Robert’s Comments (group member since Feb 20, 2013)

Robert’s comments from the CreateSpace, Lulu and Lightning Source authors group.

Brilliant..I knew you would get there in the end

I do not use any templates
I write books, edit them, and format them.
I do this for createspace, smashwords and kindle.
I Use Times New Roman 12pt (tried garamond 11pt didn't like it)
if you change to a smaller font, of course it will re-layout the book (and make the book a fair bit shorter)
Shouldn't be a problem though if you have used style buttons in your formatting.

Hilda wrote: "I'm having trouble with formatting my text. I've followed all the instructions and the layout specifications are the same for every page in terms of margins but on many of the pages the block of te..."

This not a problem, it depends on how word wraps a block of text to the next page. The whole thing is automatic, and frankly defies logic. but its not a problem.

createspace only have our options, with adequate explanation for each...Option one free if you sell only through Createspace, and let Createspace distribute. Option two a custom ISBN which you pay for, still can only sell through createspace. Option three universal ISBN..buy from createspace but you can sell your book through whoever you like.. and the final Option is to provide your own which you previously bought from Nielson

Hilda wrote: "I'm getting very confused by the various options for ISBN offered by createspace. I think I'd prefer to get my own from Nielson. Does anyone know if there are any disadvantages in doing this?"

Come on Hilda....Nielson charge you money...Createspace will assign a free one

That is if you elect to save a file as PDF
I have twelve books published with Createspace..ALL of which went up as .doc files...look at some on the Amazon web site...there is no problem with formatting, INCLUDING adding author name and book title to the pages. The following is cut and pasted from the Createspace web site:

"Whether you have a print-ready pdf, or a Word® .doc, docx, or .rtf file, it’s easy to upload your file and get it ready for publishing for free."

note the "or word ,.doc, .docx or rtf file"

Hilda wrote: "Still struggling. I've now got to the stage where my Word doc is ready to be converted to pdf. As my version of Adobe is later than 7.0, it seems I need to import CreateSpacePrePress.kfp. I've down..."

What are you talking about?
what is all this about PDF's?
Createspace accept word .doc files as well as .docx
and as a matter of interet so do Smashwords AND Kindle.

Just write your book and then READ the submission requirements and format accordingly.
I am at a total loss as to where this convert to PDF came from..who would want to? I have 12 books publshed with createspace.

If you want your book to closely compare with mainstream published books, you will have to.
I have done it for all of mine, and as I said...fun isn't it

Yep that should do it
Just to make life difficult...
what if you want to put your author name on each even page and the book title on each odd page, but not on the first page of each chapter (as they do on print books)
The first thing you have to do is put a section break after every chapter...
Just think what that will do to your page numbering....fun isn't it.

Would you like to take up my offer, and let me look at it for you....

createspace will charge you money...
If you are desperate you could always send the whole book to me as an attachment and I will do it for you. (I use word 2010)

also going back and rechecking, when footers are open for editing there are two tabs showing one on the left should say (Footer section 2) the one on the right says (same as previous) go to the top click on 'link to previous' to switch this tab off. position your mouse at your page number point and then go back to entering page numbers...my mistake before...format first... number second.
Open a blank document enter a section break so you have two pages and practice...

Its difficult, because headers and footers are linked
Its the section break (NOT a page break) that is important. but it does work. because I have eleven books out there all numbered correctly.
In the header footer tools, there is a link called 'link to previous' which sometimes interfers.

as is usually the case with word, everything is complicated:

First make sure you have inserted a SECTION break after your beginning stuff and before page one.

make sure you are on the page which you want to be number one.
Click on 'Insert' at the top next to 'home'
find and click on 'page numbers'
Click on bottom (or top ot wherever you want your page number) and select the type of number you want.
Now if you are on header and footer tools go to the left and select page number again or if not go back to insert and select page number again.
Then select format page number.
a box will open and at the bottom it gives you the opportunity to enter a starting number for that page.
all other pages will then be numbered from there.

You will have to go back to your starting stuff, and delete the page numbers on there. Don't use delete page numbers or anything like that. just remove each number leaving a blank space. (number field remains but is empty)

My pleasure

Hi Hilda

have a look at http://www.robertavjacobs.co.uk
I cover formatting for p.o.d books published through
Createspace.

Hi Matt

I personally do not use no indent for my first paragraph with kindle, though I do with my printed versions. I do believe that it is possible, as I have actually seen books with it. I personally don't see the point though, as readers may view at whatever size font they want. So the layout that they see may not necessarily be the layout that you intended.

ask away

Victoria wrote: "Morning all :~)
I'm Victoria, Tori if you can't be bothered/are on a character limit. I published my first short story collection, Strange Love - Short Stories and Twisted Tales in June 2012, and m..."

Hi Victoria
I have published a short story collection through smashwords, createspace and kindle. Tales all with a twist at the end. Entitled 'Speaker' https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

Thanks to Bookformatter for the welcome.
My 'Daisy Weal' series of books for kids from 10 to infinity and all of the places that they can be found are on my web site:
http://www.daisyweal.co.uk
and just in case anyone is interested, 146 of my card solitaire games can be found on:
http://www.web-solitaire.co.uk
Help in publishing for all those budding authors can be found at:
http://www.robertavjacobs.co.uk