tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6296041276140635168.post4316908793929971193..comments2024-01-28T08:25:40.723-07:00Comments on Write Like a Pro! A Free Online Writing Workshop: The Challenges of Doing Your Own LayoutKris Bockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217265282250089583noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6296041276140635168.post-23534330576813747882011-07-27T10:52:25.771-06:002011-07-27T10:52:25.771-06:00Yep, this is why they *have* professionals! One go...Yep, this is why they *have* professionals! One good thing about doing it yourself, you may spend a lot of time upfront learning about all these things, but it should get easier from book to book. The upfront time may be worthwhile if you're planning on doing a lot of your own independent publishing.<br /><br />And for some things, it's just easier to hire someone. I found someone who would format my electronic versions for Smashwords for $25, and then Smashwords automatically translates it into every other electronic format. To me, that's money worth spending.<br /><br />I don't know how much a graphic designer would charge to format the interior of the book. I expect for an expert, it wouldn't take more than a couple of hours to do a simple novel that didn't have any unusual formatting.Kris Bockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16217265282250089583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6296041276140635168.post-14817944007405803452011-07-27T10:37:01.045-06:002011-07-27T10:37:01.045-06:00Okay, I'm lost. I have no graphic design backg...Okay, I'm lost. I have no graphic design background and I still ask my husband how to do things on Word and other things. Oh, boy!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12783350310611096039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6296041276140635168.post-61360369070762130162011-07-27T10:11:53.093-06:002011-07-27T10:11:53.093-06:00It is doable, and there are several formatting gui...It is doable, and there are several formatting guides available online to help you figure out some of this stuff. It helps if you have enough graphic design background to at least know what widows and orphans, and leading and kerning are, and either a good layout program or enough familiarity with Word that you're not completely tearing your hair out over trying to, for example, figure out how to have different interior margins for the right-hand and left-hand pages.Kris Bockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16217265282250089583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6296041276140635168.post-36452450984771544722011-07-27T09:54:06.414-06:002011-07-27T09:54:06.414-06:00Thanks for the post! I'm dreading that phase i...Thanks for the post! I'm dreading that phase in my adventure. Right now, I'm having someone design The Red House: Almost a Memoir's cover for me which is a challenge in itself b/c precise communication and understanding is so key. I am learning to express myself better.<br />I haven't crossed the formatting bridge yet, but your post indicates it's time-consuming, but doable. Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12783350310611096039noreply@blogger.com