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It’s of utmost importance that you, as a self-publishing writer, endeavor to learn about the methods of having your book printed including selection of the proper size. Some printers will print and cut your book to almost any size but most adhere to a small number of common sizes. These are 5″ by 8,” 5.5″ by 8.5,’” 9″ by 6″ and the “standard page” size of 8.5″ by 11.” The largest size is for books with a lot of photos or music books. Sheet music, or workbooks and educationial materials will also use this larger size.

The total page count must be at least 120-130 numbered pages in order to print the title of your book on the spine. Don’t forget this important point when self-publishing. Even so, at 120 or more pages, you’ll probably be limited to using a 6- or 8-point font on the spine. That’s probably too small for the title of your book to be read across the room. A book this size will look a bit puny compared to other books competing for your buyers’ dollars.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember in book publishing (especially self-publishing) is the appearance of the finished product. A book of 200 pages is large enough in size to include the book title on the spine and to measure up, in comparison, with other books. If you have a low page count, choose the smallest dimensions. A difference in one-half of an inch in page size roughly equals ten numbered pages. In other words, reducing the size of your book (either vertically or horizontally) by a half-an-inch, will add about ten numbered pages to your total page count.

Are books with more pages more costly to print? Not necessarily so. As a self-publishing author, you have to keep a close eye on how your marketing funds are spent. There are many factors that contribute to the overall costs of printing a book. For example, how they are bound, if they include color, the type of paper used and the number of books ordered. All things equal, more pages means more money. But as an author, you should never compromise the quality of your book to save printing costs. In other words don’t “leave things out” just to reduce printing costs. Write the book you want to write. If you are self-publishing, there are other ways to save on printing costs. The quality of the final product is not at the top of the list!

A book’s finished size is a factor in it’s sales numbers. As mentioned earlier, larger-sized books are usually photo galleries, work books or books containing sheet music (e.g., a music book has to be large enough to be read when placed on a music stand). If your book is mostly text, we recommend a smaller size. Self-published business books and self-help titles can benefit from a smaller size as they are often carted around in backpacks, luggage, and carry-ons. Think about your target market and how they will be using it. Make it easy for your readers to get the most out of your self-published title.

Shipping prices vary by carrier so make sure you compare prices and stay current with the latest fee increases. As a self-published writer, it may be smarter to choose a printer who will fulfill and ship your books for you so you can focus on promoting your book.

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