c2011 (S)
After editing my fifth novel, 'Shape-Shifters,' the next step is to prepare the thing for formatting. (Because this file has been around since 2008, and it has been through a few crashes and software upgrades, this involves the 'nuclear option' for cleaning the source file of all glitches and bugs.)
This entails grabbing my bio from the short story folder, and copying and pasting in the front matter from another book. Then I simply change the title and ISBN number. I went to Collections Canada's website, where I have a publisher's account. I get my ISBN's for free. That being said, Smashwords and other publishing platforms also provide ISBN's, often at no charge. Smashwords just bought another 50,000 ISBN's according to a recent blog post by founder Mark Coker.
What I do then is to save the document as a .txt file. Then I hit the ctrl and A keys, and save the whole thing again with my mouse...paste that into a new document, (a .doc file.) Since the default on my program is a .docx, and Smashwords requires a .doc, I don't really need the .docx. 'Save as' a .doc file. Paste the .txt novel into it. Take the .docx and stick it into the recycle bin. It's there in an emergency, otherwise it's a hazard on the desktop. Right now, I have a .doc file with the file name, 'Master ShapeshiftersAug1111.doc.' I don't want to put time and labour into the wrong file, and in the past I've had problems with version control--you want to upload the most recent, updated version of a file, each and every time.
Use 'find and replace' to remove all space-bar indents. Click find, hit the space bar five times, click replace, and enter nothing. Click 'replace all,' and this should remove all of them. Turn on pilcrows to look for little dots made by the spacebar.
Otherwise it just makes you look dumb.
The title of the book is right at the top, and it is 14-pt. All chapter titles are 12-pt. The subheadings are 12-pt. There are three spaces between chapters, and no more, 12-pt Times New Roman, and 12-pt lines. Paragraphs are defined with a .25 indent, first line only, and spacing is single, at 1.0. There are links fore and aft. My bio is very short.
I use three asterisks as scene breaks. There is one 12-pt line before and after, and the break is centred, as is the front matter, with no indents. Chapter headings, the bio, have no indents. On my last upload, the only problem was that my marketing image was too small. This time I made sure the image is 600 x 900 and I have full confidence of nailing the Premium Catalogue with the simple click of a mouse.
As soon as it's published, download Kindle and Epub versions, and check them out using Kindle for PC and Mobipocket reader for the Epub. Check every bleeping page. Trust me on that one. It's worth doing.
Once you are sure the file is clean, simply save it as a .html and upload it to Amazon. By clicking on all distribution channels, (Smashwords,) and with your ISBN number, you're good to go. The global e-book market awaits you.
Notes: I'm holding back on my fourth novel, and probably my sixth novel, both science fiction, until a later date. I have over 30,000 words on my seventh novel, detective fiction, and I need to get back to writing and submitting short stories, which is obviously part of a credible overall marketing strategy.
My Amazon account is separate from Smashwords. Goodreads, Lulu, Google Books all have their own source file requirements, so read and check all that stuff carefully. When uploading to Google Books, the file name is your ISBN number with no spaces and no hyphens. It's not as complicated as it sounds. One thing at a time and a little focus is all it takes.
Anyway, the last thing I do is turn off spell check and grammar check, and turn off the pilcrows. All I would add is, 'and proof-read the book as many times as you can stand!'
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Ready for Formatting.
c2011 (S)
My manuscript for 'The Shape-Shifters' is almost ready to go. I edited about 130 pages today, and what was once a little bit daunting is now a source of one big effin' grin.
The story's basic premise is a simple one, 'You can't change who you really are,' but of course the reader has no idea of who anyone is when they begin reading. As in all of my stories, the genre is just a vehicle for telling a story, a very human story, about relationships.
As I format, naturally I leave spelling check and grammar check turned on. I plan on going straight to the nuclear option in terms of wiping clean my source file, and lately I've been nailing the Smashwords meat-grinder with alacrity.
I have my ISBN and a decent cover. While there is no reason to hurry, with over two and a half weeks to go, I wouldn't mind taking a couple of days off and going somewhere.
My manuscript for 'The Shape-Shifters' is almost ready to go. I edited about 130 pages today, and what was once a little bit daunting is now a source of one big effin' grin.
The story's basic premise is a simple one, 'You can't change who you really are,' but of course the reader has no idea of who anyone is when they begin reading. As in all of my stories, the genre is just a vehicle for telling a story, a very human story, about relationships.
As I format, naturally I leave spelling check and grammar check turned on. I plan on going straight to the nuclear option in terms of wiping clean my source file, and lately I've been nailing the Smashwords meat-grinder with alacrity.
I have my ISBN and a decent cover. While there is no reason to hurry, with over two and a half weeks to go, I wouldn't mind taking a couple of days off and going somewhere.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Editing: Before and After.
c2011 (S)
This is another excerpt from 'The Shape-Shifters,' in the process of editing.
Before:
“If you don’t have any money,” said Nathan. “I can get you a motel room, put it on my card.”
Jean just slumped in the chair, not answering him right away. Defeat was visible in his posture.
“He’s staying with me,” said Janet firmly. “I’m not putting up with any arguments on that score.”
Nathan and Polly exchanged a quick glance, a small smile stealing over each one’s face.
“Well, this may not be the best time,” began Polly. “But Nathan and I have an announcement to make.”
“Really?” asked Janet, perhaps quicker on the uptake than Jean, who had been through so much tonight.
“Huh?” he said. “What? I’m sorry?”
But it sunk in, what they were trying to say.
Nathan stood up and Jean got up and shook hands with him.
A sudden wide grin transformed his features, if only momentarily.
“Really?” he asked, looking in approval from one to the other of them.
“We’re a couple now,” announced Polly.
Standing up, she was stunned to discover that Jean had stepped in close and was giving her an impulsive hug. She grinned beside his shoulder into Janet’s eyes.
“Well! Mister Gagnon.”
She said it in confusion, slightly nonplussed by the outpouring of emotion from the man. Janet stepped up and gave Polly a quick hug too.
After:
“If you don’t have any money,” said Nathan. “I can get you a motel room, and put it on my card.”
Jean slumped in the chair, not answering him right away. Defeat was visible in his posture.
“He’s staying with me,” said Janet. “I’m not putting up with any arguments on that score.”
Nathan and Polly exchanged a quick glance, a smile stealing over their faces.
“Well, this may not be the best time,” began Polly. “But Nathan and I have an announcement to make.”
“Really?” asked Janet, perhaps quicker on the uptake than Jean, who had been through so much tonight.
“Huh?” he said. “What? I’m sorry?”
What they were trying to say finally sank in.
Nathan stood. Jean got up and shook hands with him. A sudden wide grin transformed Jean's features.
“Really?” he asked, looking in approval from one to the other.
“We’re a couple now,” announced Polly.
As she rose, she was stunned when Jean stepped in close and gave her an impulsive hug. She grinned beside his shoulder into Janet’s eyes.
“Well! Mister Gagnon.”
Polly found the outpouring of emotion from Jean a little overwhelming. Janet stepped over and gave Polly a quick hug as well.
“I’m so happy for you guys,” she said.
***
Which is better? Hopefully the second example, right?
This is another excerpt from 'The Shape-Shifters,' in the process of editing.
Before:
“If you don’t have any money,” said Nathan. “I can get you a motel room, put it on my card.”
Jean just slumped in the chair, not answering him right away. Defeat was visible in his posture.
“He’s staying with me,” said Janet firmly. “I’m not putting up with any arguments on that score.”
Nathan and Polly exchanged a quick glance, a small smile stealing over each one’s face.
“Well, this may not be the best time,” began Polly. “But Nathan and I have an announcement to make.”
“Really?” asked Janet, perhaps quicker on the uptake than Jean, who had been through so much tonight.
“Huh?” he said. “What? I’m sorry?”
But it sunk in, what they were trying to say.
Nathan stood up and Jean got up and shook hands with him.
A sudden wide grin transformed his features, if only momentarily.
“Really?” he asked, looking in approval from one to the other of them.
“We’re a couple now,” announced Polly.
Standing up, she was stunned to discover that Jean had stepped in close and was giving her an impulsive hug. She grinned beside his shoulder into Janet’s eyes.
“Well! Mister Gagnon.”
She said it in confusion, slightly nonplussed by the outpouring of emotion from the man. Janet stepped up and gave Polly a quick hug too.
After:
“If you don’t have any money,” said Nathan. “I can get you a motel room, and put it on my card.”
Jean slumped in the chair, not answering him right away. Defeat was visible in his posture.
“He’s staying with me,” said Janet. “I’m not putting up with any arguments on that score.”
Nathan and Polly exchanged a quick glance, a smile stealing over their faces.
“Well, this may not be the best time,” began Polly. “But Nathan and I have an announcement to make.”
“Really?” asked Janet, perhaps quicker on the uptake than Jean, who had been through so much tonight.
“Huh?” he said. “What? I’m sorry?”
What they were trying to say finally sank in.
Nathan stood. Jean got up and shook hands with him. A sudden wide grin transformed Jean's features.
“Really?” he asked, looking in approval from one to the other.
“We’re a couple now,” announced Polly.
As she rose, she was stunned when Jean stepped in close and gave her an impulsive hug. She grinned beside his shoulder into Janet’s eyes.
“Well! Mister Gagnon.”
Polly found the outpouring of emotion from Jean a little overwhelming. Janet stepped over and gave Polly a quick hug as well.
“I’m so happy for you guys,” she said.
***
Which is better? Hopefully the second example, right?
Basic copy editing.
c2011 (S)
This is an excerpt from 'The Shape-Shifters.'
Sergeant Cournoyer was dreaming in his warm bed, snug in the arms of Orpheus, when his wife slapped him upside of the head. He awoke groggily, in a half-drunken state. The prescription sleeping pills he used occasionally for insomnia often had this effect on him. Grace handed him the phone with a dark look, as a quick glance at the clock showed it was after twelve. Oh, God, just this once she had been trying to sleep instead of reading half the night.
“Yes? What?” he asked.
It took a minute to sink in. What the voice was telling him was right off the wall…but maybe not!
“What? Where?” he asked, a little more lucid now.
Then Sergeant Cournoyer slammed the phone down without ceremony and leapt out of bed. At this time of night, and since it wasn’t his shift, he whipped open the closet door and reached for a pair of jeans and a western shirt. Pure muscle memory took over.
His hands knew the routine.
“I have to go, Honey,” he said over his shoulder as he rammed his legs in one at a time.
Here's the edited version. Bear in mind this is my second time through the manuscript!
Sergeant Cournoyer lay dreaming in his warm bed, snug in the arms of Orpheus, when his wife slapped him upside of the head. He awoke in a half-drunken state. The prescription sleeping pills he used occasionally for insomnia often had this effect. Grace handed him the phone with a dark look. A quick glance at the clock showed it was after twelve. Oh, God, just this once she was trying to sleep instead of reading half the night.
“Yes? What?” he asked.
Still groggy, it took a minute to sink in. What the voice was telling him was right off the wall.
“What? Where?” he asked, a little more lucid now.
Sergeant Cournoyer slammed the phone down without ceremony and leapt out of bed. At this time of night, and since it wasn’t his shift, he whipped open the closet door, reaching for a pair of jeans and a western shirt. Muscle memory took over. His hands knew the routine.
"I have to go, Honey,” he said over his shoulder as he sat heavily on the edge of the bed and rammed his legs in.
Notes: I wrote this in the winter of 2008, (I think.) There are all kinds of little writing errors in it, which can be disturbing on the one hand, and kind of uplifting on the other. What it means is that I have learned a lot by studying blogs, websites, and the work of other, far more competent authors. I'm taking out semi-colons, looking at every dialogue tag, removing adverbs, tightening up word count, sentence structure, and keeping the words in their most logical and economical order.
Basic copy editing is far more than checking for spelling errors and typos, or using the grammar checker on the word processing program. I can remove words from a sentence, and grammar check has no problem with it. I can put words in, and grammar check has no problem with it. But which is best? Each sentence involves a series of value judgements. The basic premise is to make it easy to read, and make it a pleasure to read.
The third time I go through this book, I will still be changing things. But when we run out of things to fix, she's done and ready to go. Projected publishing date for 'The Shape-Shifters,' is on or about September 1. In the meantime, I have to get my ISBN, format, and finalize the marketing image. I've already written a pretty good blurb, although it could use some fine tuning. I will go through this book as many times as I need to.
This is an excerpt from 'The Shape-Shifters.'
Sergeant Cournoyer was dreaming in his warm bed, snug in the arms of Orpheus, when his wife slapped him upside of the head. He awoke groggily, in a half-drunken state. The prescription sleeping pills he used occasionally for insomnia often had this effect on him. Grace handed him the phone with a dark look, as a quick glance at the clock showed it was after twelve. Oh, God, just this once she had been trying to sleep instead of reading half the night.
“Yes? What?” he asked.
It took a minute to sink in. What the voice was telling him was right off the wall…but maybe not!
“What? Where?” he asked, a little more lucid now.
Then Sergeant Cournoyer slammed the phone down without ceremony and leapt out of bed. At this time of night, and since it wasn’t his shift, he whipped open the closet door and reached for a pair of jeans and a western shirt. Pure muscle memory took over.
His hands knew the routine.
“I have to go, Honey,” he said over his shoulder as he rammed his legs in one at a time.
Here's the edited version. Bear in mind this is my second time through the manuscript!
Sergeant Cournoyer lay dreaming in his warm bed, snug in the arms of Orpheus, when his wife slapped him upside of the head. He awoke in a half-drunken state. The prescription sleeping pills he used occasionally for insomnia often had this effect. Grace handed him the phone with a dark look. A quick glance at the clock showed it was after twelve. Oh, God, just this once she was trying to sleep instead of reading half the night.
“Yes? What?” he asked.
Still groggy, it took a minute to sink in. What the voice was telling him was right off the wall.
“What? Where?” he asked, a little more lucid now.
Sergeant Cournoyer slammed the phone down without ceremony and leapt out of bed. At this time of night, and since it wasn’t his shift, he whipped open the closet door, reaching for a pair of jeans and a western shirt. Muscle memory took over. His hands knew the routine.
"I have to go, Honey,” he said over his shoulder as he sat heavily on the edge of the bed and rammed his legs in.
Notes: I wrote this in the winter of 2008, (I think.) There are all kinds of little writing errors in it, which can be disturbing on the one hand, and kind of uplifting on the other. What it means is that I have learned a lot by studying blogs, websites, and the work of other, far more competent authors. I'm taking out semi-colons, looking at every dialogue tag, removing adverbs, tightening up word count, sentence structure, and keeping the words in their most logical and economical order.
Basic copy editing is far more than checking for spelling errors and typos, or using the grammar checker on the word processing program. I can remove words from a sentence, and grammar check has no problem with it. I can put words in, and grammar check has no problem with it. But which is best? Each sentence involves a series of value judgements. The basic premise is to make it easy to read, and make it a pleasure to read.
The third time I go through this book, I will still be changing things. But when we run out of things to fix, she's done and ready to go. Projected publishing date for 'The Shape-Shifters,' is on or about September 1. In the meantime, I have to get my ISBN, format, and finalize the marketing image. I've already written a pretty good blurb, although it could use some fine tuning. I will go through this book as many times as I need to.
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