I didn't want to say formatting for dummy's because that might hurt YOUR feelings.
Me? I'm kinda used to it.
So I had a novella come out of a collection, it'd been published for a couple of years. I thought, HEY I should put it back up. Might as well keep it in print, right?
But I also feel a little guilty doing that, because it's been out a while and I don't like to trick people into buying a book they've already read.
I also don't expect it to make much money. So....I'm sorry...I guess. But I just did it ALL myself. I MEAN ALL. I edited it. Created the cover and (here's the tricky part) formatting.
So, I don't know. Maybe I'm a jerk. Probably. But I just did it.
I found a YouTube video on formatting. I'll show you the link rather then try and explain it. It was very specific, very step-by-step.
You know...it seems to have worked. I'm going to give away a few copies of it today and if anyone gets it and reads it, I'd appreciate a report of any errors in the kindle book. I did NOT create a print book because it's a single novella and they are so SMALL. Maybe someday if I collect a few more novellas I'll put them together and create a print version. But I don't know how to format that, so I'm scared!
I followed the link to the video I used. It has a whole lot of VERY SPECIAL steps and I advise you to follow them exactly.
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Formatting can be such a nightmare! I hope those days of doing it myself are behind me but just in case I'm saving this link. And I do hope you keep all your stories in print!
ReplyDeleteJamie, It wasn't hard...of course I have no idea if it worked. I clicked through most of the book searching for wonky formatting...but didn't see any trouble spots. I do have...three I can think of...books out of print. But I'm not even sure where those word documents are.
DeleteMary, this is a great idea, especially for a novella. Novellas tend to slide by readers, so why not catch someone you missed on the first time around?
ReplyDeleteKB
Sage advice from New Hampshire
I don't like buying a book and finding out it's one I've read (and bought) before. So I don't like doing that to anyone else. I hope no one falls for that and if they do, well, it's $2.99. Most people can take that financial hit.
DeleteWhich is one reason I'm not pushing this book really hard, and one reason I don't expect to earn much from it, and so I didn't want to spent a lot on it.
DeleteGood morning! Since I have been writing medieval, which no agent or publisher wants, I decided to self-publish. I did a "production manager" job for my nephew who want to self-publish his advent devotional, so I took my earnings from that and purchased Vellum!!!! Such a great program. I don't have a Mac, so I rented space in "Mac-in-the-Cloud" and boom, Vellum works on my PC. It's probably not the best purchase to make if you aren't going to self-publish a lot, but I intend to keep self-publishing, so it was worth it for me. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, Sherrinda! I had no idea there was a way to use Vellum on the PC!
DeleteSherrinda, I would like to know more about Vellum. I was so disappointed to find it was only for Mac, then I continued researching and found some conversion for PC that is $30 for 30 hours. I haven't done anything yet because I just got my new computer (PC) for Christmas and I'm still learning how to turn it on! LOL! Any info you could share about Vellum would be great. quiltingquest@gmail.com Thanks!
DeleteLynne, You are right! Mac in the Cloud is where you rent a "Mac", $30 for 30 hours of use. That is MORE than enough time to format a book. Just google Mac in the Cloud and you can read more about it. The cool thing is, once you are in the Mac in the Cloud, there is a shortcut to Vellum. All you need to do is click the Vellum icon and you can start a free trial. You can upload your manuscript and format it for free. BUT, you cannot export it into ePub or Mobi unless you purchase the program. So you can try it before investing. :)
DeleteI have never heard of such a thing, Sherrinda. You need to come on Seekerville for a guest day and tell us all the details. I've heard of Vellum and, like Lynne, use a PC and figured it was not for me.
DeleteBut maybe!!???
Sherrinda, I had not idea you self published. I remember years ago being in a critique group with you and I loved your story. I'm off to google now :)
DeleteJamie! You are so sweet! I had a small press publish the story you got to work on, but ended up self-publishing the second medieval. Hope you can find the book online. (There's not many Sherrinda's on Amazon.)
DeleteMary, I'd be happy to talk about using Vellum on a PC. It certainly isn't difficult and you could TOTALLY DO IT! If you are going to self-publish more, then it's definitely a good investment.
DeleteMary, you brave woman, you!
ReplyDeleteI watched the first few minutes of the video, and it looks like it's great - step by step instruction (which works best for me!) I bookmarked it in case I ever need it.
Jan, I didn't even know what I was doing most of the time. I considered writing it all out, but figured I'd get it wrong and decided to just let her tell us! :)
DeleteI forgot to add - can you put something out with the novella like "originally published in the XYZ novella collection as "original title" ?
ReplyDeleteBethany House released a novella I had written as a stand-alone e-book in the fall, and it had been originally published in a collection in 2019. I bent over backwards to inform people that the 2020 novella was the same as the one in the collection! I wish I had thought to request a little disclaimer on the cover of the e-book!
You know, I've republished a bunch of things and no one has complained once. Not once... I think folks can easily return things now (that didn't used to be the case) so if they get something they already read, they just return it. Honestly, I haven't had one bit of negative feedback... and publishers are doing this all the time now, so maybe that's paved the way for us?
DeleteI agree with Jan about needing to include this was originally part of a collection. Maybe a person did or did not read the collection, but they still know where it came from.
DeleteAs far as the e-book only, I know one author who has started doing a prequel to a new series. She self-publishes it in print and then the other books are done by her publisher. Another author, however, is doing as you said and has a print book coming out this year with two previous e-books in it.
Good luck! I know you'll do fine because you care about your readers and try your best.
I'll go add it. Good idea.
DeleteHi Ruth:
DeleteIf no one has complained in all this time with so many books, I'd be worried that they are all still in TBR files! As a marketing person I believe a book coming out with a different title and a different cover, MUST say previously published as "Old Title". Besides, there is a saying in retail: "Most people never complain -- they just never come back." I might add, their 'word of mouth' is not very favorable. Again: think of the Golden Rule -- would you like to pay for a book you already read because the cover and title tricked you?
Also, what if the novella was in one of those multi-author .99 cent promotion and now you are charging 3 to 4 dollars for? I would be steamed! I'd still love you but some of the magic would be gone. :(
There, done!
DeleteCongratulations, Mary! I'm with Jan. You are a brave woman. Technology can just suck the life right out of me, so I admire you.
ReplyDeleteNope, I'm such a tehno dork it's demoralizing.
DeleteWow! Formatting sounds really tiring.
ReplyDeleteNo, Angeline. It went fast. I just obeyed. I have no understanding of what I did.
DeleteI tried posting from my phone and it ATE IT... and then told me I wasn't signed in. Right before it let me pull up my email that means I am signed in... Oh, Blogger and Google!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo I'm finicky. I know this. And I still pay for formatting because of that and because it wasn't something I could do well but that was a while ago and maybe they've made things more compatible? That's a possibility. I work on a laptop not a Mac so Vellum wouldn't work.... Mary, let us know what you think... I'm going to buy this novella and check it out and see.... Thank you for being a tester!!!!!
I was away from my computer all day, sorry to be slow. Posting from my phone...I just didn't even know how to do it. Maybe there is a youtube video explaining that!!!
DeleteLOVE the title! It is so nice to know that I'm not the only one struggling for answers. Please enter my name in the drawing!
ReplyDeleteIt might be helpful to include my info...quiltingquest@gmail.com (Sorry)
DeleteHi Lynne! I was inspired to write the book by a visit to the Ashfall Fossil Beds, a cool archeological site near me.
DeleteMary, you are definitely not a jerk.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us who may be in similar shoes one day needing to reformat something to keep it in print. :-)
And I just love that you included dinosaurs in your romance. Perfect.
Well, I could have labeled the novella better, and gone through the youtube video and TYPED OUT the directions. Instead...LINK.
DeleteMary - love your posts as always! :) I'm sure your formatting turned out well.
ReplyDeleteI hope so. No bad news from readers so far!
DeleteMary, I always enjoy reading your posts. They're such fun! I'm impressed that you can figure all these things out by yourself. I'm so tech-challenged that it's hopeless for me to even figure out Instagram. My daughter's tried to help me several times, and I'm still clueless! You're awesome!
ReplyDeleteWinnie this is such a nice way to put it. So much better than the way I put it...which is...I'm cheap.
DeleteHi Mary:
ReplyDeleteI wanted to find out where your 'new' novella is set, we have dinosaur bones out west in Oklahoma, so I clicked on your website link above and got this: "Oops ... You've Lost Your Way"
My question is: Did you do that on purpose?
This scared me to death, Vince. I was afraid my website had crashed. But it was just think that was messed up. It's fixed. Thanks for mentioning it!!!
DeleteMy website does need to be updated thought!!!
DeletePS It's set in Nebraska.
DeleteCongratulations on being brave and doing something new! You rock! :)
ReplyDeleteBrave is also better than cheap. Thank you!
DeleteThank you for sharing! I'm hoping to release a Christmas novella next year, so this will be super helpful!
ReplyDeleteI hope it works. I'll pray for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Delete