Stage 4: Format
Design, Illustration & Layout
Once your words are on the page, it’s time to make them visually appealing. This stage helps you find tools and services for formatting your book interior, designing an eye-catching cover, and creating illustrations or layout designs that bring your work to life. Whether you're self-publishing or preparing a traditional submission, these resources help you present your writing professionally.
Book Design & Formatting Tools
Once your manuscript is written, it’s time to make it publish-ready. These tools help with interior layout, cover design, ebook conversion, and visual polish. Whether you’re DIY-ing or preparing files for a designer, these resources will save time and boost professionalism.
Atticus
All-in-one book writing and formatting software for print and ebook. User-friendly and ideal for indie authors who want control over layout.
https://www.atticuspublishing.com/affiliate-program
Beacon
Turn blog posts into lead magnets, ebooks, and downloadable content with easy templates and automation.
https://www.beacon.by/affiliates
Blurb
Print-on-demand book creation software for photography books, children’s books, cookbooks, and more. Includes built-in design tools and integration with Ingram.
https://www.blurb.com/affiliate-program
Book Design Templates
Pre-made interior templates for Word and InDesign, created by professional designers. Saves time for authors formatting on a budget.
https://www.bookdesigntemplates.com/affiliates/
Canva
Create professional-looking book covers, social media graphics, and marketing materials using drag-and-drop templates and branding tools.
https://www.canva.com/affiliates
Designrr
Transform blog posts or documents into stylized ebooks, PDFs, lead magnets, and reports. Great for repurposing content.
https://designrr.io/affiliates
Reedsy Book Editor
Free online tool for writing, formatting, and exporting beautiful print-ready files. Offers typesetting for ebooks and print books.
https://reedsy.com/write-a-book
Vellum
Mac-only software known for elegant formatting and clean typography for ebooks and print books. Especially popular among fiction authors.
https://vellum.pub
Illustration & Art Tools
Whether you’re creating a children’s book, graphic novel, or just need custom artwork for your author brand, these tools help you design, draw, or source illustrations that elevate your book’s visual appeal.
Adobe Illustrator
Industry-standard vector design software used for illustrations, logos, and book cover art. Best for professional designers or those hiring illustrators.
https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html
Astute Graphics
Plugin suite that enhances Adobe Illustrator’s capabilities—great for illustrators and graphic designers working on books or merchandise.
https://astutegraphics.com/affiliate
BookBrush
Drag-and-drop platform for creating book mockups, promotional graphics, and 3D book visuals—no design skills needed.
https://bookbrush.com/affiliate-program/
Clip Studio Paint
Digital illustration software built for manga, comic, and children’s book artists. Offers pen pressure simulation, frame-by-frame animation, and more.
https://www.clipstudio.net/en/affiliate
Creative Market
Marketplace for illustrations, design assets, fonts, and templates. Ideal for authors creating custom marketing graphics or children’s content.
https://creativemarket.com/partners
DesignCrowd
Crowdsourced design platform where authors can commission book covers, illustrations, and character artwork through global talent.
https://www.designcrowd.com/affiliate-program
Fiverr
Hire illustrators for children’s books, logos, or covers. Browse portfolios, set your budget, and get illustrations tailored to your vision.
https://affiliates.fiverr.com/
Pixarra
Digital painting tool with natural brushes and custom canvas features. Great for fantasy, abstract, or watercolor-style artwork.
https://www.pixarra.com/affiliate-program.html
Procreate
Popular iPad app for hand-drawn digital illustrations. Used by professional artists and children's book illustrators for stylus-based sketching and painting.
https://procreate.com
