Typesetting and Printing—How it works

Now we get to the exciting part of your book's journey – making it look like a proper book! This requires a few steps ⇒ laying your book out and then getting it printed.

Getting Your Book Ready to be Printed.

Before we send your book to the printers, it needs to be laid out (typeset) using specialist software and exported to print-ready PDF files.

There are many reasons why your book should be professionally typeset, not least so your hard work looks magnificent but also so the reader experience is the best it can be.

Have you ever read a book where you're having to constantly bend the spine to read the words at the end properly? That's because the book hasn't been typeset properly.

You may find this series of my podcast useful -> Typesetting

Typesetting iconTypesetting

We can establish exactly what your book needs, in terms of style and formatting, typeset your book accordingly, design your cover, provide you with an ISBN (critical if you want to sell on sites like Amazon) and print it for you all under one roof. You don’t need to organise anything, we take all the stress away and do it for you.

If you’ve used our coaching or planning service, then we will have already spoken about design and have some clear ideas of how you want your book to look.

If you haven’t used our coaching service, then we can discuss what style of book you want (size, style, types of fonts, etc) and design a look bespoke for you. (Something that isn’t available if you use sites like Amazon and Canva – as they use templates which are already pre-designed.)

What you get:

  • An initial call to go through styling (I encourage you to look at books you like the style of before the call)
  • Any branding that needs to be included in the book
  • Test pages and font selection
  • A PDF version for in-house use and files ready for print
  • Help with cover design (prices are separate) and how to integrate the insides of your book with the cover
  • Help to get your book ready for KDP (Amazon) with our KDP upload service
  • Kindle formatting if required (quoted separately)

Pricing

We get lots of people enquiring about how much their book will cost, and as each book can be completely different, in terms of page numbers and size, it’s usually very difficult to price due to the bespoke style of service we offer.

However, we have come up with a pricing structure that is based on word count. (Note: All these prices are based on the copy being fully copy-edited and proofread, please see this page for more details.)

Fiction (including memoirs and novels)

From £6.25* per 1,000 words

*includes up to 20 pics

Children's books

Based on 32 pages, typesetting only (illustrations are extra) from £350

Business style non-fiction books*

Up to 40,000 words from 12.40 per 1,000 words

Up to 60,000 words from 11.50 per 1,000 words

Up to 80,000 words prices on request

*If your book has many tables, bullets, pictures and diagrams then prices will vary

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Printing iconPrinting

Once your book is laid out (explained above) or if you already have print ready PDF files, we can then get your book printed.

You have a few options with how to print your book, including:

  • Uploading your book to KDP (Amazon) – who then print and distribute your book for you.
  • POD – Print on Demand (they get printed as they are ordered)
  • Traditional printers, where you get 25+ books printed at one time and you fulfil the orders.

Understanding the differences between these options is really important – and I urge you to read my book Publishing Your Book: What, How and Everything in Between as it covers the different types of printing that are available to you.

Each printing method has its pros and cons – and without knowing the details of your project, we can’t really recommend one over the other – although in my experience, POD, although less costly up front, usually is an inferior product and I have yet to hear an author who is delighted with a POD book. In fact we have taken over several printing projects that used POD, and then decided to use traditional printers instead.

Choosing the right paper and style for your book is really important – so it’s critical you know the facts. Any printer you use should offer a sample.

You might find this episode of my podcast useful -> Printing your book

Our Printing Service

If you decide to opt for the traditional printing service, we can manage the process for you.

As each book is different (paper type, page count and size), we can give you a quote upon request once we have the details.

The quote includes:

  • A fully managed service, of uploading files and dealing with the printer – you just send us the PDF
  • A printed proof of your book – sent to you for your approval
  • Delivery of your books to one UK address

We offer both softback and hardback printing options, with a wide variety of papers. Just get in touch with your details and specifications and we can get you a quote.

If you have a project underway that you would like to discuss, or you have any further questions about everything listed here, get in touch. Either email me at alexa@thebookrefinery.com or call me on 07935 366630 and we will be happy to discuss your project.