Export Your Book in 3 Clicks (Any Format)

You've spent weeks (or months) writing your book. Now you need to share it with beta readers, submit it to publishers, or prepare it for self-publishing. But here's the frustrating part: getting your manuscript into the right format shouldn't feel like learning rocket science.

Whether you're a first-time novelist trying to figure out how to export to PDF for the first time, or a professional author juggling multiple formats for different platforms, Bookwiz's export system makes it ridiculously simple. No technical degree required.

Why Book Export Format Matters (More Than You Think)

Before we dive into the how-to, let's talk about why having the right export options is crucial:

For Amateur Writers:

Publishers and agents often require specific formats (usually PDF or Word)
Beta readers prefer different formats (some like PDF, others prefer EPUB for their e-readers)
Print-on-demand services need properly formatted PDFs
Your formatting needs to look professional, or your work won't be taken seriously

For Professional Authors:

You need to export different versions for different purposes (full manuscript, sample chapters, table of contents)
Time is money—switching between formats shouldn't take hours
You want control over page breaks, tables of contents, and metadata
You need consistency across multiple export sessions

The Three Export Formats You Actually Need

Bookwiz supports three essential book export formats, each designed for specific use cases:

1. PDF Export: The Universal Standard

When to use it:

Submitting to traditional publishers or agents
Sharing with beta readers who want a "final" look
Print-on-demand publishing
Creating professional-looking proofs

What makes it special:Think of PDF as your book's "dress rehearsal." It shows exactly how your book will look in print, with professional typography (Georgia or Times New Roman), proper margins (2.5cm all around), and A4 page sizing. The export uses your browser's native print capabilities, which means what you see is exactly what you get.

Pro tip for beginners: PDF is your safest bet when you're not sure what format to use. It works on every device and preserves your formatting perfectly.

Pro tip for professionals: Use the page break settings to control where chapters start. "Chapter mode" (the default) intelligently breaks pages at logical chapter boundaries, while "File mode" breaks at each file in your manuscript.

2. HTML/EPUB Export: For E-Readers

When to use it:

Sharing with beta readers who prefer reading on Kindle, Kobo, or other e-readers
Creating web-friendly versions of your manuscript
Preparing files for e-book conversion services
Testing how your book flows on different screen sizes

What makes it special:Unlike PDF (which is rigid), HTML/EPUB is "reflowable"—the text adapts to different screen sizes automatically. Your reader can adjust font size, and the text reflows naturally. It's like the difference between a printed newspaper and a website.

Pro tip for beginners: If your beta readers say "I prefer reading on my Kindle," this is the format you want.

Pro tip for professionals: The export includes proper semantic HTML structure and EPUB-compatible styling, making it easy to convert to full EPUB 3.0 using tools like Calibre.

3. RTF Export: Maximum Compatibility

When to use it:

Sending to editors who work in Microsoft Word
When you need to make further edits in a word processor
Collaborating with co-authors or ghostwriters
Submitting to platforms that require .doc/.rtf files

What makes it special:RTF (Rich Text Format) is the Swiss Army knife of document formats. It works in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice, and virtually every word processor ever made. Plus, it supports full Unicode, which means your emojis, special characters, and international text all export perfectly.

Pro tip for beginners: Think of RTF as "editable PDF." Use it when you or someone else needs to make changes to the exported file.

Pro tip for professionals: RTF preserves complex formatting (nested lists, tables, code blocks) better than basic .txt exports, making it ideal for technical documentation or books with complex structures.

How to Export Your Book (Step-by-Step)

Here's the actual process—it's genuinely three clicks:

Step 1: Click the Download Button

In your book editor, look for the download icon. Click it, and the export dialog opens. (Alternatively, navigate to the dedicated export page for a larger workspace.)

Step 2: Choose Your Files and Settings

Select which files to include:

See your entire book's file tree on the left
Check the boxes next to files you want to export
Export everything, or just selected chapters

Configure your export settings:

Format: Choose PDF, HTML, or RTF
Table of Contents: Toggle on/off (automatically generated from your chapter headings)
Metadata Page: Toggle on/off (includes your book title, author name, and description)
Page Breaks: Choose how chapters start (smart chapter breaks, file breaks, or continuous)

Beginner-friendly defaults:Not sure what to choose? The default settings work great:

Table of Contents: ON
Metadata Page: ON
Page Break Mode: Chapter (smart breaks)

Step 3: Click Export

That's it. Your file generates instantly and downloads automatically. For PDF, your browser's print dialog opens—just click "Save as PDF."

The Secret Weapon: Compilations

Here's where Bookwiz gets really powerful. Imagine you're working on a novel, and you need to:

Export the full manuscript for your editor
Export just the first three chapters as a sample for agents
Export the table of contents separately for planning

Doing this manually every time would be tedious. That's where compilations come in.

What Are Compilations?

Think of compilations as "saved export recipes." Each compilation remembers:

Which files to include (and in what order)
Which format to use
All your settings (TOC, metadata, page breaks)

You can create multiple compilations with names like:

"Full Manuscript"
"Sample Chapters (Agents)"
"Beta Reader Version"
"Print-Ready PDF"

How to Use Compilations

Creating a compilation:

Select your files and configure settings
Click "Save as Compilation"
Give it a descriptive name
Your first compilation automatically becomes the "default"

Using saved compilations:Next time you open the export dialog, your default compilation loads automatically. Need a different version? Just select it from the dropdown—instant configuration.

Pro tip for professionals: Create compilations for every common export scenario. It saves hours over the course of a project.

Advanced Features for Power Users

Smart Content Processing

Bookwiz uses the same TipTap editor system that you write in to convert your Markdown to HTML. This means:

Perfect consistency: What you see in the editor is what you get in the export
Complex formatting support: Tables, nested lists, code blocks, task lists—all export correctly
No surprises: The conversion is reliable and predictable

Format-Specific Optimizations

PDF exports include:

Orphan and widow prevention (no single lines stranded on pages)
Professional typography with proper spacing
Print-optimized layout
Clickable table of contents (in most PDF readers)

HTML/EPUB exports include:

Semantic HTML structure for accessibility
Cover image support (when you've added one to your book)
Navigation metadata for e-readers
Responsive text that adapts to screen size

RTF exports include:

Full Unicode support (all special characters preserved)
Checkbox symbols for task lists
Proper indentation and spacing
Compatible with every major word processor

Metadata Calculation

Every export automatically calculates:

Total word count
Character count
Number of files included
Chapter count

This metadata appears on the title page (if enabled) and helps you track your progress.

Common Use Cases (Real-World Examples)

Use Case 1: Submitting to Literary Agents

Scenario: You're querying agents. Some want the full manuscript, others want sample chapters.

Solution:

Create compilation "Full Manuscript" with all files
Create compilation "First 50 Pages" with just your opening chapters
Export both as PDF with TOC and metadata enabled
Send the appropriate version to each agent

Use Case 2: Beta Reader Feedback

Scenario: You have beta readers who prefer different formats.

Solution:

Create compilation "Beta Version" with complete manuscript
Export as PDF for readers who want to print
Export as HTML for readers with e-readers
Export as RTF for readers who want to add comments in Word

Use Case 3: Self-Publishing Preparation

Scenario: You're preparing for Kindle Direct Publishing and print-on-demand.

Solution:

Export as HTML for Kindle conversion
Export as PDF with specific page break settings for print formatting
Use compilations to test different formatting approaches quickly

Troubleshooting Common Export Issues

"My PDF looks different from the editor"

Remember: PDF uses print fonts (Georgia/Times New Roman), not screen fonts
Check your page break settings—"Chapter mode" creates more natural breaks
Preview in the browser print dialog before finalizing

"My special characters disappeared in RTF"

This shouldn't happen—RTF has full Unicode support
If it does, try exporting as HTML instead, then opening in Word

"I can't select any files"

Make sure you have at least one file in your book
Try refreshing the export dialog
Check that you're logged in and have access to the book

Why Client-Side Export Matters (Technical Deep-Dive)

Here's something cool that most users don't realize: all export processing happens in your browser, not on a server.

Why this matters:

Speed: No uploading files to a server and waiting for processing
Security: Your manuscript never leaves your device during export
Privacy: No server logs or temporary files containing your work
Reliability: Works even with spotty internet (after initial load)

For professional authors handling sensitive manuscripts (NDAs, unpublished works, confidential projects), this is a huge advantage.

Start Exporting Smarter Today

Here's your action plan:

If you're new to Bookwiz:

Open your book in the editor
Click the download button
Select all files, choose PDF format, and export
See how easy it is? Now experiment with other formats.

If you're a power user:

Identify your 3-4 most common export scenarios
Create a compilation for each one
Name them clearly ("Agent Submission," "Beta Draft," etc.)
Set your most-used compilation as default
Never configure export settings manually again

The bottom line: Whether you're exporting your first short story or your tenth novel, Bookwiz makes it painless. Choose your format, select your files, click export. Done.

Ready to export your book? Click that download button and see how simple professional book formatting can be.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I export the same book in multiple formats?A: Absolutely! Export as many times as you want, in any format. Each export is independent.

Q: Do compilations work across different formats?A: Yes! A compilation saves your file selection and settings, but you can change the format each time you export it.

Q: What happens if I delete a file that's in a saved compilation?A: The compilation will skip that file and export the remaining ones. You'll want to update the compilation to remove the deleted file reference.

Q: Can I share my compilations with co-authors?A: Not directly, but if you share book access, they can create their own compilations with the same settings.

Q: Is there a limit to how many compilations I can create?A: No limit! Create as many as you need for different purposes.

Now stop reading and start exporting. Your manuscript deserves to be shared with the world—in whatever format works best.