How to Create A Book DIY

Have you ever wondered before: “Where do books come from?” or “How do people create a book?” When our children ask, it would probably take more than a day for us to explain how books land our favorite bookstores in multiple copies. While we try to explain each step, they will shoot another question, we will explain, and the cycle goes on. This article aims to guide you through making a book DIY from a blank page. Let’s embark on an intriguing journey!

The Guide to Create a Book

At an early age, all of us have tried making our own book. Compiled our drawings, scribbles, little notes, letters, and others. We have given some to our parents, grandparents, friends, relatives, classmates, teachers, and the rest of the people around us. We used to adore how we glued our notes together not realizing how messy it is until today.

During school years, we prepared projects in book form and compiled a thesis, and during Arts subjects, we were somehow asked to do one. Let us show our little ones how to make a book from scratch. Making your own book is also a nice way of giving a customized gift or preserving something that you want to keep long-term. Whatever it is, you can always prepare a printed copy for you. These are some guidelines for creating a book by yourself from layout, printing, and binding.

1. Content

Decide on the content of the book. It can be the following:

• family recipes
• school papers
• artworks
• short stories
• organizer
• baby’s growing-up photos
• thesis
• doodles
• memorabilia and others

2. Layout

You need to choose the size of your book. You can either use an A2 paper and fold it multiple times, or an A4 and fold it once. Ensure that pages will land in order. Note: Total pages should be multiple by 4’s.
There are some tools found on the net to help you lay out your books professionally. The simplest way is to create a book using Word. The trick is to use ‘book fold’ found in Page Layout.

3. Cover

They say, “First Impression Lasts.” Whether you will just keep the book at home, a customized gift or sell it online, always give time in preparing your book to have the best possible cover. You will never know where will it land or how many families will this reach. Make the title readable and achieve to have a catchy illustration.

4. Paper

Prior to printing, decide on the type of paper you will use. You need to do a little research and you will be surprised to find a lot of options to choose from. To narrow it down, decide whether it is going to be matte or glossy. Next is the thickness. Print shops may have limited types of paper, so better to check it first with them. If you do it at home, of course, there are several bond papers and specialty papers available in bookstores.

5. Front Cover

Front covers should be firm and thicker. Do you want your cover soft or hard? You will need the basic materials: cardboard, pen, scissors, ruler, cutter, cutting board, and clips

Tip: To make your books appear laminated, purchase some frosted stickers from Home Depot and wrap your covers for extra protection.

6. Binding

You have several ways how to bind your book.
Do it at home:

• stitching (a lot of ways or create your own)
• stapled (applies to small books)
• screw-post binding

Services offered in shops:

• saddle-stitching / stapled
• stapled
• ring bind
• wire or spiral binding
• glued
• perfect binding

Whether you will do this book binding at home or school, important to have adult supervision. When doing this in front of your kids, maintain a good distance from the pointy objects.

To Wrap up

After you finish the design of the printing version book, you can try to use Flip PDF Plus Pro and convert it into ebooks featuring page-turning effects and sound. Flip PDF Plus Pro is integrated with powerful tools that enable you to add media and hyperlinks to your publication. Enjoy and start making your first book!