How to Make a Book and Quill in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Craft a book and quill shapelessly with 1 book, 1 ink sac and 1 feather anywhere in the crafting grid. It is a writable book: type up to 100 pages, sign it to lock the text, and copy or trade it.

What you need

1 book (3 paper + 1 leather)
1 ink sac
1 feather

Step by step

Craft a book from 3 paper and 1 leather.
Get an ink sac from a squid (or a glow ink sac from a glow squid).
Get a feather from a chicken.
Open a crafting table (the 2x2 inventory grid works too).
Place the book, ink sac and feather anywhere in the grid: the recipe is shapeless.
Take the book and quill, open it in your hand, write, then press Sign to title and lock it.

Java vs Bedrock

The book and quill recipe is shapeless and identical in Java and Bedrock. A book and quill holds up to 100 pages (Java) with full text editing until you sign it; signing locks the content forever and lets you title the book. Signed books can be copied in the crafting grid (copies of the original or of a copy, but copies of copies stop working), sold to librarian villagers for emeralds, and placed on lecterns for display. Use formatting codes sparingly: the section sign only works in Bedrock.

Versions: javabedrock

Frequently asked questions

How do you copy a written book in Minecraft?

Craft the signed written book together with one or more empty books and quills in the grid: you get the original back plus copies. Copies marked 'Copy of original' can be copied again; 'Copy of a copy' cannot.

Can you edit a book after signing it?

No. Signing is permanent: the title and author are set and the text locks. If you might need changes, keep an unsigned master copy and sign only duplicates.

What is the page limit of a book and quill?

100 pages in Java and 50 pages in Bedrock, with a character limit per page. Server plugins rarely change this, so split long stories into volumes.