If you’ve ever cracked open your proof copy and winced, you’re not alone. Book formatting is one of the most overlooked aspects of self-publishing — and yet, it’s often the difference between looking like a pro or a rookie. In this post, we’re diving into the most common book formatting mistakes indie authors make, and how to fix (or completely avoid) them. Trust us — your future readers (and reviewers) will thank you.

❌ Mistake #1: Using Spacebar or Tab for Paragraph Indents

This is the indie author equivalent of drawing a mustache on the Mona Lisa. Using the spacebar or Tab key for paragraph indents leads to inconsistent formatting and alignment issues across devices and platforms. Always use style-based indentation via paragraph settings — not manual spaces.

🛠 Pro Fix: Use Word’s paragraph style settings or InDesign’s paragraph formatting. If you’re using Vellum or Atticus, check their default indent settings.

❌ Mistake #2: Justifying Text Without Hyphenation

Full justification without hyphenation causes gaping rivers of white space in your layout — especially in narrow columns. It’s ugly. It’s amateur. And it screams, “This was done in Word!”

🛠 Pro Fix: Enable hyphenation in your layout tool to balance the word spacing across lines.

❌ Mistake #3: Inconsistent Font Usage

Mixing Times New Roman for body, Arial for quotes, and some rogue Comic Sans for fun? Yikes. You want cohesive, not chaotic.

🛠 Pro Fix: Stick to 1–2 professional fonts. Standard book fonts include Minion Pro, Garamond, Baskerville, or Georgia. Use styles (italic/bold) sparingly and consistently.

❌ Mistake #4: Incorrect Margin and Gutter Settings

Margins matter. Gutters matter more. If your text is too close to the spine (the inside margin), your reader will have to crack the book open like a lobster tail just to read it.

🛠 Pro Fix: Follow your print-on-demand platform’s recommended margin + gutter settings. For example, KDP offers clear templates based on page count and trim size. Don’t guess.

❌ Mistake #5: Missing or Broken Page Elements

Ever seen a book with no running headers, orphaned chapter titles, or a half-baked Table of Contents? It breaks the flow and makes the book feel unfinished.

🛠 Pro Fix: Build your book with consistent headers, proper front/back matter, and page breaks between chapters. Bonus points for drop caps and styled chapter headings.

You’ve poured your soul into writing this book. Don’t let formatting trip you up in the final lap. These mistakes are common — but they’re avoidable with the right tools, templates, or help from someone who’s done this thousands of times.

Be sure to check out some of the books shown on our Past Projects page to see some beautiful design examples.

Need a Cover That Sells?

eBookBuilders has designed bestselling covers across every genre — with strategic layout, pro licensing, and genre-perfect vibes that hit the market sweet spot.
👉 Request a quote today and get a cover that works as hard as you do.

Also check out our Book Promotion Directory for trusted resources like book marketers, assistants, and awards.