General Question

throssog's avatar

Anybody writing a novel using Kindle or other e-pub system?

Asked by throssog (800points) July 13th, 2011

Would like to know of your experiences, trials, tribulations and successes with e-pub’ing.

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

9 Answers

anartist's avatar

I am trying to convert a friend’s book to kindle that I designed for her for print. The book was designed using Adobe InDesign and Adobe offers a PDF white paper with instructions for conversion. One of the programs it recommends is a free open-source conversion utility called calibre which is useful whether you are using Adobe products or not.

throssog's avatar

I have downloaded calibre and will try it once I have completed the manuscript. Please, do let me know how/if it works for you. Kindle seems a grand system for writing and not having to fiddle about with publishers…if the formatting cam be mastered. :) We’ll see, eh? Best of luck to both you and your friend.

downtide's avatar

I am writing a novel and I can;t wait to finish it so I can put it on kindle. I just have to… finish the damn thing.

throssog's avatar

That can be the very hardest part. How many re-writes/re-visions have you been through, as yet? By the way, best of luck with it and never forget: Writing is hard work. :)

downtide's avatar

Oh I’m still on the first draft. Well, Not quite. I got as far as about chapter 9 and realised I’d made a major mistake so I went back and re-wrote that part.

throssog's avatar

@downtide It is difficult to keep all together with writing. Takes time , effort and energy – skull sweat, eh? Are you a member of any writers groups? Have you any favorite,i.e., ‘helpful books’ on writing? What, if I may ask, are your opinions of the various “free ware” software programs said to help with writing: Storybook; Ywriter;Calibre, etc.?

downtide's avatar

@throssog I’m not a member of an official writers group but I have a friend who is a professional writer and I get together with him and a few other friends on a fairly regular basis to write and give each other encouragement. As for those software programs, I’ve tried two or three but I find them WAY too much of a distraction and they are more of a hindrance to me than a help. I do all my planning and writing in an ordinary word-processor. That said, the program I like the best is Ywriter.

throssog's avatar

@downtide In re: writing programs – know exactly what you mean. I’ve Ywriter ( and several others) in my machine…but have not , yet, begun to use them. Perhaps later. Right at the moment I’m trying to learn all I can about the conversion software and its reasonable/realistic use(s). Any words of wisdom…guidance? “He said pleadingly”.:)

throssog's avatar

Just an additional piece of info concerning html and conversion to Kindle formatting: Take a look at this site and the multiple articles Guido has been kind enough to set up for all and sundry:
http://guidohenkel.com/2010/12/take-pride-in-your-ebook-formatting/
Best of luck to all and any who try to write!

Answer this question

Login

or

Join

to answer.

This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.

Your answer will be saved while you login or join.

Have a question? Ask Fluther!

What do you know more about?
or
Knowledge Networking @ Fluther