A print book is fixed: the page is the page. An eBook is different. The reader chooses the font, the size, the margins and the device, and the text has to adapt to all of it. That adaptability is what "reflowable" means, and it is the standard for most eBooks.
What reflowable means
In a reflowable eBook, the text flows to fit whatever screen it is on. If a reader makes the type bigger, the lines rewrap and the pages renumber. Nothing is fixed in place.
The standard file format for this is EPUB. It is accepted by most retailers and platforms, including Amazon KDP.
What a clean eBook file includes
- Structure from styles. Headings, chapters and paragraphs are marked up properly, not faked with spacing and bold type.
- A working table of contents. Readers can jump to any chapter, and the device's own navigation works.
- Sensible front and back matter. Cover, title page, copyright page, dedication, and links to your other books or your mailing list.
- Embedded metadata. The title, author, description and language are held in the file.
- Optimised images. Images are sized and compressed so that the file is small and loads quickly.
Common mistakes
- Using the tab key and blank lines. They look right in one place and wrong in another.
- Fixed font sizes and colours. They override the reader's settings and can make text hard to read, especially in night mode.
- Huge images. They bloat the file and can cause errors or slow loading.
- Links that do not work, or a contents page that is just a typed list.
- Converting from print. A print-style layout, with page numbers, running heads and hyphenation, does not belong in a reflowable eBook.
When reflowable is not the answer
Some books depend on their layout: picture books, cookery books and heavily illustrated books. For these, a fixed-layout eBook keeps pages exactly as designed, at the cost of flexibility. Many platforms handle this differently, so check the platform's rules and test thoroughly.
Test before you publish
Preview the file on more than one device and app, at different font sizes and in both light and dark modes. Look at the contents page, the chapter openings and any images or tables. Platforms usually provide a previewer, and it is worth using.
Accessibility in eBooks
A well-made eBook is easier for everyone to read, including readers who use screen readers or large type. Use real headings so that readers can navigate, add short descriptions to images that carry meaning, and set the language of the book in the file. Test the contents page and links, too.
Updating after publication
One advantage of an eBook is that you can correct it. If a reader reports a typo, fix the file and upload a new version. Keep your source file safe so that you can update the print and eBook editions together, and keep the details consistent with your metadata. For the print side, see choosing trim size, paper and finish, and for the full set of formats, paperback, hardback or eBook.
Where we come in
Our book formatting service prepares eBooks and print-ready files for your book, so that both editions look right and read well.
Want to know where your book stands?
Submit your manuscript for a free book review: the whole book, or at least the first three chapters. We'll read it and send you our feedback. There's no obligation.