We work in the book industry, so we're handling books every day and are used to the way the big publishers make them. Without looking at the logo or the cover, there is one dead give away we see to indicate a book is self-published. It is one common mistake A LOT of authors make.
This is incorrect use of paragraph breaks.
Paragraphs come in two styles. The first one is intuitive. It is taught in school for essays, so it comes natural when writing. This is the paragraph with a space above it. Such a paragraph is used in book formatting to break up sections, or indicate a change of topic or scene.
Paragraphs come in two styles. The first one is intuitive. It is taught in school for essays, so it comes natural when writing. This is the paragraph with a space above it. Such a paragraph is used in book formatting to break up sections, or indicate a change of topic or scene.
Notice there is no first line indent. Traditional publishers do not indent the first line if there is a space between paragraphs. But neither do they - except in some non-fiction - overuse this type of paragraph break. This is used only for a significant change in the text. For general paragraphs they use the next option.
Notice there is no space between the paragraphs. Instead there is a first line indent. This is the most common form of paragraph break in both fiction and non-fiction. If we see a lot of the first example, and not a lot of this, then it is a good sign it is a self-published book.
Another aspect is the size of the indent. Microsoft Word indents by default are 0.5". This tends to work in school assignments and on A4 or letter paper, but on anything smaller than a 6" by 9" book page, 0.5" is way too large. You need to go smaller.
On a lot of message boards and Facebook pages, people suggest 0.25" indents. Now, there is no one clear rule, so 0.25" can work in certain circumstances, but for the average traditionally published book page you are looking at no more than 0.15" to 0.2". So how do you know what you should do?
Another aspect is the size of the indent. Microsoft Word indents by default are 0.5". This tends to work in school assignments and on A4 or letter paper, but on anything smaller than a 6" by 9" book page, 0.5" is way too large. You need to go smaller.
On a lot of message boards and Facebook pages, people suggest 0.25" indents. Now, there is no one clear rule, so 0.25" can work in certain circumstances, but for the average traditionally published book page you are looking at no more than 0.15" to 0.2". So how do you know what you should do?
Look at your font size. In a standard book (mass market to trade paperback), your indent should be no less than one letter width, and no more than three. One to two letters is the best. The smaller your text in relation to the page, the larger perhaps you want the indent. The larger your text, then the opposite. If you're using a size 12 font, this means 0.15" indent for the first line is a comfortable fit.
Learn something from this? Look at some of the books around you and see how they apply this rule.
Concerned you might be making other mistakes? You can buy our ebook "Formatting Your Book For Print" on the Kindle store.
Learn something from this? Look at some of the books around you and see how they apply this rule.
Concerned you might be making other mistakes? You can buy our ebook "Formatting Your Book For Print" on the Kindle store.
