm just curious, because I can only think of one.