How Design Works

With design, we will format your content into a beautiful, professionally formatted book that fits you. Your words will not be changed, so it will always read exactly how you wrote it.

Our Design Process:

1. Send Your Materials - Once an order is placed, sending your edited manuscript and images is easy with our Send Files Tool. You may send in hard copy photos in the mail as well.
   • Wondering what to include? Check out our Book Material Checklist.
2. Designer Review - When our designers receive all of your materials, they will review your book to get a feel for the subject, genre and preferences you may have noted to us. After a preliminary conversation with you, they will start on the design!
3. The Cover Design - We will create a cover using InDesign. We will bring images into Photoshop to optimize them. We will use font treatments for your title and back matter to make sure it is cohesive and eye-catching to your readers!
4. The Interior Design - We will import your manuscript into InDesign to start formatting (including typeface treatment, margins, and much more) that follows the Chicago Manual of Style rules. Design usually takes 1 - 2 weeks depending on complexity.
5. Proofing - Once the design is complete, you will get a proof. You will have the option to approve or make changes.If you decide to make changes, see Service Rates for pricing on proof changes and additional proofs. Most changes are done within 5 business days.

What is NOT included:

• Editing - All editing should be done before providing content to be designed. We do offer a list of recommend editors on our Recommended Editors Page.
• Typing - We import your typed manuscript. All content must be typed and provided in a Word Document or Rich Text File.
• Purchasing ISBN - Only the publisher (you) may purchase the ISBN. We can create a barcode for you after you have an ISBN. Learn how to purchase an ISBN for your book.
• Illustrating - A designer will format, where-as an illustrator will draw and create. Some illustrators may appear on our Recommended Editors Page.
• Photography - We will purchase professional stock images for Custom Cover Design for you but we do not offer photoshoots or take the picture ourselves.