Editio Self-Publishing discussion
This topic is about
Reach
Self-Publishing questions
>
CreateSpace's Kindle publishing vs direct KDP publishing
date
newest »
newest »
I have no experience with CreateSpace to Kindle conversions. However, I know that they start out with a PDF and end up with an ebook. I can't see how that would work.What I do is save my document in HTML format, then import it into Sigil and make an EPUB out of it, then finally I run kindlegen on the EPUB. This gives me exactly what the reader will see on his Kindle. No guesswork. I can give the reader the best experience possible, and KNOW that I'm giving the reader that best experience.
I am well versed in HTML and probably better at formatting books than writing them. It makes sense to use what I know to improve my product.
A well formatted e-book won't necessarily sell well, but a badly formatted e-book can definitely hurt you. Why take chances?
It would be nice if CS gave you a way of seeing your ebook in Kindle format before you submit it to Amazon. Then we would know if doing this gives acceptable results.
The newer versions of Word have a 'save as' option to save as a pdf. Once done, its simply a matter of setting the format as a book and getting the margins straight.Actually, I think the various format changes to go to kindle are more likely to produce mistakes. One, common in a mobi coversion is the appearance of almost random '@' and the occasional square with a question mark in it where a hyphen should appear.
I send my word version directly to my kindle personal documents and it looks just like the kindle version. Good for proofing.
Here's a question. Has anyone ever put a small jpg or other linked item on the title page or contents. I'm thinking I would like to put something like that in so I could see if people were actually using the 'look inside' feature.
It certainly makes sense to have CS create an ebook version for you, but I am not sure how they get the ISBN for the ebook vs. paperback book. They probably have someone on their end who will convert the paperback PDF into HTML into mobi format for Kindle. And for someone who is unfamiliar with ebook and print book layouts, it might be easier to do that. Since I work with lots of self-publishing authors, who all want print and ebook versions of their books, I create ebooks from the print book design software (InDesign), first to ePub, then kindlegen for mobi versions. The authors with whom I work upload their ebooks to KDP. Occasionally, I will create a Word version of their books and upload it to Smashwords.com, which will convert the file to five different ebook formats (all validated) and submit them to the various ebook retailers.
I'm starting to find out about CreateSpace and others, have a lot to learn.What if you have a book only on Amazon for kindles.
Is there a service that will create a print (paperback or hardcover) version for customers if they want it?
Demetrius wrote: "Is there a service that will create a print (paperback or hardcover) ..."Suggest you peer harder at CreateSpace because print on demand is precisely what they do. I did a POD (Print On Demand) version not because I expected sales but because having both a print and an e-version available made my point of sale page look more like a 'real' or established author. I opted for the wider distribution but have concluded its a waste of time. I spent about $75 including some proof sets.
When I have found my work on other sites that are in the increased distribution, it often has no cover image or just a couple lines of description. When I contacted CS about this I was told the individual sites decide what goes on their site and I would need to locate each one and then contact them to get a more viable presence on their site.
Ken wrote: "Demetrius wrote: "Is there a service that will create a print (paperback or hardcover) ..."Suggest you peer harder at CreateSpace because print on demand is precisely what they do. I did a POD (..."
Thanks. I appreciate any info on this topic.
Ken wrote: "Demetrius wrote: "Is there a service that will create a print (paperback or hardcover) ..."Suggest you peer harder at CreateSpace because print on demand is precisely what they do. I did a POD (..."
Did you have to pay anything up front before any sales are made, or books ordered? (What if you have your cover and manuscript available yourself and don't need CS to do it?)
If you take the risk of not ordering a paper proof (just using the CreateSpace digital proofer), and don't get Extended Distribution, and supply all your own files, then you don't have to pay a dime. I recommend getting a single paper proof, at least of your first attempt. The proof costs a few bucks (exact amount depending on the size and length of the book), and shipping is another few. (I don't think the proof plus shipping, for me, has ever been more than $11.00.)
Karen wrote: "If you take the risk of not ordering a paper proof (just using the CreateSpace digital proofer), and don't get Extended Distribution, and supply all your own files, then you don't have to pay a dim..."thanks. Feel free to add any additional tips.
Karen wrote: "If you take the risk of not ordering a paper proof (just using the CreateSpace digital proofer), and don't get Extended Distribution, and supply all your own files, then you don't have to pay a dim..."thanks. Feel free to add any additional tips.
OK, since you asked :-) --The color and density of CreateSpace covers vary quite a bit. If the variance from what you expected is glaring, you can ask the support team to take a closer look -- though they may say it's within the expected range.
I believe the instructions have changed sometime in the last several years re the recommended size of the gutter. I'm still using something close to what they originally recommended, which is a good deal smaller than what they appear to recommend now (if I understood what they recommended) -- and I'm happy with the smaller size. Of course, YMMV. This is one of the things it's very hard to be sure about without a paper proof.
Shipping gets significantly less expensive for book when you order multiple copies. (This is true of proofs or final versions, but I'm not sure there's much point in ordering multiple copies of any particular stage of proof. I could be wrong, but I believe the cost of a proof and of a final copy of your book is the same or about the same.)
If you're submitting a PDF of the complete cover, make sure you've carefully read their instructions about the spine width, the size of bleed, etc. If you submit the wrong size, they'll adjust the image to fit, which could lead to distortions. (Make sure you know whether your file is measured in inches or centimeters!)
Don't miss the 3D part of the digital proofer (on the left of the proofer options, I think, but I could be wrong). It shows a 3D image of your book, and you can rotate it all the way around. It may, however, leave you giggling like a fool as you admire how your book will look. :-)
Karen wrote: "OK, since you asked :-) --The color and density of CreateSpace covers vary quite a bit. If the variance from what you expected is glaring, you can ask the support team to take a closer look -- th..."
Thanks
I have created many books with Create Space. My tips:1). Always get a proof copy. You will see problems on an actual proof copy that are NOT obvious in the various previews. Proof copies are cheap.
2). You can use Open Office or Libre Office to prepare your manuscript, and you can download either one for free.
3). You can use The GIMP to make front and back cover images and use The Palm cover designer to put a spine between them. The GIMP is another free download, and is similar to PhotoShop.
4). You can download free fonts from FontSquirrel and use them in your cover image, book interior, and even embed them in your Kindle version. I have used Chunk Five, Akashi, and Yataghan fonts in my books.
5). Use a photo you have taken yourself using a digital camera for front cover images and author photos.
6). You don't need to pay anyone to format your interior pages or cover. Proof copies are cheap enough that trial and error should give you decent results.
7). Put your MS on a Kindle and read it, highlighting misspellings, passive voice, and anything else you would pay an editor to find. Do this several times.
8). Black and white interior pages are your best option, unless every single page has color. You pay the color rate for every page whether it has color or not. The color rate is four times what BW pages are. I did one full color book and the interior pages did not look as good as I had hoped they would.
9). There is no extra charge for a colorful cover, so make it colorful! Color covers look better than color interior pages. The GIMP has some nice filters to enhance your pictures, like white balance and Sepia, plus it can put a nice border on your picture and do other things. Experiment!
10). Diagrams, screen grabs, etc. look OK at low DPI, even though the proofer will complain about it. Photos will not.
11). Expanded distribution makes your book *much* more expensive for the customer, even if nobody besides Amazon ever stocks it. I did expanded distribution with two of my books and it probably was a mistake. If you limit yourself to Amazon and Amazon Europe you can price your book much lower and still make a decent royalty.
12). CS gives you your own website to sell your books on. You get a much higher royalty if customers buy there. Use The GIMP to make a nice custom banner for this website.
Have a look at mine:
https://sites.google.com/site/bhaktaj...
Now all you need to do is figure out how to steer customers to it. Good luck!
13). Don't give up your day job. No matter how beautiful your book is (and CS books can be quite nice) you're probably not going to sell a lot of them. It might make your ebook look more attractive to have a printed version available, and you can buy copies at author's rates to give to relatives. You'll also feel more like an author.
Thanks!