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Helpful techniques for an author
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Feb 02, 2016 03:25AM
I distribute to Kobo through Smashwords, and SW supplies the ISBN. I use the Amazon-assigned ASIN for my Kindle books, and it identifies the publisher either as me, or any name I want it to be. As for tracking your sales, Amazon provides that on the Author Central website; however, I've noticed that sales through Amazon UK, CA, and AU aren't counted.
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@Ken On your author dashboard all sales are counted. that's how you get paid.
Segilola wrote: "@Ken On your author dashboard all sales are counted. that's how you get paid."
I was referring to author ranking. I probably should have made that clearer.
I was referring to author ranking. I probably should have made that clearer.
I prefer to outline a work first on handwritten 3 X 5 cards, then docharacter diaries and sketches in a PAPER notebook. After that, I compose with a comfortable pen on yellow legal pads. The paper
words then get typed onto to the screen during the first editing process.
Old School? Yes, but it works well for me. The paper trail will never be lost due to a computer malfunction.
Ken wrote: "I distribute to Kobo through Smashwords, and SW supplies the ISBN. I use the Amazon-assigned ASIN for my Kindle books, and it identifies the publisher either as me, or any name I want it to be. As ..."OK thanks Ken.
Alp wrote: "I realise I do something without even thinking about it these days - I write down names that I like the sound of, and then use them in stories where I need a name (could be anything, not just a per..."I do the same thing! I also snap pictures of people, scenery and things I find interesting. They're stored in my computer's "Prop Room" waiting to be put to use in some future project.
P.S. -- I use flash drives for routine backup . Print-ready files on flash drives get put in a safety deposit box.
HI, my name is Savannah Jordan. I am the author of "Rescuing America's Democracy From Its Collapsing Morality". I have a couple of questions about reviewers. I have gone to a couple of sites at which they ask that the book be sent in a certain format. My ebook is on Amazon. Does anyone know whether Amazon will allow me to send a file to the reviewer which is not going through Amazon? Secondly, these sites are asking to file types of which I have never heard. I have my book in WORD form and in the Amazon conversion which appears to be an html file. Does anyone know how to make this conversion? Thanks
Savannah, First, do not send anyone your book in Word! It is too easy for them to change, or even copy and release themselves as if it were theirs.
Amazon uses Mobi format. If the reviewer is looking for a different format, you can offer it in PDF and use a free PDF conversion tool, or you can upload your book to Smashwords (as long as you are not doing exclusivity with Kindle Select) and Smashwords will convert your book into all the main reading formats. From there you can gift your book to the reviewer from Smashwords and let the reviewer pick the format that works best for them.
If you are going exclusively with Kindle, you can use Calibre to convert it into the different format, but I have found maneuvering around Calibre to be a bit difficult for those less technically savvy. (Yes, me)
Best of luck with your book.
You can send word or PDF to reviewers. You do not need to do any conversion. Did the reviewers ask for specific file type?Savannah wrote: "HI, my name is Savannah Jordan. I am the author of "Rescuing America's Democracy From Its Collapsing Morality". I have a couple of questions about reviewers. I have gone to a couple of sites at whi..."
One of the file types requested by reviewers was MOBI. When I uploaded my book to Amazon, Amazon did a conversion on the WORD file. I have that converted file. The extension is .htm . I don't think that that is a MOBI file but maybe it is? One of my responses said that the amazon files are in MOBI format. So I am confused. Also, I did Kindle Select so maybe I can't give the reviewers any of these files? They won't take an Amazon gift or a hard copy. Much thanks for any additional info you can give me.
Savannah wrote: "One of the file types requested by reviewers was MOBI. When I uploaded my book to Amazon, Amazon did a conversion on the WORD file. I have that converted file. The extension is .htm . I don't think..."I used the free software Calibre to convert from .docx to .mobi for my upload to Amazon. Yes, Amazon use .mobi; I think they accept .docx. I chose to trust Calibre's conversion software, and was happy with the results. The only tricky part, really, was setting the right option so the ToC was generated in a form that Amazon liked. I've blogged about it if you want the gory details!
Luke wrote: "Savannah wrote: "One of the file types requested by reviewers was MOBI. When I uploaded my book to Amazon, Amazon did a conversion on the WORD file. I have that converted file. The extension is .ht..."What are the right options for the ToC for Amazon?
In the Structure Detection section of the conversion dialogue, either change the “chapter mark” to none, or change the chapter detection expression to “/”. I set the “Chapter mark” to “none”, and also changed both the “Detect Chapters at” and the “Insert Page Breaks before” to just a “/”. (This means, “disable this function”.)The other key thing was to save my LibreOffice file as a .docx for Calibre to import.
Luke wrote: "In the Structure Detection section of the conversion dialogue, either change the “chapter mark” to none, or change the chapter detection expression to “/”. I set the “Chapter mark” to “none”, and a..."Thanks for this.
For Amazon I convert my LibreOffice .odt file to HTML. I feed that through Calibre and then send the resulting EPUB through the Kindle Previewer (free download from Amazon) to check it. I then upload that converted doc to Amazon, check it over with their online previewer, and then it's good to go. I found that unless I send the Calibre EPUB through the Kindle Previewer, Amazon's "Look Inside" feature would sometimes show entire paragraphs in italic. I'm not good at editing HTML, so I don't try. Maybe Amazon has fixed that feature, or maybe Calibre has fixed it, but it's still the way I do it, and it works every time.
Savannah wrote: "One of the file types requested by reviewers was MOBI. When I uploaded my book to Amazon, Amazon did a conversion on the WORD file. I have that converted file. The extension is .htm . I don't think..."Hi Savannah. When Amazon converts your book, right above the 'download html' option is 'download book preview file.' This will be the mobi format. One bit of advice though: this is uncompressed and will be a huge file, especially if you have uploaded a high quality cover. What you may want to do is start a 'new title' and upload a for review only copy with a small cover image and disclaimer info about it being a copy for review only and not for redistribution.
Just as an FYI and caution to all: no file type is safe from piracy. Anyone with Word or a similar word processing program can convert a pdf with no tech know-how. Calibre can convert any ebook file into something else. Your best bet is to use caution when deciding where to send these copies.
Much thanks for everyone's help. I am trying to limit myself to reviewers who accept gift copies from Amazon.
Mod
Amazon gives you access to free Mobi copies, which is the Kindle format. It's underneath your setup page, and then it cost you nothing to send it to the reviewer.
The gifts are nice, as a verified purchase, but still require the *I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review* tag or it can/will be taken down.
One of the tips I learned early on was to keep all my edits. I created a document called the "threshing room floor" where I put all the things I cut out of the novel. I ended up having to throw out the first 150 pages and rewriting them, so I tossed them in this document. That way, if I ever needed to go back, I still had the original edits. And it was kind of fun after it was published to go back and see how much it changed.
Riley wrote: "Amazon gives you access to free Mobi copies, which is the Kindle for..."uhm... I'm a bit confused, and wondering if I'm leaving something out. my books are on Amazon via Create Space... and I've checked both my Amazon account and my CS account, and I'm not seeing this 'setup page'. Where should I be looking?
Mod
ah... ok... so you're talking about the CreateSpace page. Now I understand what you're saying. This is different from itunes (ibooks) which actually allows you to gift review copies to people, at no charge to the author. The author gets a code which the reviewer enters in at the time of check out... and the reviewer actually sees the file that's been uploaded to ibooks.
Mod
This is different from itunes (ibooks) which actually allows you to gift review copies to people, at ..."
Well, that's good to know! I'll have to remember that for the future.
Mod
Savannah wrote: "One of the file types requested by reviewers was MOBI. When I uploaded my book to Amazon, Amazon did a conversion on the WORD file. I have that converted file. The extension is .htm . I don't think..."Hi Savannah
I format all my work in Scrivener. That allows me to 'compile' my document into mobi, epub, PDF and all sorts of others. It costs about $30 and is a superb tool for writing. I'm not affiliated, btw :)
Much nicer for writing in and very handy when a reviewer asks for a format you don't have!
"Download html" is also good for when Amazon doesn't properly format your book to Kindle. On Createspace they have a "Publish to Kindle" option. The issue is they publish it as a PDF to Kindle which comes out poorly. So what you do is go to download html and it formats and publishes the book in a more collective and appropriate manner.
Morris wrote: "I hope to open up and do a sort of exchange of helpful ideas different authors use in editing or writing. I open up with this one...On whatever book I am working on, I save today's changes under ..."
I lost a lot of work when I got a virus on my laptop so now I backup to a flash drive and also email myself the files once a week, so at least I've got them there ( unless there's a massive solar flare that takes out the internet and then I'm toast! )
OK, you scared me. I just copied my one single document with the first half of my book (that's all there is -- I'm only half done). I'm on my first draft, so I'm just adding on to it until it's done. And because it's a middle grades book, it will only be about 35,000 words, so I didn't see any reason to break it up.But at least now there's a second copy. And I'm going to email the backup to my laptop.
Susan wrote: "OK, you scared me. I just copied my one single document with the first half of my book (that's all there is -- I'm only half done). I'm on my first draft, so I'm just adding on to it until it's don..."It's definately worth it!! :)
I back up my computer monthly with a flash drive, but as I edit a manuscript I put it on my Kindle to read and edit (that's one copy) and I also upload it to the cloud. Little chance of losing my computer, my Kindle, and the cloud, all on the same day! (At least, not permanently)
Ken wrote: "I back up my computer monthly with a flash drive, but as I edit a manuscript I put it on my Kindle to read and edit (that's one copy) and I also upload it to the cloud. Little chance of losing my c..."Unless there is a massive solar flare and then I guess we'll be too busy worrying about getting the electric back on! :) Good idea though, I backup all the time since I lost a ton of work lately ( those pesky viruses! )
Stevie wrote: "Ken wrote: "I back up my computer monthly with a flash drive, but as I edit a manuscript I put it on my Kindle to read and edit (that's one copy) and I also upload it to the cloud. Little chance of..."
My two biggest worries: 1) EMP from a nuclear blast, and 2) the Sun goes supernova and incinerates the planet. Either one would fry all computer electronics permanently and every ebook not printed on paper would disappear.
On the other hand, 1) might just be localized, and the ebook might still exist in a protected computer somewhere on the planet, while 2) is no cause for concern because no one would be left to feel any dismay over the loss.
My two biggest worries: 1) EMP from a nuclear blast, and 2) the Sun goes supernova and incinerates the planet. Either one would fry all computer electronics permanently and every ebook not printed on paper would disappear.
On the other hand, 1) might just be localized, and the ebook might still exist in a protected computer somewhere on the planet, while 2) is no cause for concern because no one would be left to feel any dismay over the loss.
This is all so interesting! Thanks for sharing this information, everyone. I'm extremely paranoid about someone seeing my work until it is finished. My plot is in my head for many months before I set up a huge canvas I use for everything visual: locations, characters, crimes, etc. It becomes my map I see every day, which helps all of it to be more familiar. Then I begin typing on a USB port in my computer. I then save it to the USB, making sure nothing went onto the laptop, save it on two more USBs and a few CDs, plus I print out a hard copy! How's that for paranoia?! I too have had a few computers crash while writing a book.
I wrote 2 contemporary romances very long ago and tried to get them published the old fashioned way without success. I have now decided to write a New Adult Paranormal Romance trilogy and publish it through Amazon Kindle and CreateSpace.I've read lots of books on writing, grammar, indie publishing, and numerous YA and NA PNR series. I'm also very organized due to my accounting background. I have a notebook for my outline, plot blurb, and character info. I have another notebook for book notes, scenes, and how each book will end. I have a file folder of research items printed from the internet pertaining to my story. I also drew a family and friend tree and a location map.
Here's the problem I need help with. I'm struggling with writing Chapter 1. I know what it's about, but the dialog has me stumped because I don't know the characters well enough to speak for them. Has anyone started out writing Chapter 2 or 3, and then going back to Chapter 1 later?
I read one author's advice to just "vomit out" your novel and edit it later. I know what happens in Chapter 1, but cannot put dialog to it yet. I want my characters' speech patterns to match their character.
May I please have some honest opinions on my issue? Thank you.
I'm more of a linear person myself, but I have heard of people starting with the last chapter. Of course you can skip the first chapter and go back to it once you get to know your characters. Nothing says it has to be written in order.
Mod
I read one author's advice to just "vomit out" your novel and edit it later. I know what happens in Chapter 1, but cannot put dialog to it yet. I want my characters' speech patterns to match their character.
May I please have some honest opinions on my issue? Thank you. "
Yes, Sue, I do this quite a lot with new characters. The rough draft is just that - ROUGH! It can take four of five drafts to really understand some characters.
There's absolutely no reason you have to write in chronological order. Skip to whatever chapter you're most comfortable with. One of my books was written piece by piece, all over the place and then when I thought I had enough pieces, I strung it together in the order that seemed to make the most sense. Another of my stories was written entirely backward, starting from the last few paragraphs and moving toward the front.
As long as it all flows properly and makes sense in the end, there's no right or wrong way on how to get there.
Sue, what I would do is write the dialogue generically and then once you have a better feel for the characters, go back and edit the dialogue so it sounds more like them. The exercise of trying to write it might give you good insight into how you want those characters to be. These little details can trip up a writer so much that the book never gets written. Just remember, they're just words on a page. You can delete them and start over any time, but it's more likely you'll find that you've written something you love!
Sue ---This is NOT a commercial for the outstanding software called Scrivener.. to which I have no connection and receive no commission.. BUT
Scrivener is specifically designed to allow you to write the pieces of your work in whatever order you wish, and move them around willy nilly. You can do the same thing in Word or any word processing software (although not as easily, in my opinion).
My point is.. if someone actually wrote software out there to do what you're asking, there must be lots of people who want to do the same thing. So of course you can write in whatever order works best for you.
Thank you all for your support, encouragement, and advice. I really started worrying about myself. I know how Book 3 will end and I can't write Chapter 1 of Book 1?! I kept thinking, in the words of Miss Addy Vice, "What the hell is wrong with you?!"I feel much better now. All along I make notes of my characters' personalities, likes, dislikes, mannerisms, etc. Thank you all. : )
Mod
The only thing wrong with you, then, is you're listening to her. Don't.
LOL!! It IS me. I'm always thinking I'm doing it wrong and everyone else is doing it right. I like Addy Vice. She has pretty eyeglasses. I wear eyeglasses, too. 8 )
If you know how chapter one will end, you could make that your starting point by working backwards. Develop back stories to complement the scene of the chapter. I've heard it said, there are no good writers, just good re-writers.
Thank you Tony, that's a great phrase. I've never heard it, but it makes sense.
Sue (Dog Mom) wrote: "Here's the problem I need help with. I'm struggling with writing Chapter 1. I know what it's about, but the dialog has me stumped because I don't know the characters well enough to speak for them. Has anyone started out writing Chapter 2 or 3, and then going back to Chapter 1 later?"I jump around all over the place. There is no right or wrong way to write, just ways that get you to the end and ways that don't. My current WIP I started at chapter 1 then had a vision for a kick-ass scene in the middle so wrote that. I've even written an epilogue but now have to fill in the 90k words in the middle. That's just me. Not recommending for or against it, just recommending finding a process that works for you. Whatever advice you hear will be what other authors found worked for them. The trouble is, they ain't you so their advice may work or it may not.
As for your specific problem, you said yourself that you don't know your characters well enough yet. You might try writing other scenes ahead, or (as Missy suggested) write the dialogue generically then go back to it later.
In this kind of situation I often drop in brief notes (in red text so they stand out) on what that chapter/scene/piece of dialogue was meant to achieve so I've not lost the plot, as it were.
Or you could try specific techniques to get to know your characters better. I love doing mini interviews and letting them speak to me. Often their voice will start to show through.
Good luck!
Ian, Thank you for that great idea of typing notes in red! That will work. I scribbled a scene once because I knew it went in the middle of the books, but not exactly where. I hope I can read my notes when I need to type that scene into my book. I like the idea of putting it in and working around it.Thank you all again for your great advice. It is truly appreciated.
Sue
Tony wrote: "If you know how chapter one will end, you could make that your starting point by working backwards. Develop back stories to complement the scene of the chapter. I've heard it said, there are no goo..."sound advice me thinks . . . lovely way to engage the reader . . . keep them guessing . . . who wants to start a book from the very beginning? eheheheh
I'll just jump in here and concur with what everyone else has said. I've had similar experiences with my own writing. A lot of times my character has evolved over the course of the work, so I have to go back and rewrite the dialogue in the early chapters in any case. Several times I've had "visions" of particular key scenes near the end; once I sat down and wrote them out, the rest of the book and the character development became much clearer to me. In any case, when I go back to edit, reading the dialogue of those first couple of chapters makes me cringe! You just gotta push through the pain and rework what needs to be reworked once you've figured out where you're going.
One thing I find helpful (and fun) is to write background stories for your characters. You may Or may not use it later for your main story but it will give you a taste of who they are and maybe why they are that way. You can always add them as bonus at the end of your book.Or interview them. Ask them questions. Little things like that can help you know them better.
G.G. wrote: "One thing I find helpful (and fun) is to write background stories for your characters. You may Or may not use it later for your main story but it will give you a taste of who they are and maybe why..."That's a good idea for character development, and it reminded me of a related technique I've used a couple of times: write a summary of the story itself from different characters' points of view. I've done this to help sort out plot tangles and to try to keep actions/reactions in keeping with the character, but it might help to write it 1st person POV as if they were relating their part of the story to their mates down't pub.
Thank you Segilola. I know you have to "hook" the reader in the first chapter so they will want to read the rest of the book.Thank you E.P. I am so relieved that I'm not the only one with this problem. While struggling on the dialog in the first chapter, I've been hand-writing future scenes when the ideas strike. Then I go back and struggle with chapter 1 again. I will no longer waste time doing that!
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Volume 1 of 2 (other topics)The Silkworm (other topics)
The Cuckoo's Calling (other topics)
