Ebook Design & Publishing Course

Lesson 1 • Typography Basics for Ebooks

Introduces typeface selection, font embedding, and size scaling for digital reading. Establishes typographic standards used throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Core Design Principles for Screens

Applies visual hierarchy, contrast, and whitespace to screen-based reading. Grounds all subsequent design work in proven readability principles.

Lesson 3 • Reader Ecosystems and Devices

Maps major reading platforms, devices, and their rendering engines. Informs design decisions based on target audience hardware.

Lesson 4 • Planning Your Ebook Project

Defines scope, audience, and content structure before production begins. Prevents costly redesigns by establishing a clear project blueprint.

Lesson 1 • Working with Word Processors

Covers style-based formatting in common word processors for clean export. Directly prepares manuscripts for import into design and conversion tools.

Lesson 2 • Structuring Front and Back Matter

Defines required and optional front matter, back matter, and metadata fields. Proper structure ensures platform compliance and professional presentation.

Lesson 3 • Metadata and Document Properties

Embeds title, author, ISBN, and subject metadata into source files. Accurate metadata drives discoverability and platform ingestion accuracy.

Lesson 4 • Image and Media Preparation

Covers resolution, color mode, and file format requirements for embedded media. Prepares assets that render correctly across all target devices.

Lesson 1 • EPUB Validation and Error Fixing

Uses EPUBCheck and related validators to identify and resolve spec violations. Ensures files pass platform ingestion checks before submission.

Lesson 2 • CSS Styling for Reflowable EPUBs

Applies CSS rules scoped to EPUB constraints for consistent cross-device rendering. Builds the styling skills used in all subsequent EPUB work.

Lesson 3 • Converting Manuscripts to EPUB

Walks through automated and semi-automated conversion workflows from DOCX and HTML. Establishes efficient pipelines that minimize manual cleanup.

Lesson 4 • Editing EPUB Files Directly

Introduces EPUB editors for direct HTML and CSS editing inside the package. Enables precise control unavailable through automated conversion alone.

Lesson 1 • Interior Layout and Page Design

Designs chapter openers, pull quotes, sidebars, and decorative elements for interiors. Elevates readability and visual interest beyond plain text.

Lesson 2 • Color Theory for Digital Publishing

Applies color psychology, palette building, and contrast ratios to ebook design. Color decisions made here carry through cover and interior design work.

Lesson 3 • Working with Images and Infographics

Integrates photographs, charts, and custom infographics into ebook layouts. Teaches placement, captioning, and accessibility best practices.

Lesson 4 • Designing the Ebook Cover

Covers thumbnail legibility, genre conventions, and typography placement for covers. A strong cover is the primary sales asset for any ebook.

Lesson 1 • Layout Software for PDF Production

Introduces professional desktop publishing tools for building PDF ebook layouts. Establishes the production environment used throughout this chapter.

Lesson 2 • Typesetting Long-Form Content

Applies advanced typesetting rules to multi-chapter documents for professional output. Covers widow and orphan control, hyphenation, and optical margin alignment.

Lesson 3 • PDF vs. EPUB for Distribution

Compares PDF strengths and limitations against EPUB for various distribution channels. Guides format selection decisions for specific publishing scenarios.

Lesson 4 • PDF Optimization for Screen Reading

Reduces file size and configures reading view settings for on-screen PDF delivery. Optimized PDFs load faster and improve the reader experience.

Lesson 1 • Reading Order and Navigation

Configures logical reading order, skip navigation, and landmark navigation for assistive technology. Correct reading order is critical for screen reader users.

Lesson 2 • Accessibility Testing and Reporting

Uses automated checkers and manual screen reader testing to audit ebook accessibility. Produces an accessibility conformance report for platform submission.

Lesson 3 • Images, Tables, and Complex Content

Provides alt text, long descriptions, and accessible table markup for non-text content. Ensures all readers receive equivalent information regardless of ability.

Lesson 4 • Semantic Markup and ARIA Roles

Applies semantic HTML5 elements and ARIA landmark roles to EPUB content. Proper semantics enable screen readers to navigate and interpret content correctly.

Lesson 1 • Adding Hyperlinks and Navigation

Builds internal cross-references, external hyperlinks, and custom navigation menus. Enhances usability and connects related content within the ebook.

Lesson 2 • Embedding Audio and Video

Covers HTML5 audio and video embedding within EPUB3 content documents. Teaches fallback strategies for devices that do not support media playback.

Lesson 3 • Testing Interactive Ebooks

Validates interactive features across reading systems and devices before release. Systematic testing prevents broken experiences that damage reader trust.

Lesson 4 • Interactive Quizzes and Forms

Implements JavaScript-driven quizzes and fillable form elements in EPUB3. Adds learning reinforcement features valuable in educational ebooks.

Lesson 1 • Preparing Files for Platform Submission

Covers final file checks, cover spec compliance, and metadata completeness before upload. Submission-ready files reduce rejection rates and speed up publication.

Lesson 2 • Analytics, Updates, and Long-Term Strategy

Interprets platform sales dashboards and uses data to guide updates and future titles. Ongoing optimization extends the commercial life of every published ebook.

Lesson 3 • Ebook Launch Planning

Builds a pre-launch, launch-day, and post-launch action plan for maximum visibility. A structured launch plan drives early sales rank and reader reviews.

Lesson 4 • Major Ebook Distribution Platforms

Compares self-publishing platforms, aggregators, and direct sales channels by reach and terms. Platform selection directly impacts revenue and audience access.