Open any published novel and look at how a chapter begins. There is usually a number or title, some white space, perhaps a decorative rule, and a first paragraph that may begin with an enlarged letter. At the top of every page, a small line names the author or the book. These details are chapter headings, drop caps and running heads, and together they are most of what makes a book look like a book instead of a long document. This guide explains each element, when to use it, which styles suit which kind of book, what does not work in an ebook, and how to set them in Quillen. The last section covers Quillen's four chapter heading styles and its drop cap and running head options.
The short answer
Choose one chapter heading style and use it for the whole book: a quiet style for literary and manuscript-like books, a bold, sunk heading for classic fiction, spaced capitals for elegant or romantic books, a modern left-aligned heading for contemporary and nonfiction. Use a drop cap sparingly, and only where your readers will see it, since some e-readers ignore it. Use running heads and page numbers in print, and leave them off ebooks, which reflow. In Quillen, all three are settings in the print and ebook export.
Chapter headings
A chapter heading marks the start of a chapter and signals the book's tone. A good heading is consistent, readable and quiet. A bad one competes with the first paragraph. The elements that vary are size, weight, alignment, spacing around the heading, and whether there is a rule or ornament.
| Quillen style | Look | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Modest centred title, as in a manuscript | Drafts, agent copies, literary fiction, anything understated |
| Classic | Large bold centred title, sunk about a third of the way down the page | Traditional fiction, historical novels, fantasy |
| Elegant | Spaced capitals with a short rule beneath, centred | Romance, gift books, memoir, poetry-adjacent prose |
| Modern | Big bold left-aligned title over a full-width rule | Contemporary fiction, thrillers, nonfiction, business books |
Numbers, titles or both?
A chapter can be headed by a number ("Chapter 1"), a title ("The Drowned Crown"), or both. Numbers are neutral and suit most fiction. Titles add flavour and help readers navigate nonfiction. Pick one scheme and keep it. If your chapters have titles, they should all have titles.
Starting chapters on a new page
In print, every chapter should begin on a new page, and many publishers begin each on a right-hand page. The heading usually sits a third of the way down the page, with the text starting a few lines below it.
Drop caps
A drop cap is an enlarged first letter that sits down into the opening lines of a chapter. It signals a fresh start and adds a classic look. A few guidelines:
- Use it on chapter openings only. A drop cap on every scene break is too much.
- Make it two or three lines tall, and align the top of the letter with the top of the first line.
- Check the first word. A drop cap followed by a short word ("A", "I") looks odd; some designers set the first few words in small capitals instead.
- Know the limits. Many e-readers ignore a drop cap and show an ordinary letter. If your book is mostly read as an ebook, do not depend on it.
- Match the style. A drop cap suits Classic and Elegant headings; it can look fussy against the Modern style.
Running heads and page numbers
The running head is the line at the top of the page, and the page number may sit there or at the foot. They help a reader find their place and identify a loose page. The common convention is the author's name on the left-hand page and the book's title on the right-hand page, with the page number centred at the foot. Leave the head off the first page of each chapter, and off front matter. Numbering starts at 1 on the first page of the story.
Running heads and page numbers are for print. An ebook reflows to fit the reader's screen and font size, so there are no fixed pages to number, and an e-reader supplies its own position indicator.
Combining the pieces
Three combinations that work:
| Book | Heading | Drop cap | Running heads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historical fantasy novel | Classic | Yes | Yes (author left, title right) |
| Contemporary thriller | Modern | No | Yes |
| Memoir or romance | Elegant | Optional | Yes |
| Ebook of any genre | Any, kept simple | Optional (some readers ignore it) | No |
| Manuscript for an agent | Standard (fixed by the Agents export) | No | Surname / Title / page, top right |
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Mixing heading styles | Looks inconsistent | Choose one and keep it |
| Over-decorating | The ornament overpowers the text | Prefer restraint |
| Relying on a drop cap in an ebook | Many readers show a plain letter | Test, and expect a fallback |
| Running heads on chapter openings | Clutters the page | Leave them off the first page of each chapter |
| Page numbers on an ebook | Reflow makes them meaningless | Print only |
| Headings far smaller or larger than the text | Looks amateur | Keep the scale modest |
Do it in Quillen
Chapter heading style, drop caps and running heads are all in one place in the print and ebook export.
- Open the export. Click Export in the header and choose Print, eBook & Kindle.
- Choose a chapter heading style. Click Style & Layout in the left list, or select a chapter. Four styles are shown as small cards: Standard, Classic, Elegant and Modern. Click one and the preview updates.
- Switch on a drop cap if you want one. Tick Drop cap on the first letter of each chapter. The panel notes that some e-readers ignore it.
- Switch on running heads and page numbers by scrolling to the Running heads and page numbers section and ticking it. This applies to Word and PDF only, and an EPUB has none.
- Check the preview in Book and Standard modes. Use the arrows to move between pages and check the first page of a chapter.
- Export. Choose Word, PDF or EPUB and click Export. The settings are saved with the book.
Checklist
- One heading style for the whole book.
- Headings consistent: all numbered, or all titled.
- Drop cap on chapter openings only, and not relied on in ebooks.
- Running heads and page numbers in print only.
- Chapter openings checked in the preview.
Common questions
What chapter heading styles does Quillen have?
Four: Standard (modest centred title), Classic (large bold centred title sunk a third of the way down), Elegant (spaced capitals with a short rule) and Modern (big bold left-aligned title over a full-width rule).
Do drop caps work in ebooks?
Not reliably. Some e-readers ignore the drop cap and show an ordinary letter, so do not depend on it in an ebook.
What are running heads?
The small line at the top of a page, usually the author's name on left-hand pages and the title on right-hand pages.
Do ebooks have running heads and page numbers?
No. An ebook reflows to fit the screen, so there are no fixed pages. In Quillen, running heads and page numbers apply to Word and PDF only.
Where are these settings in Quillen?
In the Print, eBook & Kindle export, under Style & Layout. The settings are saved with the book.