Book Templates: An Author’s Best Friend or Secret Saboteur?
Jun 11, 2021 – Book Design
Discover five of the best book template resources that indie authors can use — and learn why using them isn't always the greatest idea. Read more →
10 Brilliant Fonts for Your Book Layout
Feb 05, 2021 – Book Design
Choosing a font is an essential part of making your book look professional, but there are just to many to choose from. We're giving you somewhere to start with our list of 10 brilliant fonts that you can use in your book layout. Read more →
20 Royalty-Free Stock Image Sites to Source a Book Cover Picture
Dec 10, 2020 – Book Design
Looking for the best places to find book cover pictures that won't break the bank? We've got you covered, with our hand-picked list of 20 sites with royalty-free stock images you can incorporate into an amazing book cover. Read more →
The 45 Best Book Covers of 2020 — Feast Your Eyes!
Dec 09, 2020 – Book Design
To cap this eventful year, we've put together a list of the best book covers of 2020. There's something for everyone, from fiction to non-fiction! Read more →
How to Make a Chapbook in 4 No-Nonsense Steps
Nov 17, 2020 – Understanding Publishing, Book Design
If you're currently in the process of growing your readership as a poet, you're going to need to know how to make a chapbook. These short books can help kickstart your literary reputation, and may well increase your chances of getting a book deal for your debut poetry collection. Sounds good? Re... Read more →
20 Amazing Children's Book Illustrators (and How to Hire Them)
Oct 15, 2020 – Book Design
We all had our favorite children’s book illustrators growing up. From Quentin Blake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fame to Julia Donaldson of The Gruffalo, the best illustrators not only helped us visualize stories, but also made us fall in love with the sheer possibility of imagination. I... Read more →
Guide to Book Layout: What Makes a Book More Readable?
Aug 30, 2020 – Book Design
When authors think about book design, the first thing that pops into their heads is usually the cover. We’ll be the first to admit that cover design is incredibly important — but book layout is arguably just as important! Read more →
50+ Cookbook Covers Guaranteed To Make Your Mouth Water
Apr 01, 2020 – Book Design
One of the best sections of any bookstore is, without a doubt, the cookbook aisle. Not only do the contents of these books promise incredible recipes, but their covers provide an intriguing taste of what's inside! Cookbook covers are some of most carefully crafted in publishing — which is why, if... Read more →
6 Tips for Writing the Perfect Cover Design Brief
Apr 01, 2020 – Book Design
A big part of what makes self-publishing so attractive to authors is retaining all creative freedom over their own work. That means it is up to you, and you only, to choose your cover designer and brief them properly. Here's how. Read more →
How a Cartoonist for Hire Can Get Your Book's Point Across
Jan 17, 2020 – Book Design
Images like cartoons can work wonders on your book, as long as they’re developed the right way. Here's how custom-crafted, eye-catching images can complement your writing — and how to find the perfect cartoonist for hire to draw them. Read more →
The 50 Best Children’s Book Covers of 2019
Dec 13, 2019 – Book Design
2019 was a fantastic year for fiction of all stripes, but perhaps children's fiction most of all. From the continuations of beloved series to brand-new, often timely tales, we were showered in an abundance of amazing stories — and with them, some absolutely beautiful cover art. That's why we wan... Read more →
How to Format a Book (the Free and Easy Way)
Nov 15, 2019 – Book Design
In this step-by-guide to formatting a book, we’re going to give you tips for producing a professional-looking final product, and explain how our very own free book formatter — the Reedsy Book Editor — can make the job simple for you. Read more →
Parts of a Book Explained: Front Matter, Body, and Back Matter
Nov 13, 2019 – Book Design
What are the different parts of a book? Learn what makes up the front matter, back matter, and body — so you can create your own book today! Read more →
Book Cover Design Software: The Best Paid and Free DIY Apps
Sep 06, 2019 – Book Design
We always advise authors get their book covers professionally designed — an excellent cover is a crucial part of publishing success. However, if you’re set on designing your own cover and willing to put in the legwork to learning a new skill, here are some resources you might consider. Read more →
Vellum Review: Read This Guide Before Using It!
Apr 30, 2019 – Understanding Publishing, Book Design
From Google Docs to Scrivener to our very own Reedsy Book Editor, there are countless tools out there for writers to create, edit, and ultimately format and export their books to publish. Vellum is another one that you probably recognize, though you might not be completely familiar with its mecha... Read more →
Book Design: Everything You Need to Make a Stunning Book
Apr 10, 2019 – Book Design
No matter what your level of publishing experience is, this guide to book design is for you! It dives into cover design, interior design, DIY tips, and more! Read more →
Book Illustration: 25 Beautiful Examples
Apr 08, 2019 – Book Design
We all remember the signature illustrations of our childhood reads: the wild scribbles of Quentin Blake, the gentle watercolors of Beatrix Potter, the simple line drawings of Shel Silverstein, and so on. Indeed, many book illustrations become indelibly linked to the stories they depict. And they’... Read more →
How to Choose the Right Book Cover Dimensions
Oct 30, 2018 – Book Design
When we talk about book cover design, we often talk about the color palette, typography and use of images. What we rarely mention are the dimensions of the cover. After all, it’s usually determined by the book’s trim size. That, or it’s seemingly inconsequential, as most new independent authors r... Read more →
Print-On-Demand vs Offset Printing: Which Wins?
Oct 26, 2018 – Book Design
This is a guest post by Jessica Ruscello, a copywriter at Blurb, Inc. Jessica is also a writer, teacher, and photographer who makes her mark with empty coffee cups, ink spills, and red lipstick. The last ten years—even the last five—have seen game-changing developments in printing technology. Ev... Read more →
Book Cover Design: Your 7-Step Guide to an Unforgettable Cover
Oct 26, 2018 – Understanding Publishing, Book Design
In this definitive post, we look at book cover design: why it's important to work with a professional, what you can do to create the best cover possible, and — if all else fails — how you can make one yourself. Read more →
What is Typesetting? Your Guide to Interior Book Design
Oct 26, 2018 – Book Design
Think that you’re ready to publish your book? Think again. Before you send your book off to the printers, you not only need to make sure that the content of your book is good — it also has to look good on the page. Imagine your gut reaction to a room that’s sloppy and cluttered, for instance. Not... Read more →
What Are the Standard Book Sizes in Publishing?
Oct 26, 2018 – Book Design
Glance at the nearest bookshelf. Have you noticed that books come in all shapes and sizes? Contrary to popular belief, this isn’t because publishers are out to obliterate the perfect symmetry of our bookshelves. The truth is that book sizes vary based on each individual book — and publishers dete... Read more →
How to Build a Book Back Cover That Converts (with Template)
Oct 26, 2018 – Book Design
Picture an intrepid reader in the bookstore. They’re skimming the shelves when their eye is caught by a brilliantly imagined front cover. They pick the book up. Check. The spine is bold and inviting. Check. Then they flip to the back of the book cover — and it’s a boring solid background with no ... Read more →
60+ Stunning Book Cover Ideas To Unlock Your Inner Designer
Sep 26, 2018 – Book Design
You know the mantra: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” But that’s easier to say than do. A book's cover is your not-so-secret weapon when it comes to sales and the reader's very first impression of a book. Or, as famed designer Paul Sahre once put it in an interview with Penguin Random House: “O... Read more →
How to Make a Book: Binding a Hardback in 5 Simple Steps
Apr 09, 2018 – Book Design
Learn how to make hardback copy of your book by hand — something that you can keep on your shelves or share with your friends as a gift. Read more →
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