Standard Fiction Novel
Print Interior Formatting
We format fiction and non-fiction for print, including chapter openings, page numbers, headers, and front matter. You receive a print-ready PDF prepared for your chosen publishing platform, such as KDP, IngramSpark, or Lulu.
From $249
Get a quoteWhat’s included
- Fonts, chapter headings, and optional decorative details such as drop caps and ornaments
- Margins suited to your book’s trim size and page count
- Page numbers and running headers
- Title page, copyright page, dedication, and table of contents
- Print-ready PDF for each platform included in your quote, with the right bleed, color, and PDF settings
- Editable source file on request, at no extra charge
- Unlimited revisions until you’re happy with the result
Pricing by platform
Each platform needs its own file setup (a different PDF standard or color setting), so pricing depends on how many you need.
KDP only
from $249
For Amazon-only authors. One print-ready PDF built to KDP’s spec.
KDP + IngramSpark
from $299
Adds a second file exported to IngramSpark’s PDF/X requirements.
KDP + IngramSpark + Lulu
from $349
Adds a third file set up for Lulu, which recommends sRGB color.
Sample work
View full portfolio → How it works
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Tell us about your book
Send your manuscript, your trim size if you’ve chosen one, and where you plan to publish. We’ll review it and confirm a quote and timeline, and may ask a few questions first.
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Personalize your design
We agree on the fonts, chapter openings, drop caps, and running headers, and settle the trim size if it’s still open. Share a book you like the look of, or ask us to suggest a direction.
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See a sample first
We format a chapter opening and a few interior pages from your manuscript, so you can see the design on your own text. You review it and ask for any changes.
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We format the interior
Once you approve the sample, we format the full book: front matter, chapters, page numbers, and headers, with margins that suit your page count.
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Review, revise, deliver
You review the full proof and we make revisions. We check the print-ready PDF against your platform’s requirements, then deliver it.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the right service for my book?
It is if your book is mostly running text: fiction, memoirs, and most non-fiction. Cookbooks, workbooks, photo books, and heavily illustrated non-fiction need a layout designed around their content, which is what our custom interior design service is for. If you’re not sure, send a few sample pages and we’ll tell you which fits.
How long does it take?
A standard novel is typically ready in 1-2 weeks from when you send the final manuscript. Adding other platforms can take a bit longer. Every book is different, so we’ll always try to work with your launch deadline.
What files should I send?
A Word document (.docx) is ideal. We also accept InDesign and clean PDFs exported from Word or InDesign. If all you have is a scanned print copy, send it anyway and we’ll tell you whether it’s workable before quoting.
Why does each platform need a separate file?
Each platform has its own PDF and color requirements. IngramSpark asks for a PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-3 file and prints in CMYK, Lulu recommends sRGB, and KDP is the most lenient. A file built for KDP won’t always pass IngramSpark’s checks, so we prepare a file to each platform’s specs.
Which platforms should I pick?
KDP for Amazon reach (the default for most indie authors). IngramSpark if you want bookstore and library distribution. Lulu if you sell direct-to-reader, want specialty bindings (spiral, hardcover with dust jacket), or are running an author storefront. Most clients pick KDP + one other.
What trim size should I choose?
If you’re unsure, 6x9 is the safe default: it’s the most popular size and what readers expect for a novel or non-fiction trade paperback. Other common standards are 5x8 and 5.5x8.5 for fiction, 7x10 or 8.5x11 for workbooks and large-format non-fiction, and 8.5x8.5 (square) for children’s books. Custom sizes are possible too, within each platform’s limits, so we’ll build to whatever you have in mind. Wider or taller trims cost a little more per page, so it’s best to settle the size before we lay out the interior.
What if my file is rejected at upload?
We check every file against your platform’s requirements before delivery, so rejections are rare. If your platform flags a formatting problem with a file we supplied, send us the message and we’ll fix it at no extra charge, as many times as it takes.
Do I get to see a proof before it’s final?
Yes. You approve a sample before we format the full book, then review the completed layout before final delivery. We also recommend ordering a printed proof copy before you publish. A screen never quite matches paper, and a proof copy is the surest way to catch anything you’d want to adjust.
Can you help bring down my print cost?
Within reason, yes. For print, cost comes down mainly to page count and whether you print in color or black and white, and layout choices like trim, font, and spacing affect the page count. If a low print price matters to you, say so up front and we’ll build the layout around it. Ebooks are different: there’s no per-page cost, but since some retailers charge a delivery fee by file size, we keep images efficiently compressed.
Do you handle the cover?
No, we focus on the interior. Cover design is a separate craft, and we’re happy to recommend a trusted specialist if you need one.
Should I design my cover before or after the interior?
You can start the front cover art whenever you like. What has to wait is the full print cover (the wraparound with the spine), since spine width depends on your final page count, which isn’t set until the interior is laid out. We’ll give you the exact page count and trim size your cover designer needs.
What front and back matter should my book include?
It depends on the book, but a typical setup is a title page, copyright page, and dedication at the front, sometimes a foreword or preface, then the chapters, and at the back an acknowledgments page, an “about the author” page, and a short “leave a review” page. Non-fiction often adds a table of contents, an introduction, and sometimes an index or notes. We set up the standard pages for your book type as part of the layout and flag anything that looks missing, so you don’t have to memorize the list.
What about hardcover?
Hardcover changes spine width and case/jacket considerations, but the interior stays the same as the paperback. KDP now supports hardcover, and Ingram and Lulu both support it too.
Questions about pricing, revisions, or source files? See our general questions.
Related guides
All guides →Tools & hiring
Atticus, Vellum, or a Professional Formatter: What Your Book Needs
An honest comparison of DIY book formatting tools like Atticus, Vellum, and Reedsy Studio against hiring a professional formatter: costs, limits, and how to decide.
Read guide
Print platforms
KDP vs IngramSpark Formatting: Why One Interior PDF May Not Pass Both
KDP and IngramSpark can print the same book, but they do not always want the same interior file. Here is what authors should know before uploading.
Read guide
KDP paperback
How to Format a Paperback for KDP: Trim Size, Bleed, Margins, and PDF Checks
A practical KDP paperback formatting checklist for authors preparing print-ready interiors: trim size, bleed, margins, embedded fonts, images, and previewer checks.
Read guide
Other services
eBook Conversion
Reflowable EPUB files with adjustable text, a linked table of contents, and working footnotes and links.
Learn more
Children’s Book Formatting
Page layouts that bring your supplied illustrations and text together for print, with an ebook edition available.
Learn more
Custom Book Interior Design & Layout
Custom layouts for cookbooks, workbooks, photo books, and illustrated non-fiction.
Learn more
Ready to get started?
Let us know what you’re working on, its approximate length, and when you hope to publish. You can attach your manuscript for a more accurate quote, or book a free 15-minute call.