DIY Book Design & Formatting Bundle
Hundreds of easy-to-use book cover design and formatting templates for every genre — design like a pro and finally publish with confidence.
Watch PromoChoose a cover layout. Make it your book.
You have a manuscript to publish. Now you need a cover that fits its genre, an interior that is comfortable to read, and a way to make changes without starting from scratch.
The DIY Book Design & Formatting Bundle gives you 150 editable Word cover templates: 80 fiction and 70 nonfiction designs, formatting downloads, and five courses to guide you through the work. Choose a design close to what you need, then adapt the image, title and typography for your book.
The value is having both a starting point and the explanation behind it. When a title is hard to read or the cover feels wrong for its genre, the design lessons help you understand what to change.
Start with the files and lessons included now. You can explore the online cover editor, cover generator and mockup tools separately; check each tool for its current access and usage options.
You Wrote the Book — Now Make It Look Like a Bestseller
You did the hard part. You finished your manuscript.
Now it’s time to make sure readers actually want to pick it up.
Here’s the secret most indie authors don’t realize:
great design sells books before anyone ever reads a single word.
Whether you’re publishing your first novel, a nonfiction guide, or an entire series, a professional look isn’t optional — it’s the difference between getting ignored and getting noticed.
But hiring designers for every format and version can cost thousands.
So I built something better.
Help the right reader recognize your book.
Your cover gives readers their first clues about genre, tone and quality. Learn how to make those clues work together, then carry that care through the interior.
95% of what people consider "book marketing" actually happens before you publish.
It's the branding, packaging and positioning that makes the biggest difference in a book's performance. If you're not a designer, you're bound to make critical newbie mistakes (and professional book design can be prohibitively expensive.) Your book design is crucial to your book's success. Don't take chances with yours.
A poorly designed book will get you blacklisted from bookstores and be rejected by readers before they even know what it's about. Shoddy book design will ruin your first (and only) impression. Instead of a calling card, it'll become a visual assault and have readers clawing at their eyes (not good).
If readers don’t pick up (or click) your book because the cover doesn’t appeal to them, they’ll never read a single word of your story!
But I have good news - now there’s an easier way to make great looking books, without any fancy software or design skills. Grab this bundle of book design and publishing courses, and get everything you need to DIY your book design.
Want in already? Great, click the button below. If not, keep reading to see what's included.
Build the skills you can use on your next book, too.
- Choose images and type that fit your genre.
- Make the title readable at thumbnail size.
- Work from an editable layout instead of a blank page.
- Prepare a consistent interior for print or ebook.
- Create book graphics for your website and promotions.
Start with one template and one task. The included courses explain the decisions behind the design, so you can keep improving it.
What is included
#1: BOOK FORMATTING TEMPLATES
Want your book to stand out, attract readers and sell more copies? These book formatting templates have over 100 options to make your book beautifully unique, a package of genre-specific templates, and a whole new video series on book formatting that's more in-depth and easier to follow. These templates will help you format your book for print and ebook, and give you total control, so you don't have to ask a designer every time you need to make simple changes to your book.
For indie authors doing their own cover and interior
Start your cover from a layout that already fits your genre. Finish it in Word.
150 editable cover templates for Microsoft Word, interior templates in Word and InDesign, and five courses, including the cover and formatting lessons that show you what to change and why. The files are yours, so when you find a typo or want a new edition, you fix it yourself.
- 80 fiction and 70 nonfiction cover layouts you edit in Word
- Interior templates in Word and InDesign, with lessons for print and ebook
- 3D mockups, sell sheets and ad images for your launch
- Five self-paced courses: cover design, formatting, self-editing and book marketing
No Photoshop needed. If you have Microsoft Word, you can open the cover templates.
What authors and publishing pros say
Derek really is the go-to guy on book cover designs. I was extremely excited when I heard he had made his own system and after checking it out, he didn't disappoint. This is clearly the best complete package on book designs I have ever come across.
Derek has been designing amazing, professional covers for my own books for the last three years, and I can recommend his design skills highly. He has now taken those skills and turned them into an easy-to-use set of templates and guides so authors can design their own DIY covers for a reasonable price. Plus there are some brilliant bonuses that will help authors even more.
When I hired someone to format my first book, it was an epic fail. Then I got Derek's DIY templates and was able to teach myself. Now I do all my own formatting and I can't imagine not being able to make quick changes to my books whenever I need to.
Why homemade covers get skipped
Readers aren't judging your art. They're checking the genre.
Someone scrolling a page of thumbnails is asking one quick question: is this the kind of book I like? A romance reader, a thriller reader and a business reader are all looking for different signals, in the fonts, the image, the colors and where the title sits.
Most homemade covers miss in the same few places: a font that belongs to another genre, a title you can't read at thumbnail size, too many things fighting for attention, or a stock photo other authors have already used.
I learned this the hard way. I made my own cover for my first self-published book. I spent months on it, and it was busy and hideous. I've designed hundreds of covers since, and these templates are the shortcut I wish I'd had: the genre signals are already built in, and you make the changes that make it yours.
Already have my free templates?
Don't risk the same cover as everyone else.
My six free Word templates are a good way to see how this works, and they've been downloaded thousands of times. That's also why I wouldn't publish one with only the title changed: there's a real chance another book out there looks the same.
The bundle gives you 150 layouts, 80 fiction and 70 nonfiction, so you can start from one that's close to your genre and the shape of your title. Then swap in your own licensed image and fonts until it looks like your book and nobody else's.
I'm all for indie authors saving money and taking control, and owning the file is the control part. Fix a typo, add a review quote or update the cover for a new edition, without paying someone each time.
What you get
Everything for the outside and the inside of your book
It all lives in my Teachable school. Sign in, download the files, and use the lessons when you reach each step.
150 editable cover templates for Microsoft Word
80 fiction and 70 nonfiction layouts. Open one in Word, change the title and author name, replace the image and adjust the fonts. The download also has a quickstart guide (including how to make a cover from scratch), a cheat sheet, a guide to the full print cover with the spine and back, and design extras like gradients, seals and stickers.
Interior templates and DIY Book Formatting
Word and InDesign templates for the inside of the book, plus the formatting course: lessons on formatting in Word or InDesign, making the ebook for Kindle and epub, poetry, children's and coloring books, and a 27-minute video on free font pairs.
3D mockups, sell sheets and ad images
3D book mockup templates in Google Slides, plus sell sheets and ad and social images, so you can show the finished book on your website and in your posts.
Cover Design Secrets that Sell
The basics of cover design, common myths, a crash course, how to design a cover in MS Word, and two Photoshop lessons on fiction covers, if you use Photoshop.
Three more courses
- How to Self-Edit Your Book: whether you need an editor, good writing vs. good story, and my editing process.
- Reader Seduction (Your First 1000 Fans): building an email list, from your signup offer to setting up MailerLite.
- Reach Your Readers (Original): my first book marketing course, on author platforms and getting your book in front of readers.
Made with the templates
Books authors made with my templates
Two finished books from authors who used my templates.
Training wheels, not finished covers
These templates are training wheels to get you started. Don't publish one as-is: you'll still need to find your own art or photographs, then change the layout until it fits your book.
How it works
Pick a layout. Make it yours. Match the inside.
- Pick a layout close to your genre.Browse the 150 templates and choose one with the mood and title shape that fits your book. Save a copy before you change anything.
- Make it yours.Swap in your title, a properly licensed image and fonts that suit your readers. The cover lessons show you what to change and why.
- Match the inside.Format the interior with the Word or InDesign templates, export your print PDF and ebook, and check them against your publishing service's current specs before you order a proof.
More from authors
What authors say about the templates and tutorials
Derek Murphy is simply the best in the cover design world. I'm a co-founder of a publishing company and recently hired a new cover designer. The first "training" I did was to take him directly to Derek's portfolio to show him what I thought to be the gold standard of cover design. To be able to get a lot of Derek's secret sauce with his DIY book cover templates is a no-brainer. Do it!
Following Derek Murphy's cover tutorial is akin to peeking over the shoulder of a design master. I could hardly believe that it was possible to create a cover myself. I am not a graphic designer - far from it - but in the end, I felt that I had created a cover that was workable. Give Derek's tutorial a try. At the very least, it can help you see what's important in cover design.
The customizable templates and clear instructions enable DIY authors to create an unending supply of gorgeous book covers. I'm really impressed both with the templates themselves, and how using them makes me feel like a rockstar designer, even though I've had absolutely no formal training. I'm saving a ton of money on cover design and am not beholden to anyone else's schedule.
After watching Derek's extremely helpful (and easy to understand) book formatting tutorial videos, I was able to put out a finished paperback that looked amazing using nothing but Word and a PDF editor. Highly recommended for all authors wanting a clean, professional looking paperback without wanting to break the bank hiring someone to do it for you.
Derek Murphy's book formatting templates are a like a lighthouse in a sea storm of confusion that is associated with creating a novel. I watched the detailed easy to follow videos to format my novel. I can't be happier with the result.
Is this for you?
It's a good fit if
- You have Microsoft Word and you're happy to swap in your own image and try a few fonts.
- You want to fix a typo or update the cover later, without paying someone every time.
- You're doing the inside of the book yourself too, in Word or InDesign.
- You plan to publish more than one book. The files and lessons are there for the next one too.
Skip it if
- You'd rather hand the whole job to a designer. My cover design service is at creativindiecovers.com.
- You don't have Word. The cover templates are Word files.
- You want a finished cover with no changes. These are templates, not premade covers, so you still need your own licensed image.
Who made these
Hi, I'm Derek Murphy.
I put myself through grad school (PhD in Literature) as an editor, and then as a book cover designer. Before that I was a fine artist, studying classical realism in Italy. A few of the covers I've designed have hit the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.
I made these templates in Microsoft Word on purpose, because it's the software most authors already have on their computer. They aren't a perfect solution, but they've helped hundreds of authors make a cover they're proud of.
Questions
Before you buy
Do I need Photoshop or other design software?
No. The cover templates are Microsoft Word files, so you need Word. The interior templates come in Word and InDesign versions, so use whichever you have. The bundle doesn't include a software license. Cover Design Secrets also has two Photoshop lessons, if you use it.
Will I have the same cover as another author?
Not if you make it yours. These are templates, not premade covers. You still need to find your own art or photo, and once you've changed the image, the title and the fonts, the design is yours. Even just getting the right text, spacing and fonts can make a huge difference.
Will these work for print books?
It's possible to make print books with these templates, with a back and spine, but it's not easy. There's a guide to the full print cover in the download, and I'll help as much as I can. If you get stuck, you can hire a designer to finish the job. The front cover is the most important part, and lots of designers will make a spine and back for under $50.
Will this work for me?
I'll be honest, book design and formatting can be complicated, and there is a learning curve. Doing your own book design means you can publish faster and cheaper, with more control. But if you just have one book and want it to be successful out of the gate, you might want to look for a professional book designer. If you're determined to do it yourself, my resources and videos will walk you through it step by step. And if they don't work for you, email support within 30 days for a full refund.
What happens after I buy?
Sign in to the school with the email you used at checkout. If Teachable emails you a sign-in code, check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive. Start with the welcome lesson, then download the cover templates or go straight to the formatting lessons.
How long do I have access?
Lifetime access to the files and lessons in the bundle, on any device you own. Come back to them when you start your next book.
Are the videos up to date?
Some videos and guides show older versions of Word and older publishing platforms. The design steps still apply, but always follow your publishing service's current specifications and check a proof before you order copies.
I already own Guerrilla Publishing or one of these courses. Do I need this?
Maybe not. Guerrilla Publishing includes the formatting course, Cover Design Secrets that Sell, Reader Seduction and Reach Your Readers (Original). Check your course dashboard before you buy, so you don't pay twice.
What if it isn't right for me?
You're covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Email support within 30 days of your purchase and you'll get a full refund.
The offer
Your next cover doesn't have to start with a blank page.
Pick a layout that already looks like your genre, make it yours in Word, and format the inside to match. When the next book comes along, the files and the lessons are still there.
30-day money-back guarantee
Open the templates, try a couple, watch the lessons. If the bundle isn't what you needed, email support within 30 days of your purchase and you'll get a full refund.
DIY Book Design & Formatting Bundle
- 150 Word cover templates: 80 fiction, 70 nonfiction
- Quickstart guide, cheat sheet and full print cover guide
- Word and InDesign interior templates
- 3D mockups, sell sheets and ad images
- Five courses, including Cover Design Secrets that Sell and DIY Book Formatting for Print and Ebook
- Self-paced, with lifetime access
List price
$197One payment, lifetime access
Get the templatesArrived from one of my emails or sites with a discount code? It's applied at checkout, even if a button on this page still shows $197, and you'll see your total before you pay.
On their own, the formatting course lists at $47 and Cover Design Secrets at $87. Both are in the bundle.
#2: COVER DESIGN TEMPLATES
These templates were made in Microsoft Word (crazy, right?). The idea was to use a software most authors already have on their computer. They aren't a perfect solution, but they have helped hundreds of authors create a cover they're proud of. Travel writer Gabi Logan used my templates to create her book, and look how great it turned out! Author Femi Oyewopo also sent me some pictures of a business book he published recently using my templates.
These templates are not premade covers - they are training wheels to get you started, but should not be used "as-is." You'll still need to find your own art or photographs. For years I've wanted to create something even better, so I'm building an online cover design tool as well; it's not ready yet, but when it launches I'll build a new round of templates you can access.
New templates coming soon!
OK so here's the cool stuff... I've spent at least 7 years and about $25K trying to build an online cover design tool, and it's finally almost finished. This will let me make amazing cover design templates, much better than what I could do in MS Word, but with a free online cover design tool so you can just open a template and make changes.
I'll be selling each genre package individually once they're all ready, and the total costs will be over $1000 - but I always planned to give everything to the people who bought (even years) earlier, because I've been talking about it so long. So in this course bundle, not only do you get all the original stuff, but you'll automatically be grandfathered in to all the exciting new tools I'll be launching over the next year.
Quick rant: all graphic design tools, even Canva, can't handle really complex designs, like what you need for a great scifi or fantasy cover, because you need to learn to blend images and photomanipulation. Also, photoshop is expensive and hard to learn. My tool has everything you need to make really masterful covers, and I'll be making a ton of templates with pre-built fonts and text effects.
"I just wanted to say thank you. The content you put out all the time is incredibly generous, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without having learned how to make a cover in Microsoft Word with one of your tutorials!"
"Don't ever take me off your email list. You are helping me tremendously with all the info on your website and videos. If it wasn't for your help, It would have been impossible for me to self-publish my first book. Thanks so much!"
"I'm a longtime follower; you helped me sell tens of thousands of copies of my debut self-published trilogy. So firstly, thank you for being a wealth of knowledge and inspiration."
"I just wanted to thank you for your amazing videos, they have helped me immensely. Your voice is so calm, so kind and ENCOURAGING, and I have learned so much from you. Following your advice, my book reached the top 100 in paid Kindle books overall, it was number 84 I believe or something, which I'm so grateful for."
Derek Murphy is simply the best in the cover design world. I'm a co-founder of a publishing company and recently hired a new cover designer. The first "training" I did was take him directly to Derek's portfolio.
Matt Stone ArchangelInk
Derek, thank you again for spending some time on the Will It Fly stuff - it's been a crazy journey and we're almost ready to launch! I can't express how much your designs helped in shaping the conversation around what the book cover eventually turned into. Thank you, seriously, for your help.
Pat Flynn Smart Passive Income
One of the most critical things for the success of a book is a cover design that catches the eye and makes the reader want to try it. Derek designed several professional covers for my own books and I can recommend his design skills highly.
Joanna Penn TheCreativePenn
#3: 3D GRAPHICS FOR ONLINE PROMOTION
Brand new templates for social media marketing, featured blog images, branded platforms, new release countdowns, teasers and more!
A practical starting point for doing it yourself
A template gets you past the blank page. The lessons help you make decisions about the image, type and layout, so you can adapt the design rather than simply drop your title into a box.
You keep the editable files and can return to them for another book. Start with the cover resources; use the formatting and marketing courses when you reach those stages. There is no need to work through the whole library before making your first design.
This is a good fit if you want control of your files and are willing to spend time learning. If you want someone to design the book for you, a done-for-you service is a different purchase.
Keep control of your files and your budget.
If you enjoy making things yourself, learning the basics of cover design and formatting gives you more freedom to experiment, make corrections and prepare another edition.
You still need to choose suitable artwork, adapt the layout and check the finished files. The bundle gives you templates and guidance for that work. A professional designer remains an option when you need a custom result or would rather hand the job over.
★ INCLUDED BONUS ★
SPECIAL BONUS: BOOK MARKETING
If your book is invisible, it won't matter how good it looks.
If you're going to design your own book, my video tutorials and design templates will help you avoid the critical mistakes that will destroy sales. But even if you do everything right, you'll still need to get your book in front of the right readers!
Most authors publish first and try to build a platform later, and have no idea how to get reviews or keep their book selling long-term. I want to help you market your books and reach your readers, so my $297 book marketing course is included with the bundle.
★ How to get massive amounts of FREE publicity and visibility
★ The weird process I use to make sure there's massive demand for my book
★ How I built an email list of 8500 readers BEFORE I published my first book
★ How to get long term, evergreen traffic and put your sales on autopilot
★ Keyword research to make sure there's massive demand for my book
★ How to build an author website and what to blog about
★ How to get your first honest reviews
★ Why book marketing is a waste of time (unless you do this)
★ How to EASILY launch a book to #1 bestseller, without
Reach Your Readers is my first course, so it's a little rough, but there's tons of specific tips you won't find anywhere else. Click to view the course content.
Originally $297 - yours free if you sign up today!
I wish I'd known about you and all this wonderful material several years ago. I feel like I FINALLY HAVE A ROADMAP that will lead me to the success I've been striving for. My "to do" list for fixing my books so they'll start converting to sales keeps growing with all of your ideas.
Ida Smith Thriller Author
I just wanted to say thank you for the resources and the great information. By following your advice I've stablized my sales, redone my covers, and am about to have my MOST SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH yet for my third book. Since I've gobbled up all of your info, I've become a much better stwear of my fiction.
Casey Calouette Military Scifi
Derek, thank you so much for sharing your learnings. You are a genius! Thanks to you I worked on a marketing strategy that helped my book be a #1 BESTSELLER last week. Please keep sharing because it makes a difference.
Norka Parodi Real Estate Writer
To recap, you'll get everything you need to...
★ Get your book to market faster, without the headache
★ Look like a bestselling author and eliminate the guesswork
★ Avoid amateur book design mistakes that will make your book look unprofessional
★ Save money by formatting and designing your own books
★ Create stunning graphics for online promotion
★ Learn how to build an author platform that runs on autopilot
★ Build a following of loyal readers who leave rave reviews
★ Keep your book selling long term without spending all day marketing
With Book Design Basics, you don’t have to study design for years or buy expensive and complicated software.
Instead, I've done all the work for you – making it easy to apply basic book design principles for your book so you can reach more readers in an easy and effective way. Most importantly, covers that attract your ideal audience will significantly reduce your marketing budget, while BOOSTING your book sales.
In as little as a few days, you'll have your book professionally designed and uploaded to Amazon, and you can be proud knowing you did it all yourself.
Imagine handing your book to friends and have them swoon at the amazing design... that you did yourself!
DISCLAIMER: I was a professional cover designer for years, and most of my friends are still in the business. I'm not at all saying cover designers aren't worth it. The thing is, the good ones charge their worth and make great art - but they're often overbooked. In *many* cases, a pro designer will be a good use of funds because your cover is the most important thing, and professional designers (hopefully) know what's selling your genre. The big danger of DIY is that you can make exactly what you want, even if it's not what will sell your book. And a book is not always a good investment, so even if you're *sure* your book will sell millions, be cautious about over-investing.
My DIY templates and tutorials are meant to help those who choose self-design, for whatever reason, can get a passably decent cover at a great price. They are a step-up from doing it alone from scratch, but not meant as a complete replacement for professional cover design. Also, all the art and images included in my templates aren't meant to be published as-is. These are just guides to help you build your own covers fast, but I'll point you towards resources to find the best stock art and illustrations, or even AI art if you embrace that particularly path.
Imagine holding your finished book, with a cover and interior you’re proud of, and knowing you can do it again for the next one. You may even decide to publish a few more books, and that's when these book design templates will come in handy!
You can relax knowing you're fully covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose by giving it a try today. You’ll get download instructions in minutes, and can start designing your own covers immediately. Don't forget you'll also get my $297 course on book marketing for free.
ALSO INCLUDED
I've also added my $297 book marketing course, a course on building your email list, and my self-editing and writing resources.
Courses Included with Purchase
Original Price: $628
Get Started Now
100% Money-back guarantee
Take a look inside. If you're not blown away by the amount of resources I've provided, or if you can't get my templates to work for you, email support within 30 days and I’ll refund 100% of your money. No questions, no hassles, just your money back with genuine thanks for taking a look. And you can even keep the $297 bonus course on book marketing.
25,000 Copies Sold…
“Thanks Derek! Your tutorials have steered me through some tricky processes. It can be a steep and intimidating learning curve. I’m well past 25,000 copies sold and have 260+ reviews on Amazon with 75% of them five star! My success is in no small measure a reflection on your cover design and marketing courses!”
If you want results, just ask Derek…
“I saw results almost right away thanks to Derek’s knowledge and sound advice; he was able to identify areas of improvement in my book descriptions, book covers, and my email funnel; after applying his suggested changes, I have reached an average of $2800 income per month from my book sales. This is not due to pure luck, but to his sharp and effective approach to book marketing. I would highly recommend Derek, not only for his knowledge of (and insights in) book marketing but also for his very kind, professional and result-oriented approach; if you want results: just ask Derek for help.”
$2,500 a month from writing…
“Hi Derek! I’m at the point where I make over 2.5k a month from my writing, and it all started with you, so you know how special you are to me. I still remember your e-mails when they said All right, let’s start making your 1k. Now I’m at double that, and ready to learn more from you.”
Amazing Value…
“The content you are offering is amazing. There are SO many others offering similar services, not as in depth as yours, for SOOOO much more money. It’s sickening how much they want. 6K 10K etc. Thanks for being reasonable and offering even more. It took me quite a while to find you after viewing MANY others for MANY months who help authors. I chose you because yours is reasonable and chocked full of goodies. Plus it seems like you really want to help people succeed.”
I finally feel like I have a plan…
“I was sworn off on “courses,” but because you seemed to advertise yours as the anti-course—no magical thinking—I was intrigued and signed up. I just wanted you to know that you’ve been so valuable to me this past year. I have genuinely learned so much from you. I love that there are no magic buttons or inflated promises—it’s just about consistency and making insightful marketing decisions, many of which I hadn’t considered until your course. For the first time since I started writing, I really feel like I know how to get there. You made that click for me, and I know that knowledge is what will make all the difference along the way. I can’t thank you enough for that. I’m constantly telling my author friends about your courses.”
Got Questions?
Your files, lessons and next step
Choose the DIY Book Design & Formatting Bundle to get the template downloads and five included courses in one place. After purchase, sign in with the email you used at checkout. Start with the welcome lesson, then choose a cover template or the formatting lesson you need.
You can return to your files and lessons as you work. Before uploading your finished book, check the requirements of your chosen publishing service and review a proof. Give yourself time to get the details right.
You'll get life-time access to this course bundle and all the bonuses (everything I've already made + all the great new stuff I'm working on now). I'll send an email whenever there are new resources for you to check out. If you have any specific issues accessing the material, I'll be happy to help. And if it's not what you're looking for, or doesn't help you publish a beautiful book, I'll refund you 100%.