Next Step: Formatting

​When you self-publish, there are many hats you must put on, so it isn't a matter of just writing the book.

​I wrote the book after out-lining it.  My style of writing choice.  Then it needs editing.  If it was accepted at a publisher it would go to the editor who would make the decisions with you about style choice...such as do I do it British, American or Canadian and mark it up asking for re-writes and changes.  

Few books that are published don't meet this process with an editor at one point of another.

Keep in mind, there are MANY types of editors.  One may proof for style, another for typos and spelling mistakes, and so on.  And, when doing this with a friend, spouse, or possibly just yourself, there is much to look at and read, and re-read, and read again!  It isn't a great process for those who are creative and once the creative part is done, wants to move on.  The writing is just one part of the bigger picture on your self-publishing road.  It is not really that it is an impossible road, more like a road that can become a very flat and tedious boring road.  Not much scenery at all!

After the editing is all done, then what?  Then comes formatting. There is a whole other set of decisions to make such as what font do you want to use?  How deep do you want to indent? Some say half inch, some say it is based on the font and the size of it.  There is also the question of margins.  Many make the mistake of trying to save a few printing costs by pushing for smaller margins...many believe nothing screams amateur than that.  And on and on and on.  Oh yes, what about if your one of those old school people who were taught to type with two spaces after a period?  Do you think after a life time that is a habit your going to change?  I doubt I would even bother trying...so I figured out how to use find and replace in word...trick is, you simply DO what you need like hit space, space and in the replace section just hit the space bar once...then presto, all fixed.

There is also the indent issue.  What if you write and separate paragraphs by double spacing and not indenting?  I have figured out how to set up a style in Word (go into a style, get the drop down and hit modify...then click around in paragraph, etc and you can set your space between lines, indent distance and so on.  That is all fine and dandy now, however the double space I am still working on.

So this next step of formating can be a very daunting one.  Not impossible, and once you got it, you got it, however it takes time and research and messing about with Word or whatever program you're using to put it all together!  Not for the faint of heart, unless your like myself, and enjoy the learning process.  If you're not, then, put it out there and find an agent (or not but it will limit your prospects with publishers), and find a publisher.  Good luck!