This is the first installment of an ongoing series called 'Book Design 101', where we'll do a deep dive into different aspects of book design. Up first is the interior formatting and all of the things that go into typesetting a book. If you find it helpful, let us know and stay tuned for the next installment!
You’ve got the perfect plot, engaging characters, and a killer cover. But what about the inside of your book? The interior design should be well-designed, easy to read, and guide readers through the story. When done right, they’ll barely notice it—because they’re too busy being immersed in your world.
To achieve this, we'll take a look at the main factors when designing the interior of your book: establishing a page size, determining your margins, the layout of the text and chapters (and some helpful terms), and deciding what to include in the front matter and back matter pages.
(PAGE) SIZE MATTERS
The first hurdle in designing the interior of you book, is determining your page size. There's really no "wrong" choice, more of a personal preference of your readers and what fits your book the best.
The most common sizes for novels are:
- 5 x 8" (your paperback classic)
- 5.5 x 8.5" (a little more room for readers)
- 6 x 9" (ideal for bigger books with more words)
So, why does size matter? It’s not just about aesthetics; it impacts readability, printing costs, and how your book feels in the reader's hands. Other things to consider for page size of your book genre standards, page length, and where you're printing your books. Going with an expected size for your genre will give the readers something they expect and that they feel comfortable with. Page length is important because a 400-page 5 x 8" book will feel (and look) a lot different than a 300-page 6 x 9" book. Lastly, have an idea of how you're going to print your book. If it's a Print on Demand (POD) service, such as Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), they may be more restrictive in sizes than a normal printing company.
MIND YOUR MARGINS
Good margins provide space for the reader to hold the book and give a feeling of openness. The inside margins, or gutter margin, keeps your text far enough away from the spine where words can get lost. The outside margin gives the reader plenty of room to hold onto the book without covering words and getting in the way. The top and bottom margins give your story room to breathe and gives the page an inviting look. They also provide room for running headers and footers for page numbers.
Margins are one of the invisible forces of interior book design. Too tight and not enough space leads to daunting pages that look too full and overwhelming. While too much can cause page count bloat and increase printing costs. When margins are done right and the correct balance is achieved, readers shouldn't notice them and feel comfortable holding and reading through your story.
THE LAYOUT
Your layout should be “just right.” Not too tight, not too loose. When you think of layout, think line spacing, font choice, and paragraph indentation. This is also where things can get fun with custom chapter spreads, POV changes, drop cap letters, and ornamental breaks.
The text layout is also where we get into the nitty-gritty of typography (where are our typography nerds at?!) and try to avoid things like widows and orphans. Those are the stray lines that end up all alone on the tops and bottoms of pages, and we try to avoid those to keep the flow of text running smooth. We also want to avoid runts, or single words that appear on their own line at the end of paragraphs.
Choosing the "right" font is one of the most important decisions when designing the interior of your book. Fonts, just like the people who use and design them, have different personalities. Choosing the font that pairs with the personality and tone of your story while also making sure it's readable and legible.
- Legibility: Can I read it?
- Readability: Do I want to read it?
WHAT'S THE (FRONT) MATTER?
Now that the page size, margins, and interior layout is all settled, it's time to move onto the front matter content. Front matter is like the appetizer before the main course. It helps set the tone and provides the details readers need before diving into the story.
Here are the common elements and sections included in the front matter:
- Half-title page: containing only the title (usually small)
- Title page: a full title page consisting of the title, author name, and publisher's logo
- Copyright page: all of the legalities (copyright holder, year of publishing, ISBN number, and any credits)
- Dedications & acknowledgements
- Preface
The half-title and title pages always appear on the right-hand pages, or recto pages. The copyright always appears on the left-hand page, or verso pages.
AND FINALLY, BACK MATTER
When readers finish the last page of your novel, the story may be over, but their journey with you as an author isn’t. The back matter is a great way to keep them engaged.
Things to include in the back matter:
- Epilogue: a perfect wrap up...or lead in to the next book in the series
- Author bio: build that personal connection and let your readers learn more about you
- Acknowledgements (if it's not in the front matter)
- Other works
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Designing your book’s interior is like putting a puzzle together. When everything fits together—the right page size, margins, layout, and thoughtful front and back matter—your readers get to fully enjoy your story without distractions.
And remember, when talking to your designer, don’t be afraid to ask questions and share your vision. We're here to help you bring your story to life, from cover to cover.
If you'd like help designing your book interior we'd love to chat and hear about your story. Just say hello to us!
