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How to Add a Drop Cap in Google Docs

  • Summer Brunton-Elliott
  • Jun 18
  • 2 min read
How to add a drop cap in Google Docs
I've been living in formatting hell the past week

I'm sure many of you are curious how to add a drop cap in Google Docs to your novel. Luckily, I've figured it out while spending my last few weeks in a state of formatting hell.


With the release of my debut novel, A Kingdom of Fire & Rain, set to release by the end of July, I've been working hard to figure out this crucial part of self-publishing.


Pssst; check out the sneak peek of A Kingdom of Fire & Rain below...


How to Add a Drop Cap to Your Google Doc Novel



Delete the letter of your first line and place the cursor in the desired spot.

Adding a drop cap to your novel in Google Docs

I feel that this step is fairly self-explanatory, as the drop cap is positioned at the beginning of the chapter.



Click "Insert" and "Drawing"

Adding a drop cap to your novel in Google Docs

Click "Insert" on the upper tab of your Google Document, then scroll down to "Drawing" and click "+ New"



Click "Actions" and "Word Art"

Adding a drop cap to your novel in Google Docs

A new window will open up that looks like the above image. Click on "Actions" in the top left and scroll down to "Word Art" to start designing your drop cap.



Decide on Your Drop Cap

Adding a drop cap to your novel in Google Docs

In the text box that appeared after clicking "Word Art," enter the letter (or symbol) for your drop cap. Press "Enter" (not save and close).



Design Your Drop Cap

Adding a drop cap to your novel in Google Docs
Adding a drop cap to your novel in Google Docs

You can choose your drop cap colour, font, whether it's bold or italic, and more. You can get creative here if you wish, but I recommend keeping the drop cap black and in a readable font. As you can see, mine is black and in the font "Georgia," which matches the rest of my novel.



Adjust Size & Placement

Adding a drop cap to your novel in Google Docs

When first inserted, your drop cap is HUGE. Use the blue dots around the drop cap to resize it. You can also choose how your drop cap is placed within your text. I always choose to "Wrap text" but that's a personal preference.



Finalize the Placement

Adding a drop cap to your novel in Google Docs

Move your drop cap up or down until in the desired spot. You can play around with the margin space (how close it is to the actual text). I keep mine at 1/8" margin unless I have to make it an italic drop cap, in which case, it sits farther away from the text and looks weird, and I change the margin to 1/16".



Adding a drop cap to your novel in your Google Doc adds a bit of creativity and personality to your work... and dare I say, professionalism?


Although learning how to format has been incredibly frustrating (one of the many woes of a self-published indie author), it's also so satisfying to see your story come to life from a terrible first draft to a beautifully formatted story.


I'm so excited for the release of A Kingdom of Fire & Rain. I can't wait to share my story with you!


Good luck and happy writing!

 
 
 

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