how do i create an ebook in adobe indesign without spending a $1k?

trusting my gut when converting an ebook in adobe indesign takes mindfulness

designing the book interior is one of my favorite parts of the process. it feels like decorating a house for characters i love. but getting stuck in indecision—fonts, styles, spacing—always drags me out of that joy. so i decided to stick to my instincts and make a plan.

i asked myself what kind of feeling i wanted readers to have. this book is a ya romance set in a strict, intense world, so i wanted a design that felt clean, elegant, and character-driven. the chapter titles are my characters’ names, which helped anchor the design in the story’s emotional core.

meditating before adobe indesign sessions

converting an ebook in adobe indesign starts with word

before indesign, i had to do the unsexy prep work. word isn’t glamorous, but it matters.

i cleaned up my manuscript, then split the book into individual chapter files. each one got renamed to match the chapter title. instead of “chapter-01.docx,” it became “01_zoey.docx,” “02_sebastian.docx,” and so on. since each chapter is tied to a specific character, the naming helped me stay organized.

i saved them all in a neatly labeled folder to stay organized before converting my ebook in adobe indesign. this made future-me grateful.

setting up my indesign template

this part is essential—even if it's not glamorous. interior designers are absolutely worth the money. and if you work with me, i can help you out. but i’m so glad i took the time to set up my own templates. here was my process:

step 1: start with a blank document

• opened adobe indesign

• selected file > new > document

• turned off “facing pages” (optional, depending on whether spreads are needed)

• set the trim size to 5.5 x 8.5 in

• added custom margins:

  • top: 45 pt

  • bottom: 60 pt

  • inside (binding edge): 72 pt

  • outside: 54 pt

step 2: set up the grids

• went to preferences > grids

• under baseline grid, set:

  • start: 0 pt

  • relative to: top margin

  • increment every: 14.5 pt

  • color: light grey (for visibility, without being distracting)

step 3: create paragraph and character styles

• body text (garamond, 11 pt, 1.4 line spacing)

• chapter titles

• running headers

• page numbers

• italic style (as a character style)

this setup saved me so much time when importing text.

step 4: build a parent page

• created a parent page for standard chapters

• placed the automatic page number using type > insert special character > markers > current page number

• added a text frame at the top for running headers (if needed)

step 5: save as a reusable template

• went to file > save as

• saved it as .indt (indesign template) instead of a regular .indd file

now, whenever i want to start a new project, i just open this template and save it as a new file.

optional extras

• created parent pages for character povs with unique header styles

• turned on smart text reflow under preferences > type

• kept my styles panel open like a safety blanket

paragraph + character styles

setting up paragraph and character styles saved me from chaos. i only had to do it once, and then everything just... flowed.

• body text

• chapter titles

• footers for page numbers

• italics

page numbers can lead to a lot of drama

this was probably the most frustrating part. my page numbers kept restarting at 1 in every chapter. i couldn’t figure out why—until i realized i had accidentally checked "start page numbering at 1" in the chapter template.

it took some digging, but i finally found the fix under numbering & section options in the book panel. once i unchecked that and selected “automatic page numbering”, everything lined up.

text variables: take them or leave them

i learned about text variables while watching this youtube video. it showed me how to automate chapter names and running headers using paragraph styles and file names. no more manual editing.

honestly, i only found them useful for chapter titles. when it came to building the epub, they didn’t help much.

final thoughts

i didn’t spend a thousand dollars. i didn’t hire a designer. i just kept going, made a ton of mistakes, drank too much wine, and figured it out. and i completed my second novel.

i would love to help others complete theirs—especially if they don’t want to do it alone. but if you’re like me, loving the word free and determined to tackle the whole publishing process solo, then i hope sharing my story helps you in some small way.

footnotes & resources

1. adobe indesign (official)https://www.adobe.com/products/indesign.html

2. how to speed up the styling process when working with long book documentshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN6gVGEiq0I

3. learn indesign for beginners (linkedin learning – free trial)https://www.linkedin.com/learning/indesign-2023-essential-training

ready to drop this into your blog, or want me to format it for a downloadable template or freebie too?