Typesetting 2016 - The do's and do not's

[A.J.]

Hi all,

So I'm working on my paperback version of Windcatcher and looking through some stuff on the net. I started working in Word and feel like I get a decent file out of it, but now I see many websites/videos/blogs/etc. online that scream do not use Words for typesetting etc. However these are mostly post from 2013 and before, so have things changed much?

Are the 2016 versions of Words (Office365) better equiped for typesetting, or should one still go to programs like the free LYX or LATEX, or the more expensive Adobe InDesign to get a good result?

A second question I have is if people can give me an opinion on using Adobe Garamond font for my book. I like the Garamond font, but noticed with the original font that italics (which are quite often used for my "dragon speak") were completely skewed. So I went to the Adobe version of the font, and italics look much better there, but I still wonder if it is okay to read for people.

I have uploaded an extract from chapter 8 for people to download (and print if needed as paper reads very different than on the screen). Are there any willing people out there to take a look at the PDF and give me some opinions on ease of reading?

Link to PDF

Much appreciated!
- A.J. Norfield

[Heidi]

I use word for my layout all the time and sometimes it can be a pain and will change when it uploads to CSS, but it It just takes more patience and finagling.

[[deleted user]]

Since all I ever do is make my manuscript in Word, and then convert to PDF for Create Space, I would say it is fine for what I do.

[Christina]

There are certainly those who will say that you absolutely cannot use Word, however, we discourage absolutes as not being supportive. Yes, Word and even most of the open source word processing tools are capable of producing a great layout. Since you'll want to upload as a PDF, you will get to see exactly how your pages look in the previewer, should you go with Createspace.
If you run into snags or something that gives you fits, there's always someone here who can talk you through it, so keep that in mind!

[K.P.]

your best bet is using a desktop publishing program such as serif page plus or adobe in design. word no matter which version (I have 2k3 myself ) won't format correctly.

[Neil]

I have used both Word (2010) and Libre Office. My only advice would be before you even type a single word of your story set the document up exactly the way you want it to be presented. Starting out on the right foot (so to speak) is much easier than trying to go back and change things later. Libre Office has been a little crankier than Word but I got used to it eventually.

[A.J.]

I actually do not write in word. I write in scrivener and export to word, which gives me a good layout already (I think). Currently looking at fixing orphans and widows as best I can.

A.J.

[Ram]

A.J. wrote: "Hi all,

So I'm working on my paperback version of Windcatcher and looking through some stuff on the net. I started working in Word and feel like I get a decent file out of it, but ..."

Font looks good on the PDF.

[Segilola]

If it helps, all my books have been written in word. No one (not even my most critical beta reader or editor) has told me not to. Those who read the paperback version haven't complained either. Maybe they're just being nice, who knows

[Owen]

I've been using Word since 1987 for all manner of publishing. Unless the document has specific requirements, such as a lot of illustrations, equations [possibly], or a complicated layout, it's fine.

I personally don't find much value in most of the criticisms of Word, as they rarely focus on things that make a material difference to readers.

[E.A.]

A.J. wrote: "I actually do not write in word. I write in scrivener and export to word, which gives me a good layout already (I think). Currently looking at fixing orphans and widows as best I can.

A.J."

Open your document in word, click on home>paragraphs and spacing >line spacing options > line and page breaks. Widow and orphan control is on the left, just click the box.

[A.J.]

Hi EA,

Yes en that is turned on, but I do not actually know what it does, nothing happens when I select this option, no matter if I have text selected or not. What I do currently is select the paragraph text and right click font, than advanced tab, to change the spacing to expanded or condensed with steps of 0,05 pt until the issue is solved.

I don't think the eye noticed such small adjustments and it does result in letting the orphan jump back a line usually.

If you have a better way/suggestion, I'm all ears.
A.J.

[E.A.]

A.J. wrote: "Hi EA,

Yes en that is turned on, but I do not actually know what it does, nothing happens when I select this option, no matter if I have text selected or not. What I do currently is select the par..."

Hi A.J,

On the home section there is an editing feature on the far right, click on 'select all' then follow the previous directions I gave you. That should reflect it all through your document then, although you might have to re-align your titles and chapter headings etc to center them again. I learnt a lot from the 'how to' guides that are on youtube and google to start with and have put it into practice.
Hope this helps you?

Widow and orphan control is basically keeping words together on one line. ie. 'far-fetched' Instead of having the word 'far' on one line and 'fetched' on the one underneath it, it keeps them together as one word.
If you look at the sample text at the bottom of the drop down list it shows how each of the changes you make affect your document too.

[T. K. Elliott (Tiffany)]

I think the problem with Word (and presumably other word-processing programs that also use rich text/WYSIWYG) is that when you do things like cut-and-paste either into other documents or other programs you can get leftover bits of code that mess up the formatting.

For short documents you can often solve the problem by going via Notepad (which strips out all the formatting), but that wouldn't work for a novel. Programs like Ulysses avoid the problem by making you write in plain text.

Whatever program you use is up to you; I shouldn't think the Book Police are going to come and arrest you for using Word. Just check it through to make sure your formatting is all OK before you do anything important with it.

Besides, I've heard that in traditional publishing, everyone has to submit in Word - so it can't be too bad!

[Heidi]

I have copied my entire 300 pg novel into notepad to get rid of formatting, and then go back to a clean document when getting ready to publish to Smashwords. No prob, just takes a few minutes.

I work several different gigs, so my Word formatting is constantly getting changed. Rather than stress about it, I just reformat when I am doing layout and easy peasy.

[E.A.]

Heidi wrote: "I have copied my entire 300 pg novel into notepad to get rid of formatting, and then go back to a clean document when getting ready to publish to Smashwords. No prob, just takes a few minutes.

I ..."

To solve that you can clear all previous formatting by clicking on a little red crayon just under the word 'mailings' in the top task bar and it will give you a clean sheet to work with. You can also set up macro editing to set features of your document that you always use too, Page size, margins, paragraphing, spacing etc. You know, the stuff you always set but takes time to do! lol After that, it's one click and it's all done for you.

[Zoltán]

I personally found LibreOffice more reliable than Word, but sometimes also a bit more rugged. For longer works, like books, the former won for me.

For technical and scientific works I use Latex only. Nothing beats that even today :)

I'm actually thinking about setting up my style in Latex and dump LO/Word altogether.

[Hawk]

I have been using Publisher for over 10 years and am happy with it. I used it for my newsletter with my motorcycle club and then for my 3 books. Hawk Hickok Hickman"Knee deep in Seaweed" and "Hawk and Red Fox-Modern Day Gypsies", volumes one and two.