On Book Design

My aim with this design was consistency, artistic pep, and readability for the ebook version of this anthology. The red rectangle you see at the bottom of the screenshot is the image of the writer’s blog. I made the image stand out by applying a drop shadow. Then I converted it into a button, which takes the reader to the blog.

I chose 14-point Arial for the body text for a couple of reasons. I wanted the readers to read the posts without getting eyestrain. And, there were some formatting issues that a larger font corrected.

Overall, I’m happy with the way the design turned out. Even better, the writers who submitted their posts liked it. I still haven’t figured out the problem with the full-justification, which led me to Google in order to find a solution.

I found this article, which may help you produce professional results using Word. Originally published in 2004, the software versions are obsolete. But Aaron Shepard gives timeless suggestions on how to set up your document before you type the first word of your book.

Yes, You Can Use Microsoft Word to Set Type That Looks Professional

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This is an anthology I edited and compiled at the beginning of this year. The concept for the cover came while I was helping my son work on a collage project. I thought it would be a great way to promote these writer’s blogs.

The tricky part was figuring out where I was going to put the title and how I was going to make it stand out against all of that color. This is what I came up with.

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Open Type fonts are the best because they are cross-compatible with PCs and Macs. The internal coding (called unicode) allows a typeface file to have over 65,000 characters, a big improvement over the older typefaces that are limited to 256.

The second best are PostScript or Type 1 fonts. These are good for offset printing, especially with PDF files.

Good Fonts for Headlines

Helvetica Bold, Gill Sans Bold, Eras Bold, Univers Black, Franklin Gothic Demi

Fonts for Body Copy

Garamond, Caslon, Goudy, Stone Print, and New Century Schoolbook

How Much Do These Fonts Cost?

You can get the Adobe Garamond (which contains 21 styles) family for $21.00 (each style) at MyFonts.com. Be sure to check out their specials. I found a couple that I’m considering for a cover design. Below is a short list of sites where you can check out some good fonts.

Adobe.com
Bitstream
Fontsite.com: Also offers books and articles on typography.
ITCFonts.com

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First, free fonts are often poorly made. If you decide to use free fonts for your text, your printer will not be able to print your book because of the technical errors contained in these fonts.

Second, most of the fonts that come from shareware sites are pirated copies of commercial fonts. The names are often changed to protect the thieves. If you get caught using these for anything you publish (books, ebooks, websites, etc.), you may face serious legal action.

Fonts and Copyright Issues

Fonts are considered intellectual property, which means that you must pay for the license in order to use them. The first link talks about issues with the corporate world, but it also applies to individuals. It’s a good idea to read up on the legal issues writers face before publishing your book. I’ve included links to two good books to help you get started.

Understanding Font Licensing and Copyright Issues

Every Writer’s Guide to Copyright and Publishing Law

The Copyright Permission and Libel Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers

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