The Publishing Process

Once your students have completed their stories and illustration, the publishing process will begin.

How do I submit material for our book?

Option One: Pen & Publish will prepare your materials for publication using your electronic files submitted on-line, CD or disk. Here are the guidelines to prepare your files:

  • Save text in Rich Text Format (RTF), Microsoft Word or contact us for other options, including Mac.
  • All text should be saved as a single document (not individual files) and submitted in the order in which it is to appear in the finished book.
  • Organize the text, illustrations and advertisements in the order you want them to appear in your finished book: dedication, acknowledgements, foreword, Table of Contents, numbered sections or chapters, advertisements.
  • We will add the title and copyright page unless you prefer to do so.
  • We recommend Garamond or Century Schoolbook, 12 point as an excellent choice for the body text.
  • Headings may be bold, italics, all caps, larger and/or a different font than the main text.
  • Illustrations should be scanned at 300 DPI/PPI at the size in which they are to appear in the book: the standard size would be no larger than 4" x 7".
  • Save illustrations individually as grayscale JPG or TIF files.
  • Label each illustration file with a number indicating its order in the book, teacher's last name, and the student's name. For instance, the third graphic to appear in the book would be: 3SmithTCooper.tif.
  • Insert the file name surrounded by [brackets] as a place holder to show where you want it to appear in the book: [3SmithTCooper]
  • Captions may be included in [brackets] with file name: [3SmithTCooper "Teresa Cooper, 3rd grade, writing her story for the anthology project."]
  • Pen & Publish uses black and white or grayscale illustrations on all inside pages, unless you have contracted to print in full-color.*

(*Color interiors may be a higher cost option for shorter books. Contact us for details.

Option Two: Pen & Publish will type, scan and prepare your materials for publication.

  • Make sure the writing is double-spaced, easily legible, and you keep a copy of everything.
  • Include a list of all students per classroom in the same order their stories will appear in your book.
  • Identify author at the top of each page of the text and on the back of each attached illustration.
  • Gather all completed text, illustrations, and advertisements, if any.
  • Organize the text, illustrations and advertisements in the order you want them to appear in your finished book: dedication, acknowledgements, foreword, Table of Contents, numbered sections or chapters, advertisements.
  • Send all materials to Pen & Publish via a shipment method that requires a signature for delivery confirmation and a tracking number.

How do we submit cover material?

  • Covers are always full-color (unless you choose otherwise).
  • You may provide cover design ideas, photograph(s) or other art to be incorporated, as a digital file or on paper.
  • If you are providing optional front and/or back cover art, it should be in color, 300 DPI/PPI at the size it is to appear or larger. Pen & Publish will resize it as necessary.
  • Share this