Indie book formatting with a traditionally-published look
If we have to say we specialize in one thing and one thing only, it’s definitely formatting. From a professional’s opinion, formatting is the one element that many indie publishers don’t put a lot of thought into, but it’s right up there in importance with editing and cover design and should not be an afterthought.
Many elements and decisions go into formatting. With print formatting, you want your pages balanced without any widows, orphans, or runts. With eBook formatting, you want your eBook to be attractive with the smallest file size possible to avoid a large delivery fee with KDP.
We take your words and turn them into a work of art, taking your story to the next level. Formatting services from Alt 19 Creative will rival any traditionally published book on the market and provide your readers with the best possible reading experience.
We offer 2 levels for every novel and budget. Level 1 formatting offers you a choice of 12 design templates. Level 2 formatting is a custom design. If you are looking for formatting for children’s illustrated or nonfiction books, such as cookbooks, financial books, workbooks, etc., please use the contact form below for a quote.
eBook Formatting
For eBook formatting, we set up your manuscript in Adobe InDesign, export it as an ePUB, then crack it open and make custom tweaks to ensure your eBook meets our standards. We then use Kindle Previewer to convert the ePUB to a MOBI file. Our eBook standards are:
- small file size
- validated, error-free files
- match print book, including cover, as much as possible (if applicable)
- the best possible reading experience for your readers
- ePUB and MOBI (Kindle) files are provided
- 2 formatting levels available (see options and pricing below)
Print Formatting
For print formatting, we design your interior in Adobe InDesign, the leading layout software that is used by professional publishers. Your print book will rival any traditionally-published book on the market and provide your readers with the best possible reading experience. Our print standards are:
- formatting completed in Adobe InDesign
- professional and proper structure
- readable typography
- balanced pages
- no runts, widows, or orphans
- match overall look and feel of cover for a cohesive book product (with Level 2 Formatting)
- 2 formatting levels available with countless design possibilities (see options and pricing below)
Formatting Process with Alt 19 Creative
Order Formatting
Based on your needs and budget, pick your formatting choice in our store. Pay a 25% deposit to get started.
Schedule
Within 24 hours of placing your order, you’ll receive an email with detailed information about your interior project.
Draft/Concepts
Within 2 full business days from your start date, you’ll receive a draft or concepts (depending on your level).
Edits
Once your book is formatted, you may notice the need for edits. A certain amount of edits are included which each formatting level.
Final Approval
We’ll prepare the final files and submit to you via email. Remaining balance is due before final files will be sent.
Level 1 Formatting
With level 1 formatting, you pick between 6 template styles, with or without decoration for a total of 12 options. We design your manuscript with the styling of your chosen template. You have the option of drop cap or no drop cap. Some adjustments to font size, line spacing, and margins may be made based on your page count and book size (at the discretion of the designer). This level of formatting is for novels only with less than 5 images.
eBook Only
We will format your manuscript to the chosen design and provide eBook files (ePUB and Kindle).
$50 and up
- For novels up to 70,000 words
- Additional $5 per additional 10,000 words
- Pick between 12 designs
- Include up to 5 images
- Choose between drop cap and no drop cap.
- 2 rounds of edits with up to 20 edits, Additional rounds are $5 per round and $1 per edit.
Print Only
We will format your manuscript to the chosen design and provide a print-ready PDF.
$80 and up
- For novels up to 70,000 words
- Additional $5 per additional 10,000 words
- Pick between 12 designs
- Include up to 5 images
- Choose between drop cap and no drop cap.
- 2 rounds of edits with up to 20 edits, Additional rounds are $5 per round and $1 per edit.
eBook & Print
We will format your manuscript to the chosen design and provide eBook files (ePUB and Kindle) and print files (print-ready PDF).
$120 and up
- For novels up to 70,000 words
- Additional $5 per additional 10,000 words
- Pick between 12 designs
- Include up to 5 images
- Choose between drop cap and no drop cap.
- 2 rounds of edits with up to 20 edits, Additional rounds are $5 per round and $1 per edit.
Level 1 Formatting Templates
Template A – Classic Style
Template A – Classic Style – No Graphics
Template B – Modern Style
Template B – Modern Style – No Graphics
Template C – Script Style
Template D- Script Style – No Graphics
Template D – Grunge Style
Template C – Grunge Style – No Graphics
Template E – Vine Style
Template E – Vine Style – No Graphics
Template F – Feather Style
Template F – Feather Style – No Graphics
Level 2 Formatting
With level 2 formatting, we design 2 initial concepts for you to choose from. Our designs are based on a review of your manuscript and cover and are meant to create a cohesive book product. The concepts will vary with font choices and decorative options. If needed, we will create additional concepts (up to 4 total). Once you have approved a concept, we format your entire manuscript to the chosen style. This level of formatting is for novels only with less than 10 images. Additional images can be added at $2 per image.
eBook Only
We will format your manuscript to the chosen design and provide eBook files (ePUB and Kindle).
$100 and up
- For novels up to 70,000 words
- Additional $5 per additional 10,000 words
- Up to 4 custom design concepts
- Include up to 5 images, additional images are $2 each
- 3 rounds of edits with up to 30 edits, Additional rounds are $5 per round and $1 per edit.
Print Only
We will format your manuscript to the chosen design and provide a print-ready PDF.
$135 and up
- For novels up to 70,000 words
- Additional $5 per additional 10,000 words
- Up to 4 custom design concepts
- Include up to 5 images, additional images are $2 each
- 3 rounds of edits with up to 30 edits, Additional rounds are $5 per round and $1 per edit.
eBook & Print
We will format your manuscript to the chosen design and provide eBook files (ePUB and Kindle) and print files (print-ready PDF).
$200 and up
- For novels up to 70,000 words
- Additional $5 per additional 10,000 words
- Up to 4 custom design concepts
- Include up to 5 images, additional images are $2 each
- 3 rounds of edits with up to 30 edits, Additional rounds are $5 per round and $1 per edit.
Level 2 Formatting Portfolio
- Select your formatting level based on your needs and budget. Order from Alt 19 Creative’s store. You have the option to pay a 25% deposit or in full to get started. If you pay a deposit, the remaining balance will be due before delivery of final files.
- Within 24 hours of placing your order, you’ll receive a detailed email with your start date as well as a link to submit your information and manuscript.
- Complete the provided questionnaire and submit your FINAL manuscript at least 24 hours before your scheduled start date. Failure to submit your information and manuscript in time will result in a delayed start date. If editing has set your timeline back, contact us as soon as possible to reschedule your start date.
- If you ordered level 1 formatting, you’ll receive a full draft within 2 business days from the provided start date.
- If you ordered level 2 formatting, you’ll receive 2 concepts within 2 business days from the provided start date. We will tweak the concept based on your feedback (up to 4 concepts, additional concepts are extra). Once you’ve approved a concept, you’ll receive your full draft within 2 business days.
- Level 1 Formatting edits: Once you receive your full draft, you receive up to 2 edit rounds with 20 total edits. Additional edits are charged at $1 per edit. Additional rounds are charged at $5 per round plus $1 per edit (if you’ve used your 20 total edits).
- Level 2 Formatting edits: Once you receive your full draft, you receive up to 3 edit rounds with 30 total edits. Additional edits are charged at $1 per edit. Additional rounds are charged at $5 per round plus $1 per edit (if you’ve used your 30 total edits).
- Once you’ve given Alt 19 Creative final approve of your draft, we will prepare the final print-ready PDF (for print formatting) and/or ePUB and MOBI files (for eBook formatting). Remaining balance is due before final files will be sent.
- If you are on a deadline and want to inquire about timelines and available start dates before placing your order, complete the form below.
- It’s imperative you submit your FINAL, edited manuscript. You’ll have the opportunity to make small changes after. However, substantial changes may require a reformat in which you may incur additional fees.
- If you come back for edits after your book is finalized, there is a $15 charge for up to 15 edits. Additional edits are $1 per edit.
- We’ll release a packaged InDesign file to you for an additional $25. Fonts will not be included due to licensing restrictions; however, we will provide links to the fonts for you to purchase. In most cases, we utilize fonts provided by Adobe that are available through a Creative Cloud subscription. Use the InDesign file at your own risk. If you need to come back to us to correct an issue created in the file after we’ve released it, we charge $50 an hour to correct.
- For level 2 formatting, we may utilize stock images. By purchasing our formatting services, you are agreeing to the terms of any license agreement for any images purchased by Alt 19 Creative through a third-party image provider for use in the interior design. The final cost includes the license to use these images and may be limited to a print run of 500,000 units, depending on the terms of the third-party provider. If print run is exceeded, additional licensing may be required. Also, certain images cannot be printed on items such as t-shirts, mugs, and other items without premium licensing. If you wish to order these types of items, be sure to discuss with Alt 19 Creative to ensure proper licensing. More details will be provided on the images and the third-party providers used upon request. The original photographer owns the copyright to the images, and they cannot be distributed in any manner other than in the interior design, including promotional images based on the interior.
- Alt 19 Creative has the right to use the print layout for portfolio and advertising purposes on their website and social media accounts. Less than ten page spreads will be used.
- Please credit Alt 19 Creative on your copyright page for interior formatting.
