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The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Book Business » Page 18

Book Business

What is a Book’s Trim Size?

By Steve Laubeon June 13, 2016
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Trim size is one of those terms we use frequently when talking about the dimensions of your printed book.

The term comes from the fact that during the printing process the pages of the book first printed on large sheets which are folded, glued, and later “trimmed” to a specific size. (This linked video shows the entire book printing process.) Go to your shelf and pull down a few titles and measure the page dimensions to see a physical example of what is described below.

There aren’t any hard and fast “rules” about what size a book should be. It is determined by many factors, almost too numerous to explain. But there are some general guidelines and terms.

Below I’ll list the publisher jargon that describes this particular trim size. Then will be the dimensions of that book. The first number is the short side measurement the second number is the tall or long-side measurement. This is the measurement of the paper. A hardcover book has a cover that is a little bit larger than the trim size of the paper.

Mass Market – 4-1/4” x 7”
These are the ones you might see in the grocery store checkout line or in an airport store. Years ago special racks and shelves were built specifically for this size. It suggested an inexpensive version of a book. Most often this is used in the fiction category.

Recently this trim size has been affected by the rise of ebooks. Fewer titles are done in mass market.

Book contracts often have a separate royalty rate for this trim size since the retail price is lower and in many cases the book can be returned to the publisher by simply tearing the cover off and returning that stripped book cover. It is called “Strip Cover Returns.”

Trade Paperback – ranges from 5-1/2” x 8 1/2″ to 6” x 9”
This is the go-to trim size for most paperbacks in today’s market. Fiction tends toward the 5 1/2” x 8 1/2″ size, but not always.

This 5.5” x 8.5” size is also efficient because it is the dimension of a regular piece of paper folded in half.

The larger 6” x 9” for some publishers is the default for textbooks or certain types of non-fiction.

There are times were the larger trim size is an advantage because there is more “real estate” for the content to fit. Thus you can keep the content the same but use fewer pages to print, which costs less money. There is a minor difference in cost between 6×9 and 5.5×8.5.

Manuals or Workbooks – 8 1/2″ x 11”
This is a common trim size because each page is like a regular sheet of paper. The only problem for this is in a brick-and-mortar store. Bookstore shelves are only 10 inches high. Thus workbooks are either placed on their side in the shelf or stuck on the top corner; making them hard to find later.

A number of smart publisher realized this and use a 7” x 9” trim size for work books.

Other Trim Sizes
I can hear you saying “But I have book that are very different from any of these mentioned!” There are no rules per se. Gift books, Children’s books, devotionals, etc can take almost any form. For example, I have a Bible Timeline book in my office that is 17 1/2″ x 14” with fold out pages.

The only limitation is the creativity of the publisher!

Who Decides the Trim Size?

Early in the publishing process the acquisitions editor talks to marketing and sales to discuss trim size, especially if something a little different than normal will be used.

In my days at Bethany House I experimented with non-fiction books printed using a 6” x 8 1/2″. We had been told that 6×9 would not work with the racks in grocery stores and airport spin racks. So we “trimmed” a half inch off the long side and they fit! We were able to place a number of significant non-fiction titles in those racks because of that trim size choice.

Your Turn:

Share with us the trim size mix of books on one of the shelves in your library. Are they mostly 5.5 x 8.5 trade paperback? Or something else?

 

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Category: Book Business, The Publishing LifeTag: Book Business, The Publishing Life, Trim Size

Writing to Men

By Dan Balowon May 24, 2016
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In Christian publishing, since most readers are women, Christian books for men are treated as a niche market. Women are the primary market worthy of the most focus, and men are an afterthought if they are thought of at all. Publishing is a business and it doesn’t make sense to publish foolishly. Some publishers don’t publish books where the only market is a man. As a result, many authors write for …

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Category: Book Business, Branding, Craft, Creativity, The Publishing Life, Trends, Writing CraftTag: Book Business, Men, The Publishing Life

It’s Never One Thing

By Dan Balowon May 3, 2016
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Somewhat of a follow-up to last week’s post on the future being a complex mix of everything rather than one magic solution, today we will focus on authors and what it takes to make a successful writing career. Like everything else in life, it is never one thing. Success is always a result of a variety of things that came together to make it work. The same is true for something considered …

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Category: Book Business, CareerTag: Career, Success

It’s All About The Reader

By Dan Balowon April 26, 2016
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No matter the issue, everyone is on the lookout for the one new thing that will make everything that preceded it obsolete and make their lives simpler and better. The miracle pill, the new technique, the new technology, the killer-app, the new diet, plug in whatever new, shiny thing you like and life will be better because of it. The reason we look for the one thing is the feeling that if only all …

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Category: Book Business, The Publishing LifeTag: readers, The Publishing Life

Days The Writing Stopped

By Dan Balowon April 19, 2016
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Four hundred years ago this week, it was a sad time in the history of literature. April 22-23, 1616 the two most important writers in Spanish and English history died. First, Miguel de Cervantes, best known for Don Quixote passed away. He had a substantial and lasting imprint on the Spanish language. He wrote novels, plays and poetry, making Spanish one of the “romance” languages of the world. The …

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Category: Book Business, Publishing HistoryTag: Publishing History

Gilead Publishing is Announced!

By Steve Laubeon April 18, 2016
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It is very exciting when some good news happens in our industry. We’ve talked so much about bankruptcies and industry challenges that we also need to celebrate when the good stuff comes along. Today is the official first day of a newly formed Christian publishing company called Gilead Publishing. The CEO is Bill Giarratana, the President and Publisher is Dan Balow, and the Vice President of …

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Category: Book Business, New Book Releases, News You Can UseTag: Gilead Publishing, Publishing News

Enjoying the Journey of Publishing

By Dan Balowon April 12, 2016
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The issue of competition requires regular reminders to everyone who is currently working or desires to be part of the book industry, so I am walking in the same footsteps of previous posts. An element of competition is involved in every aspect of publishing, down to the smallest detail. One need not be obsessed or discouraged by the competitive environment, rather the opposite, with eyes wide …

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Category: Book Business, Career, Platform, The Writing LifeTag: competition, The Writing Life

Is Book Publishing Fair?

By Dan Balowon March 29, 2016
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Anyone who has been around young children has heard their cry of protest, “That’s not fair,” when some sort of consequence is meted out for misbehavior. In reality, what is being objected to is fairness, as consequences were spelled out ahead of time and known to all. Parent: “One more word about this and you will go to bed without dinner.” Child: “Word.” Parent: “OK, to your room you go…no …

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Category: Book Business, Career, Contracts, Get Published, Marketing, The Publishing LifeTag: publishing, The Publishing Life

The Credibility Gap

By Dan Balowon March 22, 2016
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This was a tough post to write. I felt at times that I was arguing with myself on these issues, but maybe in today’s “journey” through the topic of author credibility you will sense the struggle that Christian authors confront and maybe some truth with be revealed in the process. If you were a mathematics professor at a junior college and had a revolutionary insight related to something about …

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Category: Book Business, Career, Platform, The Publishing LifeTag: Career, Credentials, The Publishing Life

2020, Planning a Publishing Odyssey

By Dan Balowon March 15, 2016
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Books are the slowest and least “current” form of communication. News or short-turnaround events are best covered in articles carried in media that can reach an audience quickly. Sure, a book about the Super Bowl can be slammed together with pictures in a few weeks, but it won’t win any awards for literary quality. Indie publishing has given the impression to many authors that the seemingly …

Read more2020, Planning a Publishing Odyssey
Category: Book Business, The Publishing Life, TrendsTag: The Publishing Life, Trends
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