Common formatting mistakes that make a book look amateur

You’ve written, revised, and edited your manuscript. Well done! Now it's time to turn it into a book. But wait, let’s talk formatting. Even the strongest writing can be let down by poor formatting. Readers may not consciously notice great typesetting, but they absolutely notice when something feels ‘off’. Unfortunately, amateur formatting can undermine the professionalism of your hard work, and we don’t want that!

Whether you’re self-publishing a novel, memoir, or business book, you really want to avoid common layout and formatting mistakes. In this musing, I’ll look at some of the biggest issues that can instantly make a publication look less polished, and how to fix them.

Inconsistent Fonts and Sizes

Mixing fonts or randomly changing the font sizes gives your book an untidy, unfinished feel. Common issues include:

• Switching between serif and sans-serif without purpose

• Chapter headings that are styled differently throughout

• Body text sizes that vary by accident

Fix: Choose one font for body text and one for headings, and then be consistent throughout.

Uneven Line Spacing

If line spacing is too tight, your book will feel cramped; too loose, and it will look stretched and juvenile. Uneven spacing between paragraphs or after headings is another red flag.

Fix: Stick to uniform line spacing (usually 1.15 or 1.2 for print) and check paragraph spacing manually.

Widows, Orphans, and Awkward Breaks

A single word stranded on a line or a lonely line of text at the top of a page can be distracting and unprofessional.

Fix: Good typesetting software and a keen eye can prevent these and keep pages visually balanced.

Overly Wide or Narrow Margins

Margins that are too tight make reading uncomfortable; margins that are too wide waste space and look strange. Self-published books sometimes suffer from margins that don’t take binding or readability into account.

Fix: Use recommended industry margin standards and adjust for page count and trim size.

Irregular Indents and Paragraph Styles

Missing indents, huge indents, or inconsistent paragraph spacing are common in DIY-formatted publications.

Fix: Set paragraph styles properly instead of manually pressing ‘Tab’ or adding blank lines.

Misaligned Text and Images

A single image floating out of place or text nudged slightly off alignment makes the layout look sloppy.

Fix: Use alignment tools, consistent image sizing, and ensure that everything lines up page to page.

Poorly Designed Chapter Openings

Chapter pages should look intentional. Issues include:

• Starting chapters halfway down the page

• No clear heading hierarchy

• Inconsistent spacing or styling

Fix: Use clean, consistent templates for chapter openings, with intentional spacing and emphasis.

Inconsistent Headers and Footers

Page numbers that jump around or chapter titles that don’t match the chapter you’re reading can be incredibly distracting.

Fix: Double-check section breaks, especially if you're using Word or similar tools.

DIY Formatting without understanding the Tools

Word processors aren’t designed for professional typesetting, and it shows. Books formatted without styles, templates, or proper export settings often end up messy or glitchy.

Fix: Either use professional software or a professional typesetter to ensure your publication is polished for a reader-friendly result.

Why professional formatting matters

A beautifully formatted book:

• Looks polished and credible

• Gives readers a smooth and enjoyable experience

• Shows care, attention, and respect for your work

• Helps your writing shine

Typesetting is about more than making a page look pretty. It’s about creating a book that is comfortable to read and visually consistent; a book readers trust.

Need help formatting your book?

As an editor and typesetter, I can help take your manuscript from ‘nearly there’ to beautifully presented and ready to print. If you want your book to look professional, polished, and totally you, please just get in touch. I’d love to help.

I hope this helps xx

If you’re an aspiring author looking to publish your book, I'm here to polish your words and create a professional, reader-friendly publication for you. I would love to support you on your publishing journey.

Contact me for an editing and typesetting estimate; let’s make your book shine!

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