Nonfiction readers do not read a book the way novel readers do. They skim, they jump to the section they need, they come back, they look at the table before the paragraph. That makes structure and formatting part of the content: headings that let them navigate, lists that break up dense points, tables that compare, images that explain. Poor formatting is not just ugly. It makes a book harder to use. This guide covers the formatting elements a nonfiction book needs, how to use each well, what to watch out for in ebooks and in print, and how to apply them in Quillen's nonfiction editor, which has headings, lists, quotes, tables and images built into its toolbar.
The short answer
Use a clear heading hierarchy so readers can scan; use short paragraphs with space between them; turn parallel points into lists; put comparisons in tables; and give every image a purpose and a caption. Keep tables simple, since wide ones break on small screens. In Quillen, the nonfiction editor has a Text menu for headings and quotes, a List menu, and an Insert menu for tables and images.
Headings: the reader's map
Headings let a reader see the shape of a chapter and jump to the part they need. Use them in a consistent hierarchy: the chapter title, then section headings (Heading 2), then sub-sections (Heading 3) where needed. Do not go deeper unless you must. Write headings that say something ("Why open plans cost focus") rather than labels ("Background"). In an ebook, headings can become the navigation, so a good heading structure means a good table of contents.
| Level | Use for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter title | The chapter's name | Chapter 3: The Cost of Interruption |
| Heading 2 | A major section within a chapter | Why recovery takes longer than the interruption |
| Heading 3 | A sub-section under it | What the studies measured |
Paragraphs and spacing
Nonfiction paragraphs are usually set without a first-line indent and with space between them, in contrast to fiction. This is easier on the eye on a screen and helps skimming. Keep paragraphs short: three to five sentences is a good aim, and a one-sentence paragraph is fine for emphasis.
Lists
Use a bulleted list for items of equal weight, and a numbered list when order matters, such as steps in a process. Keep items parallel (all start with a verb, or all are noun phrases) and keep them short. Do not turn every paragraph into a list: an argument needs sentences, and a list that is really a paragraph in disguise reads badly. A good rule is three to seven items.
Block quotes
Use an indented quotation for a passage of a few lines or more that you are quoting from another source, with the source named. Short quotations stay in the text. Do not let a quote carry your argument for you: introduce it, and say what it shows afterwards.
Tables
A table is the right tool when readers will compare things across several dimensions, such as options, costs and effects. It is the wrong tool for a narrative. Keep tables small: three or four columns at most, short entries and a clear header row. Wide tables are a problem on phones and e-readers, where they may shrink to illegibility or force sideways scrolling. If a table needs more than four columns, split it or turn it into a list.
| Habit | Cost | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Checking email hourly | Breaks focus | Check twice a day |
| Open-plan seating | Constant noise | Booking a silent room |
Images and figures
Every image should do a job: explain a process, show a result or illustrate a point that words cannot. Decorative images add file size without value. Give each figure a short caption, and refer to it in the text ("see Figure 3"), so that the reader knows why it is there. Make sure images are readable at small sizes, and in black and white if the book will be printed that way. For maps and other full-page images, see how to put maps and illustrations on their own page.
Ebook and print differences
| Ebook | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tables | Fixed width; wide tables fit | May shrink or scroll; keep narrow |
| Images | Fixed size | Scale to screen; readers may zoom |
| Headings | Show hierarchy visually | Often become the navigation |
| Colour | May be black and white | Colour on tablets, greyscale on e-ink |
| Page references | Page numbers work | Use chapter or section names instead |
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Too many heading levels | Confusing structure | Stay at two levels below the chapter title |
| Vague headings | Reader cannot scan | Make headings say something |
| Wide tables | Break on small screens | Three or four columns at most |
| Decorative images | Larger files, no value | Only images that do a job |
| No captions | Reader does not know why it is there | Short caption, referred to in the text |
| Lists everywhere | Choppy, argument lost | Use lists for parallel items only |
Do it in Quillen
A nonfiction book in Quillen has its own editor toolbar, with alignment, a Text menu, a List menu and an Insert menu for tables and images.
- Open a chapter of your nonfiction book. The toolbar shows Bold, Italic, three alignment buttons, and the menus Text, List and Insert.
- Use the Text menu for structure: Text (a normal paragraph), Heading 2 (starts a section and is listed in the sidebar), Heading 3 (a sub-section under the nearest Heading 2) and Quote (an indented quotation).
- Use the List menu for bulleted and numbered lists.
- Insert a table. Click Insert, then Table. A dialog asks for the number of rows and columns, with 3 and 3 as defaults. Click Insert, then type in the cells, moving between them with the Tab key. The first row is a header row.
- Format the table. While the cursor is in a table, the toolbar shows a Cell colour menu and a Delete Table button.
- Insert an image. Click Insert, then Image, and choose a picture from your computer.
- Check the result in the export preview. Open Export, then Print, eBook & Kindle, and look at the E-reader and Phone previews, especially at tables and images.
Checklist
- A consistent heading hierarchy with meaningful headings.
- Short paragraphs with space between them.
- Lists used for parallel items.
- Tables with three or four columns at most.
- Every image with a job, a caption and a mention in the text.
- Checked in the E-reader and Phone previews.
Common questions
How should I structure headings in a nonfiction book?
Use a consistent hierarchy: chapter title, then Heading 2 for sections and Heading 3 for sub-sections. Make headings say something rather than labelling a topic.
How do I insert a table in Quillen?
In a nonfiction book, click Insert in the toolbar, choose Table, enter rows and columns, and click Insert. Tab moves between cells, and Cell colour and Delete Table appear while the cursor is in the table.
How wide can a table be in an ebook?
Keep tables to three or four columns. Wide tables shrink or scroll on phones and e-readers.
Can I add images in Quillen's nonfiction editor?
Yes. Insert, Image lets you choose a picture from your computer.
Why are nonfiction paragraphs unindented?
Nonfiction is usually set with space between paragraphs and no first-line indent, which suits screens and skimming. Quillen's nonfiction export does this.