Hey everyone! I’m working on my first book and I had this idea. What do you think about setting up my Google Docs page to look exactly like a real book page? I’m talking about matching the color and size of actual book pages.
I thought it might help me feel more inspired or get into the writing mood. But now I’m wondering if I’m going overboard. Is this a cool trick that other writers use? Or am I just wasting time on unnecessary details?
I’d love to hear your thoughts! Has anyone tried something similar? Did it help your writing process or was it more of a distraction? Thanks for any advice you can share!
I’ve actually tried this approach before, and I can share my experience. Initially, it felt exciting to see my work looking like a ‘real’ book, but it quickly became a double-edged sword.
On the positive side, it did provide a sense of accomplishment and motivation. However, I found myself constantly tweaking the layout, adjusting margins, and fiddling with fonts instead of focusing on the actual writing.
Moreover, when it came time to submit my manuscript, I had to strip all that formatting anyway. Publishers have their own specific requirements, and my carefully crafted ‘book-like’ document was essentially useless.
In the end, I learned it’s far more productive to use a clean, simple format and concentrate on the content. If you really want that ‘book feel’, I’d suggest treating yourself to a professionally formatted version once you’ve completed your first draft. It can be a great motivator to see your work in a polished state, but save it for when the hard work of writing is done.
I’d advise against formatting your manuscript to look like a book at this stage. While it might seem motivating, it can become a time sink and distract from the actual writing process. Focus on getting your ideas down and refining your narrative. Most publishers have specific formatting guidelines anyway, so any elaborate formatting you do now may need to be undone later. If you really want a book-like feel, consider using a distraction-free writing software that offers a clean, simple interface. This can give you a more immersive writing experience without the hassle of manual formatting. Remember, content is king - polish that first, and leave the aesthetics for later stages.
nah, don’t bother mate. just write ur book and worry about formatting later. i tried that once and spent more time messing with fonts than actually writing lol. focus on the story, thats what matters. publishers will handle the fancy stuff anyway