Microsoft's word processor is a much more versatile tool than most people think. One of its uses is that it can serve as a platform for designing and laying out a document. ebook or e-book. We don't need complex tools or expensive design programs: we explain How to create your own eBook with Word step.
The information we provide here refers to the purely technical section. We assume that the author of the eBook has already solved prior issues such as planning chapters, sections, etc. Another decision that needs to be made before starting is the format, although later you can resort to some e-book conversion software, such as the popular Caliber.
General document settings
To create the e-book, the first thing of all is configure the parameters on which we are going to build it. Using the construction simile, it would be something like raising the structure of the house or drawing the plans on which we are going to build it. This is what we must do:
- To begin with, We open a new document in Microsoft Word.
Then we set the page size by clicking on the tab "Design" and then selecting «Page size».* - Next we set the margins. Again we are going to "Design" and there we select "Margins"It is best to opt for moderate margins, that is, about 2 centimeters on each side.
- The next step is choose font type and spacingAn easily readable font, such as Arial or Times New Roman, is always recommended, while the most common standard spacing is 1,5 cm.
(*) Although there are no fixed rules, it is generally accepted that the standard size for an eBook is A5 (14,8 cm x 21 cm).
Titles and chapters
When creating an eBook with Word, it is necessary establish a logical hierarchy for the title, the parts into which the book is divided, and the chapters it contains. This is achieved through styles.
The easiest way is to use the predefined styles that Word offers us to format titles and subtitles. In addition - and this is important - this will help us to automatically create the index of contents later.
Our recommendation:
- For the titles of each chapter, we selected "Title 1".
- For subtitles, select "Title 2".
Another aspect that should not be overlooked is the page break (go to "Insert" and activate the option «Page break») so that each new chapter starts on a new page and does not begin on the same page where the previous one ends.
Pictures and graphics
An eBook will be much more attractive and complete if it contains images. And if the subject is technical or scientific, also graphs or tables. The most important thing is to know how to place them in the right place within the document. To include an image you must use the option "Insert" and then select "Images".
It is essential that the size is appropriate to the design of the page and that the resolution is correct. In the case of an e-book, this should be between 72 and 150 ppi.
Main
Although many recommend leaving this task for the end, others believe that, if it is a matter of following a logical order, the first thing to design is precisely the cover. We're not going to talk about the cover design. (image, colors, font, etc.), but how to add it to our eBook. This is how you do it:
- First we go to the menu "Insert".
- There we click on the button "Cover page", that we will see on the left side.
- Finally, we upload the file corresponding to the cover from our computer.
Final touches
To finish creating our eBook with Word we still have to pay attention to some final details. One of them is the header (the title of the book is shown at the top of each page) and the footer, where the following must appear numeration. Both can be added and customized from the menu "Insert", going to the option «Header/Footer».
This is also the time to add, if applicable, the acknowledgements and/or dedications page, which most authors place at the beginning of the book. You can also add a page at the end with the bibliography used, something very common in academic or informative e-books.
Finally, there remains the task of compile the index. If we have done things right when assigning styles to titles and subtitles, this work will be done automatically. All we have to do is go to the tab "References" and select "Table of Contents"There we can choose the index style that we like the most.
Conversion to e-book format
After carefully reviewing all the work done in the previous points, once everything is in place, it is time to convert the Word document into a real e-book. The most commonly used conversion formats are three: .pdf, .epub and .mobi.
To convert our eBook to .pdf there is no secret: from Word it is possible to do it by going to «File" and then selecting “Save As”, choosing the PDF option.
However, to convert it to one of the formats that offer a better reading experience on most e-readers (.mobi on Kindle and .epub on other brands and models), you have to use an external tool. Our advice is Caliber: It's free, offers good conversion quality and, above all, is very easy to use.
One last consideration about creating an eBook with Word: it is true that There are other more sophisticated tools than the Microsoft word processor, which can offer us many more possibilities in terms of design and editing. However, Word has the virtue of simplicity: It provides us with the basics and is accessible to anyone, without the need for extensive technical knowledge. It can be the ideal option for a first time.