Well I’ve finally hit publish – my novel has been reviewed and is now in the process of being published!
I will be putting a direct link from here to the store once it’s available – so should you want to download and take a look you will be able to do so by visiting the blog. And all for the price of a small glass of wine or a large fancy coffee!
In the meantime here are my top ten HIGHLY NOT TECHNICAL tips for formatting etc for Kindle.
1. I set my margins at 2.54 cm –all round including top and bottom and it seemed to work for me – but I have read that Kindle ignores margin settings – so who knows!
2. Don’t forget to insert page breaks!
3. If you’ve got a block quote or some poetry in the text – centre it otherwise it’s form will not translate well.
4. Anything you want to link to the Table of Contents i.e. chapter headings and things like ‘About the author’ select and put in a recognised word heading (from the tool bar) then when you come to bookmark them for links they will be listed by Word. If you want to know more about putting in links – leave a comment -let me know and I can provide a detailed account.
5.Once you think your document is OK go to save then under the file where it says ‘save as type’ select webpage filtered doc –this is what you will then upload onto mobi.
6.Always keep a copy of the original doc as well as the web page filtered as this is what you will go back to make changes unless of course you know HTML code.
7.Download the mobi creator as suggested by Kindle formatting guide (i mostly followed their guide all the way through) – it works well, is easy to follow and allows you to add a cover. (As yet though the one thing I haven’t worked out is how to link to the cover but I’m working on it!) It makes the e book and gives you a PRC file to upload onto Kindle
8.When you preview your document on Kindle do so in Font 1 otherwise you might not see any missing page breaks.
9. If when you preview there are gaps, extra dashes at the side etc. –niggly problems go back into the original doc – press Ctrl+* or select Show/hide on the tool bar and then you will see all the paragraph marks and other formatting symbols. Play around a bit (highly technical) and you might manage, as I did, to get rid of them.
10.Keep at it – make it is as good as you can so it looks professional on eReaders and if like me you are no techy –then don’t worry about complete perfection. Probably eat my words when I see it on my Kindle – must admit now I am quite SCARED!
Wish me luck!
Just got my Kindle – thanks to my son and his partner. Christmas and birthday present. Just down-loaded my first book and can’t wait for The Orchid House and Wendy’s book to come on line. Good luck and thanks for all the invaluable ‘how to do’ stuff on publishing a Kindle book. No techy? I don’t think so. Well done
Love
Anne O
Thanks Ann – my fingers are still crossed !
Dear A
Just bought it!! How marvellous to see it there on the page and looking marvellous. Well done you – proving that it is do-able, ejoyable and a great professional step forward. Now so many people will enjoy The Orchid House. Can’t wait for the next one! I am just at the last stages of ‘Paulie’s Web’ and hope it will go up there alongside the Orchid House tomorrow. wx
PS You guidance here and elswhwere is so invaluable,
PS Hallaluya!!.
Wendy – Thank you so much for being my first buyer!! Can’t wait for Paulie to be up there – it all feels like a strange but wonderful kind of magic. So satisfying to know we’ve cracked it!
Saw that you had bought Avril’s book, Wendy, so have just downloaded my copy!! Amazing technology. I’m saving up your book, Avril, and yours Wendy – – as soon as it’s available – for my trip out to see Cath in Africa. .
You must both feel so chuffed!
A
x x
Thanks Anne – I’m still in shock! About to post details for purchase and then take abreak I think. Enjoy Africa!
A x