Self Publishing Software - Microsoft Word or Adobe InDesign?
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- When you’re writing and self-publishing a book, should you stick with Microsoft Word, or should you use something different like Adobe InDesign? What’s the best software to use?
In this video, Amazon best selling author Julie Broad explains how your distribution channels will impact the software you use and the format you have to put your book in.
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Video Transcript:
Are you self-publishing and you want to know what software to use?
Is it better to have my book in Word or some other software or do I just need to get it
into a PDF?
This is an excellent question and it is something to think about. Doing a book and self-publishing it is enough work as it is if you're not redoing things so let's tackle this now before you can answer this question.
There's some things that you have to figure out first what format do you want to publish your book in hardcover softcover or a digital book.
The next question is where do you want distribution?
Because if you don't care about distribution and you just want printed copies or you don't
even care about printed copies this is a whole different conversation and a PDF might be just fine but if you want Amazon distribution for a printed copy or you want a books or Kobo or whatever it might be to carry your book then you're going to have to kind of back things up and plan accordingly.
So, first of all if you want a hardcover your best option for self-publishing if you want distribution
as well is probably going to be Ingram Spark, or Lightning Source they have a hardcover option they also have access to lots of bookstores.
If you're just worried about getting it on amazon.com CreateSpace is probably your cheapest
easiest option for doing that now CreateSpace also recently came out with the option for you to apply to get it on to amazon.ca so for us Canadians that makes CreateSpace a lot more accessible and a lot better option for people who really wanted amazon.ca distribution but
weren't going to get it easily through CreateSpace before.
So, the software you're going to use and the requirements is going to vary and depend on which publishing house and which format you're using okay so let's cover those really quickly now Amazon if you're going to just print two KDP which is kindle direct publishing then they make it super easy for you they will even accept a word document so they accept word, HTML, mobi, and epub formats.
Now, here's the trick if you include a lot of images maps and graphics into your book. Word is
a giant pain in the patootie to work with with images it is a great word processing tool but when your file starts getting big and clunky with a lot of images sometimes I find that a picture that was here is all of a sudden all the way down there like why and so I hate using word when I have a lot of images so even though KDP will accept it.
I bet you there's a very good chance your book doesn't end up looking as good as it could if you stick with word so my recommendation is to consider using something else that is meant for page layouts so that you can create the layout and the format that you want and have it graphically very appealing the most common software that is used is Adobe InDesign.
There are other options out there but that is the one that I'm familiar with and that I know most
people doing book layouts will use and some authors will even write their book InDesign and the argument for doing it is that yes it's a somewhat complicated piece of software but if you're trying to create a very visually appealing book so a coffee table book or a more artistic book then you can create it right from the start choosing your fonts and layouts and adding the pictures and the sidebars right from the start.
So there is an argument for it for me it's hard enough to get coherent thoughts to come together to create a book I don't need the added distractions of trying to make it visually appealing at the same time Kindle has a great guide I recommend you check it out because if you do stick with word there's some really important tips to set you up for success for example you don't want to
copy and paste your images you want to insert them you don't want to use header and footers but you do want to use their heading one tagging system okay so create spaced fonts must be embedded into that PDF and there's some other criteria that are stated here again because it is a PDF you might be able to do it using Word.
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“Word is a giant pain in the patooti”
Writing my first book - should publish within week or so - with InDesign. As part of my "Dump Adobe" rant, tried finding substitutes but gravitate back to Adobe for a variety of reasons. As a photographer, the book is heavy in photos and knew MS Word would be an issue, but wrote the text in MS Word. The advantage...Grammarly works with Word catching spelling, word usage and grammar issues. The disadvantage...Word is a nightmare bringing its own styles over with the imports creating more work updating to desired styles. It is amazing how homething as simple as "body text" style, even when told on import to match/convert as similar "body" style in Word, it is about 60%. Initially tried the more affordable Quark Express as an alternative to InDesign. They were the industry standard before InDesign dethroned them and they've made a lot of improvements but anchoring photos with text flow is very convoluted where far more direct in InDesign. The fact that they don't have a tutorial/video speaks volumes. Ultimately went to InDesign to create the book. New content typed in InDesign, will copy/paste that section back into Word for Grammarly review.
what about pages? It looks good and easy to use?
I use Scrivener after leaving MS Word for scene layout and writing. Clutter free too. Then, I use Calibre for the different formats like Kindle (and the flavours under that). Calibre is free (I advise donations) and Scrivener is a fraction of InDesign's price.
Extra credit: Both don't install bloat-ware like Adobe. ;)
Good video!
chris winters how do you use calibre? the demo shows it is just for managing existing ebooks. do you just take your WP and have scrivenor convert it to epub and then use calibre to make it into format for each publisher before uploading to each site?
This is just superb, been searching for "kindle direct publishing sign in" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you ever come across - Quonor Publish Peneplanation - (do a google search ) ? Ive heard some amazing things about it and my brother in law got excellent success with it.
I just did all my formatting with using a Create Space template and Word. She doesn't mention this. Was there not Create Space template in Jan 2016. This appears to be a post picked up from another site, so maybe it's even older. I wish videographers and bloggers would make a habit of embedding the date of publication. It can always be changed if the video or post is updated.
chris winters I\'m not sure but ,if anyone else needs to find out about make money from writing try Skyarza Simple Kindle Star (just google it ) ? Ive heard some interesting things about it and my friend got excellent results with it.
I've been sitting on a quasi-memoir book trilogy for two years now. Before I saw this video I was apprehensive about e-publishing. Now I'm pretty sure I'll convert my Word docs to PDF and embed more imagery in it. And I will buy Adobe InDesign to make my book illustrated. Thanks again for this wonderfully informative video, Julie!
You're welcome! Get that trilogy finished! Good luck.
Your video really hepled me in finalizing the layout of my manuscript. My book has images and MS Word was really a pain in aligning them properly. I used inDesign and it worked for me. Thanks for your valuable insight on softwares. I can publish my finished book now.
So true! Microsoft Word kicked my butt with the graphics! Finally got it, but I soooo wanted to cry!
You are delightful and informative, all at the same time, Julie. Thanks for being here for us.
:) You're welcome!
So many doubts has been cleared.. thank you so much🙂🙂.... very helpful video, you have explained it very effectively.
Most welcome 😊
New to self publishing and love, love, love your videos. Have been an invaluable source of advice. Very direct and directions are clear and concise AND doable.
Welcome Lillian Zelinski! Thank you so much for joining the community and saying hello. If you have a specific question you want to be answered, you can ask at any time. I just might shoot a video to help you out. And, if you haven't already, I highly recommend you check out our free resources at BookLaunchers.com and grab our free guide to plan and write a great book www.booklaunchers.com/7steps
Thank you for this informative video.
Thank you for this clear and interesting video... very professionally done.
Thank you.
I love her when she gets angry with ms word
:) because we've all been there, right?
Thanks for making this video.
Many thanks for your prompt response Julie. You are so sincere in your reply. Ok I will try Mr. Dale L. Roberts Thanks again. TC
Hi, Julie Broad. I enjoyed your helpful information on self-publishing. Thank you, for sharing! :)
Great info. Thank you.
I use iBook author. Much more user friendly. It’s only available on Mac, though.
Thank you Julie Broad!
great job!
Thank you! Hope to see you again soon. :)
Thank you for this explanation. Great job.
Great video and presentation, from 'Music City' Nashville Tennessee, thank you for helping others.
thanks :)
Thank you so much for saying hello! If you’re just getting started with writing, I highly recommend our 7 steps to write a non-fiction book. You can get that at www.booklaunchers.com/7steps and if you’re ready to market a book our Gameplan for selling 1000 books with less than $100 is a great way to start planning your book marketing. You can download that for free at www.booklaunchers.com/gameplan
Hope to see you again soon!
Got a long Question for you.
I'm a commercial artist and have been out of the scene for a while. I'm old school I know how to lay out a book on board using wax and type setting. Spectype and and get up with a publisher to find out the margins in the setback.
Well this is the future. I'm probably making this more harder than it has to be.
So here's my question.
1) Is there a book writing software that does it all ?
Gives you the setbacks margins and page layout for all publishers. I hate doing things twice. I will be inserting drawings that I have done. Wrapped type. I'm designing my own book cover. Please help help. Thanks.
SOOOOO there is a new software that is starting to be a do-it-all called Atticus. It's just rolling out so new features are coming but I saw a demo and I'm going to be testing it. www.atticus.io/
@@BookLaunchers thank you
Heya, where did you learn all this information, is there a book that you recommend.
There is a book I highly recommend: Self-Publish and Succeed
books2read.com/ap/RDOjGr/Julie-Broad
:)
Hope to see you again soon!
i have typeing the exam paper in abobe pagemaker but i want upgrade the software which one is best in widnows pc and how can create the maths and chemistry equation to inbuit or 3 party softwrare reply me
Hi Julie, Excellent video. I tried uploading my manuscript (picture
book) as a pdf. Didn't work out. I am considering converting to EPUB.
Have you heard about Calibre software to convert a PDF to EPUB? Thank you
Yes I've heard of this - I haven't used it myself but I think it's a good one to use. Self-Publishing with Dale often talks about these kind of specifics. We use designers who do the conversions and coding so we don't use software like that.
Thnks Julie. This is useful.
Have you heard of Scribus? It's free, and it has been recommended to me. I used to use MS Publisher a lot, and I'm hoping Scribus works just as well.
I haven't used it personally. Let me know what you think.
was due a good vid to watch ;) loved it
Thanks!
Since Amazon is getting rid of or got rid of Createspace this video needs to be reformatted for the new design of Amazon beta and strictly KDP 3-book and paperback. I have used Word saved it to pdf and use it for paperbacks. The KDP didn't want it that way and I had to use word doc. to submit the e-book or let their system transfer it over (it would change the book sometimes) to publish it.
I hear what you're saying but a lot of what I talked about is still valid for authors especially since I RARELY recommend you go from Word. It can work but for non-fiction in particular (Which is what I talk about) it's not typically the best way to create a great reading experience for a reader.
Would you recommend InDesign for a cookbook? I'm planning on doing a digital book and possibly a soft or hard cover as well. I heard you can get a book made through amazon when you have a digital book with them? Thanks for info!! :)
Yes to InDesign but I would actually consider Lulu for printing and publishing not Amazon as they do beautiful color books.
Very good video thank u!
1.0 Format
A.paper back
B. E-book
1.1 Word looks below page layout
1.2 Kindle ISBN title publishing?
2.0 Self pub Ingram Sparc ?
3.0 Creative software?
How do I get everything written over, and isbn for a hard cover.? What ? Who is a honest company to work with ?
These are a lot of questions. Depending on the type of books we might be able to help:
If you want to just have a course to walk you through it go to: www.booklaunchers.com/daleroberts
totally amazing B) thumbs up
Was interesting :D good video
Thanks! I'm doing a book on my grandpa's WWII experience with lots of pictures and documents and It's just for family and for a couple WWII archives. I think I'll use InDesign like you recommended. Do you recommend 48 hour books for printing?
Apologies for butting in, I would love your thoughts. Have you ever tried - *CreateEbooks.4YourHelp. Com* (remove space and open the website) It is an awesome exclusive product for learning how to create an ebook without the hard work. Ive heard some unbelievable things about it and my mate at very last got astronomical results with it.
Would I be able to publish the same book through Ingram Spark and Amazon?
I've already written my piece on Microsoft word, and there's a WHOLE lot of format issues (which I did not foresee when I started writing).
I wrote the piece with the Book-fold print format (because I would print my piece and share it with my neighbors)...but I'm realizing that the format doesn't carry over when I try to use the layout provided by Create Space. I used 5.5 x 8.5 (because I figured it would mean I'd pretty much just have to copy and paste my texts)...and ...well...I was so wrong. Everything became skewed and angst filled my belly. I pretty much froze and haven't been able to get myself to work on the piece, because I don't want to make the wrong move...again.
As someone who does have a lot of nuanced formatting (per page) and their entire piece written out on word, what would you suggest my next step be? Is there no way to format a word document for Ingram Spark and Create Space?
Last question, is Adobe InDesign free to use? If not, do you know of any that are free to use? (software that are accepted by Ingram Spark and Create Space).
Thank you, again, for the hard work and effort you put into helping the writing community. Y'all are the first place I go to whenever I'm having any questions about publishing my work.
This will help: ruclips.net/video/kEJgi6R0zNE/видео.html
You are so funny. Love your videos
Good video, thanks Julie. Can you tell me what software you would use to create epub files for Ingram?
This is a great article that will help you. The answer depends a bit on what type of computer you're on, the quality you're going for, and your comfort with design. I always hire someone who works in Indesign to do it for me but there are options: www.janefriedman.com/word-epub/
Have a series on formatting the book
Was that a question or a statement? Are you looking for 'how to' on formatting? I have more book interior tips ... but not a 'how to' because I've never done it! I always hire professionals. Dale Roberts Self Publishing is a great channel to check out - he, or his wife's channel Kelli Roberts, might have some vids on the 'how to' if it!
What about Microsoft Publisher??
Hi Julie, Many thanks for the succinct explanations. With some aspects, the MS word seems quite unstable. Once one has mastered it MS Word. I have been told to use Adobe frame maker Is this better than In design? Thank you.
Hi Pat - MsWord is only unstable if you are trying to use a lot of images ... then it's not ideal. When it comes to the other kinds of software I'm not up to speed like some folks would be. That might be a great question to direct to Dale L Roberts self publishing. My designer uses InDesign but there are other options out there.
Thanks word is a headache with pics. I have had to redo every page when change one page
SO TRUE!
Hy
I m textile designer and I want do make my book on textile designing ...is any software can help me....plz help me
i have a failed magazine project that i am looking for someone to help me get completed the project was undertaken by a "pro" desktop publisher but i had to cancel the job as too many unkept promises on their part - so now i need someone to help me get the magazine finished it was put together with indesign and is probably about 50% complete. If you can do this or if you know anyone who can please please get back to me thanks !
What do you recommend if i want to have my book published (hard cover) in my own hand writing, not font? Cheapest way, or maybe a single notch up from the cheapest.
Hmmmm good question ... but I don't have the answer!! Sorry.
@@BookLaunchers Thank you for the time.
i have a queastion which software u using a video , u showing side by side images or videos..pls tell me
Hi Anne - Final Cut Pro on my Mac. It allows you to do side by side images or side by side videos or an image beside a video ... and so on. :)
wow thanks
thx for the help miss . unknown
please help me
My laptop does not support Indesign . Do we have an online editing website that will do the same thing that indesign does?
Not that I know of but there might be something out there.
Page layout isn't likely to work well online. It demands too much of a computer. If budget constraints and hardware are an issue with you, check out the open-source Scribus. I know nothing about it myself, since I use InDesign, but it is free and runs on a host of platforms.
www.scribus.net
Oh my gosh I've found a home😢😅 to ask questions😂
I use MS Word to write and edit. Then I dump it to indesign. That works best for me.
Oh boy!! MS Word and Indesign do not get along. We pay our Proofreader money to 'unformat' word before it goes to our interior layout person because so many weird things happen when you just dump it in. If it's been working for you that's great ... but it sure can get funky!
Book Launchers Yes it can get funky. I use to do it the same way with very minimal issues. But if your book is all text you can setup everything in Word and skip indesign all together. That’s how I’ve been doing it for the last 3 years.
@@BookLaunchers Well, it's the same concept when I want to make an exam paper typed on my Word doc, and paste it on another pre-existing Word template doc : Utter chaos ensues. What you need to do, before you dump your word doc into that template (or, in your case, into Indesign document), is to go, inside your typed Word doc, and to choose Edit/Clear/Clear all formats. That will then do just that - insert your text without any of your own formatting inbedded, into Indesign ( or into another Word doc, as in my case).
can i us only ms word to print hard copy of a book
Sure through a print shop like Staples or Kinkos and going through the free conversion services like KDP Print has ... but it's not going to look that good.
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😁
👕👍Great!
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is celtx a good software to use
Well I'm not a scriptwriter so I am not really one to comment on that software. If you're writing a book I'd recommend going with Scrivener for writing instead. The scriptwriters I know (and by that I mean a huge sample size of 3 ...) use Final Draft. That said, it's pricey and I think you have to keep it updated.
Thankyou could you do videau on a broucher in goole docs thanks
from Eastern Europe
Hi! I am not familiar with much to do with publishing in Eastern Europe! I apologize. You're looking for information on writing in Google Docs? Or was it something else specifically you are looking for?
What about LuLu.com
Lulu can be a good option for certain publishers. If you will focus on driving sales to Lulu it's good because you get 50% royalties but if you are wanting to sell your Lulu book elsewhere (like Amazon) you only make 10% royalties and it's a pain ... so it depends what you are trying to do. If you want Book Store distribution it's not going to work. You can watch this: ruclips.net/video/xRMXsS2YF8s/видео.html
I went with kdp amazon... Thank you sweetie!
Why are you using that weird background? No need to use green screen. Great video tho
Haha! Noted. I hired professionals to help me with my next dozen videos so hopefully you'll like those more. I thought this was much better than the dreary basement with white walls and low ceilings we had set up for filming ... but I am much more of a writer than a video expert that is without a doubt.
I don't like Adobe's pricing model - monthly subscription - You're paying forever. I'd rather buy the software once and own it.
So, go onto Ebay and buy an older version of Adobe Acrobat. I bought AA 5.0 last year for the grand total of $10. It does everything I need it to do and I can move it to a new computer when I buy one.
I don't need to. Besides their pricing model still sucks
good greenscreen. no actually with the clothes your wearing thats pretty hard to do
HAHAHA yea my editor hates when I wear clothes like that. But there's always room for improvement where green screen is involved.
Thank you for this informative video.