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Each MS Word or LO Writer "paragraph style" is mapped 1:1 to CSS in the converted to epub.
You can have as many styles as you want, and normally one is the default for ordinary paragraphs.
Typically you might have a style for each of
Title
author
headings that are new pages but not chapters (front and end matter pages)
chapter headings (these are usually having a heading level of 1 or 2)
other headings that don't make a new page
First paragraph after a chapter heading
quotations, letters etc
a scene break paragraph
a regular paragraph
You would also have paragraph styles for lists, preambles, notes, marginalia etc.
A paragraph or line in a different font gets a style.
The ONLY things ever direct formatted (and character styles can be used) are some words in a paragraph in bold or italic (and bold in fiction is really only for headings and sub headings), superscripts and subscripts (best avoided). Never centre, left, right, fully justify by format tools, use a style.
A text book or reference work is far more complicated.
Basically, no direct formatting. Delete all from the formatting tool bar except italics if writing fiction. Use styles.
The Enter/Return key only ends a heading (a short paragraph), list item or paragraph. Even lists are best as a simple paragraph style and manually enter the number, bullet or letter at the start of each item, because HTML lists are less flexible on ereaders than web pages.
Never press tab, or space more than once, or Enter more than once.
All spacing and layout for paper or ebook should be by styles. Tables are only 100% OK for paper. They are a hazard for ebooks.
Images are best at one per line unless small and the same height and in a centred paragraph.
Do not set line height. That's for paper. Only use margins and padding.
No headers or footers: Only for paper.
Only one page style and make it small to get an idea of what fits on a small screen, A5, or about 6″ x 4.5″ with about 10 to 18 pt margins all around.
Most ebooks are read on phones!
Remember the Wordprocessor defaults are likely for Letter or A4 size business reports.
Save all your styles as a default template.
You can have a different one for paper print and load it in Overwrite mode and then Save As a different name.
If using LO Writer only edit & save ODT as opening a docx is a conversion. Do an extra Save As in docx.
A poem might have multiple paragraph styles: first line of first verse, first lines, body lines, last lines and then last line of last verse.
first line of first verse: bigger top margin to offset from main text.
body lines: no top or bottom margin, or to tasts
first lines: extra top margin
last lines: extra bottom margin
last line last verse: extra bottom margin to offset from main text.
For a LtoR language they would all be left justified. A poem title might be centred and bold style.
A regular paragraph has a larger first line indent than the body. A poem line or list item has a smaller first line indent than the left margin so if the screen is small and it wraps it looks like one wrapped line and not a regular paragraph.
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