Smashwords: direct epub upload in alpha testing

avantman42 · 12-28-2012, 02:26 PM

From https://www.smashwords.com/about/beta

Quote:

December 28, 2012 - Smashwords Direct alpha testing underway. We're preparing to launch Smashwords Direct, our direct .epub upload option.
...
We're nearing completion of a beta version of SWD. The first iteration will enable those of you with professionally designed .epub files to replace your current Smashwords-generated .epub with another .epub. It'll also allow authors to upload .epub files instead of Word .doc files.

I've been waiting for this news since I first published with Smashwords in 2011

mr ploppy · 12-28-2012, 05:11 PM

Good news indeed. But would they then use the epub to convert to everything else?

avantman42 · 12-28-2012, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

Good news indeed. But would they then use the epub to convert to everything else?

It doesn't specify, but I suspect so. They're asking for people to email them epub files for testing, which is hopefully so that they can test conversions. Also, it seems to say that you'll be able to upload an epub instead of a Word file.

gmw · 12-28-2012, 07:10 PM

So maybe I will soon be able to get my book on Smashwords too, that would be good. Thanks for the news.

I was able to convert my epub to mobi here using Amazon supplied tools and it seemed to come out very well (albeit about three times bigger than the epub). Of course mine is a simple novel layout, I guess things may get more complicated in other situations. I never paid much attention to conversions, not many seem all that relevant any more.

avantman42 · 12-29-2012, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

So maybe I will soon be able to get my book on Smashwords too, that would be good. Thanks for the news.

You probably won't get many direct sales from Smashwords, but they distribute to a lot of other sites. If you're not already on the other sites, the distribution will probably be the biggest benefit.

That said, some authors sell well on Smashwords, and you might become one of them.

gmw · 12-29-2012, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avantman42

You probably won't get many direct sales from Smashwords, but they distribute to a lot of other sites. If you're not already on the other sites, the distribution will probably be the biggest benefit.

That said, some authors sell well on Smashwords, and you might become one of them.

I've gotten most places I wanted to be by going through BookBaby, the only issue/problem I have is that many of the places they distribute epubs to add their own DRM regardless of what I requested. Hence my thought that Smashwords would be a place I'd like to add to my list ... though it's not high on my list of priorities at this point in time.

Lazybones · 12-30-2012, 11:18 AM

I haven't had any problems with the Word-to-ePub conversion, but my novels only have pretty basic formatting. It did take a while to learn all the ins and outs of the Smashwords Style Manual, so maybe this will make the learning curve easier for folks who got started in the ePub format.

cromag · 12-30-2012, 05:33 PM

In all honesty I haven't had any problems submitting .doc files to Smashwords. And that's using .doc files that I create on a Linux netbook using OpenOffice Writer.

Of course, that's only short stories, so far.

gmw · 12-30-2012, 05:45 PM

It could just be that I'm a bit overly obsessive. Some of the Smashwords epubs come out a bit messy looking, particularly things like the front-matter, as if the publisher didn't care. I also like things that are neat inside and outside, and the inside of Smashwords epubs can be quite ugly.

teh603 · 12-30-2012, 08:11 PM

So where's the guy who usually complains about Smashwords' lack of ePub uploading? I figure he'd be as on this as vultures on a dead cow.

caleb72 · 12-30-2012, 08:46 PM

I'm glad they're doing this and I hope they put in back-end conversion to use epub as the basis for multi-format delivery so that authors have the option of doc or epub for authoring.

bmcox · 12-31-2012, 01:08 PM

So it's just going to be EPUB to EPUB? So it won't convert to other formats? This means I still need to upload a Word doc first to populate the other categories and then swap out the epub. It's nice to have the EPUB option but this just added another step to the process and another chance for error.

gmw · 12-31-2012, 06:43 PM

I can't imagine they won't go epub to mobi - the Amazon tools work, so it's no cost or effort - what other formats are still relevant?

pdurrant · 12-31-2012, 06:45 PM

Allowing ePub upload will make Smashwords a much more serious distribution channel. And not a moment too soon.

VydorScope · 12-31-2012, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmcox

So it's just going to be EPUB to EPUB? So it won't convert to other formats? This means I still need to upload a Word doc first to populate the other categories and then swap out the epub. It's nice to have the EPUB option but this just added another step to the process and another chance for error.

No one knows yet. It is only in Alpha, so everything can change between now and release. Lets just wait and see what they do.

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12-28-2012, 05:11 PM	#2
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	Good news indeed. But would they then use the epub to convert to everything else?

12-28-2012, 07:10 PM	#4
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	So maybe I will soon be able to get my book on Smashwords too, that would be good. Thanks for the news. I was able to convert my epub to mobi here using Amazon supplied tools and it seemed to come out very well (albeit about three times bigger than the epub). Of course mine is a simple novel layout, I guess things may get more complicated in other situations. I never paid much attention to conversions, not many seem all that relevant any more.

12-30-2012, 11:18 AM	#7
Lazybones Groupie Posts: 162 Karma: 1719250 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sacramento Device: Kindle	I haven't had any problems with the Word-to-ePub conversion, but my novels only have pretty basic formatting. It did take a while to learn all the ins and outs of the Smashwords Style Manual, so maybe this will make the learning curve easier for folks who got started in the ePub format.

12-30-2012, 05:33 PM	#8
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,735 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	In all honesty I haven't had any problems submitting .doc files to Smashwords. And that's using .doc files that I create on a Linux netbook using OpenOffice Writer. Of course, that's only short stories, so far.

12-30-2012, 05:45 PM	#9
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	It could just be that I'm a bit overly obsessive. Some of the Smashwords epubs come out a bit messy looking, particularly things like the front-matter, as if the publisher didn't care. I also like things that are neat inside and outside, and the inside of Smashwords epubs can be quite ugly.

12-30-2012, 08:11 PM	#10
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	So where's the guy who usually complains about Smashwords' lack of ePub uploading? I figure he'd be as on this as vultures on a dead cow.

12-30-2012, 08:46 PM	#11
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	I'm glad they're doing this and I hope they put in back-end conversion to use epub as the basis for multi-format delivery so that authors have the option of doc or epub for authoring.

12-31-2012, 01:08 PM	#12
bmcox Connoisseur Posts: 78 Karma: 1000000 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: None	So it's just going to be EPUB to EPUB? So it won't convert to other formats? This means I still need to upload a Word doc first to populate the other categories and then swap out the epub. It's nice to have the EPUB option but this just added another step to the process and another chance for error.

12-31-2012, 06:43 PM	#13
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	I can't imagine they won't go epub to mobi - the Amazon tools work, so it's no cost or effort - what other formats are still relevant?

12-31-2012, 06:45 PM	#14
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 74,430 Karma: 318076944 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Allowing ePub upload will make Smashwords a much more serious distribution channel. And not a moment too soon.