Designing the book

However you choose to produce your book, an appreciation of what is possible will provide better results. Using quality paper, inserting photographs and investing in an impressive binding will transform a photocopied handwritten text. Additionally, for those seeking help to produce their books, it is worth knowing what to look out for. This section on design provides an overview of what should be considered. For those intending to design their own book on a word processor, technical information can be found in Chapter 17.

The measure of a well-presented book is how pleasing it is to the eye. However, as is often the case, creating something simple involves some complex considerations.

Creating the first impression

Our first impressions of a page are dictated by:

• the style of the font
• the size of the font
• the size of the margins
• the layout
• the quality of print.

Choosing the font

If your book is handwritten, the style and size of your writing will have been honed over many years. Your greatest consideration will be legibility – if your handwriting is poor, you must consider having the manuscript typed.

The more sophisticated typewriters, and all modern word processors and printers, will give you a selection of font styles and sizes. Experiment to see what looks best, perhaps also asking a few friends for their opinions.

Adjusting the margins

Small margins make the page look overloaded with text. Increasing the size of the margins can have a dramatic effect on the appearance. Again, it is worth experimenting.

If the book is to be bound, the edges will need to be guillotined. You will need to leave larger margins to allow for this. While margins are still of consideration with the handwritten text, if lined paper is being used, the top, bottom and left-hand margins will be pre-set. Of greater importance here is the space between the lines. Again, experiment until you feel comfortable with the overall appearance.

Designing the page layout

Too many words on a page can leave the reader feeling daunted – plenty of space will improve the appearance of your book significantly. However, there are a few other considerations worth bearing in mind.

Dealing with speech

If you have decided to use speech within the book, this can be presented two ways:

• Within the run of the text:
• When Mary came into the room she exclaimed, ‘Boys, what on earth do you think you’re doing?’ Ted, taken totally by surprise, stuttered, ‘We we we we’re, ju-just looking for my old photo album . . .’
• As scripted conversation:
  • ‘What’s for tea, Mum?’ asked Jim.
  • ‘Sausages,’ came back the reply.
  • ‘Great. Can Billy stay for tea? His mum says it’s OK.’
  • ‘Thanks for asking me first,’ Mum quipped.

The decision rests with you, but where there are more than two or three exchanges, scripting the conversation is worth considering.

Presenting paragraphs

Again, there are two conventions to consider:

• indenting the first word of a new paragraph
• leaving a line between paragraphs, starting new ones on the left margin.

Either is fine, as long as you are consistent within the book.

Handling headings

Be careful to ensure that each chapter heading appears with the same spacing and font size and type.

Using section breaks

Sometimes within a chapter there is a change of subject. The use of a few asterisks will show the reader that you are moving on to a new section.

Selecting pictures

Pictures will significantly enhance the overall appearance of your book. You might like to consider such things as:

• photographs
• certificates
• ration book
• identity card
• sketches
• documents
• school reports
• cartoons
• special cards
• newspaper cuttings.

Achieving the right balance

The majority of pictures are likely to be photographs of family and people who have been significant in your life. Especially with pictures of the family, it is important to ensure a balance. If there are six photos of your daughter and only two of your son, he might feel offended. Counting the number of times that people appear in the book can be revealing.

While you may be besotted with any grandchildren or godchildren, it must be remembered that this is a book about your whole life. The early photographs are usually far more fascinating than those taken relatively recently.

• Q:How many photographs should I include?
• A:There are no hard and fast rules. Some people have half a dozen pages of pictures, others include 50 or more . . . and four or five pictures can fit on a page. However, the more pages of pictures you include, the greater the reproduction costs. Photographs are interesting, especially those in your early life, but selecting them is not easy. Ultimately, you can include as many as you like, but remember that this is an autobiography and not a photograph album. The photos should not detract from the writing – they are there to enhance it.

Selecting the right place for the pictures

Placing pictures in a handwritten or typed presentation requires a great deal of forethought and it will be easier to resort to the traditional-style block of pictures, or a page of pictures inserted nearest to the appropriate point.

With a word processor there is far more flexibility and pictures can be placed at the appropriate point in the text.

Adding captions

Captions in a book serve a similar purpose to writing on the backs of photos. While we know who everyone is at the time, with the passing of years it becomes increasingly difficult to identify everyone. Even if the book is aimed at a purely family audience, unless the picture is placed immediately next to the relevant text, it is worth adding captions.

Ensure that the captions are also proofread – any mistakes are likely to be immediately spotted because the pictures will be looked at more often than the text. Additionally, as the manuscript is usually proofread before the pictures are inserted, captions can escape being proofed.

Choosing the final picture

The last picture in the book occupies a very significant position. A photograph of yourself in later life is fitting; other favourites are a picture of the whole family, or perhaps one of you and your partner if that is appropriate.

This picture should normally appear on the final page of the book, just before any appendix.

Reproducing the pictures

Even for a single book it is unlikely that you will want to use the original photographs or other templates. However, various forms of high quality reproductions can be found at surprisingly affordable prices:

• copy photographs
• photocopying (black and white and colour)
• computer scanning.

Ordering copy photographs

Where you have photographs, copies can be easily ordered from high street or mail order outlets. For other templates take a photograph and then order as many copies as you require.

The pictures can be inserted into the appropriate space left in the text using double-sided tape.

The disadvantage of this process is that the final book will be a little bulky because the photos stand proud of the page.

Using photocopies

While regular black and white copies may be adequate, the quality of colour photocopies is excellent, often being hard to distinguish from the original photograph or document. Copy shops can be found in most high streets.

Photocopying pictures

Pictures up to A4 or even A3 size can be accommodated, being reduced as necessary to fit the size of your book.

If individual copy pictures are to be stuck onto the pages of your manuscript, better value can be obtained by placing several photographs on one page, having them photocopied and then cutting them up.

Once cut to size, the pictures can be inserted with adhesive or double-sided tape at the appropriate place in the text. As photocopies are thinner than photographs, the book will be less bulky than using copy photos.

Photocopying the whole page

An alternative method is to place the photograph within the text and then photocopy the whole page. This can lead to varying results because text and photographs do not always reproduce to the same quality. However, with perseverance, excellent results can be obtained and, of course, the picture remains flush with the page.

A word of warning – if your requirements are too complex or demanding, you may be charged for trial copies as well as the final versions.

Scanning the pictures

Computer technology is such that pictures can be scanned and reproduced in colour to a very high definition; again, it is often difficult to distinguish the reproduction from the original.

Because of the almost limitless flexibility of technology and high quality printers, excellent results can be obtained. The pictures and the text can be manipulated at will, but because of the time-consuming nature of the process, it can be expensive, unless you do it yourself.

Selecting the paper

Here you face an amazing array of choice. Any high street stationer will have access to hundreds of types and qualities of paper with different weights, grains, colours, tints, etc.

For a good-looking result, try something a little heavier than the standard 80 gsm, perhaps 90 or 100. Shiny papers are perhaps a little too bright, whereas antique papers can be too dull – for some. Again, it is a matter of personal taste.

One tip – many stationers sell papers specially designed for this or that printer, with this or that purpose in mind. While it is true that some papers won’t work well in certain machines, most of this is an excuse to sell paper at inflated prices. Glossy paper doesn’t always work well in inkjet printers, and laser printers become incredibly hot. Also, most domestic printers struggle to print on anything much thicker than 120 gsm. All the other considerations are aimed at office and professional users, so don’t be bamboozled by a very confusing market.

If you have environmental concerns, there are also plenty of papers that come from sustainable sources, which are now not much more expensive than normal papers. These also normally work fine in domestic printers.

Paper is incredibly cheap, so shop around, ask for samples, and when you are happy that what you like will work in your printer, stick with it.

Reproducing the text

If your manuscript is handwritten, or typed on a typewriter with no memory, and you only want one copy of the book you can use your original script. However, if, as is likely, several books are required, the manuscript will need to be photocopied.

For those using a word processor and printer, or an electronic typewriter with a memory, this is not an issue as additional copies can be reproduced at the touch of a button.

Pictures scanned into the computer can be printed along with text. If the pictures are to be attached afterwards, an appropriate space will need to be left within the printed page.

Demanding high quality

A good printer is vital for a quality production. Inkjet and laser printers are amazingly cheap; alternatively, you may be able to borrow one from a friend or relative.

Other issues to consider are:

• good quality paper (at least 80 gsm)
• using a new toner cartridge
• leaving plenty of space for pictures.

Checklist

• Have you included everyone who has helped you with the book in the acknowledgements?
• Are you happy with the balance of pictures?
• Have you checked for consistency in the text, and the layout of the pages and headings?

Assignments

• Decide on the size of the book and how it is to be presented: handwritten, typed or word processed.
• Finalise the introductory pages.
• Investigate how you would like to reproduce the pictures.
• Produce the final draft of the book.