Thanks John, and thanks again to you, Maryann, for the additional remarks.

Very good of you, Charlotte, to offer those thoughts and suggestions. You've given a lot of helpful information. In the little checking I've done on my own thus far, I've read some good things about Baskerville font.

Although my manuscript has been shortlisted in a couple of book competitions, and although the senior editors at two well-regarded publishing houses have responded with some generous compliments about my submission, a book deal continues to elude me. I've pretty much given up hope of ever getting a book in print.

Sometimes, however, circumstances change for the better, and there's a strong likelihood that I may have a book of my poetry published by a California based company. If so, I'll have a great deal of input about the formatting of the book, and this is what led to my inquiry on this discussion board.

Thanks again to all.

Richard

As an aside, here's my favorite typeface story: http://www.economist.com/news/christ...ght-over-doves

and here's the result: http://www.typespec.co.uk/doves-type-revival/

You can actually get it here. It seems to be the real thing: http://www.typespec.co.uk/doves-type/

One thing I would recommend you think about is having a book thick enough so that the title and author can appear clearly on the spine. If you only have say 60 pages then increasing the paper thickness can help.
My reasoning is that 'slim volumes of verse' can get lost on a shelf, the potential buyer skims the shelf and looks at titles/authors, and if the book is too small to have any title/author or it's so small it's difficult to read, the potential buyer might overlook it. And although you get nothing from the resale of a book, it is important that a book has a long life so this applies equally in second-hand bookstores and libraries
Regarding a long life, book design is also important, so many books fall apart easily, good to have a well made book, simple things like if it is stapled having rust proof staples or if it is glued make sure the glue is not some cheap brand that only lasts a few years.

I just read your last comment about not getting a publisher. It's pretty cheap to self-publish, the problem is getting a distributor, you can publish as an e-book for nothing, not a cent and by putting it on Amazon, it is out there, hopefully for a very long time and it is one way of insuring your work exists beyond your own possession.

This is a great thread. Thank you, Richard, for starting it, and others for very helpful information.

I'd just like to add one thing from the standpoint of a former typographer. Back in the 1970s and early 80s, I was a phototypesetter in NYC, where I had the privilege of witnessing the exit of linotype and the rush to develop a "better" way, right up through the Macintosh. (Just after that, I had babies, moved to Northern Virginia, and had to start all over again with the computer-based systems that had taken root.)

One thing that may be completely unknown to, or overlooked by, many who started out in the era of desktop publishing is the subtle effect of type size. Before desktop publishing, typefaces simply did not exist every single size. Since each letter had to be crafted and produced, the metal fonts -- and even photographic fonts -- were available only in specific sizes, and the choice of what to produce was determined by classic laws of proportion.

I'm looking for a sample list of available sizes in at least one of the fonts mentioned above, and have yet to find it. But please be aware that one factor that can determine whether a book looks professional or amateurish is the choice of type sizes and the proportions between them. Back when choices were limited, it was not quite as easy as it is today to go wrong.

I'll add more information if I can find it, either from the internet or from the various reference books I have at home. Maybe others here can find it sooner.

Claudia

Edited to say: Maybe rather than "professional or amateurish," I should have said "classic or contemporary." But it depends on what aesthetic one is looking for, and -- as with formal verse -- even when creating something contemporary, it's helpful to know where the form originated.

Thanks Ross and Claudia.

All of these ideas and comments are helpful and appreciated.

Richard

Richard,

Unless you are self-publishing, the publisher will decide on the font. At least that' s been my experience in my three trade books.

If you're talking about a manuscript submission, unless the guidelines specify a font, e.g. Times New Roman 12 pt., you can pretty much do what you want. My personal favorite is Calibri Light.

Best of luck with your project!