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Where Can I Learn Book Design and Formatting for My Family History Book?
- Devon Noel Lee
- Apr 5
- 4 min read
Every now and then, I get a question that makes me want to jump up and say, “Oh, I’m so glad you asked!”
Recently, a viewer asked:
“Do you know anywhere that offers classes on book design and formatting?”
Yes, I absolutely do — and while there aren’t many courses specifically about designing family history books, there are some excellent resources that will teach you the skills you need.
The good news? You don’t need a graphic design degree or expensive software to create a beautiful family history book. (Although if you do want to go all-out, there are tools for that too.)
Let’s talk about your options.
Understanding Book Basics for Family Historians
Book design and formatting really come down to two parts:
Designing the outside — your book cover.
Formatting the inside — the pages your readers will turn.
Each of these can feel like a learning curve at first, but there are some fantastic video tutorials that walk you through the process step-by-step.
And don’t worry — I’ve rounded up options whether you’re working in Word, Canva, or professional tools like Affinity Publisher.
However, before we get to designing a book cover or formatting the interior of your finished genealogy book, you first need to ask What Family History Book Should You Create?
Until you know whether you're creating a children's picture book or a traditional 'family history book' with register style text arrangements, you can't move forward. So, what kind of book are your hoping to generate?
After that, the next crucial question is: What Size Should Your Family History Book Be?
I bet you didn't realize there were so many preliminary questions to ask BEFORE you design your book. That's why I'm here.
So, once you decide the size and style of your book, you're ready for the next step.
Formatting the Inside of Your Book
While people judge a book by it's cover, they won't flip through more than a few pages if the interior is poorly designed. I recently purchased a book that I heard about on a podcast. The cover wasn't terrible so I'm glad I heard about the book before making the purchase. But 10 pages in I couldn't keep reading the content because the interior of the book was so poorly designed I couldn't focus on the story.
So here are a few stellar tips and tutorials about interior designs.
This is one of my favorites because it focuses on family history books specifically. It’s packed with simple design tips anyone can use.
This YouTube video series by CreativIndie covers a gambit of interior formatting topics
However, you might still have some questions. I have several blog posts (and videos) on this topic, so here's a quick list. Do any of these pique your interest?
Book Formatting Platforms and Tools
Now, the previous set of tutorials talked about theory for formatting your book. The following recommendations take the theory and apply it to a platform. From MS Word to BookWright, you're set with some user friendly platforms to polish the inside of your book.
Word is a tool many family historians already use — and yes, you can format a beautiful book in Word!
Even if you don’t plan to publish on Amazon, this video explains a lot of the basic formatting principles that apply anywhere.
Affinity Publisher is an affordable alternative to Adobe InDesign — great for those ready to level up.
BookWright which is a a free design tool that helps with layout creation. Its pre-set templates are especially useful for photo books or personal history compilations, where visuals play an essential role.
Wait! What about Scrivener or Adobe InDesign?
Well, how much time do you have to publish this book of yours? Both of these recommendations have a steep learning curve without necessarily a dramatic improvement in the quality of your page design. So, for the average family historian, I would advise against these platforms. For those with previous design experience, then go for it!
Designing a Family History Book Cover
Once you have the inside of your book prepared for your reader, it's time to grab their attention from the moment the pick up your book. To learn about designing a non-boring family history book cover, check out these tutorials
This tutorial demonstrates how Canva is beginner-friendly and totally do-able — especially if you don’t want to learn complicated software.
Another view point on using Canva to make a cover for your book.
How to Design a Best-Selling Book Cover (Playlist)
These videos cover the principles of book cover design — perfect if you want your family history book to look polished and professional.
Final Thoughts: Start Where You Are
Remember — the goal of a family history book isn’t to win design awards.
Your real goal is to preserve your research in a way that’s clear, attractive, and meaningful to your family.
Start small. Pick one video that fits your current project. Practice. Learn as you go.
And if you need encouragement along the way? I’m cheering you on.
What About You?
Are you working on a family history book? What tools or tutorials have helped you the most? I’d love to hear about your project in the comments.
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