Atticus Book Formatting Software: Is It Worth It? (My In-Depth Review)

[@lindatzee]

I can’t thank you enough for not only reviewing the software but providing such an in-depth explanation. Most KZbin videos offer a general review or personal opinion but rarely include a step-by-step guide. Blessings to you & your business!

[@JonathanMilligan]

I'm so glad you liked the video, and I appreciate your kind words. 🙏🏼

[@LevelUpLifeTipsShorts]

I love Atticus, highly recommended, been using it two or more years. Simple, cheap, clean and high quality, plus support has always been so good to me.

[@BooksbyCarolynV.Hamilton]

Thank you for this concise introduction to book formatting with Atticus!

[@mikekimmel8544]

Very helpful review, Jonathan. Thanks for all the great tips and best wishes for success with your book series.

[@JonathanMilligan]

You're welcome! I'm so glad you found it helpful.

[@raeleohana8797]

Just bought Atticus on Black Friday sale (same $149, but a Kindlepreneur class comes with it this wknd). I found your video to affirm my decision and ward off buyers remorse or fomo. Thanks! You nailed the assignment. 😅

[@JonathanMilligan]

Awesome! Happy to hear it. I've published 6 books and counting with Atticus and love it!

[@stickmanbarr]

Such a helpful review. Thanks so much!

[@JonathanMilligan]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that you found it helpful!

[@cacrent87]

Thank you Jonathan!

[@denisdesmarais]

Excellent review!

[@JonathanMilligan]

Glad you liked it!

[@jasonmunger8409]

General work flow question. Do you complete all your editing and proof reading in another program and then only begin working in Atticus when those edits are done? Currently I created my content in Google docs (collaborating with another author and this just made it easier), then editing in ProWritingAid. I’m intending to move that to Atticus once we are happy with the edits and then start working on the formatting.

[@reneebutton2260]

GREAT review! What do you recommend for the book covers and how does that work for You?

[@JonathanMilligan]

I make my on book covers in Canva. Here's a video on how I do it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6jbc6t5q5eGiassi=vRcpq13Z0e4jZ4IB

[@Innatefit14371]

Clickdesigns has great book designs

[@ivnpck2911]

min 11:36 Questions: how do you handle the front matter and the page numbers starting from the actual chapter 1 on Atticus?

[@JonathanMilligan]

I want to make sure I understand your question. So you want page 1 to start with chapter 1? If so, it is setup by default to start page 1 on Chapter 1. Any front matter pages use roman numerals.

[@ivnpck2911]

@@JonathanMilligan thanks that was my question. I'm about to publish my first book.

[@JonathanMilligan]

@@ivnpck2911 Nice! Yes Atticus does it automatically (page 1 starts with Chapter 1)

[@beforekamala-z7r]

First off, thank you for the information. Second, do you know if KDP or Ingram have the option of a jacket for the hardcopy?

[@KootenayGarden]

Great video, thank you!

[@JonathanMilligan]

Awesome! I'm so glad you found it helpful.

[@bhannuarora6360]

very informative...Thanks a lot

[@JonathanMilligan]

Awesome!

[@MikeCrook-hv9qp]

I just bought Atticus and MidJourney because I heard both are great. I don't disagree but am still in a steep learning curve.

[@PammylaBrooks]

Thanks! I have a question for my fiction series -- if I have Chapter numbers turned on and I insert a chapter, will it automatically renumber all the chapters after that?

[@MartinSeckofficial]

Can you add imagery to certain pages and text to accompany it? I would like to be able to insert images and move them around.

[@Innatefit14371]

They have a tutorial for how you can do that just check the website for them

[@MartinSeckofficial]

@@Innatefit14371 thanks!

[@davidlomax-b7r]

Great video - takes all the pain away!

[@JonathanMilligan]

I'm glad to hear that! It's always great when a video can help ease some stress.

[@sueellen6678]

Thank you. This review is extremely helpful. My product is already typed in word. When importing into the software, would I be able to use all the formatting options you mentioned to produce a clean end product or does it only work when creating in Atticus?

[@JonathanMilligan]

Yes you can! Atticus has a Word import function. There's a chance it might not import it perfectly when it comes to dividing the content into chapters but all of the content will be there. Try to make your chapter titles H1 in word to help Atticus now how to best import it. Hope this helps!

[@AbhijeetMukherjee]

Great video. Does it auto-save in the background? Does it claim to solidly back up the work? Ever faced any troubles like a page or text getting lost?

[@JonathanMilligan]

Yes it does! I've published 5 books so far and never had an issue with losing my work.

[@AbhijeetMukherjee]

@ Thanks. I purchased it after watching your video. Is there a way to let them know so that you can get a referral fee (if they have that option)?

[@JonathanMilligan]

@@AbhijeetMukherjee I really appreciate it. That is so kind. Unfortunately, they do not have an affiliate program. I hope it works well for you!

[@alexanderdaus3125]

Looking at the drop caps menu for example it looks pretty sparse on customization options. I like the simplicity of just checking of a limited amount of options for most things - but here for example I think I would prefer to be able to change the font (size) or maybe put the entire first word in caps. Are there further customization options to the subsections shown - if I wish to utilize them - or is this essentially the simplicity is a strenght approach? - Thanks a lot!

[@JonathanMilligan]

I'm not sure. Here's an in-depth article on formatting from the creators of Atticus: kindlepreneur.com/how-to-format-a-book/

[@alexanderdaus3125]

@@JonathanMilligan I'll take a look - thank you! 🙂

[@deniseisrael1405]

Are you writing in Atticus? Or Word? Does Atticus have an internal grammar checker or do you import one?

[@Nick-Calvert]

That's a really good video. One question: are the fonts in Atticus royalty free?

[@JonathanMilligan]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Yes, the fonts in Atticus are royalty-free, so you can use them without any worries!

[@AdamBlumer]

Is Word the only type of file you can import? I am making the switch from Vellum to Atticus, and I'm trying to figure out whether I can import Vellum, ePub, or Word files. Vellum does export as RTF, so that may be a way to get my books in Word and then import them into Atticus. I'm not sure. Thanks for your help.

[@JonathanMilligan]

Great question! From what I can tell, Word is the only type of import file supported. It sounds like you're on the right track with your Vellum files!

[@AdamBlumer]

@@JonathanMilligan You are correct. When you do a search of Atticus and ePub, you get a very deceptive AI-generated statement that importing the ePub into Atticus isn't recommended but possible. Lies! You must use docx files. It's too bad there isn't a convert-Vellum-to-Atticus tool. I'd use it in a heartbeat.

[@Kellz_antonio]

Does this work for ebooks as well? Trying to a software that allows formatting for comics.

[@nicklang6798]

Great review. For the Header can you change the name of your book to your name and have it alternate with book tittle?

[@JonathanMilligan]

Yes, there are several options on how you can display that section!

[@nicklang6798]

@JonathanMilligan thank you 😁

[@ChrisHeidlebaugh]

Does it allow to format for Google publisher like epub

[@JonathanMilligan]

When it comes to Google Publisher most people will use the PDF export option (Atticus does have that).

[@ChrisHeidlebaugh]

Wonderful thank you so much Jonathan

[@stacystapleton3846]

Thank you for this video. I have my first book in Attiucs and ran it through Flight Deck as an epub. Several errors came up for being compatible to Amazon. Do you use Flight Deck or do you put your epub from Atticus right on to Amazon?

[@JonathanMilligan]

I always upload to amazon directly and check for errors using the previewer tool. Ive published 5 books with Atticus with no problems.

[@GLORIAPI-o9k]

How will I lnow the total number of pages for paperback cover.

[@Oldhouseguy]

I am writing a book on architecture and having a very difficult time finding software to do this. It seems most products are geared to fiction. I started with Reedsy but later discovered that the page size is that for a novel not a textbook size and images can only fit the full page. For my purpose, endnotes are important and the ability to see the chapter and sub-chapters in the navigation panel on the side. Do you think this is a good option for my needs?

[@JonathanMilligan]

I would definitely recommend checking out Atticus for your architecture book project. It has features that make it perfect for non-fiction writing. You have lots of custom page sizes and options for how you want to handle endnotes.

[@Oldhouseguy]

@@JonathanMilligan Just bought it but requesting a refund. Once I imported my manuscript I discovered the navigation panel on the side only has H1 headings. I need H2 H3 to keep organized. Too bad I was really looking forward to it. Back to MS Word.

[@JillClay-j2z]

Thank you for your review! Very helpful. I am writing a book that will also have a workbook. Is Atticus a good option for a work book?

[@Martin-nz4rp]

So, If you have an image you want to use, for the front cover, on your PC, can you export it to Atticus?

[@JonathanMilligan]

Yes, you can upload it to Atticus to display as your front cover.

[@jasneskis]

You use this on I pad. I can’t find this in the App Store. Do you buy it not in the App Store. Can I use it on several I pads?

[@JonathanMilligan]

You can purchase it at atticus.io. It is mostly a software on your browser although you can download it onto your computer. However, it's not in the app store.

[@jasneskis]

I saw a video besides yours on how to use it. I’ll have to do a lot of work there. I did not see loading a book cover. Is that in the program for ebooks and other book foremast, paperback, hard cover?

[@Kindlepreneur]

@@jasneskis You can put it on your ipad. We have instructions on the tutorial page, but basically it is done through the browser, and can put on you ipad - not through the app store. As your question on loading a book cover, yes. That is in there as well :)

[@derekiwi]

It is a browser plugin, not a downloadable app. There are full installation instructions on an idea they give links to when you buy it. I have to say I am having one or two problems on Firefox, but generally it runs very nicely once you get used to it. And because it is a browser plugin, it is computer independent.

[@jasneskis]

@@derekiwi what is a browser plug in?

[@booklove6319]

By using Atticus does that mean I don't need to pay an editor? Does it function as an editor?

[@JonathanMilligan]

The benefit of Atticus is that it is both a writing and book formatting tool. You can edit in Atticus via Grammarly if you have an account.

[@derekiwi]

Editing Is different to formatting. The editing process is checking spelling, wording, etc, which you can do in Atticus, especially with the Grammerly plugin to the browser. But an editor can also suggest changes to weak points in the story and characters, and generally help to make it an overall better story and more readable book.

[@booklove6319]

@@JonathanMilligan Thank you

[@GLORIAPI-o9k]

how will I know the total number of pages for paperback cover design .😀

[@JonathanMilligan]

Atticus will tell you how many pages based on the book size you choose.

[@peteschreiber9517]

Hi. I'm new at writing. Is this software good for any kind of book? I'm creating a Children's picture book story. Can writing go over pictures and also relocate writing on the pages to avoid pictures if I want? Thanks so much.

[@JonathanMilligan]

Welcome to the world of writing! Yes, this software is great for various types of books, including children's picture books. You can definitely position your text over pictures and move it around as needed.

[@labriejauthor]

I've been on the fence buying this -- I've been told it's too hard to use. Do you have tutorials?

[@JonathanMilligan]

I do have step-by-step tutorials but they are in my paid membership. Here is another video I did on Atticus here on my channel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIKbdp15o5ienassi=iAA4dhzd2_ITnti5

[@labriejauthor]

@@JonathanMilligan thanks going to check it out now

[@derekiwi]

Atticus have a whole series of tutorials, but also they have a very fast response time on their help support. Like within hours, which is unheard of for any software I ever used before.

[@labriejauthor]

@@derekiwi thank you for tell me-- genuinely appreciate it!

[@deniseisrael1405]

Reading your answers, you only mention Grammarly. What about importing ProWriting Aid?

[@bradkeith7683]

My 16 year old purchased the service and then found out she can't use it while offline. Hopefully she can get her money back

[@valensinclair6750]

It's no longer worth it IMO. It was great until the last update (the "collaboration" update), but now it's incredibly slow, sluggish, and just a pain to work with.