Casual publishing

Zerhackermann · 01-12-2010, 09:30 PM

My second post on the site. So please forgive me if I am bringing up an old subject.

Let's say I have a story written, novella-ish in length, that I want to make available for a buck or two. But I'm not particularly interested in marketing or attempting to make a fortune. I'm more interested in making the file available and splitting any proceeds with the host.

Where would I start?

I see Smashwords and Fictionwise mentioned often. But to be honest, I only considered the idea this afternoon.

jaxx6166 · 01-12-2010, 09:50 PM

Smashwords would be your best bet. Fictionwise has gotten more...stringent on their acceptance since they were bought by B/N.

You may also want to look into LuLu dot Com if you want to make an actual physical copy available.

lilac_jive · 01-12-2010, 09:50 PM

Smashwords is great. I love buying from there because it is so easy and the titles are DRM free. Looks like they have some good resources on there too. From what I understand it's pretty easy to get your work up on there.

Zerhackermann · 01-12-2010, 10:06 PM

Good thoughts, both of you.

Lilac, you do bring up a couple of points:

1) DRM - no thanks. would rather folks be able to take a chance and enjoy the story (or not

) than to be worried about counting pennies. I'm of the mindset that locking it up is stepping over dollars to pick up dimes.

2) formatting - and kind of DRM-ish. If someone converts the text from one format to another and does a good job of it, it would be great if that format could be "fed back" my way and offered as well.

jaxx6166 · 01-12-2010, 10:09 PM

Smashwords actually does all the formatting for you. And they do a pretty good job. As long as you follow their template.

In my experience, I've found that using OfficeXP and then "Read on Reader" with "convert formatting" usually does an excellent job that can be downfed into Calibre and converted. That's how Beyond the Black was done.

Zerhackermann · 01-12-2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxx6166

Smashwords actually does all the formatting for you. And they do a pretty good job. As long as you follow their template.

In my experience, I've found that using OfficeXP and then "Read on Reader" with "convert formatting" usually does an excellent job that can be downfed into Calibre and converted. That's how Beyond the Black was done.

Interesting. So no specialized editing software?

FWIW - I'm using Open Office.

jaxx6166 · 01-12-2010, 10:23 PM

The only ones I used were "Read on Reader" which was a free add-on for OfficeXP - 2005.

And then Calibre, which is a free program that is used to convert programs.

Alternatively, you can try the myriad of automatics out there (google doc2epub), but their results are rather hit/miss.

But, from the goals you described, I think your best bet would be smashwords.

01-12-2010, 09:30 PM	#1
Zerhackermann Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 20 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: prs-600	Casual publishing My second post on the site. So please forgive me if I am bringing up an old subject. Let's say I have a story written, novella-ish in length, that I want to make available for a buck or two. But I'm not particularly interested in marketing or attempting to make a fortune. I'm more interested in making the file available and splitting any proceeds with the host. Where would I start? I see Smashwords and Fictionwise mentioned often. But to be honest, I only considered the idea this afternoon.

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01-12-2010, 09:50 PM	#2
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	Smashwords would be your best bet. Fictionwise has gotten more...stringent on their acceptance since they were bought by B/N. You may also want to look into LuLu dot Com if you want to make an actual physical copy available.

01-12-2010, 09:50 PM	#3
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	Smashwords is great. I love buying from there because it is so easy and the titles are DRM free. Looks like they have some good resources on there too. From what I understand it's pretty easy to get your work up on there.

01-12-2010, 10:06 PM	#4
Zerhackermann Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 20 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: prs-600	Good thoughts, both of you. Lilac, you do bring up a couple of points: 1) DRM - no thanks. would rather folks be able to take a chance and enjoy the story (or not ) than to be worried about counting pennies. I'm of the mindset that locking it up is stepping over dollars to pick up dimes. 2) formatting - and kind of DRM-ish. If someone converts the text from one format to another and does a good job of it, it would be great if that format could be "fed back" my way and offered as well.

01-12-2010, 10:09 PM	#5
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	Smashwords actually does all the formatting for you. And they do a pretty good job. As long as you follow their template. In my experience, I've found that using OfficeXP and then "Read on Reader" with "convert formatting" usually does an excellent job that can be downfed into Calibre and converted. That's how Beyond the Black was done.

01-12-2010, 10:23 PM	#7
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	The only ones I used were "Read on Reader" which was a free add-on for OfficeXP - 2005. And then Calibre, which is a free program that is used to convert programs. Alternatively, you can try the myriad of automatics out there (google doc2epub), but their results are rather hit/miss. But, from the goals you described, I think your best bet would be smashwords.

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