08/19/2026
Final Draft to Delivery:
Formatting, Packaging, and Delivering Final Files for Print
October 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Tickets: $15 - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/final-draft-to-delivery-workshop-tickets-1998373319393
Recording: $10
OVERVIEW:
Transform your raw manuscript into a clean, industry-standard print layout ready for publisher submission, professional design handoffs, or final press production. Whether you plan to pitch to traditional publishers, collaborate with an interior designer, or handle publication yourself, mastering technical manuscript preparation and pre-press file delivery is essential to bringing a physical book to market.
This practical, one-hour session demystifies the path from completed manuscript draft to press-ready print files. (Note: This session focuses strictly on print manufacturing and physical book production; ePUB and eBook formats will not be covered.)
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
• The Submission Baseline First: Master standard manuscript formatting in Microsoft Word to build a clean baseline that serves as the essential foundation for all future editing, design, and production tasks.
• Book Anatomy & CMOS 18 Standards: Learn the official interior structure for front matter (title page, copyright page, table of contents), body text, and back matter based on The Chicago Manual of Style (18th Edition) guidelines for physical book construction.
• Text-Only Interior Layout in Word: Configure trim sizes, mirrored margins, gutter allowances, section breaks, running headers/footers, and paragraph indents directly inside Microsoft Word for simple text-heavy projects.
• InDesign Packaging for Handoffs: Learn how to use Adobe InDesign’s "Package" feature to bundle linked assets (images, fonts, etc.) when collaborating with designers or submitting source files to publishers.
• Publication-Ready PDF Exports: Walk through exact PDF export configurations for interior text (Word and InDesign) and finalized cover (Adobe Photoshop) using the PDF/X-1a:2001 press standard.
• File Management & Pre-Flight Workflow: Establish rock-solid file organization, including folder hierarchies, explicit version naming conventions, and layout rules needed to ensure your final project passes printer inspection.
FEATURED SOFTWARE & GUIDELINES:
Microsoft Word | Adobe InDesign | Adobe Photoshop | Adobe PDF | CMOS 18
SPEAKER BIO:
Eric M. Bumpus is the co-owner of DNM Publishing, where he specializes in manuscript formatting, pre-press layout, and publication workflows to help independent authors transform raw drafts into press-ready books. A published author in both traditional and independent spaces since 2005, he has worked in the publishing industry since 2015, bridging the gap between creative writing and technical file delivery. In addition to his work with authors, he serves as an online Adjunct Professor in the College of Arts and Media at Grand Canyon University, teaching courses in Digital Film Production and Screenwriting.
Turn your finished manuscript into a polished, publish-ready book with formatting, layout, PDF, and pre-press skills for physical books.
