Let’s build your book

The type of printing you choose is greatly dependent on your book genre. Think about the type of book you're trying to create, then assess your wants and needs.

For self-published children's books and art books, images are a crucial part of the storytelling process, so it's best to invest in color printing. If you're publishing a paperback book like a novel or memoir, black-and-white printing will do just fine (plus, you can always get a colorful book cover design to entice your readers).

The most common trim sizes for fiction and nonfiction are known as "trade" and "digest." The most common trim sizes for children's books are known as "letter," "square," and "landscape." It's up to you to decide on which size works best for your project and genre. Our recommended book trim sizes and binding options can be found here.

When it comes to paper stock, you have two options: uncoated or coated. Uncoated paper has a natural feel and is great for traditional books without imagery. In contrast, coated paper is best suited for photography, art, comic, and children's books.

BookBaby offers a wide range of trim sizes for printing hardcover books. By offering your self-published book in hardcover format, you'll give it a sleek, sturdy appearance and help it stand out on the shelf. Plus, hardcover books offer increased durability thanks to the book binding process, making them a valuable investment for libraries, schools, or home bookshelves.

Three different book editing services are available through BookBaby: proofreading, copy editing, and line editing. Our self-publishing services include line editing along with everything else you'll need to successfully publish your book. If you'd rather not go with a package, our editing services are available a la carte. Start by creating an editing quote here.

Print On Demand (POD) makes it convenient and affordable for self-published authors to print and sell their books to readers worldwide. With on-demand printing, authors can reach readers without having to buy and store hundreds of books on their own.

By investing in distribution through Print On Demand, your books will be sold through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell's, and thousands of other places around the world.

Word counts and page lengths vary greatly by your book style, book genre, and the overall goals of your project. For example, a novel is usually in the 80,000 to 100,000 word range, but many other book projects (such as children's books) will be significantly shorter. Our recommended word counts for different page lengths and trim sizes can be found here.