A well-organised Word manuscript gives your book designer a dependable starting point. You do not need to create the final printed layout yourself, but you do need to make the chapter structure and intended content unambiguous. This preparation helps preserve your writing and makes corrections easier to track.
Use this checklist before sending a manuscript to PustakInk for book formatting and production.
Keep one authoritative manuscript
Choose a single working file for the complete text. Give it a clear name containing the book title, version and date. Keep a separate backup, but tell the production team exactly which file to use. Avoid sending several different “final” files through different conversations.
Review tracked changes and comments. Accept the changes you approve and resolve questions that could affect the wording. If an issue still needs discussion, list it in the handover message rather than leaving an ambiguous instruction inside the text.
Make the chapter hierarchy obvious
Use Word's heading styles consistently for chapter titles and subheadings. Ordinary paragraphs should use a consistent body style. Avoid making a heading solely by adding spaces, repeatedly pressing Enter or enlarging random lines.
Insert a page break where a new chapter must start. Do not add dozens of blank paragraphs to push text onto the next page. Final pagination changes during typesetting, so decorative spacing in the working manuscript often creates unnecessary cleanup.
Collect front and back matter
Prepare the exact title and author name, along with any dedication, acknowledgements, preface, introduction, glossary, references or author biography you want included. Supply these before the final layout wherever possible.
Indicate the intended order. If you have a contents list, ensure the chapter names match the manuscript. Leave final page-number checking until the typeset edition is ready; Word page numbers from an A4 draft will not necessarily match the printed book.
Handle images and tables deliberately
Supply original image files in an organised folder and give each a unique filename. In the manuscript, place a clear instruction such as “Insert Figure 3 here” and include the caption. Explain whether placement must be exact or can move slightly for readability.
Keep tables editable where possible. Identify the header row, units and any notes below the table. Do not use a screenshot of a complex table simply because it appears convenient on screen. The designer needs to check whether its text will remain readable in the chosen book size.
Record language and special-format requirements
For Odia or other Indian-language text, tell the team which font or typing system was used. Include a PDF reference if character appearance is important. For poetry, preserve deliberate line breaks and identify any unusual alignment that is part of the poem.
For technical material, flag equations, special symbols and references requiring a specialist review. Formatting can improve presentation, but it should not silently change the meaning of a formula, quotation or paragraph.
Use a final handover checklist
- All chapters are present and in order.
- Names and recurring terms use the intended spelling.
- Illustrations and captions can be matched.
- Unresolved editorial questions are listed separately.
- The title, author biography and cover description are supplied.
- The team knows the required size, language and format.
After receiving the designed proof, collect corrections in one list. Give the PDF page number, location, existing wording and replacement wording. Recheck the changed pages before approving the final edition.
Frequently asked questions
Should I format the Word file to A5 first?
Only if this is part of the agreed workflow. A clean editable manuscript is usually more useful than a heavily decorated draft. Discuss the final size with the designer.
Is a PDF enough for changes?
A PDF is valuable as a visual reference. An editable source file is preferable when the text or layout needs substantial revision.
Does book formatting include rewriting?
Do not assume it does. Agree on editing and proofreading separately so the production scope is clear.
Get your manuscript assessed
Explore PustakInk's publishing options or contact the Bhubaneswar team with a sample chapter and your book requirements. Authors throughout India can discuss file preparation remotely.