A few formatting golden rules for self publishing a novel in the UK

This is a quite specific list for UK novels

This is only about formatting a fiction novel for the UK market.

Some different rules apply for the USA, and for non-fiction, but this is what I have learned so far and I am going to break it down into a simple checklist.

Obviously others will have their opinions, which may be just as valid, but I reckon this list is a good starting point, and I have made enough mistakes, by now, to be a bit of an expert.

• Book size 7.8″ x 5″* which is 198mm x 129mm – Portrait (obviously)
• Paperback cover weight – 250gsm-300gsm is normal
• Interior paper (typically) 80gsm-90 gsm cream, or other off white colour (not white)
• Font – Garamond 10pt or 11pt (11 is just a little easier on tired eyes like mine)
  Font for younger readers – Century Schoolbook 12 or 14 point
• Single line spacing. 6pt space between paragraphs
• Justified both sides. Nice neat straight lines down left and right
• Mirror margins and a gutter to stop the text disappearing down the spine
• Start each chapter partway down the first page. (maybe add an image above)
• Get the header and footer formatting right. (e.g. page 1 is the first page of the story, not the book.)

I think that’s all, but I will add others as and when I think of them or people point them out.

• On Createspace it is 5.06″ x 7.81″ but to be honest, six hundredths of an inch really don’t make that much difference to a book on a bookshelf.