Book Design Software Applications

Writing, Designing
and Publishing a Book.

With regards to dedicated book design software apps, we would recommend researching the following existing apps you may already use, as well as any new ones suggested below.

Fortunately, there are a number of methods or routes you can take towards writing, designing and publishing a book. The route you take though, is likely to be determined by;

  1. Costs and affordability 
  2. The type of book you wish to publish
  3. and Convenience or familiarity

For example, designing a book with illustrations, such as a Children’s book, you may consider using illustration software such as Adobe Illustrator, Procreate or Affinity Designer. 

These will greatly help with the mechanical digital-artwork process involved when preparing a book for printing or generating as an e-book. If you are an illustrator, or have illustration skills, you may already have software that you can use. 

Likewise, as a writer you are likely to have software that you already use. However, where it comes to formatting your text, you may have to eventually import your manuscript into another application or through an online book publishing platform. 

What are the best book publishing platforms available?

With platforms such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Apple Books, or Kobo Writing Life, you can publish your book both in print, or as an ebook. You can save on costs even further by working with a print-on-demand purchasing model.

Blurb is another option that provides print-on-demand services, and will also handle the design, printing and distribution of your book.

Now, with regards to dedicated book design software apps, we would recommend researching the following:

Adobe InDesign: A professional-grade layout and design software, ideal for creating books, magazines, and graphic-heavy documents.

QuarkXPress: A desktop publishing software that is commonly used for designing and formatting books, catalogs, and other printed materials.

Scrivener: A popular writing software, which includes features such as project management, outline, and formatting tools, making it an excellent choice for authors and book designers.

Vellum: A Mac-based book formatting tool that is simple to use, with a user-friendly interface.

BookWright: A book creation tool offered by Blurb, allowing you to create and publish professional-looking books without needing advanced design skills.

These are just some of the popular book design software options, choose the one that best suits your needs and skills.

Step-by-step book publishing process

  1. Write your book: This includes outlining, researching, and writing the book.

  2. Revise and edit your book: Get feedback from beta readers, revise and edit your book several times to improve its content and flow.

  3. Choose a publishing method: You can self-publish, work with a traditional publisher, or use a hybrid approach.

  4. Format your book: This involves typesetting, designing the cover, and creating an interior layout for the book.

  5. Obtain ISBN: ISBN is the International Standard Book Number and is required for publishing a book.

  6. Register for copyright: Registering your book with the copyright office is optional, but recommended to protect your work.

  7. Distribute your book: Choose the channels to distribute your book, such as online retailers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.), brick-and-mortar bookstores, or through libraries.

  8. Market your book: You need to actively promote and market your book to reach potential readers and increase visibility.

This is a general overview, and the specifics of the publishing process may vary depending on the publishing method you choose.

Step-by-step guide to revising a book manuscript:

  1. Set aside time: Take a break from your book and come back to it with fresh eyes.
  2. Read through the manuscript: Read the entire manuscript in one sitting, paying attention to pacing, characterization, plot, dialogue, and other elements.
  3. Make a list of revisions: Make notes on what needs to be revised, including plot points, character development, dialogue, and other elements.
  4. Prioritize revisions: Decide what revisions are most important and prioritize them.
  5. Make revisions: Incorporate your revisions into the manuscript, using track changes or rewriting the entire section if necessary.
  6. Get feedback: Share the revised manuscript with beta readers, critique partners, or a professional editor for feedback.
  7. Repeat the process: Incorporate feedback and repeat the revision process as many times as necessary.

This process may vary from writer to writer, but the goal is to revise the manuscript in a way that improves the content and makes it the best it can be.

Book publishing formats:

  1. Print book: A physical book that can be sold in bookstores, libraries, and online retailers.
  2. E-book: An electronic book that can be read on a tablet, e-reader, or computer.
  3. Audio book: An audiobook version of your book that can be sold online or in stores.
  4. PDF: A digital file format that can be used for books, especially for non-fiction and academic works.
  5. Hardcover: A high-quality, durable print format with a hard cover.
  6. Softcover: A print format with a flexible cover, often used for trade paperbacks.
  7. Spiral-bound: A print format with a spiral binding, often used for cookbooks and instructional books.

The format you choose will depend on your audience and the type of book you are publishing. Some authors choose to offer multiple formats, while others may focus on one or two formats.