Here's one reason why you might want to rethink the whole concept of being an author.

OK, so I finished the text for my next book a few days ago. I was using a new word processing program, which, for some reason, has issues with reducing to a 6 x 9 page size. So I had to download a completely different program just to do that. Luckily it was no big deal to PDF it from there.

Since the new book is a sequel to my first one, I figured I'd go with a similar cover design, and just make a few changes (background color, new text, and some additional graphics). The problem was I couldn't find the original cover file.

My ex has it (she designed the first two covers for me), so I had to contact her (knowing this could get awkward and uncomfortable). She sent me her file, but it's in Adobe Illustrator, which I have never used, so she sent some tips on how to make the changes.

And there are all these piddly little nightmare things that had to be addressed:

1.) I didn't have the right font on my computer for the title.

2.) It took forever to get the background color changed.

3.) The text on the spine couldn't be changed without an Act of God and a Congressional order.

4.) I had to insert a white box on the back cover for the UPC code and the ISBN information.

5.) The additional graphics wouldn't load even when I did what the 142 tutorials say to do. When I finally got the dog silhouette onto the cover it was ON TOP of the house instead of in front of the house.

6.) And I had to change the spine width because this book has a different page count than the first one.

Someday I'll be successful enough that I can just hire someone to do all this crap for me. I bet Stephen King doesn't have to worry about any of this stuff....

Now I finally feel better just writing for my own amusement. Thanks Lex!

BTW....what's yr book gonna' be called....and when do you expect it to be released?

It's called "Moving Targets," and it should be out before the end of the month, assuming there are no unforeseen setbacks.

Wouldn't it be a lot easier to send the manuscript to a publisher and have them take care of all the small stuff?

And wait for 9-18 months while they dawdle around before they look at it....? I don't think so.

So self publishing, or what they used to call vanity press, is the way to go if you are impatient?

Or if you want to get your stuff looked at. A lot of publishers really aren't interested in "new" writers -- and they take forever to evaluate manuscripts from new people, if they even bother to do that at all. (Get a copy of Writer's Guide sometime -- you'll be surprised at the number of publishers who are "not currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts").

If they do accept them, it's generally 9-18 months before they will get back to you to tell you if they're even interested or not.

I suppose that's OK if you're planning on living 500 years. For me, it's more important to have some stuff out there and then work on getting it noticed.

Lex-learn to use Adobe InDesign/creative suite or a similar program like Quark XPress. It will save you a lot of headaches and make life easier for your printer.

BTW-if you're having problems with opening fonts on other computers, it's very likely because you forgot to export your fonts.

If you're determined to go the old fashioned way of getting a printing house to publish your stuff, I would suggest a literary agent. JMHO.

I used Publisher for the third and fourth books and I got reasonably familiar with that program. Then she pulls Adobe Illustrator out on me for this one, and I was a little bamboozled. Figured it out eventually. I'll take a look at the ones you mentioned, certainly has to be less of a hassle than what I've been through today!

You know, when I finally did manage to get the dog silhouette on the cover, it was ON TOP of the house, instead of in front of the house. And I thought, "Hmmm, that's not right, she never goes up on the roof in this book."

I've been contacted by a number of other publishers since my books started coming out. If I get the right deal, I might go with someone else.

I actually did talk to a couple of agents when I first started looking into this, and I was not impressed. I'm guessing they're thinking there's not all that much money to be made in sci-fi. Everybody wants romance (Danielle Steel/Nicholas Sparks) or self-help books now.

I bet the reason for that printing error was because you forgot to include alignment marks(in printer's black, of course) and color bars (CMYK)in the bleed area.

I bet the reason for that printing error was because you forgot to include alignment marks(in printer's black, of course) and color bars (CMYK)in the bleed area.

Hello Lex ^^


Hope the hiring goes well...and will be soon



Congratz on finishing



Im still working on my poems..will be doing more readings and asking for feedback
and had an idea of writing about a "Poet"
how exactly...I dont know
its all I know, so I will go with that

DT, I still have the poems you sent. Check your inbox in a few minutes.

Oh ok
Thanx

I will go check

I think making and writing your own book is a very cool dream to make happen...And to have many under your belt is even more of an achievement to have happen. Some day I would love to give a set of words to someone who is really skilled at writing and have them format and make it normal,lol,for other's to read. Then at least I would leave a small part of who I was here,,behind for others to know me through...I wish you nothing but great success Lex in this project and all future ones..
Your a great friend and everything from your mind,,has to include your heart,,so I am sure it will do GREAT!

so you want to be a writer?


if it doesn't come bursting out of you
in spite of everything,
don't do it.
unless it comes unasked out of your
heart and your mind and your mouth
and your gut,
don't do it.
if you have to sit for hours
staring at your computer screen
or hunched over your
typewriter
searching for words,
don't do it.
if you're doing it for money or
fame,
don't do it.
if you're doing it because you want
women in your bed,
don't do it.
if you have to sit there and
rewrite it again and again,
don't do it.
if it's hard work just thinking about doing it,
don't do it.
if you're trying to write like somebody
else,
forget about it.


if you have to wait for it to roar out of
you,
then wait patiently.
if it never does roar out of you,
do something else.

if you first have to read it to your wife
or your girlfriend or your boyfriend
or your parents or to anybody at all,
you're not ready.

don't be like so many writers,
don't be like so many thousands of
people who call themselves writers,
don't be dull and boring and
pretentious, don't be consumed with self-
love.
the libraries of the world have
yawned themselves to
sleep
over your kind.
don't add to that.
don't do it.
unless it comes out of
your soul like a rocket,
unless being still would
drive you to madness or
suicide or murder,
don't do it.
unless the sun inside you is
burning your gut,
don't do it.

when it is truly time,
and if you have been chosen,
it will do it by
itself and it will keep on doing it
until you die or it dies in you.

there is no other way.

and there never was.


~Charles Bukowski