The Great Trim Size Debacle: How I Accidentally Printed a Workbook Instead of a Novel

You’d think that by the time I hit my third novel, I’d have formatting down to a science. You’d think I’d be a trim size whisperer, effortlessly crafting a perfectly sized book on the first try.

You’d be wrong.

So there I was, excitedly tearing into my proof copy of Hey, Roomie!, ready to admire my handiwork. The cover? Chef’s kiss. The interior layout? Flawless. The trim size?

An 8.5 x 11-inch monstrosity.

My sleek psychological thriller was suddenly a full-sized workbook—the kind that says “Show your work in the space below.” The kind that screams “Homeschool curriculum.” The kind that is definitely not what I ordered.

I’d love to say this was some kind of weird printing glitch or a rogue formatting gnome working against me, but no—this was all me. In my rush to get everything uploaded, I skipped the basics—the one thing you should always check before you even start formatting:

✔ Is your trim size set to 6×9?
✔ Are your margins correct?

Mine were not. And that’s how I ended up staring at a proof copy that could double as a coloring book for the emotionally disturbed.

Now, here’s where I admit something that might make seasoned indie authors shake their heads. Yes, I own Scrivener. Yes, I have Atticus (which I do use for my EPUB versions).

And yet… when it comes to paperback formatting?

I’m still using Microsoft Word.

It’s the broken-down, slightly painful but familiar pair of shoes I refuse to throw away. Does it make things harder than they need to be? Sometimes. Do I know better? Probably. But here we are.

So, for my fellow Word users who haven’t moved on to greener pastures, here’s how to properly set up a 6×9 book without making my mistake:

Quick & Easy Formatting for a 6×9 Trim Size in Word

Step 1: Set Your Page Size

1. Click Layout → Size → More Paper Sizes
2. Under Width, enter 6 inches
3. Under Height, enter 9 inches
4. Click OK

Step 2: Set Your Margins (Mirror Layout for Paperbacks)

1. Click Layout → Margins → Custom Margins
2. Top & Bottom: 0.75 inches
3. Inside Margin (Binding Edge): 0.875 inches
4. Outside Margin: 0.625 inches
5. Gutter: 0.375 inches
6. Apply to: Whole document
7. Click OK

Step 3: Check Your Headers & Footers

• Your header & footer should not be inside the gutter margin.
• Click into the header/footer section and adjust position to at least 0.5 inches from the edge.

Step 4: Save as a Print-Ready PDF

1. Click File → Save As
2. Choose PDF
3. Under Options, select PDF/A for better print compatibility

And boom—you now have a properly formatted 6×9 novel instead of a tragic oversized workbook.

So, class, what have we learned?

• Always check your trim size before formatting anything. Do not assume. Assumption leads to disappointment.
• Microsoft Word is great… until it isn’t. (I’ll switch to a real formatting tool eventually. Probably.)
• Proof copies exist for a reason. Getting a book printed wrong in bulk is way worse than laughing at one oversized mistake.

So, if you ever receive a proof copy that looks suspiciously like a corporate training manual, congratulations! You, too, have fallen into the trim size trap. May your next upload be the right one.

xo.