Want to know how to brief a book designer without the back-and-forth that eats your launch week?
Send a messy Word file and say "make it pretty," and you will pay for twelve revision rounds. Send a tight brief, and you will get a quote you can trust and files that pass KDP or IngramSpark on the first try.
This is the exact checklist our team asks for—cover, interior, or both—whether you hire us or someone else.
Manuscript Status: Is the Text Actually Final?
Designers price and schedule around final page count. Every added chapter changes spine width, cover dimensions, and pagination.
Before briefing:
- Lock edits with your editor
- Confirm front matter (dedication, epigraph) is included
- Deliver one master file (.docx or .indd), not fifty chapter files
If you are still rewriting, stop. Design starts after text freeze. Our self-publishing timeline shows where design fits in the launch sequence.
Trim Size, Page Count, and Platform Targets
Include:
Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
Trim size (e.g. 6×9) | Cover template and margins |
Final page count | Spine width calculation |
Paper type (white/cream) | Spine formula differs on KDP vs IngramSpark |
Platforms (KDP, IngramSpark, both) | Separate file specs may be required |
If you need both KDP and IngramSpark, say so upfront. See IngramSpark vs KDP and spine width calculation.
Genre References and Comp Covers
Send 3–5 comp titles in your subgenre—not your favorites from other genres. Note what you like: typography, color palette, photo vs illustration.
Also send what to avoid: "No stock photos of women in dresses for business book," "No neon sci-fi fonts for historical fiction."
USA authors: mention if you target bookstore distribution (IngramSpark setup).
UK authors: note if you need British English typography conventions (quotation marks, spelling on cover).
Cover Copy and Legal Assets
Provide:
- Final title and subtitle (exact punctuation)
- Author name as it should appear
- Back cover blurb (under 200 words ideal)
- Author bio and photo if used
- Barcode area: leave empty; designer reserves lower-right back cover
- ISBN if assigned (required for IngramSpark)
Do not embed the barcode yourself unless you know the exact trim and bleed.
Interior Preferences for Formatters
Specify:
- Heading hierarchy (chapter titles, parts)
- Ornament style (simple rule vs fleuron)
- Font preferences or "match genre standard"
- Image count and whether any bleed to edge
- Special elements: poetry stanzas, recipes, code blocks
For poetry, link to our poetry formatting guide. For children's books, see picture book formatting.
The Takeaway
A good brief respects everyone's time—yours and your designer's. Bring a frozen manuscript, trim specs, comp covers, back cover copy, and a clear list of platforms (KDP, IngramSpark, or both).
That is enough for us to quote accurately and hit deadlines. Request a quote · Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
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