Hey everyone, I’m reaching out because I’ve hit an unexpected wall in my self-publishing journey. I thought I was ready to publish my book—editing is done, cover design is nearly finished, and I was feeling super excited. But then I previewed it on a few devices and… wow. The formatting is a mess. Paragraphs are jumping around, indents are inconsistent, page breaks are weird, and it just doesn’t look professional at all. I had no idea that trying to format your text into a book could be such a complex and important part of the process.
Honestly, I’m torn right now. Part of me wants to learn how to do this myself because I like being hands-on and I want to understand every step of the publishing process. But the other part of me is overwhelmed. There are so many different devices, file formats, and publishing platforms to consider—Kindle, iBooks, print on demand, and so on. I keep reading that a poorly formatted book can drive readers away, and that’s the last thing I want after putting so much time and energy into writing it.
So here’s my question: Have any of you gone through this part of the process and figured out how to format your text into a book the right way? Did you use any tools like Vellum, Atticus, Scrivener, or Adobe InDesign? Were they user-friendly for someone without a tech background? Or did you end up hiring a professional formatter, and if so, was it worth the investment?
I’d really appreciate hearing your honest experiences—good or bad. I’m also curious about pricing. If I do decide to hire someone, I’d like to know what a fair rate is. And if you found a great service or freelancer, I’d love a recommendation. I want my book to look polished and clean whether someone is reading it on a Kindle, an iPad, or holding a paperback in their hands. Any tips or insights would be super helpful as I decide whether to DIY or get professional help to format your text into a book the right way.
Honestly, I’m torn right now. Part of me wants to learn how to do this myself because I like being hands-on and I want to understand every step of the publishing process. But the other part of me is overwhelmed. There are so many different devices, file formats, and publishing platforms to consider—Kindle, iBooks, print on demand, and so on. I keep reading that a poorly formatted book can drive readers away, and that’s the last thing I want after putting so much time and energy into writing it.
So here’s my question: Have any of you gone through this part of the process and figured out how to format your text into a book the right way? Did you use any tools like Vellum, Atticus, Scrivener, or Adobe InDesign? Were they user-friendly for someone without a tech background? Or did you end up hiring a professional formatter, and if so, was it worth the investment?
I’d really appreciate hearing your honest experiences—good or bad. I’m also curious about pricing. If I do decide to hire someone, I’d like to know what a fair rate is. And if you found a great service or freelancer, I’d love a recommendation. I want my book to look polished and clean whether someone is reading it on a Kindle, an iPad, or holding a paperback in their hands. Any tips or insights would be super helpful as I decide whether to DIY or get professional help to format your text into a book the right way.