Formatting for e-publication means converting your word file to an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) coded page. In HTML language:
- All headings are wrapped in Heading <h1> </h1> tags
- All Paragraphs are wrapped in <p></p> tags
The best to is to set your styles in your original Manuscript prior to conversion using the built-in styles.
HTML Terms:
Before we continue, there are a few HTML terms you should become familiar with when formatting your manuscript.
HTM or HTML: Hypertext Markup Language. The base coding for ebooks and Web pages.
XHTML: Extensive Hypertext Markup Language. It’s essentially HTML on mile steroids.
Opening and Closing Tags: Most HTML tags have an opening and closing tag such as <body> </body> or <p> </p>. XHTML, in some cases, allows for self closing tags such as <a id=anchor />.
Comment <!– COMMENT–> : Comment tags do no display on the final page, but remain hidden in the source code. Comment tags are a means to leave instructions within the code.
Heading Tag: This is commonly used for your Chapters. The size, position and style can be modified using a CSS style sheet. Heading and subhead tags include: <h1>, <h2>, <h3>, <h4>, etc.
Paragraph Tag: <p> </p>. Used to contain the content of the book.
Italic, Bold and Underline: These styles can easily be created by the built-in styles in the word processing program and are coded as: <b> BOLD </b> ; <i> Italic </i>; <u>Underline</u>. (note: <strong> may also be used for bold; <em> may also be used for Italic)
Built-in Styles
Most word processing programs have a built-in style feature. Use it. Especially the heading 1 tag for chapters. Don’t worry if it isn’t the right font, or looks too big and bulky. In fact, IGNORE how the built-in styles make your manuscript look – that is moot.
Remember, you aren’t designing the book, you are preparing the file for HTML conversion.
Chapter Headings: To set the Heading 1 tag highlight each chapter name and choose Heading 1 from the built-in styles. (To find the style menu for your program, refer to your user manual.)
Your final output in HTML should appear something like this:
<h1>Chapter 1</h1>
<p>My father was a St. Bernard, my mother was a collie, but I am a Presbyterian. That is why my mother told me, I do not know these distinctions myself.</p>
<p>To me they are only fine large words meaning nothing. My mother had a fondness for such; she liked to say them, and see other dogs look surprised and envious, as wondering how she got so much education.</p>
(Example from Mark Twain’s A Dog’s Life)
