NEW! Novica & Invited Guest Contributors Tips & Product Reviews Pt 5
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Hello in Brazil!
Novica asked about ISBNs in post #340:
Amazon does not assign ISBNs, they use the ASIN instead, which is an Amazon-specific inventory control number, and yes, that is free. They do not require an ISBN to publish, either via KDP or CreateSpace in print. SmashWords is the only one I'm aware of that gives away free ISBNs, but that may have changed. I purchased my own block of ISBN numbers so I haven't looked into it at other retailers for some time.
The points that anikad brought up are very valid questions. First, and I point this out in my book, if Smashwords provides the ISBN, then that makes them the publisher, not you. This makes them the "Publisher of Record" which gives them certain legal rights. And even though they "give" you the ISBN, you do not own it. You can publish your book elsewhere, but you cannot take the ISBN with you. You would have to get another.
Jorge doesn't know it yet, but we're all going to visit him during the 2016 Olympics! :roll:
Novica, thanks for the PM.
Well yikes, I wouldn't have them assign one then. (ISBN's from Smashwords)
Scot, you created your own Publishing House. Can you elaborate about pros and cons with that? Does it require filing legal papers? And I love the name of yours btw. (and the logo)
Yeah, thanks Novica.
What I just mentioned is exactly the reason why I bought my own ISBN numbers. This makes me the publisher, and in fact is what makes you a legal publishing house. it's really all you have to do (here in the USA, I can't speak for elsewhere - sorry Jorge!). You do need to file a DBA for tax purposes, but that's all.
When you purchase a block of ten or more numbers, the first six digits are unique to you and no one else, and this becomes your "publisher" identification. It tells retailers who published that book. In the case of a SmashWords ISBN, they are the listed publisher, even if your name is on the cover and copyright page as the publishing house.
...speaking of publishing names, I've seen clever ones on everything from album (ahem, CD...er, MP3) liner notes to movies, books, and comics. How do those typically get chosen, and how does one go about vetting whether or not that entity name already exists under somebody else's ownership?
I should mention that there has so far never been any problems with SmashWords in this respect that I am aware of. But they could very easily change and legally demand some financial compensation for an author taking their successful book elsewhere. I'm not a lawyer, so I really can't speak to the specifics of copyright and publishing law in this regard, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Wow! Seriously?
Okay, anyone have anymore questions regarding ISBNs for Scot/in general? One thing I have read, and let's be sure this is correct- your print version and ebook version require two different ISBN's- right?
Scot, regarding images, can you address anikad's question about correct sizes? I posted the different kindle devices ratios, can you speak to that about what interior image size you should go for? In one place (can't remember if it was in your book or the internet) I read to make images 500 x 600 pixels. So, let's discuss images :) I am assuming 300 dpi is correct, got that from several places. And RGB no CMYK, which is for printing.
Good question. These days you can simply do an Internet search to see if an company exists with a name you are thinking of. You used to have to do a Library of Congress search and go through a lot of hassle, but now if there's a business it's a matter of public record, so a simple Google search will bring it up.
Of course, that's assuming the name isn't something really generic that would bring up tons of hits. But you can choose any name you want, and when you file your DBA it belongs to you.
Morning (1:15am UTC), no idea what it is EST yet. Working on first cup of coffee. Well after 1:15am, post spell checking...
So I take it, there is a way to specify where text is to be overlay-ed with the image. And like web-pages, each device and user may have a preferred font size, that can cause the text to be different, or just not fit in the location desired (as a side note).
How easy is it to allow for some variance in text location, when making background-images (web-page term), with this fixed-layout stuff. Dose fixed-layout even give the user the ability to over-size the font, like a lot of browsers allow with web-pages. Is it more like you specify this font at this size, and that is all there is to it?
P.S. That bit about the ISBN sounds familiar, thinking of other projects recently. Lot numbers and stuff (NEPP stuff).
2016, at least online anyway, for the games. I'm so looking forward to the games.
Sure- you can buy us all airfare, hotel rooms...I don't see a problem with that....
Just wanted to say thank you, Scot, for coming by and sharing your insights!
For those who wish to create a cover image that will look good across multiple platforms, including mono displays, do you have any advice on that?
Any thoughts on the current state of self-publishing as an industry, relative to "traditional" publishing?
Okay, yes, let me answer the print/ebook question real quick first.
The simple answer is yes. Since ebooks are a different format, they require a different identifier. Otherwise there's no way of knowing in the database what version you're looking at, and potentially ordering. A library or bookstore needs to know what they are buying, so each format needs to be unique.
But it's not just ebooks versus print either. Just like hardback editions have a different ISBN than paperbacks or audiobooks, you should ideally give a different identifier to each digital format, so one for Kindle, one for iBooks, one for B&N, etc. That starts to use up ISBN numbers very quickly, so almost no one does it. However, some retailers, like SmashWords, require that you have a unique ISBN for their edition.
Also something interesting- when I was choosing a business name, as long as someone didn't have it in my STATE they would allow it. I found that a bit weird- but for example, Kil'nTime here in Pensacola was allowed to file a dba (doing business as) but there are many other Kil'nTimes in other states. Don't know if that is the same with publishing houses though. (Mine wasn't Kil'nTime, it was a business in downtown Pensacola.) Let me go research dba requirements, while you folks carry on.
And to add-on to Zarcon's question...
How (in very general terms is okay) to handle text? In books as well as comics?
Background:
I am one of those folks who likes to do the reverse-pinch to zoom in on text (on every device I have, even my biggish iPad), and anything that can't be zoomed requires me to reach for my reading glasses, which is a real "ugh" moment.
I know that the whole world is an aging demographic and I'm not the only one. So I would like to make anything I might someday write as easy as possible for people of all vision levels to cope with...even to enjoy.
Quick answer to zarcondeegrissom - in fixed layout you have total control over layout, font size, positioning, color, etc. And it will remain at that size relative to the overall dimensions of the display - that's why it's called fixed. Readers cannot change any of that. This is why text popups are needed so that small text can be magnified. But that is also under the control of the ebook creator.
Okay, lots of questions about text. Let me get to that in a minute. First I'll answer the previous questions about image and cover sizes. Give me a sec...this might take a minute to write up.
By the way, did everybody read all (or at least some of) what I posted up before. I went into a lot of detail so some of this is covered there in case you haven't read it yet.
I was able to read about 75% of it.
My prior post was not clear enough...my "add-on" question was not so much about the technical/mechanical aspect of "how to" do text in fixed or flow formats; for that I can do my own research. So I should clarify...I'm asking you for your opinion/experience on what you think works well for people who do and people who do not have vision challenges.
I know that part of your answer will likely include the words, "it depends on..." :cheese:
http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/44327/P330/#684391
If you haven't read this, peruse while Scot types up some info. :)
Alright, anikad had asked about covers, and Scott-Livingston as well.
You can create a cover in whatever program you use to create graphics and do layout, like InDesign or Photoshop. I prefer Photoshop because it has really powerful tools for creating awesome text. I did the titles for all of my books that way. In fact, I designed a custom font for The Saga of Beowulf titles, and beveled and sculpted it using styles. It took about 20 layers to get the gold and gemstone look just right.
But the important point I would make here - getting to Scott-Livingston's point about mono displays - is that the over cover design, including both the artwork and the titles, needs to be clearly legible at very small sizes - think thumbnails on Amazon, for example. Make them high contrast so that the image details can be seen clearly, and use really nice colors that stand out, because you're competing with three million other books that were published just this year.
Okay, I'll attack images and file size next...
Remind me not to forget the question about self-publishing versus traditional publishing, because that's a great topic of discussion. But let me still to the technical stuff first.
Sure- you can buy us all airfare, hotel rooms...I don't see a problem with that....
Oops, now I got choked !!!
Excellent advice. I just looked at your website and immediately I saw what you meant. Thank you for this.
Novica had asked about file size, so let me address that real quick before I get to images, because it's an easier one to anwer.
When you run your file through Kindlegen it will give you a log readout containing a lot of stats about what it did, and assuming that the conversion was successful, the last thing you'll get is a "deliverable file size". This is the what you will be charged for as a "delivery fee" when the book is purchased. So if your deliverable file size is 3.5 Mb, say, you will be charged .45 cents (15 cents per megabyte, rounded down).
You will notice, however, that the file Kindlegen creates is vastly larger than this. In fact, the output file will be considerably larger than the one your fed into it! This is because the compiled file contains all of the original source files exactly as you made them, plus a highly compressed version for older devices (the "deliverable" size version), and a new HD version in its own container. Only one of these will ever be delivered at a time, but the file you upload to Amazon will be pretty big. Until recently that was a problem, because KDP had an upload limit of 50 MB. Now it's been changed to 650 Mb, and I can't even imagine a file that big.
By the way, regarding ebook files size and cost (which I'll talk about separately in a minute, regarding the 30/70 royalty), I recently downloaded the Sandman graphic novel, and it's well over 50 Mb in size. So big files are definitely starting to appear on Amazon.
My main question is:
A story, an ebook vs A story, various ebooks (graphic novels, a theme which ends after the four editions)
it is a strategy of sales, right or am I wrong?
Scot, let me hop on that. I read in your book about the larger file size, because not only are the KF8 files there, but the Mobi 7 backward compatible files too. You mention only the relevant portion will be downloaded to the person- so does the download fee vary?
jorge, I know Scot will answer this, but let me share what I've been reading-
when you have a series, you have the impetus of the first book to carry into the second one- aka, many readers who like your first book in the series will buy the second one. That's why some authors use the Amazon program where readers can download the book free- but they also have the second one in the series ready to go. (Which is somewhat my plan, but that could change.) You do NOT have to put ALL your books that program, you can do one book, but not the next.
EDIT: While the readers download the book free, you do get paid for each download.
To answer your question more directly, Novica, the file size comes first, because you'll know while you're building your book how large the output file is getting. But you do need to plan it out a bit beforehand too. The content always comes first, and it should cost whatever it needs to cost, so don't let pricing constraints keep you from producing top quality material. You shouldn't really go into a project thinking "I'm going to make a $2.99 ebook, what should I put in it?" But you do need to do your research and know what you can afford to put into a book.
So, for example, this is why my current project will be released as four separate volumes, because I know about how much it will cost to create and distribute a 100-page fully illustrated book, which I feel completely comfortable selling at around ten bucks. It's a lot of art, a lot of work, deserves a good price, but I don't want to go over ten bucks, because that starts to eliminate part of my potential readership who just can't afford that much for one book.
But you should also be aware that at $2.99 you're going to be stuck to something like a 25 page book, tops, so basically a short comic or children's book. And also, it will fall into the heap with a million other books at that price. To me, $2.99 says "cheap," and not "quality." It's an impression thing. You should charge what your work is worth, no more, no less, and make it the right size to be profitable.
No, the download fee will always be the same, regardless of which file is delivered to the customer. And it will always be the cost of the smaller sized file, even with the larger HD version is sent.
This is important, so give me a minute to expand on this, because it also has to do with which royalty you choose.
Images with text in them. Not all browsers have the same fonts, and text placement was an issue with user settings, thus it has been best in the past to use images in select few places... Times have changed, especially with fixed-format. All good info, thanks. Hence my questions about legible fonts, vs image resizing “Algorithms”.
The fonts used for the covers on your site? Is ebook(generalization) capable of countless fonts, or is there limits? (edit example from a past project, abandoned at this point)
Agreed on the value vs cost bit.