Category: Writing Journey

Book formatting is a nightmare (I dare say)!! Especially if you are self-publishing and not sure what the specifications are. The format of your book or novel will depend on a number of things, starting with the trim size. If you plan on doing this yourself then research the genre of your book along with the number of pages, the binding type and confirm the recommended trim size for said genre.

For example, my book genre is fiction, 434 pages in length, and I wanted paperback binding. The recommended trim size for such specifications is 5.25 x 8 inches. I then researched the format recommendations for this trim size and watched a few YouTube videos on how to format my final draft which took a lot of patience (about 1 week worth of mistakes).

Word of advice: If you don’t have the patience or are not up for figuring out if the format is accurate then hire a professional (someone who is highly recommended).

**Tip** Microsoft Word has lots of formatting templates to choose from. The genre of your book along with the number of pages, binding type and trim size will assist with the recommended format.

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Writers use pseudonyms for a variety of reasons, and many successful, classic writers are more widely known by their pen names rather than their real ones. I personally chose to use a pseudonym because I wanted something catchy given that my real name is pretty lengthy as well as to disguise my identity for privacy reasons of course. Most authors choose a pen name because they want to try something new or need a fresh start.

Then there are those authors who write different genre’s thus the various pen names. While some authors are unable to publish under their real name because it might already be in use, it is particularly important to weigh your options when making the decision to either use your birth name or a pseudonym.

With that being said, be sure to choose the option that works best for your writings and stick to it. Remember that your author name is a brand on its own, so choose wisely because once your work is published, there is no undoing it.

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