Manuscript Guide

A5 Manuscript Layout & Design Guide for Authors

For Print Books – Pothsara Publishers Standard

Preparing your manuscript with the correct layout saves time, reduces
printing errors, and gives your book a professional look. This guide
covers the Pothsara Publishers standard for A5 size – 148mm ×
210mm manuscripts.

1. Document Setup

Set up your file before you start writing.

• Page Size: A5 – 148mm × 210mm
• Margins:
  • Top: 20mm
  • Bottom: 20mm
  • Outside: 15mm
  • Inside/Gutter: 25mm
• Use Mirror Margins for print books to allow space
  for binding.
• Bleed: Not required for text. Keep all text
  10mm inside the trim.

2. Typography

Consistent fonts make your book readable.

• Body Text Font: Iskoola Pota, Noto Serif Sinhala,
  or Times New Roman for English
• Body Text Size: 11pt to 12pt
• Line Spacing: 1.4 to 1.5
• Chapter Title: 18pt to 22pt, Bold, Center Aligned
• Sub-Headings: 14pt to 16pt, Bold, Left Aligned

3. Paragraph & Text Formatting

• Alignment: Justified
• First Line Indent: 0.5 inch / 1.27cm
• Space Before/After Paragraph: 0pt
• Hyphenation: Turn OFF
• Language: Set proofing language to Sinhala or
  English in Word

4. Page Elements

• Page Numbers: Footer, bottom outside corner.
  Start from page 1 of Chapter 1.
• Headers:
  • Even pages: Book Title
  • Odd pages: Chapter Title
  • Font size: 9pt to 10pt, Italic
• Chapter Starts: Always begin on a new right-hand
  page. No page number on the chapter opening page.

5. Images, Tables & Special Elements

• Image Resolution: Minimum 300 DPI for print
• Placement: Center aligned with 6pt space before
  and after
• Captions: 10pt, Italic, centered below the image
• Tables: Use simple borders. Avoid merged cells.

6. Front Matter & Back Matter Order

1. Half Title Page
2. Copyright Page – ISBN, Year, Publisher, Author
3. Dedication / Acknowledgements
4. Table of Contents
5. Main Content – Chapters
6. About the Author

7. Final File Submission

• For Print: Export as Print-Quality PDF. Embed all
  fonts.
• File Name:
  AuthorName_BookTitle_A5_v1.pdf

8. Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using multiple fonts in one book
2. Extra spaces or tabs instead of proper indents
3. Low-resolution images under 150 DPI
4. Manual page breaks inside paragraphs

Following this guide ensures your manuscript is ready for both
Pothsara Publishers digital publishing without major reformatting.

Download our free A5 Manuscript Template for Microsoft Word and Canva for maintain the proper formatting.