08-02-2012, 11:59 PM | #1 |
Defender of Consciousness
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Ebook Standards Collective
Ok, I have heard a lot about how none of our readers know if our ebooks are of high quality - especially when it comes to the copy editing. Why don't we have a vetting system for our product?
It would be easy to do. An author would have to provide some proof of quality like a letter from a proof reader and a random selection of the book read for quality. Yes, there would be a fee or it could be a peer review thing (but then you might get a peer like me). You get to put the certification on your cover or something. Following from the could be the ability for the association to put books in the correct genera better getting your book to the right market. Manufacturing has ISO, where is our standard of practice association? Have fun, Jan PS: this post would not live up to the standard. Last edited by bigjantailor; 08-03-2012 at 12:01 AM. |
08-03-2012, 08:30 AM | #2 |
Grand Sorcerer
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08-03-2012, 08:10 PM | #3 |
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Why not invite the industry gatekeepers back? Or just not purchase indie books?
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08-04-2012, 01:23 AM | #4 |
Defender of Consciousness
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Well, the world will alway tend towards order out of the choas. And I would rather a group made up of peer indpendent writers to start the strafication than the old guard.
It would be best to read the whole book to check its qualitly but it may not be practical... especially if it not done by peers. Probalbly a stupid idea... if there is such a thing. Have fun, Jan Last edited by bigjantailor; 08-04-2012 at 01:27 AM. |
08-04-2012, 08:03 AM | #5 |
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As the saying goes, "actions speak louder than words", so if you think this is a good idea, ...
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08-04-2012, 08:07 AM | #6 |
Wizard
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08-04-2012, 08:34 AM | #7 |
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Yep the butterfly effect is based on chaos isn't it? A butterfly flaps its wings in Japan and off the coast of the U.S. several days later there is a storm or not depending on whatever the conditions were at the time the butterfly flapped its wings. It's chaos theory. Also part of physics too I think. The Uncertainty principle and so forth. In any case coming up with a standard quality for any two books (even by the same author) is (IMO) a hopeless task. Author's being human beings are subjected to life's ups and downs like everyone else and so their work quality may be uneven even within one book much less several. And editing only can smooth out so much I think because even then life can throw a curve at someone and cause the editing to have quirks in it. Plus everyone has their own bias as to what is good and bad writing so what I may think is a great story you may only find to be so-so and vice versa. When Walt Disney makes an animated movie the animators have to standardize their styles so that the characters look the same throughout the movie but even then I wager they still leave something of themselves behind in the drawings. I'm not sure how such a thing could be applied to writing.
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08-04-2012, 01:17 PM | #8 |
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I thought it wasn't butterfly but troll effect: someone posts on a small blog and causes a shitstorm on some company's forum.
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08-04-2012, 05:59 PM | #9 |
Defender of Consciousness
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The universe may tend toward entropy and it may be our ultimate demise but till then the humanity and life will tend to order and beleive it to be the right thing. But you'll have to read my book Station Raparain with some Califorina Sunshine and a bottle of Southern Comfort to really understand... but its not publish and probable will never be.
I know what I said, it was meant that way. Have fun, Jan Last edited by bigjantailor; 08-04-2012 at 06:02 PM. |
08-07-2012, 11:56 AM | #10 |
Chasing Butterflies
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I can see the merits of this from a consumer standpoint, but it would be really hellish to implement. Many indie authors are indie -- at least in the beginning -- BECAUSE we're starving artists. Certification would probably be at least a hundred or more dollars for the time spent reading the book, which many of us couldn't afford on top of the usual editing costs.
And if we can't afford certification, it won't be widely adopted, and the consumers won't be aware of it, and it will be a cost (on authors) with no benefit. I'm also not sure it would mean much. So if you have great spelling and grammar you have a good story? Not necessarily... So, yeah, I like the idea, but the logistics, I just don't see it working. IMHO. |
08-07-2012, 11:58 AM | #11 |
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08-07-2012, 12:12 PM | #12 |
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Don't forget the cover. If the cover is not good, chances are most people will not give the book a second look.
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08-07-2012, 01:06 PM | #13 |
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Almost *never* pay attention to covers and have *never* purchased/did not purchase an ebook because of a cover. On my list of what's important, it's at the very bottom.
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08-07-2012, 01:47 PM | #14 | |
Chasing Butterflies
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Quote:
Heck, some people would ding me for "vernacularly", since it's not a word according to Firefox. So it becomes very complicated. It's easy to note that "ther" for "there" is mis-spelled and No Certification For You. It's harder when it's "dere" for "there" and it's being spoken in dialogue by a crusty old sea captain with only three teeth, liberally blackened from tobacco use. |
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08-07-2012, 01:51 PM | #15 |
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That's a different thing entirely. Vernacular dialogue certainly isn't wrong. Quite the opposite, in fact. Having people speak in formal, grammatical English would look artificial and stilted.
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