19 October 2011, Marketing - to Publishers Electronic Press Dingbats
Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way. At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.
Today's Blog: Let's talk about illustrations and dingbats. First, dingbats are not your mother-in-law but they are similar to the stuff you find in fonts called variously, dingbats, wingdings, etc. Not that long ago, a scene demarcation in a novel, was indicated by a double break. This is commonly used in manuscripts and can be found in some published works. In general, to save space and to make a stronger demarcation, publishers began using three asterisks to note a double break. Today, most publishers use a dingbat to denote a double break. What is a dingbat? If you look at my novels, you will see examples. My publisher is very up on these things, they provided specially designed and chosen dingbats for each of my novels. I proposed and provided the dingbats for my Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox series--my daughter designed them (she is an excellent artist).
The main point here is that for double space breaks, you need a dingbat. The dingbat should be the same through a chapter or a novel--there is a lot of latitude here. I recommend only one per novel. The trick is that you can and should design your own. Illustrations are similar. By the way, if you don't know what a double space break is all about--keep reading this blog, I'll get to it.
What kind of dingbat will I want to use in Aksinya? That is a great question. Perhaps a scroll or a small demon. A pentegram might be the right touch. I want my daughter to make a series of about five to seven drawing for the novel. Perhaps she might draw a dingbat that really reflects the story.
More tomorrow about illustrations in published and electronically published books.
I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.
Showing posts with label electronic books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label electronic books. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Marketing - to Publishers Electronic Press more Formatting
18 October 2011, Marketing - to Publishers Electronic Press more Formatting
Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way. At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.
Today's Blog: Okay, about formatting. A book is normally formatted like this:
1. Frontispiece: page with the title on it and that is all. Opposite of the frontispiece is blank.
2. Title page: page with the title, author, and publisher on it.
3. Opposite the title page is the copyright page.
4. Dedication page. Opposite the dedication page is blank.
5. Preface or prologue.
6. Opposite the prologue is blank (or the prologue/preface continues).
7. The first paginated page follows on the right side. This is the beginning of the novel.
This is general and you can have more pieces in the beginning--if you are wise, you won't have many more than this. You also need to look at a professionally published electronic book and see how the publisher did it. If you go to my sites, you can see how my publisher put together my novels. You need to make yours a similar quality.
More tomorrow about formatting electronically published books.
I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.
Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way. At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.
Today's Blog: Okay, about formatting. A book is normally formatted like this:
1. Frontispiece: page with the title on it and that is all. Opposite of the frontispiece is blank.
2. Title page: page with the title, author, and publisher on it.
3. Opposite the title page is the copyright page.
4. Dedication page. Opposite the dedication page is blank.
5. Preface or prologue.
6. Opposite the prologue is blank (or the prologue/preface continues).
7. The first paginated page follows on the right side. This is the beginning of the novel.
This is general and you can have more pieces in the beginning--if you are wise, you won't have many more than this. You also need to look at a professionally published electronic book and see how the publisher did it. If you go to my sites, you can see how my publisher put together my novels. You need to make yours a similar quality.
More tomorrow about formatting electronically published books.
I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Marketing - to Publishers Electronic Press Formatting
17 October 2011, Marketing - to Publishers Electronic Press Formatting
Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way. At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.
Today's Blog: In the case of self published works, the rule about formatting a book changes. Usually, you never want to format a book prior to publication like a final book. For a work you self publish, you must make the work look as much as possible like the final book. You have to add in all the special pages, copyright page, introductions, lexicons, thanks, dedications, etc., etc. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look at an example of any modern published book. You want to design your own dingbats and put them in. If you don't know what a dingbat is or how it is used, keep reading this blog. I'll get to it eventually.
You can easily put in black and white pictures and potentially color pictures in electronic books. You need to be careful with that too. If you haven't noticed the many self published works filled with horrible amateur art work, you just aren't looking. I'll say it again, if you self publish, your book must look exactly like a finished professionally published work. I'll also repeat this warning--by self publishing, you may be crippling yourself as an author and a writer, but that's enough said on that subject.
More tomorrow about formatting electronically published books.
I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.
Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way. At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.
Today's Blog: In the case of self published works, the rule about formatting a book changes. Usually, you never want to format a book prior to publication like a final book. For a work you self publish, you must make the work look as much as possible like the final book. You have to add in all the special pages, copyright page, introductions, lexicons, thanks, dedications, etc., etc. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look at an example of any modern published book. You want to design your own dingbats and put them in. If you don't know what a dingbat is or how it is used, keep reading this blog. I'll get to it eventually.
You can easily put in black and white pictures and potentially color pictures in electronic books. You need to be careful with that too. If you haven't noticed the many self published works filled with horrible amateur art work, you just aren't looking. I'll say it again, if you self publish, your book must look exactly like a finished professionally published work. I'll also repeat this warning--by self publishing, you may be crippling yourself as an author and a writer, but that's enough said on that subject.
More tomorrow about formatting electronically published books.
I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Marketing - to Publishers even more Electronic Press
16 October 2011, Marketing - to Publishers even more Electronic Press
Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way. At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.
Today's Blog: The point I am making about electronic books is that if you self publish (especailly if you do it on your own with a free service) you must do everything to make your books appear like a carefully designed and published work.
Take a look at electronically published books. Those that are published by a regular publishing house look like finished books. Their pages are crafted and designed and look professional. In the development of a book, the whole isn't just the editing, the writing, and etc. The whole of a professional book is the quality of the overall work. A professional publisher makes the work have this finished look. That is something you must strive for in your works. If you insist on self publishing electronically (or in any way), you need to be sensitive to this fact. You need to make your electronically published book look as much like a professionally published work as you can. This won't guarantee success, but it certainly can't hurt.
More tomorrow about electronically published books.
I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.
Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way. At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.
Today's Blog: The point I am making about electronic books is that if you self publish (especailly if you do it on your own with a free service) you must do everything to make your books appear like a carefully designed and published work.
Take a look at electronically published books. Those that are published by a regular publishing house look like finished books. Their pages are crafted and designed and look professional. In the development of a book, the whole isn't just the editing, the writing, and etc. The whole of a professional book is the quality of the overall work. A professional publisher makes the work have this finished look. That is something you must strive for in your works. If you insist on self publishing electronically (or in any way), you need to be sensitive to this fact. You need to make your electronically published book look as much like a professionally published work as you can. This won't guarantee success, but it certainly can't hurt.
More tomorrow about electronically published books.
I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)