Novel Marketing How to Format a Book with Vellum
Feb 11, 2026
Bryan Canter, an indie publishing consultant and experienced Vellum formatter, explains why Vellum makes interior book formatting approachable. Short segments cover preparing Word files, Vellum’s template editor and device previews, when to DIY versus hire a pro, handling images and TOCs, and limitations for complex layouts. Practical tips on quick updates, accessibility, and testing Vellum before paying a formatter.
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Client Advised To Buy A Mac For Vellum
- Bryan recommended a client buy a Mac just to use Vellum instead of paying for interior design.
- The client tried Atticus, struggled, and paid Bryan to format the book instead.
Template Guardrails Prevent Errors
- Vellum is template-based and applies industry-acceptable defaults that prevent many common design mistakes.
- The live preview shows left-side editing and right-side formatted output so changes are immediately visible.
Pick Vellum For Text-Heavy Books
- Use Vellum for typical novels, memoirs, and standard non-fiction where text dominates.
- Hire InDesign or a pro for complex layouts, textbooks, children's books, or heavily designed interiors.
