'I Want to Write a Book and Be Published!'... but HOW (Lesson 13 from Creative Writing and Book Publishing Course)???

Article Title: 'I Want to Write a Book and Be Published!'... but HOW (Lesson 13 from Creative Writing and Book Publishing Course)???
Author: Bill Rosoman
Shared (with permission) by: Craig Lock
Category (key words): 'I Want to Write a Book and be Published', How to Write a Book and Get Published, Creative Writing Course, Writing, Writing a book, Creative Writing, Publishing Course, Book Publishing, E-books, Writing Hints/Tips (enough there for now!)
Web Sites: http://www.creativekiwis.com/course/index.html and www.craigsbooks.wordpress.com

Other Articles by the submitter are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981

(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, spiritual, ‘spiritual writings’ (how ‘airey-fairey’), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig!)
"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."
*
I WANT TO WRITE A BOOK AND GET PUBLISHEDrn(extracted from Online Creative Writing Course)

This short extract is a lesson from my and Craig's book 'How to Write a Book and Get Published'. We hope that these pointers may be helpful to aspiring* or perhaps other "non-techno" authors, like my friend, Craig.

* What's the definition of an aspiring author?
A waiter!
*
I WANT TO WRITE A BOOK!

(to roars of laughter from family and friends)

Me write a book! What!!! A "pipedream" or possible...perhaps?

A introductory words...

Writing a book may seem extremely daunting ...and perhaps even impossible to you, as I felt when I started out writing (like flying to the moon); but if you believe you have some writing talent just DO IT. As with eating an elephant ("hephelump"), break it into "small chunks". No only joking! Please treat all animals with great care. My point simply:
The key is taking that FIRST STEP in writing that first sentence...then one just gets involved in your "work of art", as writing becomes a daily habit. One word
simply flows into the next...then one chapter just leads on to the next one.
*
Creative Writing and Book Publishing Course

Welcome to this lesson from the Creative Writing and Book Publishing Course.

We hope you are enjoying the course and going down the path you wish to travel.

Table of Contents

Lesson 13

In this lesson we’ll look at the following areas:

* Obtaining a ISBN number

* Creating a Book Cover

* Creating PDF or DOC

* Uploading files to the Internet

and

* Lesson Conclusion

Here are a few pointers/tips…

Obtain an ISBN number

Now your book is taking shape we need to sharpen our pencil and get organized, so we can get the book published and up and out there!

So the first thing we have to do is get an ISBN number.

An ISBN number is the book's unique international number, which bookstores need to have to sell. You can not publish a book without one effectively!

In New Zealand ISBN numbers are controlled by the NZ National Library and can be obtained from

http://www.natlib.govt.nz/services/get-advice/publishing/isbn/isbn-application

Email ISBN@natlib.govt.nz

Overseas there are places like

www.isbn.org

It is simply a matter of filling in an online form of the Book title, author etc and within a few minutes you have an ISBN number.

I create a text file with information about the book;

ISBN Book Catalogue

Main Title: Kubuntu Linux Users Handbook

Personal Author: Rosoman Bill; 1948 -

Imprint: Hamilton New Zealand: Self, 2008

Collation: 60p: 18.91cm 24.59cm

Abstract: A Handbook for Using The Kubuntu Linux Operating System.

Kubuntu is a cousin to Ubuntu and is based on Debian Linux.

It is a great OS and is all free.

A great little Kubuntu Howto!

This book is applicable to Kubuntu in particular,

Ubuntu, Debian based Linux and Linux in general.

Language: English

ISBN: 978-0-473-13898-1

Subject: Linux, Kubuntu, Ubuntu, Operating System, Free Software, Open Source Software, Operating Manual, Virus Free, Users Handbook, Manual, Handbook

Format: Book, EBook

keywords

Linux, Kubuntu, Ubuntu, Operating System, Free Software, Open Source Software, Operating Manual, Virus Free, Users Handbook, Manual, Handbook

publisher’s address and contact details

Bill Rosoman

PO Box 4155

Hamilton East 3247

contact person, telephone number and address if different from the publisher’s address

Bill Rosoman

Telephone 021-233-5427

Email

date of publication

2008

It should also be remembered that you have to send two copies of your Book to the Legal Deposit Office. Well at least here in New Zealand that is what you have to do.

Create Cover

When you upload the book to www.lulu.com

you can just select the Front Cover they provide, or you can create your own.

To create your own you can use Gimp Image Creator/Manipulator or similar.

Open The Gimp.

Create a new image and make the size 1838x2775mm for a novel size book. You will need to unlink the Image Size, Width and Height Link.

Now you can add Text and maybe a Graphic or Picture. I have been doing the initial work in Open Office Draw, then exporting as a jpg graphic and resizing and finishing in The Gimp.

You need to have this graphic available and the correct size when you upload the book.

Create PDF or DOC

Now you have completed the document you need to convert it to a PDF file.

I have found a PDF gives you the easiest and best results when uploading your Book.

You can use a Word (DOC) Format, but PDF is better.

In Open Office Click on Create PDF Button on Toolbar.

Save the PDF file then open it and check the result for page breaks and layout etc.

I have included links to online file conversion sites in lesson 15 and there are several Windows programs for converting to a PDF file.

If you have trouble making a PDF file, especially if it complains about embedding fonts, go back to your document and make sure you only have the New Times Roman font. Then try again. This is the only problem I had in making a PDF file.

When your finally document is ready, check it for the layout and go back and make any corrections needed.

Upload to Internet

www.lulu.com

Lulu is what they call Print On Demand. In other words if there is a demand they print a copy. So there is no cost unless you order or sell some copies.

There are other websites that do similar things, but Lulu works for me.

Just go to www.lulu.com and sign up as a member. Login and then go to My Lulu and Publish a Book. It is matter of following the instructions, upload the Book and bobs your aunty!

(Craig’s comment: Not so simple as it sounds for “total non-techno“, like me, so I leave to Bill’s expertise and let him do it- far far easier and less frustration...Grrrr!)

New Project

Paper back

Book Title

Choose Project Options

Browse to the document (pdf file)

Upload file

Upload front page

Set Pricing

Publish Project

Lesson Conclusion

Phew! now we are getting there!

More information is available at sites like

www.lulu.com

Best of luck and we will see you on the next lesson.

So as the Nike ad says,

Just DO IT

Then hopefully one day I'll see your name in print or on the www.

Eureka!

Good luck* and happy writing

* Wasn't that once defined as where 'preparedness meets opportunity'

As the ancient Chinese proverb said so wisely...
"The jou
ey of a thousand miles begins with ...
a broken fan belt and a leaky tire."

PPS
Enjoy some of craig's favourite quotes...

"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm." - Colette

"He who cherises a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart, will one day realize it.
Dream lofty dreams and as you dream so shall you become." - James Allen

"Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your
ultimate accomplishments." - Napoleon Hill

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Together, one mind at a time, let's see how many people we can impact, empower, uplift, encourage ... and perhaps even inspire to reach their fullest potentials."

Dreams
"Hold fast to dreamsr
For if dreams dier
Life is a broken-winged birdr
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreamsr
For when dreams gor
Life is a barren fieldr
Frozen with snow. " - Langston Hughes