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Monday, September 7, 2015

EPub Formatting and Beyond

When e-books broke onto the market many years ago, there were numerous formats required to make it available to everyone. Today, EPub is universal - everyone accepts it, from Amazon to Barnes & noble to iTunes to Smashwords and more. A Mobi copy is good to have for people with Kindles, but all other devices accept ePubs. And when it comes to uploading your book, ePub is all you need.

I format books for authors into ePub and Mobi format. It’s taken much trial and error to learn how to do it properly. For those interested in doing it themselves, I offer the following invaluable sites for learning the process.

How do you create a ePub? Often you can format in Word and run it through conversion software. You can also create it in InDesign. Two sites that offer some great tips:

Apple’s ePub creation guide
Jane Friedman’s tips

There are a lot of ePub creators and creation services available:

Jutoh
Calibre
writer2epub
Hamster
Online-Convert
EPubsoft EBook Converter
Wondershare
Scrivener

If you are creating the ePub yourself, you need to check it for errors. Two options available:

International Digital Publishing Forum and Validator
EPubCheck

There are many errors that would cause your ePub to be rejected. ITunes in particular is very picky and requires a perfect file. The primary errors are:

Missing the “http://” in Web Address (replace all www with http://)
Image File Misidentified (image not anchored or improperly imbedded.)
No index (no table of contents or chapter markers)

For a list of other errors and how to fix them:

EPubCheck
Smashwords

The final step is distributing your book to retailers. You can use a distribution service that will deliver your book to multiple retailers:

Smashwords
BookBaby
Booktango
Vook
Vearsa
EBookIt
EBook Partnership

Or you can set up accounts with the individual platforms and upload directly:

Amazon
ITunes
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

Get your book in ePub format today!



Don’t forget our IWSG Anthology Contest is open to members until November 1, 2015!

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46 comments:

  1. Murees DupèSeptember 7, 2015 at 5:37 AM

    Thank you so much for these great tips. I formatted my book myself, but I am always willing to learn more ways, if not easier ways to do it.

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  2. LanSeptember 7, 2015 at 5:47 AM

    This is the reason why I hired a formatter! I didn't understand a word of this article. Thank goodness for you and your fellow formatters!

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  3. Natalie AguirreSeptember 7, 2015 at 7:06 AM

    Thanks for the tips. I think I'd hire an expert like you if I was going to self-publish and need to format the book right.

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  4. J.L. CampbellSeptember 7, 2015 at 7:23 AM

    Thanks for this information, Diane. As always, it's useful and spot on.

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  5. ELAdamsSeptember 7, 2015 at 7:28 AM

    Great list! I'd also add that you can use Scrivener's "compile" feature to export a book as an epub. I've used it for all my books and never had any problems with it, even uploading to Smashwords.

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  6. L. Diane WolfeSeptember 7, 2015 at 8:06 AM

    Lan, there was a time when I didn't understand any of it either.

    Emma, that's another good converter. There were so many.

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  7. Ann BennettSeptember 7, 2015 at 8:17 AM

    Good points made. All I know is I may have to hire someone one day.

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  8. Christine RainsSeptember 7, 2015 at 8:54 AM

    Great formatting is important. I know the basics of formatting, but one of my critique partners is awesome at it. She makes my self-published works so pretty!

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  9. Susan Gourley/KelleySeptember 7, 2015 at 9:14 AM

    I think this is a growing service and more people will get into doing it for those of us who don't want to take the time or don't have the patience to learn.

    Susan Says

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  10. AnonymousSeptember 7, 2015 at 9:21 AM

    Great info. I always like to try things myself, but if the time comes I might hire a pro.

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  11. Bish DenhamSeptember 7, 2015 at 9:54 AM

    I'm thankful there's someone like you who will do it for me!

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  12. Pat HattSeptember 7, 2015 at 10:01 AM

    I can do it, but I find it so much of a headache that I'd rather just hire someone else to do it haha

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  13. H. R. SinclairSeptember 7, 2015 at 10:26 AM

    Oh, the errors! I remember the frustration with those until I understoond the ins and outs of the epub.

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  14. Alex J. CavanaughSeptember 7, 2015 at 10:26 AM

    Great tips and resources for those who format their books.

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  15. Hilary Melton-ButcherSeptember 7, 2015 at 10:31 AM

    Hi Diane - great comprehensive info .. but am glad Scrivener was mentioned ... but useful to know it's a service you recommend - cheers Hilary

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  16. L. Diane WolfeSeptember 7, 2015 at 11:08 AM

    Bish, I've loved formatting your books for you.

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  17. cleemckenzieSeptember 7, 2015 at 12:43 PM

    It's the time involved that I'm not wild about. I've done it, but that was more to prove to myself that I could. :-)

    Not sure about being able to enter the anthology contest. I'd love to, but I may have to sit on the sidelines and cheer for this one.

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  18. Erin FanningSeptember 7, 2015 at 3:06 PM

    Excellent tips! Thank you!

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  19. Kelly SteelSeptember 7, 2015 at 4:36 PM

    Thank you so much for these great tips.

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  20. Nadine_FeldmanSeptember 7, 2015 at 4:52 PM

    Very helpful! Thanks for all the detail.

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  21. Olga GodimSeptember 7, 2015 at 4:56 PM

    Great post, very informative. Thank you, Diane.

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  22. Dean K MillerSeptember 7, 2015 at 9:38 PM

    Formatting: Best left to the professionals; i.e. NOT ME! Great tips and leads and links!

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  23. dolorahSeptember 8, 2015 at 2:33 AM

    If I ever decide to self publish I will hire you to format for me.

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  24. G. B. MillerSeptember 8, 2015 at 6:16 AM

    I have no shame in admitting that I cannot format to save my hide. I did it once for short story trilogy, but afterwards, I said to myself that I was going to higher a pro to do it for me. Been doing it that way ever since.

    Father Nature's Corner

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  25. Joylene Nowell ButlerSeptember 8, 2015 at 11:52 AM

    I remember formatting my first ebook back in 2011. Things change so fast, I doubt I could do that today. Now I understand why the fellow who won a copy of my ebook last month was so astonished. I'd sent him a pdf file. He was happy because he could actually read it on his laptop. It's hard to keep up with all the changes.

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  26. L. Diane WolfeSeptember 8, 2015 at 1:42 PM

    Donna, I would be happy to.

    Joylene, that's why it's good to be prepared with many formats.

    Thanks for the suggestions - I added Scrivener to the list.

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  27. Karen LangeSeptember 8, 2015 at 2:47 PM

    Good to know, thanks so much! Will bookmark this for future reference.

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  28. Chrys FeySeptember 8, 2015 at 4:58 PM

    Sometime in the future, I have two short stories I want to self pub and I'll be coming to you for the formatting. :D

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  29. Carolyn Howard-JohnsonSeptember 8, 2015 at 6:16 PM

    When we're not insecure, we're sure to get ourselves into trouble. It's that old, "You don't know what you don't know adage." Unfortunately, it still carries over to when we hire someone to help. They look good, but unless we've done our homework, we still don't see what they didn't do or what they did wrong. In other words, there is no cure. Sorry to be discouraging. The only thing that approximates an appropriate medicine is to keep reading and keep asking questions. (-:

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  30. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.comSeptember 9, 2015 at 12:16 AM

    I wish this wasn't like a foreign language to me. I don't know how I managed to self-pub with a nice looking book, but I did. Minus numerous typos.

    I appreciate knowing where to come when I have questions about any of this, Diane. Thank you.

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  31. Lux G.September 9, 2015 at 3:11 AM

    Nice! I've never tried writing an ebook so I had no idea what formatting they're using. Thanks!

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  32. Michelle WallaceSeptember 9, 2015 at 8:51 AM

    Diane, thanks for sharing.
    You make it seem so straightforward but I'll be honest, it sounds like quite a challenge, a totally foreign language...

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  33. Robyn CampbellSeptember 9, 2015 at 9:46 AM

    This is bookmark worthy. Thanks for the fabulous tips. I'm self-publishing a book in the not to distant future. Wish me luck. And Lynn Kelley is typesetting the Kissed by an Angel (the anthology to benefit the Sturge-Weber Foundation) anthology right now. Thank you, thank you.

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  34. Sherry EllisSeptember 9, 2015 at 10:00 AM

    This is really great information for someone wishing to format their books themselves. Thanks for sharing!

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  35. Fundy BlueSeptember 9, 2015 at 12:53 PM

    Fascinating, Diane! This is something I knew little about, but now I have a good resource!

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  36. UnknownSeptember 9, 2015 at 3:48 PM

    You're my hero, Diane. I've been researching for months trying to find a converter other than Smashwords so I can distribute to Amazon. I never found any of these sites, just things like Ingram and Draft2Digital. Booktango sounds fantastic - almost too good to be true. I have so many problems self-publishing because I live in Egypt, but I refuse to be at the mercy of badly-managed ebook publishers anymore. Thank you so much for this awesome comprehensive list!!

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  37. M PaxSeptember 9, 2015 at 4:16 PM

    Sigil ++ is great for fixing and validating epubs. It's freeware, too. Great info, Diane.

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  38. L. Diane WolfeSeptember 9, 2015 at 7:32 PM

    Chrys, be happy to!

    Robyn, as away.

    Robyn, I'm glad this helped you.

    Lexa, I hope you can get on Amazon now.

    Mary, I will add it.

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  39. Denise Covey September 10, 2015 at 3:53 AM

    Great post, L Diane. Of course anyone can format themselves if they invest the time necessary and that could be a lot. My comment: why would you want to?

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  40. Cherie ReichSeptember 10, 2015 at 11:56 AM

    I love Jutoh and Sigil and would add Draft2Digital as a distributor and Google Play and OmniLit/All Romance Ebooks (ARe) as individual platforms to upload directly to. :)

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  41. Jemi FraserSeptember 10, 2015 at 5:21 PM

    I'm bookmarking this one! Thanks Diane :)

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  42. Arlee BirdSeptember 12, 2015 at 12:00 PM

    This is valuable information that I, like others have indicated, will be coming be to reference.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Wrote By Rote

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  43. Nick WilfordSeptember 13, 2015 at 11:51 AM

    I do my own formatting, but I was unaware of many of these services. Great list.

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  44. AnonymousSeptember 14, 2015 at 8:56 AM

    This was timely. I'm working on formatting my book right now. Thanks!

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  45. Stephen TrempSeptember 14, 2015 at 9:43 AM

    I'm doing my own formatting this time around. I'll have to give it a final once over as I just uploaded my latest line edited version.

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  46. Tyrean MartinsonSeptember 15, 2015 at 7:03 PM

    Thanks for these excellent tips. I think the formatting is the hardest part of creating a self-published book.

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