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General Terms

By submitting a request for custom book cover design and interior formatting services, you agree to the terms outlined in this Book Cover and Interior Formatting Design Policy.

We provide all design services on a first-come, first-served basis, and timelines may vary depending on our current projects and your project's specific needs.

Custom design services begin once the required deposit or full payment is received. Final deliverables will only be sent after you've made full payment.

Scope of Work

Custom book design services include an initial consultation, concept development, design mockups, and up to two rounds of revisions (unless otherwise stated in your package). Package deliverables may change depending on client demands and interests.

The final deliverables will depend on the selected package and may include:

  • Book Cover Design (front, spine, and back cover for print; e-book cover for digital)

  • Interior Formatting (chapter headings, page numbers, margins, typography)

  • Print-ready files (PDF format with proper bleed and trim specifications)

  • E-book formatting (EPUB or MOBI formats for Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, etc.)

  • Source files (upon request and additional fee)

  • Additional design elements (illustrations, custom graphics, etc., as per agreed terms)

Please take note of the service perks listed. Custom packages are available upon request and will incur additional charges. You can contact us for custom quotes.

Project Timeline

The typical turnaround time for book cover design is 2-4 weeks, and for interior formatting, 1-3 weeks, depending on the book's length, complexity, and current schedule.

Delays caused by unedited manuscripts (copyedit (fix grammar/spelling) before formatting to avoid costly design changes), unclear specifications, or untimely feedback may extend the timeline and incur additional fees if the project exceeds the stated deadline.

Revision Process

Book design packages include two rounds of revisions at no charge to fine-tune the design confirmed in preliminary planning stages. The goal of revisions is to refine the agreed-upon concept, not to overhaul the entire project.

During the initial consultation and concept development phase, you'll be asked to provide feedback and sign off on the final design direction. If you wish to change the design concept after it has been approved and signed off, this will be treated as a restart of the project and will incur additional fees.

  • Concept change fee: Requesting a completely new design direction after concept approval will incur a fee based on the complexity of the changes required.

  • Timeline impact: Starting over with a new concept will reset the project timeline and may delay the final delivery date. The new timeline will be communicated once the concept change request is approved.

  • Deposit and payment: The original deposit remains non-refundable, and the concept change fee must be paid before work begins on the new direction.

Please Note: Changes requested after final files have been delivered (such as revisions to the cover design or interior formatting) will be considered a new project and billed accordingly.

Creative Control

As the designer, Writerly Owl Designs will use professional judgment to create designs that align with your book's genre, target audience, and vision based on the information provided during the consultation. While client input and preferences are valued, we retain the creative right to make design decisions that best reflect a professional, marketable book design.

You'll receive clear documentation explaining these design choices and how they align with your book's positioning and market expectations, so the rationale is always clear.

We strongly advise against requesting designs based on direct copies or imitations of other books' covers or layouts to maintain originality and avoid copyright infringement.

Content and Copyright

Writerly Owl Designs retains intellectual property rights to all designs and creative materials until you make the final payment. Once you fully pay for the project, Writerly Owl Designs transfers the rights to use the book cover design and interior formatting for commercial purposes (e.g., publishing, distribution, marketing) to you, the client. Writerly Owl Designs uses only appropriately licensed materials, including stock images, fonts, and graphics, in all designs.

You’re responsible for ensuring that all content provided (manuscript text, author photos, back cover copy, etc.) does not infringe on any third-party copyrights or trademarks.

Writerly Owl Designs retains the right to use any designs created during the project for promotional purposes, including but not limited to portfolio displays, social media, and case studies, unless otherwise requested by the client.

You agree not to alter the final design files (e.g., cover layout, interior formatting) after delivery without Writerly Owl Designs' prior consent. Modifications may impact design quality and professional standards.

Client Responsibilities

You agree to provide clear and complete information during the consultation process, including book genre, target audience, manuscript length, trim size preferences, any specific design preferences, and reference examples that will guide the design. The clearer your vision, the better the execution, and the fewer the revisions.

For interior formatting, you must provide a complete, finalized manuscript in an editable format (such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs). Any changes to the manuscript after formatting begins may incur additional fees.

A timely, friction-free process is what we're going for.

Feedback is essential to the design process as we refine. You agree to provide feedback within two business days of receiving drafts or revisions. Delayed feedback may extend the project timeline or incur additional fees if rush service is required to meet deadlines or if deadlines pass.

Payment Terms

A 50% non-refundable deposit is required before the project begins. This deposit secures your spot in the design queue and covers the time spent on initial consultation and concept development. All payments of $200 or less must be paid in full before the project starts.

The remaining deposit balance is due upon final approval of the design, before delivery of print-ready files, e-book files, and any other agreed deliverables.

All payments are made through Payoneer, which offers multiple payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, and bank transfers. Each payment has a different processing time, and fees/taxes may apply based on your location.

Cancellation Policy

If the client cancels the project before the initial design concept is presented, you will be refunded the deposit, less an administrative fee of 50% of the deposit and any applicable transaction fees.

If cancellation occurs after the design concept is presented, or at any stage thereafter, the deposit is non-refundable, and the project will be considered null. Materials created during this time will remain in the possession of Writerly Owl Designs.

File Delivery

Final deliverables will be provided in formats suitable for your publishing needs. These may include:

  • Book cover files (high-resolution JPG or PNG for e-books; print-ready PDF with bleed and trim marks for print)

  • Interior files (print-ready PDF for paperback or hardcover; EPUB or MOBI for e-books)

  • Source files (available upon request for an additional fee)

Requests for formats or sizes beyond the agreed deliverables will incur additional fees.

Print and Publishing Specifications

Writerly Owl Designs will format your book according to industry-standard specifications for your chosen publishing platform (e.g., Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Apple Books). However, it’s your responsibility to verify that the final files meet your publisher's specific requirements before upload.

We recommend ordering a proof copy of your print book to review the physical product before approving the design for mass distribution. Any changes requested after the proof stage will be treated as additional revisions and may incur fees.

Communication and Collaboration

Writerly Owl Designs values open and transparent communication throughout the project. You're encouraged to ask questions and request clarification at any stage of the design process. Communication is primarily handled via email or Notion, and we aim to respond to client inquiries within 1-2 business days.

Limitations of Liability

While every effort will be made to meet your expectations, Writerly Owl Designs is not responsible for any third-party printing, distribution, or publishing platform issues related to incorrect file handling, color mismatches, formatting errors introduced by conversion software, or printing quality issues beyond our control.

We advise all clients to thoroughly proof and review all book cover designs and interior formatting before final approval. As mentioned, changes requested after final files have been delivered (such as revisions to the cover design or interior formatting) will be considered a new project and billed accordingly.

Agreement and Acceptance

By submitting your request for custom book cover design and interior formatting services, you acknowledge that you've read, understood, and agree to abide by the terms outlined in this Book Cover and Interior Formatting Design Policy. Payment also signifies acceptance of these terms, and the project will commence under these agreed guidelines.

Book Cover and Interior Formatting Design Policy

Welcome to Writerly Owl Designs. We're excited to help you bring your book to life with a captivating cover design and professional interior formatting that enhances readability and reflects the quality of your work.

To ensure clarity and a smooth design process, please review and agree to the following Book Cover and Interior Formatting Design Policy before submitting your request for custom design services.

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