Submission Guidelines

Prepare your manuscript correctly for publication

To publish your book through Achievers Publishing, your manuscript must meet specific formatting requirements.

Correct formatting helps reduce production costs — savings we pass on to you.

If you are unsure about technical specifications, don’t worry. We can professionally format your manuscript for you.
View Our Interior Formatting Services

Step 1 — Review Your Manuscript Thoroughly

Before submitting:
  • Check spelling and grammar carefully
  • Ensure punctuation is correct
  • Confirm consistency in names, titles, and headings
  • Review structure and chapter flow
Please note:
As part of our standard publishing service, we do not spell-check or proofread submitted manuscripts.
If you require professional proofreading or copy editing, we can arrange third-party editing services.
View Professional Editing Service

Step 2 — Format Your Manuscript Correctly

Your manuscript must be formatted in the exact trim size you selected.
If you are unsure about trim size options:
  • View Black & White book sizes
  • View Colour book sizes
  • Contact us for custom size quotes

Page Setup Requirements

All manuscripts must meet the following:

  • Minimum margins: 15mm (Top, Bottom, Left, Right)

  • Gutter: 0mm

  • Headers and Footers: 15mm

  • Portrait orientation only

  • The book must end with at least two blank pages

Manuscript Format Rules

Your manuscript must:

  • Be submitted as one single file

  • Not be separated into multiple chapter files

  • Flow continuously from title page to final page

  • Use page breaks between chapters (not multiple files)

We must see how your manuscript flows from beginning to end in a single document.

Accepted File Formats

We accept manuscripts created in:

  • Microsoft Word (any version)

  • Microsoft Works

  • OpenOffice

  • RTF format

  • Adobe PDF

  • Adobe InDesign CS2

Basic Text Format Guidelines

You are free to format your book your way — but professional consistency improves results.

Consistency

  • Use consistent spelling and capitalization

  • Ensure the title and author name are spelled identically throughout

Chapter Breaks

  • End each chapter using a simple page break

Avoid Manual Page Layout

  • Do not insert manual page breaks within chapters

  • Word processors reflow text during formatting

  • Use double line spacing to indicate section pauses

Paragraph Formatting

  • Use tabs to indent paragraphs (not spaces)

  • Use only one space after punctuation

  • Do not manually hyphenate words

  • Allow automatic text wrapping

Punctuation

  • Punctuation typically falls inside quotation marks

  • Use en dashes (–) for number ranges or time spans

  • Use em dashes (—) or ellipses (…) to separate thoughts

  • Avoid excessive ALL CAPS text

Graphics & Images

What is a graphic?

A graphic is anything that is not text, including:
  • Photographs, Maps, Charts, Illustrations, Clip art and Background textures
Embedding Graphics (Microsoft Word)
Insert graphics directly into your manuscript:
Insert → Picture → From File → Select file
On Mac systems, ensure “Link to file” is NOT selected.

Accepted Image Formats

Preferred formats:

  • TIFF (.tif) — for scanned photos and grayscale images

  • EPS (.eps) — for vector graphics and charts

Accepted but not recommended:

  • BMP

  • GIF (low resolution)

  • JPEG (.jpg) (compressed; may reduce quality)

Image Resolution Requirements

For best print quality:

  • 300 dpi minimum for grayscale images and photos

  • 600 dpi for line art and color images

Image Size

Images must be submitted at the exact size they will appear in your book.

Do not rely on resizing during printing.

Need Help?

If your manuscript does not meet these specifications, we can professionally format it for you.

If you have questions, contact us before submitting your files.

Ready to submit your manuscript?
Submit Your Manuscript Book Free Consultation