How to Format a Google Doc Like a Book: A Step-by-Step Guide

Formatting your Google Doc like a professional book can make a huge difference whether you're self-publishing, sharing a manuscript, or creating an eBook. Google Docs is a powerful and accessible tool that lets you format your document with ease — no expensive software required.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how to format a Google Doc like a book , step-by-step. Plus, we’ll introduce you to Formswrite.com , a handy tool where you can convert your Google Docs into forms with just one click — perfect for gathering feedback or information related to your book project.

Step 1: Set Up Your Page Size and Margins

Books don’t usually use standard letter-size pages. To give your Google Doc a book feel:

1. Open your Google Doc.

2. Click File > Page setup .

3. Under Paper size , choose a book-friendly size like 6 x 9 inches (custom size).

4. Set margins to about 1 inch on all sides or customize based on your needs.

5. Click OK to save.

Step 2: Choose an Appropriate Font and Size

Books generally use readable serif fonts and a comfortable font size for long reads:

1. Highlight your text or select all (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A).

2. Choose fonts like Times New Roman , Garamond , or Georgia .

3. Set the font size to 11 or 12 pt .

4. For chapter titles or headings, use larger sizes and bold formatting.

Step 3: Format Paragraphs with Indentation and Spacing

Indenting paragraphs (instead of using line breaks) gives your book a polished look.

1. Select the body text.

2. Click Format > Align & indent > Indentation options .

3. Under Special indent , choose First line and set it to 0.5 inches .

4. Set Line spacing to 1.15 or 1.5 for easy reading ( Format > Line & paragraph spacing ).

5. Avoid extra space between paragraphs — this keeps it consistent with book formatting.

Step 4: Add Headers, Footers, and Page Numbers

Books usually have page numbers and sometimes chapter titles in headers or footers:

1. Click Insert > Headers & footers > Header or Footer .

2. Insert page numbers by selecting Insert > Page numbers .

3. Customize your headers/footers by adding book title, chapter name, or author name.

4. To start page numbering from a specific page (e.g., after the title page), use the Different first page option.

Step 5: Insert Chapter Breaks and Table of Contents

Organize your book clearly:

1. Add a page break at the end of each chapter ( Insert > Break > Page break ).

2. Use Heading styles (Heading 1 for chapters) to structure your document.

3. Create a Table of Contents by clicking Insert > Table of contents . This updates automatically based on your headings.

Bonus Tip: Convert Your Google Doc Into a Form for Feedback

Once your book is formatted, you might want to gather feedback or reviews. Here’s where Formswrite.com comes in.

Formswrite is a website (not a plugin) that lets you convert your Google Docs into interactive forms with a single click. Whether it’s for beta readers to submit feedback or for surveys related to your book, Formswrite makes the process seamless.

FAQ

Q1: Can I export my formatted Google Doc as an eBook? Yes! You can export your Google Doc as a PDF or download it as an EPUB file for eBook readers ( File > Download ).

Q2: Is Formswrite free to use? Formswrite offers various plans, including free and paid options, depending on your needs.

Q3: Can I customize headers and footers differently on odd and even pages? Google Docs currently has limited support for different odd/even page headers, but you can manually adjust for chapters.

Q4: Will formatting stay intact if I share the Google Doc? Yes, Google Docs preserves formatting across devices and platforms.