Self-Publishing in Canada: A Complete Guide to Professional Book Formatting and Typesetting
Publishing a book is more than just finishing a manuscript—it’s about turning those words into something a reader can hold, enjoy, and recommend. I’m Michael Pietrobon, founder of Foglio Custom Book Specialists, and I’ve spent over a decade helping Canadian authors bring their books from manuscripts in Microsoft Word to gorgeous printed titles that stand proudly on bookstore shelves. I’ve seen firsthand how the details in your book’s interior design can elevate the reading experience and strengthen your brand as an author. This guide draws on that experience to show you how professional formatting and typesetting can make all the difference for independent Canadian authors.
Why Formatting and Typesetting Matter for Canadian Authors
Your cover is the handshake, but your interior is the conversation that follows. Formatting and typesetting aren’t just technical steps to get your book into print—they directly influence how readers perceive your work. When margins are uneven, line spacing is awkward, or headings feel mismatched with the tone of your story, it pulls the reader out of the experience. The opposite is also true: when everything flows effortlessly, your words shine, and the book feels credible from cover to cover.
In Canada’s self-publishing market, where authors often juggle writing, marketing, and production themselves, it’s tempting to cut corners. Low-cost, template-based formatting services can get you a file that meets upload requirements, but they rarely match the quality of a professionally designed interior. For serious authors, especially those who want their books to stand alongside traditionally published titles, these visual details matter. They affect reviews, reader trust, and even how booksellers and librarians respond to your work.
If you’ve ever read our post on why poor collaboration derails publishing projects, you know that having a cohesive vision is essential. Formatting is a big part of that vision—it’s the bridge between your cover design and your story.
What is Book Formatting and Typesetting?
Formatting refers to the overall layout and structure of your book’s pages. It’s about how your manuscript is translated into a readable, well-organized printed or digital product. Typesetting goes deeper into the craft of arranging text on the page—adjusting spacing, hyphenation, and typography so the reading experience feels smooth and intentional.
Many authors use the terms interchangeably, but there’s value in distinguishing them. Formatting can be as simple as applying a template to your manuscript. Typesetting is where design principles meet readability, ensuring that every paragraph, heading, and page break supports the flow of the book. When done well, the result is invisible to the casual reader—everything simply “feels right.”
The Difference Between Formatting and Typesetting
Think of formatting as the blueprint and typesetting as the craftsmanship. A formatted book might meet all the technical requirements for printing or uploading, but it won’t necessarily have the polish that comes from professional typesetting. That polish is what keeps a reader turning the pages without distraction, whether it’s adjusting line breaks to avoid awkward gaps or making sure images and text are perfectly balanced on the page.
Common Industry Standards in Canada
In Canada, professional book formatting and typesetting typically follow standards similar to those used in traditional publishing. This includes consistent margin sizes, appropriate trim dimensions, correct ISBN placement, and text set in well-regarded typefaces designed for long-form reading. For print books, trim sizes like 5” x 8” for fiction or 6” x 9” for non-fiction are common, though specialized genres may vary. Ebooks follow different rules, prioritizing reflowable text that adapts to different devices. Services like ebook design and validation ensure your digital edition meets retailer requirements and accessibility standards.
DIY vs Professional Services
It’s possible to format your own book using tools like Microsoft Word, Vellum, or Atticus, and many first-time authors give it a try. The main appeal is cost—you can produce a passable file without paying for outside help. But “passable” isn’t the same as professional, and most DIY attempts reveal small inconsistencies that can affect credibility.
Professional typesetting goes beyond making your book look neat. It’s about understanding genre expectations, designing for readability, and matching the visual identity of your interior with your cover and overall author brand. When you work with a dedicated self-publishing service like Foglio, you also benefit from a collaborative process where the same team handles your cover design, interior formatting, and ebook layout. This consistency not only creates a stronger finished product but also makes the publishing process far less stressful.
Pros and Cons of DIY Formatting
It goes without saying that formatting/typesetting your book yourself is going help your wallet. For many indie authors, this is the most important factor when putting their manuscripts into a print-friendly format. However, I would encourage authors to consider the cost vs the price. That is to say, what is the true cost of typesetting your own book? We know that a cover helps sell a book, but good typesetting is what turns customers into avid readers and fans. Without professional tools and training, it’s hard to achieve the same level of refinement that you’d find in a traditionally-published book, and mistakes can be expensive to fix after printing.
Advantages of Professional Typesetting
Professional typesetting is about more than just aesthetics. It ensures your book meets industry standards, which can affect distribution, sales, and reviews. A well-typeset book is easier to read, presents your work in the best possible light, and aligns with your brand as an author. It also makes future projects easier to manage, since design decisions can be carried over for series consistency or translated into other formats.
Special Considerations for the Canadian Market
Self-publishing in Canada comes with unique factors that authors need to keep in mind. ISBNs, for instance, are free through Library and Archives Canada, unlike in many other countries. Canada also has legal deposit requirements, meaning you must submit copies of your book to LAC once it’s published.
Trim sizes can vary depending on whether you’re printing domestically or using a global print-on-demand service. If your book includes bilingual content or Indigenous languages, typesetting becomes even more critical—especially when handling multiple scripts, special characters, or right-to-left reading orders. These projects require extra care to ensure that the text is presented respectfully and clearly.
ISBNs and Legal Deposit in Canada
Every book sold in Canada needs an ISBN, and while some platforms like Amazon KDP can provide one, Canadian authors should take advantage of the free service through Library and Archives Canada. Owning your ISBN gives you more control over your book’s metadata and ensures you’re listed as the publisher. Don’t forget that Canadian law requires legal deposit for all publications, including ebooks.
Trim Sizes and Printing Norms
For Canadian authors printing through IngramSpark or local printers, standard trim sizes like 5.5” x 8.5” and 6” x 9” are widely accepted. Print-on-demand services through Amazon KDP also offer these sizes, but keep in mind that distribution options may vary. Choosing the right trim size affects not only the reading experience but also production costs and how your book fits on bookstore shelves.
Bilingual and Indigenous Language Layouts
Publishing in multiple languages brings its own design challenges. Typesetting needs to account for different word lengths, special diacritical marks, and even text direction. In Canada, this can mean integrating English and French text, or ensuring Indigenous languages are presented in a way that is visually accessible and culturally respectful.
Step-by-Step Process to Get a Print-Ready Book
A polished, print-ready book starts with manuscript preparation—clean, well-edited text free from inconsistent formatting. From there, a professional typesetter creates the interior layout, choosing typefaces, line spacing, and page design elements that match your genre and brand. Images, charts, or other design features are placed with care, and the final proof is reviewed on screen and in printed form before being exported to a press-ready PDF.
The same principles apply to ebooks, though the process emphasizes reflowable text, compatibility with multiple devices, and adherence to accessibility guidelines. This is where professional ebook design can make a big difference.
Common Formatting Mistakes to Avoid
Common issues include inconsistent spacing, poor font choices, awkward hyphenation, and ignoring genre-specific layout conventions. Many of these problems stem from using automated templates without reviewing the results carefully. Even small errors can make a book feel amateur, which is why careful proofing is essential before going to print.
Cost and Timeline of Professional Typesetting in Canada
The cost of professional typesetting in Canada varies based on complexity, page count, and the inclusion of design elements like illustrations or tables. Simple projects might start around a few hundred dollars, while more elaborate layouts can run higher. Timelines can range from a week for straightforward interiors to several weeks for complex or illustrated books. Investing in professional services often saves money in the long run by avoiding reprints or revisions caused by overlooked errors.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Professional book formatting and typesetting aren’t luxuries—they’re essential to producing a book that readers trust and enjoy. For Canadian authors, working with a single, collaborative team ensures that every part of your book, from cover to last page, reflects your vision and meets professional standards.
If you’re ready to see what a fully coordinated publishing process can do for your book, book a free consultation with me today. Whether you need cover design, professional formatting, or ebook design, we’ll create a cohesive, professional product that feels just as good to read as it looks.
