Tag Archives: epub

Writing in InDesign is the only sensible choice for writers in the new paradigm of on-demand self-publishing

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The greatly expanded and rewritten Writing In InDesign Second Edition has been released Buy it Now! Versions available so far Spiral-bound premium workbook $19.99 7×10 perfect-bound paperback $17.99 Kindle (with embedded fonts for Fire) $7.99 (Available in the Kindle Lending Library) What started as a relatively small update turned into a large scale revision when I began adapting my popular Writing In InDesign book to the responses and suggestions I received. I have been pleasantly surprised at all the people … Continue reading →

InDesign CS6 is all about promises for the future…

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There are many exciting things to be found in the new version of InDesign. But if you read carefully, most of them are focused on an unspecified future where ePUB3 and HTML5 /CSS3 are the normal standards of ebook publishing. They are not now. In fact, there is no ePUB3 reader in common use at this time. In fact, there is really nothing out there for readers of ePUB books. I love CS6. It makes excellent ePUBs. … Continue reading →

Getting set up to freely create your type

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One of the more daunting aspects of book design for the inexperienced is page layout. Most people have Word experience and as I have said countless times already—Word cannot do professional page layout. In fact, it is worse than that because Word’s feeble attempts give you bad habits and poor expectations—which must be corrected. I’m assuming that you have your preferences set up; and that you have designed a good, efficient workspace that fits your style of … Continue reading →

A look at the ebook revolution: known & unknown

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Four years into the ebook revolution: things we know and things we don’t know – The Shatzkin Files. I received a link to this from Joel this morning. It’s a good review and an eye-opener, if you haven’t been paying attention. Mike says: “One could say (and I would) that the ereading revolution is coming up to its 4th anniversary since it was late November 2007 when Amazon first released the Kindle. There had been dedicated ereading … Continue reading →

Writing in InDesign gives you layout power

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I’ve been working on a new expanded version of “Writing In InDesign” for my peers in ministry. (I haven’t figured out how to add the updates into the first edition.) I may write “Drawing In InDesign” first. Then I’ll do a radically expanded 2nd edition of “Writing In InDesign”—but that’s all in flux. I also received this in an email this morning: From Don in Colorado: I was up until 3:am reading Writing in InDesign. I can tell you’ve put … Continue reading →

Writing in InDesign ebooks are up or coming

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Apple is always slow with additions to iBooks, but you can get the ePUB that will be there from Lulu or NookBooks. Amazon just let me know that the Kindle version is up. It will take a while before the print and Kindle versions are linked up. The response to the book has been very good I am really pleased that several people seem to think the basic concept has merit. You can see a discussion of … Continue reading →

Forcing InDesign to write acceptable CSS

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Sometimes I feel so stupid. The solution to the incomplete CSS in exported ePUBs is so much more simple than I thought. Your mind just seems to turn a little corner and the solution pops up in front of you. My beef with InDesign CS5.5’s ePUBs was the need to edit the CSS I’ve posted several times here and published a couple books about fixing the ePUB CSS. What I wrote was accurate. It’s not difficult, as … Continue reading →

My newest book: Writing in InDesign

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Check out my page on the book This book has been replaced by “Writing In InDesign Revised Edition 2.5” This first edition, first formatting of the new book is no longer available available on Amazon. It includes many of the recent postings on this blog, plus more help for authors writing in InDesign (version 7.5 especially). I’m convinced that InDesign is best place to write. Read and find out why that is true and how it can … Continue reading →

Writing books in InDesign

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Here I am again recommending a road less traveled by—not unusual in my life and work. Before the choruses rise up in defense of others, let me tell you my reasonings. I fully recognize that most people write in Word. What they do not realize [in most cases] is this simple fact starts their book under a great handicap. They are missing out on the best tools for communicating with readers. At this point, I have been … Continue reading →

Writing in InDesign: Part 6, Fixing the ePUB CSS

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ePUB CSS Repair Once you have your ePUB It will usually open in ADE (depending on what you have installed on your computer). Proof it carefully. Redo as necessary. If your computer is like mine, the graphics will be very poor in ADE. Basically ADE is very crude. Then drop a copy of the ePUB file onto iTunes and sync it into iBooks on your iPad to read it in iBooks. The reason you need to use … Continue reading →