write and publish a book

[annr]

I'm getting ready to begin writing a book and am looking for suggestions on the best computer applications or formats for writing the book. The writing is of a technical nature.

I'm also trying to figure out the best way to publish/market the book; suggestions appreciated.

 

[phatch]

Are you self publishing?

If so I'd use FrameMaker. Handles complex layout, indexing, cross-referencing, TOC and lots of other handy features. I've written 800+ page in-house software manuals in it without a problem. Also generates PDF

Has pretty good graphics capabilities, an excellent equation editor and lots of autoformatting for tables.

If you're shopping it to publishers, they'll have their preferred formats which should be described on-line. They probably won't want all the fancy page-layout and font work. They'll do that themselves.

Again, FrameMaker is good for straight content generation too, but it's expensive for just word processing.

Adobe currently owns Framemaker.

 

[tyr_shadowblade]

iUniverse utilizes a downloadable template. I believe Lulu does as well.

 

[annr]

Are you self publishing?

If so I'd use FrameMaker. Handles complex layout, indexing, cross-referencing, TOC and lots of other handy features. I've written 800+ page in-house software manuals in it without a problem. Also generates PDF

Has pretty good graphics capabilities, an excellent equation editor and lots of autoformatting for tables.

If you're shopping it to publishers, they'll have their preferred formats which should be described on-line. They probably won't want all the fancy page-layout and font work. They'll do that themselves.

Again, FrameMaker is good for straight content generation too, but it's expensive for just word processing.

Adobe currently owns Framemaker.

Thanks phatch. I took a look at Framemaker and like many of the features, including that it can transpose the text to other languages. Unfortunately Framemaker isn't Mac compatible so I would need a new computer, another decision.

Computers aren’t an integral part of my occupation and I don’t know much about computer language and formats. Does one typically take/need a course to use Framemaker?

It would appear Framemaker is ultimately easier to use than Word b/c it is more flexible with greater capabilities. How does one decide which application is the better choice for the job? Fx. length of book, type of material, final product, etc.

BTW I'm not certain what the definition of self-publishing is.

 

[annr]

iUniverse utilizes a downloadable template. I believe Lulu does as well.

Have you used either of these tyr-shadowblade? I took a look and at first blush I like iUniverse better. Is this considered self-publishing? (Sorry if that is a dumb question.)

 

[phatch]

Thanks phatch. I took a look at Framemaker and like many of the features, including that it can transpose the text to other languages. Unfortunately Framemaker isn't Mac compatible so I would need a new computer, another decision.

It used to be. But the sales were poor in that platform. However, if your mac is fairly recent, you should be able to dual boot windows or use the Windows emulation tools for running FrameMaker.

Computers aren’t an integral part of my occupation and I don’t know much about computer language and formats. Does one typically take/need a course to use Framemaker?

In the past, they included some useful tutorials. It works a lot like Word, but with more intuitive and logical behaviors. The new editions of FM include a structured document option that's probably not easy to figure out without some experience in XML. Doable, but more of a learning curve.

It would appear Framemaker is ultimately easier to use than Word b/c it is more flexible with greater capabilities. How does one decide which application is the better choice for the job? Fx. length of book, type of material, final product, etc.

Word has notorious bugs in the numbered list/bullets feature; it's difficult to simultaneously create both an accurate TOC AND an accurate index. Word doesn't handle large documents well. Basically, anything beyond about 50 pages is better in FrameMaker.

BTW I'm not certain what the definition of self-publishing is.

Self publishing is where you pay to have your book printed and bound. You handle the distribution/sales yourself, though there are some companies that will assist you with that part. Generally, you'll be responsible for everything: page layout and design, organization, editing, indexing and all that. The sites tyr mentioned are self publishing houses. You could probably have it done locally as well by many big copyhouses who have docutechs type printers and perfect binding equipment. I used those types of printers for some of the software manuals I wrote for various businesses. That was all work for hire, so I didn't own the copyrights.

Or you can try and sell your book to various publishers. They'll usually do editing, suggest rewrites, handle layout and indexing. And you'll get paid by them for the privilege of printing and selling your book. This is the commercial publishing market.

 

[JatMat]

Knife Khnut and technical book, Hmmmm, wonder what the subject will be?
I hope you find the right software, I will be glad to proof it for you.
Jim

 

[annr]

It used to be. But the sales were poor in that platform. However, if your mac is fairly recent, you should be able to dual boot windows or use the Windows emulation tools for running FrameMaker.

Thanks for squaring me away on this. I see both a new computer and FM in my future.

Word has notorious bugs in the numbered list/bullets feature; it's difficult to simultaneously create both an accurate TOC AND an accurate index. Word doesn't handle large documents well. Basically, anything beyond about 50 pages is better in FrameMaker.

Good to know. I've already wasted a lot of time trying to control the outline and the bullets/numbered lists. I assumed that I was at fault.

Or you can try and sell your book to various publishers. They'll usually do editing, suggest rewrites, handle layout and indexing. And you'll get paid by them for the privilege of printing and selling your book.

My sentiments exactly. Good to know everyone gets a piece of the pie.

 

[annr]

Knife Khnut and technical book, Hmmmm, wonder what the subject will be?
I hope you find the right software, I will be glad to proof it for you.
Jim

Yeah, you're on the scent. Glad to have another pair of eyes. You'll be weeding out those split infinitives in no time flat.

 

[JatMat]

Yeah, you're on the scent. Glad to have another pair of eyes. You'll be weeding out those split infinitives in no time flat.

Splint infinitives?
My wife does all my official writing, this is a post and run forum.

 

[tyr_shadowblade]

Have you used either of these tyr-shadowblade? I took a look and at first blush I like iUniverse better. Is this considered self-publishing? (Sorry if that is a dumb question.)

I can personally recommend iUniverse as a publisher. Literary agents and publishing houses will consider it "self published", but unlike DIY self publishing the iUniverse titles are carried at Amazon and can be ordered from any bookstore. The template is simple to use, and you can cut and paste your material after it is downloaded. There are frequently special offers for getting well over $100 knocked off the price of initial setup. Don't waste your money on the marketing services they'll attempt to upsell.

I know several authors who've used Lulu and been happy with them. Lulu is cheaper, and they let you make up a name for your "publishing house" to make it appear more legitimate if that's important to you . . . just make sure you have a PO box and cellphone dedicated to said "business".

 

[annr]

I know several authors who've used Lulu and been happy with them. Lulu is cheaper, and they let you make up a name for your "publishing house" to make it appear more legitimate if that's important to you . . . just make sure you have a PO box and cellphone dedicated to said "business".

Help! I think I'm going to make a wedding album or a comic book! This is getting above my pay grade.

Thanks tyr_shadowblade, this is a business venture (so they can call me at home!) and if done as I intend will be a textbook or reference. I plan to use many pictures, audio files and video. It looks like the most common templates on iUniverse and Lula are Microsoft Word/Works and OpenOffice with the stipulation that all images are grayscale and TIFF. PDFs are accepted.

LOL I don't think I can download OpenOffice or manipulate these images on my puny computer!!

phatch and/or tyr_shadowblade do either of you have suggestions on the type of computer that would make writing a book of 2-300pp. consisting of scanned material; audio files; numerous color images; video and text/tables/drawings, etc. doable?
----------------------------
Follow-on question:
I read recently of University textbook publishers selling access to their books online. If I understood it correctly the student pays a fee to use the book for "x" number of semesters. This was in response to students' complaints about the confiscatory pricing of college textbooks and the frequent revisions' making used copies unmarketable. Might this be a good way to handle a large quantity of (expensive to print) color images, etc. ?

Is this scheme the same thing as an eBook? or more like a subscription to the WSJ or MLB? or neither?

 

[phatch]

Frame can handle the book and images part just fine. I'd go with a PC over an Apple as it's cheaper part for part and more versatile for what I do. But you might be doing other things than I do.

Audio and video files don't live in books. You'd probably need to include a CD or DVD for that. And you'd probably want to menu that so it's easy to find what you're looking for. I've not done any of that sort of thing. Both PC and macs can do this sort of thing easily.