Step 3 - Set details and upload your book files
You'll need your book manuscript document produced in Step 1. You'll also need a book description. If you haven't got one yet I suggest you go back and read the page on producing a book description.
Draft2Digital doesn't appear to offer colour illustrations inside books. In my short story collection I had colour illustrations of the individual short stories at the start of each story; boring without the colour so I deleted them. Draft2digital doesn't handle epigraphs positioned opposite title pages very well so I deleted these. Neither does it handle Section break (odd/even pages) well so if you've used these then change them to normal section breaks. Each short story title page should then appear on the right hand side of an opened book. The easiest way to achieve that is to set all chapters to start on a right hand page as in the next step. This unfortunately will produce several blank pages.
I wanted Draft2Digital to produce a contents page for the stories. To make it easier to use I added the short story title before each chapter heading. Most fiction doesn't need a contents page.
- You're now going to be given a choice:
I want to make my print interior from my ebook manuscript.
OR
I want to upload my own print interior.
This is supposed to be the easy method so, unless you've already created an ebook at Draft2digital, I suggest you choose 'I want to upload my own print interior' and upload a file containing the book's chapters only - You now need to add a book description. This text is crucial in getting sales so make it as enticing as possible. Your aim is to leave readers with an "I have to read that!" impression.
- The next section is for co-authored books and allows you to split royalties earned by the book. If you are the sole author you can ignore it.
- If your manuscript starts at 'Chapter 1' you'll now be given the opportunity to have D2D generate a title page, a copyright page, add a dedication or Epigraph and promotional pages for any other books you have. You can also add an author biography and details about the publisher if you wish. I chose to get D2D's help to produce a title page, copyright page, an epigraph and an 'also by' page.
- You'll need an ISBN (international Standard Book Number). This identifies the book and is used by retailers and libraries. Each one is Unique. You can't use the same one for an ebook. You can buy these online but you can also get D2D to give you a free one. I usually ask for a free ISBN since the only disadvantage is that it identifies D2D as the publisher. ISBN prices vary from £93 for a single ISBN to about £1 each if you buy 1,000. You probably don't plan on writing a thousand books though. In Canada - ISBN numbers are free.
- Once you are happy with this section click the 'Save and Continue' button to preview your book in the next section.
D2D have a formatting guide
It's designed for ebooks but it also applies to paper books. Find it at https://www.draft2digital.com/blog/the-pocket-guide-to-ebook-layout/
Your book description
Writing an effective book description can be challenging. It needs to use words that produce an emotional impact and inspire curiosity.
How do you do that?
Well you could do it the hard way by submitting each sentence to a headline analysis program but today there's an easier method. Use an AI.
Give the AI the following instruction:
I would like you to produce a book description which has a strong emotional impact and encourages readers to obtain the book. The initial sentences of the description should have an especially strong impact. The description should be based on the first three chapters of the book which I will append in sections. Do not submit the description until you see the tag [end chapter three]
Then send the text of the first three chapters using this format:
[start chapter one]
[start]
include 2 to 5 pages of your book here depending on your Internet speed
if slow = less text
[stop]
[start]
next 2 - 5 pages
and so on until...
last pages of chapter three
[stop]
[end chapter three]
Of course it does help if your book starts with a strong hook.
ISBN services
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the official source for ISBNs is the Nielsen UK ISBN Agency. They are the sole authorised provider for the UK and its overseas territories. Publishers and self-publishers can purchase single ISBNs or blocks of numbers directly from their website.
United States
The exclusive provider of ISBNs in the United States is Bowker. Through its MyIdentifiers.com service, Bowker offers a range of packages for authors and publishers, from a single ISBN to large quantities.
Canada
In Canada, ISBNs are provided free of charge by Library and Archives Canada (LAC). Canadian-based publishers and self-publishers can request ISBNs through the national library's online portal.
Australia
The official ISBN agency for Australia is Thorpe-Bowker. A division of Bowker. They are the authorised body for assigning ISBNs to publishers and self-publishers based in Australia. Their services, available through the MyIdentifiers Australia website, mirror those offered by Bowker in the US, providing a range of purchasing options for ISBNs and related services.