Typesetting & Interior Page Layout: A Guide for Authors

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

When you read a book, you’re doing more than just understanding the words on the page. The way in which the words are presented can make all the difference between having a smooth, enjoyable reading experience or one that’s cumbersome and challenging. Proper typesetting can make all the difference. But how exactly does it work, and what’s so special about it? That’s exactly what we’ll delve into in this article.

What exactly is typesetting and interior page layout?

Typesetting is the arrangement of text and images on a page and includes all the aspects that lend to the overall readability of a book, including:

• Font choice
• Line spacing
• Margins
• Paragraph alignment
• Headings
• Chapter breaks
• Page numbers
• Images and decorative elements

A well-designed book enhances readability and lends itself well to the book’s tone and genre. On the other hand, a poorly formatted and incorrectly typeset book can make reading challenging and even frustrating.

Why does typesetting matter to reader engagement?

You may be surprised to learn just how much all these little things add up to an overall pleasant and aesthetically pleasing reading experience! A properly typeset book incorporates the following:

Font choice and readability

Even something as simple as the typeface can have a profound effect on the reading experience. Ideally, the font should be easy to read and reduce eye strain while also aligning with the book’s genre and tone.

Most commonly, serif fonts like Garamond or Baskerville are used for literary fiction, while sans serif fonts are used for modern or technical books, as well as eBooks. Generally speaking, font sizes are between 10-12 points for print and eBooks.

Line spacing (leading) and word spacing (tracking)

Line spacing and word spacing makes sure that the text isn’t too cramped together or too spread out. Proper tracking (the space between words) makes it easier for the eyes to follow. Too little spacing makes reading uncomfortable, but spacing that’s too wide disrupts the natural flow of reading.

Margin size and page balance

Generous margins create a comfortable reading experience and give the text “breathing room.” Well-balanced pages where the text is aligned proportionally on the page will ensure that the layout doesn’t feel uneven or cluttered.

A well-structured interior page layout

The interior page layout of the book is also part of the reading experience. Here’s how to make sure that your book is designed in a way that makes reading comfortable and enjoyable:

Hierarchy and structure

Chapter titles, subheadings, and section breaks should be clearly defined with larger or bold fonts. Scene breaks should be visually distinct, using symbols like the asterisk to guide the reader through different transitions. This way, as the story shifts, there’s no confusion about what’s happening.

Justification and alignment

Printed books are commonly laid out using fully justified text. This is where both the left and right edges of the text are aligned. At the same time, fully justifying your text without being careful to examine it could lead to rivers of white space and other awkward spacing issues. Certain genres tend to use left-aligned text, particularly for books that are casual or conversational.

Page numbers, headers, and footers

Last but not least, we can’t forget headers, footers, and page numbers. The headers and footers are particularly important in eBooks and often serve as a navigation tool, whereas the page numbers should be easy to find without pulling the eye away from the content.

All of these points come together to make for a polished, professional, and enjoyable book.

The psychological impact of good design

A well-formatted book has a deep psychological and emotional impact on a reader. It lets them lose themselves in the content while creating a kind of visual harmony that encourages them to read more and read longer. The content feels professional and credible, which in turn adds to your status as an author and a recognized authority in your field.

Who knew that a few simple changes in your book could make such a difference? Now the question becomes, how do you make sure that your page layout is as clean and professional as possible?

Getting started with proper typesetting and interior page layouts

The best part about proper typesetting and interior page layout is that you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. With professional services like BookBaby, you can have your manuscript formatted flawlessly both in print and as an eBook.

If you have some graphic or print design experience and would like to lay out the interior of your book on your own, you can use BookBaby’s free book design templates to help. These layouts are compatible with a number of software programs, including Adobe InDesign and Microsoft Word. However, keep in mind that even with templates, some experience is required in order to use more advanced typesetting and layout tools like Adobe InDesign.

If you’d like to leave your typesetting and interior page design to the professionals, it doesn’t get any easier than working with the team at BookBaby. Beyond page formatting and layout, we also offer a number of other services including cover design, book printing, and even marketing services. Interested in having your book professionally edited and proofread? We can help with that, too. Consider us your one-stop shop for all things publishing!

We invite you to learn more about all our services, including typesetting and interior page design and layout options. Whether you need help formatting your manuscript or you want to convert your print book to an EPUB and sell it as an eBook online, the team at BookBaby is here to help every step of the way. We can guide you along the process as well as offer targeted solutions that fit your literary genre and vision for your book.

Contact us today to get started on your publishing journey!