I had a bit of a false alarm yesterday so didn't schedule the post I planned for today. I'm so over being pregnant but I was still praying nothing would happen until I reached 37 weeks. That's today, technically classed as full term so bring it on baby. Even a day beforehand and they make a big deal out of it so anytime now is fine with me. Better charge my ereader just in case!
I'll get the other post done as soon as I can/feel like it but I wanted to update from the last post and note that method for hyperlinking table of contents seems to work well. I could only download the samples onto my pc application for Kindle but the links were all clickable so yay for that option and yay for me learning something new. Pity it doesn't work for Smashwords too because it's quicker than their preferred method.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Linked TOC - Kindle
I followed April L. Hamilton's free Indie Author Guide to create a linked table of contents for a Kindle DTP upload. It's a little outdated for my version of Word but easy to follow nonetheless. The guide goes through the whole process so is well worth a read especially if you're planning on uploading a book to Kindle for the first time. Tips include making sure each chapter or story begin after a page break and to remove all tab spaces. You can do this pretty easily by clicking CTRL + F, typing ^t into the find section and replacing all with nothing. So assuming your manuscript is otherwise perfect, this is how I (hopefully successfully) inserted a hyperlinked table of contents into my Kindle editions.
First of all, I selected each of my story titles (or chapter headings in the case of a novel) and changed the style to Heading 1. In my Word program, it's right there on the home tab, no searching but April's guide tells you exactly where to find it in older versions. You can modify Heading 1 to your taste.
I went to a blank page near the beginning of my book where I wanted to place the table of contents. In my case it was the page before the first story (chapter one). I clicked the Reference tab, then the drop down arrow of Table of Contents on the left and finally clicked Insert Table of Contents. A dialogue box popped up with some choices. I ticked the box marked Use Hyperlinks Instead of Page Numbers. I set "Show Levels" as 1 because I only used one sort of heading style. Deselect any page number options because they won't show up properly. I clicked okay and a Table of Contents was inserted. It linked to all of the story titles (chapter headings) I changed to style Heading 1. I checked all of the links by holding down CTRL while I clicked on each story title (chapter heading) in the new Table of Contents.
Edited to add: I obviously didn't opt out of page numbers on one of my books because once it became live on kindle, I downloaded the sample and saw the story titles all contained a number. This didn't show up in the html preview or in the Kindle preview so watch out for that.
I saved my document. Then I saved as a web page creating a new file. I was then able to view the document as a web page. Viewing two pages at a time really showed off the nice formatting due to the page breaks being picked up. I uploaded this html document to Kindle and republished. The preview looked fine. This new version should be available on Kindle soon. I hope the TOC works when it is live!
There you have it. Adding a hyperlinked Table of Contents to a Kindle ebook was super easy once I sat down and tried it. There are other ways, they might work better so have a look around at what other people do. Again, I have to note that this method does not work on Smashwords. I don't know why. I tried uploading the same file and it said the table of contents had an error. I read the newly updated Smashwords Style Guide and saw they state clearly that this method doesn't get picked up by them. So I followed their version which is slightly longer and will post that one next time.
First of all, I selected each of my story titles (or chapter headings in the case of a novel) and changed the style to Heading 1. In my Word program, it's right there on the home tab, no searching but April's guide tells you exactly where to find it in older versions. You can modify Heading 1 to your taste.
I went to a blank page near the beginning of my book where I wanted to place the table of contents. In my case it was the page before the first story (chapter one). I clicked the Reference tab, then the drop down arrow of Table of Contents on the left and finally clicked Insert Table of Contents. A dialogue box popped up with some choices. I ticked the box marked Use Hyperlinks Instead of Page Numbers. I set "Show Levels" as 1 because I only used one sort of heading style. Deselect any page number options because they won't show up properly. I clicked okay and a Table of Contents was inserted. It linked to all of the story titles (chapter headings) I changed to style Heading 1. I checked all of the links by holding down CTRL while I clicked on each story title (chapter heading) in the new Table of Contents.
Edited to add: I obviously didn't opt out of page numbers on one of my books because once it became live on kindle, I downloaded the sample and saw the story titles all contained a number. This didn't show up in the html preview or in the Kindle preview so watch out for that.
I saved my document. Then I saved as a web page creating a new file. I was then able to view the document as a web page. Viewing two pages at a time really showed off the nice formatting due to the page breaks being picked up. I uploaded this html document to Kindle and republished. The preview looked fine. This new version should be available on Kindle soon. I hope the TOC works when it is live!
There you have it. Adding a hyperlinked Table of Contents to a Kindle ebook was super easy once I sat down and tried it. There are other ways, they might work better so have a look around at what other people do. Again, I have to note that this method does not work on Smashwords. I don't know why. I tried uploading the same file and it said the table of contents had an error. I read the newly updated Smashwords Style Guide and saw they state clearly that this method doesn't get picked up by them. So I followed their version which is slightly longer and will post that one next time.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Linked Table of Contents
Every single time somebody brings up hyperlinking their table of contents in their ebook, my eyes glaze over and I move on to something more interesting. I have no clue about html, no clue about much really! I'm a total coward when I see people rattle on about something that makes no sense to me but I decided to finally bite the bullet and at least try to do it. I followed two completely different sets of intructions, one intended for Kindle, one for Smashwords. Both were pretty simple once I stopped staring blankly at the screen and attempted to follow the tips. I've reuploaded books to both Kindle and Smashwords. Smashwords have approved them for the Premium Catalog so I assume I've done something right but I've no idea how to check it for sure. I don't have a Kindle but I'm hoping the pc version of the sample will let me know whether or not the linked table of contents works as it is supposed to. I figure someone will complain if I messed it up completely. If anyone knows how to test it out accurately then please let me know.
The reason why a working linked table of contents is important is mainly down to the reader's convenience. On a book of short stories, they can simply click on the name of the story in the index and hey presto, it appears. It's pretty useful in non-fiction, particularly when looking for specific information but it's handy for fiction too. Anything that improves an ebook is fine with me. A lot of people (like me) are too intimidated to try it because it sounds complicated but it really isn't if you follow some clear direct instructions. I'm going to find links to the sources I followed and try and simplify it further. Hopefully it will help give somebody the courage to try it.
Warning: the instructions I followed for hyperlinking the index for Kindle (slightly outdated) involves html in a very slight way, it is not complicated but that method does not work for Smashwords. Smashwords will reject it. I'll write up the Smashwords one in a separate post so it doesn't get too confusing.
The reason why a working linked table of contents is important is mainly down to the reader's convenience. On a book of short stories, they can simply click on the name of the story in the index and hey presto, it appears. It's pretty useful in non-fiction, particularly when looking for specific information but it's handy for fiction too. Anything that improves an ebook is fine with me. A lot of people (like me) are too intimidated to try it because it sounds complicated but it really isn't if you follow some clear direct instructions. I'm going to find links to the sources I followed and try and simplify it further. Hopefully it will help give somebody the courage to try it.
Warning: the instructions I followed for hyperlinking the index for Kindle (slightly outdated) involves html in a very slight way, it is not complicated but that method does not work for Smashwords. Smashwords will reject it. I'll write up the Smashwords one in a separate post so it doesn't get too confusing.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Quick Createspace Update
I uploaded my files to Createspace for review at around midnight - I've no idea what time zone they work in and it was a Thursday night/Friday morning upload so I wasn't expecting anything in a hurry. The next morning I had an email saying it had been approved. Again, I had uploaded a basic manuscript and a cover using the cover wizard. I'm sure making a "real" cover might have been more problematic. Especially for me. So, early morning the files were approved. As soon as I got a chance, I ordered a proof copy. That afternoon I received an email saying the proof copy had been shipped. That was super fast in my opinion. I wasn't expecting it to be sent out until next week due to the weekend.
I ordered the basic shipping. They paid for it because of the Nanowrimo code (yay) and it said to expect to wait for up to three weeks for it to arrive. To have the book delivered within three working days costs over $100 by the way. That is crazy inappropriate pricing. It's a little book, not a fecking elephant. Anyway, I might order a copy from Lulu to compare the quality of the two. Their delivery rates are much more reasonable although their base price for a copy is higher.
I'm not sure if I clarified before but what I'm doing here is testing out the services offered by Createspace and Lulu. The book I've ordered may never be seen by anyone but me - I had a free proof copy waiting for me so I figured I might as well use it to see what all the fuss is about. I wasn't originally interested in printing books but it is a valid option right now, I think, depending on the quality. If I can get a decent cover made then I will consider printing my next book as well as uploading it to Kindle and Smashwords. It doesn't cost anything apart from a proof copy. On Lulu, you don't even have to be approved, I don't think you need to order a copy but I prefer the idea of somebody checking the formatting for major problems before I buy a proof. I'm actually a little excited to see how the interior of the book looks. I shall update again when I receive the book and see what I think of it.
I ordered the basic shipping. They paid for it because of the Nanowrimo code (yay) and it said to expect to wait for up to three weeks for it to arrive. To have the book delivered within three working days costs over $100 by the way. That is crazy inappropriate pricing. It's a little book, not a fecking elephant. Anyway, I might order a copy from Lulu to compare the quality of the two. Their delivery rates are much more reasonable although their base price for a copy is higher.
I'm not sure if I clarified before but what I'm doing here is testing out the services offered by Createspace and Lulu. The book I've ordered may never be seen by anyone but me - I had a free proof copy waiting for me so I figured I might as well use it to see what all the fuss is about. I wasn't originally interested in printing books but it is a valid option right now, I think, depending on the quality. If I can get a decent cover made then I will consider printing my next book as well as uploading it to Kindle and Smashwords. It doesn't cost anything apart from a proof copy. On Lulu, you don't even have to be approved, I don't think you need to order a copy but I prefer the idea of somebody checking the formatting for major problems before I buy a proof. I'm actually a little excited to see how the interior of the book looks. I shall update again when I receive the book and see what I think of it.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Initial Submission to Createspace
I've been a bad blogger but I've been busy working on making files for Createspace. I take part in Nanowrimo every year (and get the code for a free proof copy from Createspace) but this is the first time I've actually followed through on getting a copy ready. I figured I might as well see how the process works. I've only ordered the proof today so I have no idea how it will turn out but will update with another post when I know more.
Createspace is annoying for the most part. Lulu is much easier to use so I read Edward C. Patterson's free book, Are You Still Submitting To A Traditional Publisher? I read the section on Createspace a number of times and still felt completely confused - it's easier to follow while you're actually going through the steps. The problem with Createspace is the lack of instructions. In Ed's book, he recommends setting up the files on Lulu first. This is because Lulu accepts word documents and turns them into pdfs whereas Createspace only accepts pdfs. For the clueless (like me) it's actually simpler to use this method. You download a template in the size book you want, add your text, format it so every chapter starts on an uneven page and you end up with a pretty good representation of what your file should look like. I think. :/
Random irritations include the price of delivery on Createspace - for me, it would have been close to $15 whereas the cost of the proof copy would have been under $8 (without the ProPlan option). Delivery on Lulu worked out at under 4euro but the cost of the proof copy was something like 15euro. Also annoying was the fact you don't receive an ISBN until after you have uploaded your documents so you have to go back, edit them in Word to add the ISBN, reupload to Lulu, let them transfer the file to a pdf and then upload that file to Createspace.
If/when I find out I've done things correctly, I'll go through a step by step method. I may think it's all good now but I haven't seen the copy yet so who knows? My other big problem was the cover. I ended up using the cover template wizards on both because I have absolutely no clue or understanding how the full cover template thingy works. Really have to figure out that one - I've found some lovely images if I ever publish that particular book. I'm looking forward to seeing the proof. I'm very keen on scoping out the quality and I am dying to see how many typos I found in a different format. Hopefully it won't be long before I can update on the proof copy from Createspace.
Createspace is annoying for the most part. Lulu is much easier to use so I read Edward C. Patterson's free book, Are You Still Submitting To A Traditional Publisher? I read the section on Createspace a number of times and still felt completely confused - it's easier to follow while you're actually going through the steps. The problem with Createspace is the lack of instructions. In Ed's book, he recommends setting up the files on Lulu first. This is because Lulu accepts word documents and turns them into pdfs whereas Createspace only accepts pdfs. For the clueless (like me) it's actually simpler to use this method. You download a template in the size book you want, add your text, format it so every chapter starts on an uneven page and you end up with a pretty good representation of what your file should look like. I think. :/
Random irritations include the price of delivery on Createspace - for me, it would have been close to $15 whereas the cost of the proof copy would have been under $8 (without the ProPlan option). Delivery on Lulu worked out at under 4euro but the cost of the proof copy was something like 15euro. Also annoying was the fact you don't receive an ISBN until after you have uploaded your documents so you have to go back, edit them in Word to add the ISBN, reupload to Lulu, let them transfer the file to a pdf and then upload that file to Createspace.
If/when I find out I've done things correctly, I'll go through a step by step method. I may think it's all good now but I haven't seen the copy yet so who knows? My other big problem was the cover. I ended up using the cover template wizards on both because I have absolutely no clue or understanding how the full cover template thingy works. Really have to figure out that one - I've found some lovely images if I ever publish that particular book. I'm looking forward to seeing the proof. I'm very keen on scoping out the quality and I am dying to see how many typos I found in a different format. Hopefully it won't be long before I can update on the proof copy from Createspace.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Suicidal Cats et al
It's been a nice week so far, apart from my cat giving me a nervous breakdown by jumping out of the window to sit on the window ledge. I'm afraid he'll get excited by a bird flying by and do a flying ninja kick thus losing one of his nine lives. He's been strangled by twin 1 so often that he might only have one life left. Maybe it's things like dimple faced strangling toddlers that are making him sit on the ledge and peer down like he wants to jump. The birds freak out when they see the cat and do that warning signal thing at like 5 in the morning. Can't close the window because it is so hot (yay) and the committee would freak if I put up a mesh thingy so I'm tense as feck trying to kick him out of the room at all hours. Shithead cat.
Aside from the cat drama, this week I have been obsessively listening to Katie Melua's The Flood and lusting after some Ilamasqua nail varnish. I want unusual opaque colours that last longer than an hour, damnit! Never been a fan of Katie Melua but I cannot stop listening to that song and it was about time something pipped Adam Lambert - been overplaying For Your Entertainment for far too long. Watched the trailer to Eclipse (isn't it funny how the main main main character is barely featured in the trailer?) and am planning on reading the free novella soon to be posted by Meyer - I know, so sue me! Missing Supernatural badly and sad to see Heroes is finally gone despite the fact it was pretty much run into the ground after a class start to life. I see a disturbing pattern emerging in my interests.
Back to me, me, me - I've been working on a first draft. It's a lot of fun and may never be fit for human consumption but I'm enjoying myself and getting words down so I'm happy enough. I've also started another edit of a full manuscript because I'm ordering a free proof copy of it this month. I know the copy won't be perfect but I don't want to waste a freebie and testing out Createspace will give me something writerly to blog about for a change. I've been meaning to talk about how Apple and others are trying to bypass their distributors but some things are bothering me about it and I need to consider it some more. One thing that is annoying me is how one of the requirements for Apple is a tax number. I have no problem with the tax number thing - if only it was simple to get one. Amazon's method doesn't seem to be foolproof and on Smashwords you have to have a balance of ten dollars to even start the process. Considering it took me a couple of months to get my first paying sale on Smashwords, it might take a while to qualify. :)
Aside from the cat drama, this week I have been obsessively listening to Katie Melua's The Flood and lusting after some Ilamasqua nail varnish. I want unusual opaque colours that last longer than an hour, damnit! Never been a fan of Katie Melua but I cannot stop listening to that song and it was about time something pipped Adam Lambert - been overplaying For Your Entertainment for far too long. Watched the trailer to Eclipse (isn't it funny how the main main main character is barely featured in the trailer?) and am planning on reading the free novella soon to be posted by Meyer - I know, so sue me! Missing Supernatural badly and sad to see Heroes is finally gone despite the fact it was pretty much run into the ground after a class start to life. I see a disturbing pattern emerging in my interests.
Back to me, me, me - I've been working on a first draft. It's a lot of fun and may never be fit for human consumption but I'm enjoying myself and getting words down so I'm happy enough. I've also started another edit of a full manuscript because I'm ordering a free proof copy of it this month. I know the copy won't be perfect but I don't want to waste a freebie and testing out Createspace will give me something writerly to blog about for a change. I've been meaning to talk about how Apple and others are trying to bypass their distributors but some things are bothering me about it and I need to consider it some more. One thing that is annoying me is how one of the requirements for Apple is a tax number. I have no problem with the tax number thing - if only it was simple to get one. Amazon's method doesn't seem to be foolproof and on Smashwords you have to have a balance of ten dollars to even start the process. Considering it took me a couple of months to get my first paying sale on Smashwords, it might take a while to qualify. :)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The Highs and Lows of Writing
A thread started on Kindleboards asking writers what their favourite part of the writing process is and it got me thinking. Some parts are easier than others and I find myself getting through certain things quite quickly while others drag for me. Unfortunately, they are all parts of the finished product so we have to get through the things we don't particularly enjoy to have a completed project.
For me, I'm happiest on the first draft. I love that first bubble of inspiration, when all sorts of ideas flow and as the story carries on, even more ideas bounce off each other to create a coherent solid story. Of course that's how it seems while you're writing it. It's later when you're editing or rewriting that you see it isn't so solid after all. The beginning is always the best part for me. Everything is fresh, the words are coming to me so fast I can barely keep up. It's fun and new and possibly something good. But then the editing begins and you realise it will never be perfect and you may never truly know when it is ready.
Aside from editing and not being confident that something is finished - probably part of the reason I enjoy short stories is that I don't feel like they need a "real" ending - is typing The End. I hate the end. I hate when it's all over. I've invested my time in something and that's it, it's gone, all over. Like when a great television series ends. Even if the ending is amazing, it still feels like a loss. I still want more.
The other thing I really hate is promotion but I keep telling myself that I'll get used to it and one day I may even be as brazen as Konrath who has come up with another fantastic marketing ploy by carrying out a piracy experiment on his blog by encouraging people to download his book of Jack Daniels short stories for free. It's supposed to see how his sales are affected and as always, the real nitty gritty is in the comments section. People are going apeshit over the piracy thing. There are so many other lows of writing that this one is comparatively minor on my radar.
For me, I'm just happy if people are reading my stuff. Even if they don't like it, the time they spent on it is worth more to me than .35c so right now I'm not in a freaking out position on free books or piracy. Maybe if I was a successful, well known writer, I might think differently but I'm not so sure. People pirate things for a reason. Sometimes it's because they just don't like paying for things. There's nothing at all I can do about that. But other reasons, such as the ebook coming out much later than the paperback or being at a ridiculously high price - those are reasons I can fight against. I'm not going to waste my time worrying about the things I can't change. While I think of Konrath's experiment as pure promotion and not an accurate test of how piracy affects sales, I wish his efforts well. His innovation is one of the main reasons he sells imo.
As an aside, the free books on Amazon are still available for international customers although some aren't available in other regions. Funnily enough, the freebies are the things which will push me right over the fence and onto the kindle owners side. Also, the Smashwords updates mentions another distribution to Sony soon and that lots won't make it if they don't have an ISBN. My books on Smashwords have shipped everywhere (except Amazon) by now but only one is available on I think Barnes & Noble. Others have been much more successful at having their work appear on Sony, Apple, Kobo and Barnes & Noble so I figure there must be a couple of factors going on. Good luck to anyone sending their books off for the first time.
For me, I'm happiest on the first draft. I love that first bubble of inspiration, when all sorts of ideas flow and as the story carries on, even more ideas bounce off each other to create a coherent solid story. Of course that's how it seems while you're writing it. It's later when you're editing or rewriting that you see it isn't so solid after all. The beginning is always the best part for me. Everything is fresh, the words are coming to me so fast I can barely keep up. It's fun and new and possibly something good. But then the editing begins and you realise it will never be perfect and you may never truly know when it is ready.
Aside from editing and not being confident that something is finished - probably part of the reason I enjoy short stories is that I don't feel like they need a "real" ending - is typing The End. I hate the end. I hate when it's all over. I've invested my time in something and that's it, it's gone, all over. Like when a great television series ends. Even if the ending is amazing, it still feels like a loss. I still want more.
The other thing I really hate is promotion but I keep telling myself that I'll get used to it and one day I may even be as brazen as Konrath who has come up with another fantastic marketing ploy by carrying out a piracy experiment on his blog by encouraging people to download his book of Jack Daniels short stories for free. It's supposed to see how his sales are affected and as always, the real nitty gritty is in the comments section. People are going apeshit over the piracy thing. There are so many other lows of writing that this one is comparatively minor on my radar.
For me, I'm just happy if people are reading my stuff. Even if they don't like it, the time they spent on it is worth more to me than .35c so right now I'm not in a freaking out position on free books or piracy. Maybe if I was a successful, well known writer, I might think differently but I'm not so sure. People pirate things for a reason. Sometimes it's because they just don't like paying for things. There's nothing at all I can do about that. But other reasons, such as the ebook coming out much later than the paperback or being at a ridiculously high price - those are reasons I can fight against. I'm not going to waste my time worrying about the things I can't change. While I think of Konrath's experiment as pure promotion and not an accurate test of how piracy affects sales, I wish his efforts well. His innovation is one of the main reasons he sells imo.
As an aside, the free books on Amazon are still available for international customers although some aren't available in other regions. Funnily enough, the freebies are the things which will push me right over the fence and onto the kindle owners side. Also, the Smashwords updates mentions another distribution to Sony soon and that lots won't make it if they don't have an ISBN. My books on Smashwords have shipped everywhere (except Amazon) by now but only one is available on I think Barnes & Noble. Others have been much more successful at having their work appear on Sony, Apple, Kobo and Barnes & Noble so I figure there must be a couple of factors going on. Good luck to anyone sending their books off for the first time.
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