What is book design, and why do I need it?

It's natural to ask, "Why do I need my book designed?"

In answering that question, let's look at a few things.

Did you write your book with the idea to make money?

Do you want to be regarded as a professional author?

Do you have the advanced technical know-how of the word processing software you use?

I would be the first to tell you that you didn't need your book designed if any of the above were not applicable.

If you're writing for the fun of it - as a hobby - you have no need to have your book professionally designed.

Book design can be thought of as the furnishings in a home. Sure, a dull, empty house will still give us cover from the elements, but it's the furnishings that make it comfortable, attractive, and turns a house into a home.

And that is what professional book design does for your book.

The difference between home furnishings and book design is that a professional book design can effect sales, that is, your income.

You've spent months writing your book - maybe even a year or more - and that's what counts: the content.

Now, think about this...

Imagine buying a book at your favorite bookstore, opening it, and...

• There are no (or tiny) headlines.
• Paragraphs are long, big blocks of text.
• Unclear, or unrelated images.
• Difficult to read language.
• Layout doesn't suit the type of book.

"But a person buys a book for the content, not the fancy trimmings."

Absolutely!

I couldn't agree more.

Book design is not about fancy trimmings, it's about turning a good book into an effective, easy-to-use or entertaining professional piece of literature.

As I mentioned at the start of this article, it all depends on how you want to be regarded as an author. If you write just to pass the time of day, or if it makes no difference whether you sell your book or not, then you certainly don't need your book designed.

But...

If you are a serious author, and want your work taken seriously, and especially if you want people to buy (and keep) your book, then professional book design services could make the difference between success and failure.

IMPORTANT: If the content of the book is poor quality, no book design service in the world will turn it into a masterpiece.

About the Author
Colin Dunbar has more than 30 years experience in book design. He also enjoys writing non-fiction, and is the author of "Invest in yourself" and "How to Get What You Want". If you want a professional book design, check out his book design service here, http://www.colindunbar.com/book-design-services.html. - Copyright: you may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, the active links and this copyright notice remain intact.