Tag Archives: Microsoft Word

Writing tips: how to write robust paragraphs in Word

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Tim C. Taylor

[In this post, I’m going to address a topic that some of you might consider pretty basic: how to write a paragraph using Microsoft Word. It certainly is fundamental but I would say around 15% of the manuscripts I receive … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing Tips | Tagged Amazon KDP, ebooks, Kindle, Microsoft Word, paragraphs, publishing, self-publishing, writing advice | Leave a comment

Tips for self-publishers: Typography 103 — Kerning and Spacing

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Tim C. Taylor

If you look back at the advanced font tab in Microsoft Word, there’s an entry there for Kerning. This isn’t specific to OpenType fonts and is something you should keep an eye on with your titles (for example, chapter headings, … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing Tips | Tagged Createspace, kerning, Microsoft Word, spacing | Leave a comment

Tips for self-publishers: Typography 102 – OpenType

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Tim C. Taylor

Special Effects with OpenType If you look up the fonts on your computer you will see nearly all are defined as Truetype or OpenType (in Windows you do this from the Fonts section of the Control Panel app). For our … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing Tips | Tagged book layout, contextual alternatives, Createspace, ligature, ligatures, lining, Microsoft Word, number styles, opentype, postscript outlines, Truetype, typography | Leave a comment

Out Now! Format Your Print Book for Createspace: 2nd Edition

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Tim C. Taylor

Out now is the second edition of my book on how to produce your book for Createspace using Microsoft Word. The book is twice as big, has many more images, updated to cover changes to Createspace and Word versions up … Continue reading →

Posted in Book launch | Tagged Createspace, formatting, Microsoft Word, publishing, self-oublishing, typeset | 3 Comments

Format YOUR Print Book with Createspace — second edition is coming

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Tim C. Taylor

My short guide to laying out books for Createspace was the first book I wrote that sold over a thousand copies (though not the first book I published to reach that mark). I’ve written an awful lot of technical guides … Continue reading →

Posted in Book launch | Tagged Book formatting, Createspace, Microsoft Word, opentype, paperback, self-publishing | 7 Comments

Adventures in typesetting: poetry book layouts and printer’s ornaments

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Tim C. Taylor

I’ve been laying out some poetry paperbacks this week for Watermark Publishing and Greyhart Press. I think poetry is my favourite of all genres to format (at least in print) because it gives licence to design the page, in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing Tips | Tagged book layoutAdventures in typesetting: poetry book layouts and printer’s ornaments, Createspace, dingbats, fleurons, Microsoft Word, poetry formatting | Leave a comment

Microsoft Word layout tip: view gridlines to anchor pictures

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Tim C. Taylor

I posted a few days ago about gutters and margins for printed books. The flip-side of setting margins is keeping everything that gets printed within those margins. The easiest way to fall foul of this, and get those dreaded”you’ve got … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing Tips | Tagged Createspace, images, layout, margins, Microsoft Word, paperback | 5 Comments

How to Set Margins: Microsoft Word vs. Createspace vs. Traditional Typesetting

Posted on July 7, 2012 by Tim C. Taylor

I’m currently working on a paperback and eBook layout commission for an illustrated children’s book: Cassie Kindly and the Naughty Christmas Fairies. The body text is in two columns, although the delightful illustrations of this 22-page book (which my six-year-old … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing Tips | Tagged Createspace, gutter margin, margins, Microsoft Word, paperback, self-publishing, typesetting | 12 Comments

‘Format your print book with Createspace’ is now a print book with Createspace

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Tim C. Taylor

If you’re a self-publishing author of eBooks, and want to have a go at moving into printed books too, I’ve written a book with you in mind, especially if you use Microsoft Word (to take advantage of over 40 screenshots). … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcements | Tagged Createspace, formatting, lulu, Microsoft Word, print layout, self-publishing, text layout | 3 Comments

Format Your Book for Createspace – promotional price expiring soon

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Tim C. Taylor

I recently published a Kindle eBook explaining how to format books for Createspace and Lulu using Microsoft Word. It’s available now from Amazon at a special launch price 99c or 77p. The price will rise soon to $2.99 /£2.06, so … Continue reading →