My fiction...formatting thoughts and tips...?

Simon John Cox · 01-17-2010, 12:48 PM

Hi everyone

I've just set up a website so that people can actually read some of the things that I've written, but I don't have an eBook reader so I'm not 100% sure that I've set the files up so that they are actually legible on a reader...so I'd be really grateful if some of you could have a look at one of my short stories and let me know whether they come out OK on whichever readers you have.

They're available here (my novel, Another Man's Poison, is a pay download but the short stories are free).

Also - and I don't know if this is covered elsewhere on the website, as I'm still new so I don't really know my way around - I've made them available as PDF and LIT, and also to read online, but I don't know if these files can be read by all readers - and obviously I want them to be available for as many different readers as possible. So any observations on what formats to go for would be massively helpful as well.

Thanks in advance...I look forward to your comments / tips!

Simon

pshrynk · 01-17-2010, 01:07 PM

If you put up an Epub version and a Mobi version, you cover most of the readers available these days.

Welcome to MobileRead!

Moejoe · 01-17-2010, 01:11 PM

Epub versions can be created with Calibre (ebook management software) or Sigil (both available here and Open Source). If you're offering works for free, Feedbooks.com is a good way to go and it will automatically format everything for each reader type. Smashwords.com can also be used and allows a pricing scheme to be put in place for your work if you are charging.

Good luck and Welcome to MR.

Simon John Cox · 01-17-2010, 01:22 PM

Epub...Mobi...Calibre...Sigil...Feedbooks...Smashw ords...got it. Thanks! Food for thought there, certainly.

I've just had a look at Smashwords...I like the idea that it automatically formats a .doc file into all the other formats. That's good for a techno-illiterate like me. I'll have a play around on there...

Simon John Cox · 01-18-2010, 05:44 PM

This advice was great - two of my short stories and my full novel are now uploaded onto Smashwords and available in multiple formats (here, here and here in case anyone is interested*).

Thanks for the advice!

*It's not spam - I'm just excited.

khalleron · 01-21-2010, 11:25 PM

Don't worry about 'spam' - this forum is specifically for writers to let us know where their works are available, and what they're currently writing.

So welcome to the Writers' Corner!

01-17-2010, 12:48 PM	#1
Simon John Cox Humble fabulist Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UK Device: None	My fiction...formatting thoughts and tips...? Hi everyone I've just set up a website so that people can actually read some of the things that I've written, but I don't have an eBook reader so I'm not 100% sure that I've set the files up so that they are actually legible on a reader...so I'd be really grateful if some of you could have a look at one of my short stories and let me know whether they come out OK on whichever readers you have. They're available here (my novel, Another Man's Poison, is a pay download but the short stories are free). Also - and I don't know if this is covered elsewhere on the website, as I'm still new so I don't really know my way around - I've made them available as PDF and LIT, and also to read online, but I don't know if these files can be read by all readers - and obviously I want them to be available for as many different readers as possible. So any observations on what formats to go for would be massively helpful as well. Thanks in advance...I look forward to your comments / tips! Simon

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01-17-2010, 01:07 PM	#2
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	If you put up an Epub version and a Mobi version, you cover most of the readers available these days. Welcome to MobileRead!

01-17-2010, 01:11 PM	#3
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	Epub versions can be created with Calibre (ebook management software) or Sigil (both available here and Open Source). If you're offering works for free, Feedbooks.com is a good way to go and it will automatically format everything for each reader type. Smashwords.com can also be used and allows a pricing scheme to be put in place for your work if you are charging. Good luck and Welcome to MR.

01-17-2010, 01:22 PM	#4
Simon John Cox Humble fabulist Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UK Device: None	Epub...Mobi...Calibre...Sigil...Feedbooks...Smashw ords...got it. Thanks! Food for thought there, certainly. I've just had a look at Smashwords...I like the idea that it automatically formats a .doc file into all the other formats. That's good for a techno-illiterate like me. I'll have a play around on there...

01-18-2010, 05:44 PM	#5
Simon John Cox Humble fabulist Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UK Device: None	This advice was great - two of my short stories and my full novel are now uploaded onto Smashwords and available in multiple formats (here, here and here in case anyone is interested). Thanks for the advice! It's not spam - I'm just excited.

01-21-2010, 11:25 PM	#6
khalleron Kate Posts: 1,681 Karma: 3165009 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oregon, United States Device: Nexus 7 2013, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	Don't worry about 'spam' - this forum is specifically for writers to let us know where their works are available, and what they're currently writing. So welcome to the Writers' Corner!

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