Theodore’s Comments (group member since Apr 01, 2017)

Theodore’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

Judy wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Take a look at this review...Carole pointed me in her direction:

https://www.globetrottinkids.com/book...

I have been writing books since 2009, mostly adult..."

Thanks, Judy!

Anita wrote: "I'll add another issue. Updates! I was designing an illustrated children's book in Publisher. I exported the file to create the PDF and everything went fine. I uploaded to CS without any issues. I ..."

Another in a never-ending list of tips to tuck away. Thanks.

Shoot yourself (;>) Yes, you do end up with some blank pages, but I like the uniformity and the header schema I've been using. You pays your money, you takes your choice.

Alex wrote: "@Theodore, I'm sure the problem would not have been whether the chapters started on an odd or even page, I have chapters that start on both because I refuse to have blank pages just to make a chapt..."

Most novels I've ever read from a legacy publisher had chapters starting on the odd-numbered pages. (Pick one up an take a look.) To ignore this style would screw up the two headers I use (my name and the name of the book, the former on the even-numbered pages, that latter on the odd-numbered pages). I guess you could start chapters on both odd- and even-numbered pages, but then, you'd have to figure out a different header schema.

Anna Faversham wrote: "Thanks, Theo. Worrying."

I wouldn't worry...just be consistent in your use of versions...and if you change, either save in the previous version or check carefully to ensure the upgrade hasn't changed something, as it did in my case.

Amy wrote: "I'm not surprised at anything Word does any more. I couldn't even get my 2010 copy to spell check consistently in UK English. Despite my default settings it would revert to US English. I use more "..."

You would think! (re the pagination). I can always tell when I have to stop and clean out my temporary memory...Word starts to act really strange. It's like the canary in the coal mine.

Carole wrote: "voted and shared!!"

You are terrific.

By the way, I got a lovely note from Julie this morning. Apparently she was having coffee with several 2nd grade teachers yesterday, and they all are going to develop little instructional units on Antarctica and penguins around my book, Pepe Builds a Nest. I can't thank you enough for bringing us together. She should be receiving the complete set of books this morning as my way of saying "Thank You."

Amy wrote: "Very true. I have been using a 2010 copy of Word knowing full well that I purchased a licence for 2013. Turns out I have both installed on my laptop. (I didn't think you could run two versions on t..."

I didn't think that upgrading the text to the newer version of Word would have done what it did to the pagination . . . but it really blew things up. Now that I know, I'll save corrections to older files in older versions of Word, a feature that is available with MS Word.

I published the fifth book in my Det. Louis Martelli, NYPD, series, Eighth Circle, in 2014, on CreateSpace (CS), and hadn’t paid much attention to the text until a few days ago. Then, by chance, in scanning a portion for an idea I had regarding a Flash Fiction piece I was writing, I came across a typo (the horror!). Should be an easy fix, says I, plunging in and correcting the problem where it appeared (two places).

But when I resubmitted the revised text to CS for approval, back it came, UNAPPROVED. The problem: incorrect pagination.

What? Sure enough, not only did some of the chapters now start on even pages, but also, the page numbers near the end, in a separate section, had jumped by more than 200. What was going on?

The problem lay in the purchase of a new computer and attendant software in late 2015. This resulted in my now using a new version of MS Word. So, when I now saved the corrected version of the book, the computer upgraded the text to the newer version of Word.

Truth be told, I was given the option of saving the file in an earlier version of Word, and, on hindsight, I should have done so. But, after an hour’s work (and the loss of a few hairs), the problem was resolved.

Please take note of this the next time you rework a manuscript. Be careful when saving files to ensure you don’t accidentally incur problems by your having changed versions of the word processing program you’re using.

My story this week is about the Mafia! I think you'll get a kick out of it!

Thanks for your vote!

Ted

http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2017/0...

Angel wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Angel wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Angel wrote: "Ok, I'm a little peeved because the "Look Inside" feature for the kindle version has not updated to the revised copy of my book since I..."

Check your LookInside every once in a while. I just checked one of my paperback eiditons for which I spent two weeks fixing the LookInside parameter, finally setting the viewing to 40% last Friday, only to find it somehow had reverted to 20% today. I don't know whether an old request is catching up with CS or not (maybe someone just took the inquiry as permission to reset the viewing percentage to the default value of 20%--who knows what people are thinking these days???!), but it's very annoying to have to call CS (again!) to fix the problem. Just keep an eye on it.

Alice wrote: "What price should a 42,000 words long, collection of short stories be set at? Should it be 99 cent or 2.00 dollars? The genre is speculative fiction if that helps."

Regarding my short story anthologies, I set the price for my Kindle editions at $2.99, but do run week-long discounts from time to time using eReaderNewsToday (ENT) at a price of 99 cents. The paperback editions sell for $6.99 (Book 1; 114 pages) and $7.99 (Book 2: 159 pages). ENT will only take books that are 125 pages and longer.

Angel wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Angel wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Angel wrote: "Ok, I'm a little peeved because the "Look Inside" feature for the kindle version has not updated to the revised copy of my book since I..."

And there you go! LOL Where there's a will, and all that. Superb. I'll bet it shows up before that. I talked to them this morning around 11 am and it was up and running by 6 pm or so. But who knows. In any event, I think you're on your way. Best wishes.

Angel wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Angel wrote: "Ok, I'm a little peeved because the "Look Inside" feature for the kindle version has not updated to the revised copy of my book since I rereleased it a week and a hal..."

Okay...I just checked, and my Kindle edition's LookInside availability is perfect.

Here's what you need to do, Angel. Tomorrow morning, after 9 am, ET, get on Author Central, and use the Contact us feature (upper left-hand corner) to get them to call you.

https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/h...

You can just keep putting in "other" in response to the questions.

Once you have an agent on the phone, ask to be transferred to Kindle Direct Publishing.

Once you have a KDP agent on the phone, explain to them you need them to set your LookInside percentage to 40% (or more if you want it). It's supposed to default to 20%, but that, apparently is what's all screwed up.

I did that this morning, and just now, the feature is showing 40% of my book.

This should take care of your problem.

Angel wrote: "Ok, I'm a little peeved because the "Look Inside" feature for the kindle version has not updated to the revised copy of my book since I rereleased it a week and a half ago. The print version update..."

I have had the same problem with one of my books. Everything was fine, but when I checked two weeks ago, the number of pages visible had shrunk. I have been e-mailing and talking to them for two weeks...people say they will follow up (more like "foul up!"), but they never do. KDP is totally FUBAR right now when it comes to the LookInside feature (you can google FUBAR...I'm not going to spell it out here, but I assure you, it is most apt!)

The print edition's LookInside is just fine.

Carole wrote: "Nice job! I told you they would start coming in."

That was so kind of you to leave a comment on the site. Very much appreciated.

Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger) wrote: "Absolutely! Bullying is a topic that must be addressed in schools. The fact Julie Yeros considers your book important to the subject to create a teaching package around is a positive academic nod. ..."

Thanks, Sam...that's very kind of you. I was blown away by the lengths to which Julie went on that teaching package. My gosh, it puts a lot of what we see in the public and private schools to shame.

Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger) wrote: "Kvell away, Theodore. Revel in this wonderful review of your hard work! This is spectacular! So happy for you! Hugs"

Thanks, Sam...just an unbelievable review. Even better are the book materials developed by Julie. ANY teacher could use these, at home or in the classroom, to enhance the learning experience with this book. I am, in a word, thrilled!

Take a look at this review...Carole pointed me in her direction:

https://www.globetrottinkids.com/book...

I have been writing books since 2009, mostly adult novels (more than ten) and short-story anthologies, and I never (NEVER!) received a review such as the one. Even more satisfying, as was pointed out by my wife (and editor), is the good that could come, not only from the book, but better, from this review and the wonderful materials developed that will assist homeschools in helping their children learn the lessons embodied within the book.

I am stunned, thrilled, and, well, kvelling (derived from Yiddish kveln, meaning "to be delighted," which, in turn, comes from the Middle High German word quellen, meaning "to well, gush, or swell.") Frankly, it just doesn’t get any better than this!

Thank you, Carole! Thank you, Julie Yeros. I think I'll take the rest of the day off!!! Booyah!

Carole wrote: "I will try. I think it's harder to keep it small and concise."

Most definitely