If you're having any trouble or questions on uploading your novel to CreateSpace to get your free winner's proof copy, here are some step-by-step directions to help. If you have any other questions, feel free to shoot me an email (ml-michelle@chiwrimo.org).
Step One: Title Information
1. Title: What is your novel called?
2. Subtitle: Optional; if your story is called “Emma: A Novel”, then “A Novel” might be your subtitle.
3. Volume Number: Optional.
4. Description: A short summary of your book, for potential readers.
5. ISBN: CreateSpace will automatically assign an “ISBN-13/EAN-13".
6. Imprint Name: Create Space will automatically assign an Imprint Name.
7. BISAC Category: This will likely be either “Fiction” or “Juvenile Fiction”, and then a sub-category beneath that (romance, drama, fantasy, action/adventure, etc).
You can skip the next section, as this is used for publishing on Amazon.com.
8. Authored By: The author’s name as it will appear on the cover.
Step Two: Physical Properties
This is where things start to get tricky. You will need to format your novel to match CreateSpace’s submission standards.
1. Interior Type: Black and White
2. Trim Size: Choose how big or small they want their book to be. 5” x 8” is an average paperback size. Trim Size is the size of your final book after it is printed, bound, and trimmed. Trim sizes are always indicated as width by height in inches. For example, a trim size of 6 x 9 means the printed book will be six inches wide and nine inches tall.
The tricky part: Once you choose a Trim Size, you must format your typed novel to match this size!
3. Open your novel in Microsoft Word (or a similar program).
4. Select the “Page Layout” option.
5. Select the “Size” option.
6. Select “More Paper Sizes”
7. You will want to edit the size of your page to match the size you selected as your Trim Size. For example, Width: 5”, Height: 8”.
8. Go to File, Save As, and select to save your novel as a “PDF”.
9. Voila, you now have your novel ready to upload to CreateSpace!
Head back over to the Create Space website.
10. Number of pages: this is the number of pages in your saved PDF document, NOT your Microsoft Word document!
11. Paper color: White or Cream
Step Three: Upload Files
1. Book Interior: Here is where you will upload the PDF that you just created.
2. Book Cover: You have two options here. You can either use the Easy creator and design a cover using CreateSpace, or the Advanced creator, where you can use a picture of your own choosing, uploaded as a PDF.
Step Four: Sales Channel Management
1. List Price: You will need to edit this price to match the minimum publish-at price (which will be listed below the box). You do NOT have to publish or sell this novel on Amazon.com!
Step Five: Review Setup
Here is where your final review takes place. Check to make sure everything looks good, then submit your novel! NOTE: CreateSpace will review your novel to make sure everything is in order, and then will contact you when you are ready to order your free copy! This may take 1-2 days.
Once you are approved, you can enter your winner’s code and have your free copy delivered to your door!
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Michelle
ML for Chicago, IL
Moderator, "Character & Plot Realism" forum
ml-michelle AT chiwrimo.org
