Tag: publishing

PDF vs Word Doc: A Little KDP Tip

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In all of the years that I have published books with Amazon’s KDP (formerly Create Space), I have learned many things through trial and error. When it comes to uploading a copy of your manuscript, two of your best choices for formats are PDF or a Word Document. However, I’ve learned this depends on if you’re publishing an ebook or a printed book. So, here’s my advice.

Use a PDF for Printed Books

As long as you have made all of your page breaks, it seems the best format to upload  a printed book, is a PDF. There’s a much better chance your book will retain all of its margins if you use a PDF. There’s nothing more annoying than looking at your print preview and seeing one heading on one page begin three or four lines lower than you intended, or seeing the beginning of a chapter start on the end of a page instead of the beginning. Also, when it comes to page numbers, you may want to have them start from a bottom  margin of at least 1.3. You can try 1.2, but that’s pushing it.

Use a Word Doc for Ebooks

It’s been my experience the good old fashioned Word Doc works just fine for ebooks. I’ve tried using PDF’s in the past, and even Amazon’s KDP advises against them. When it comes to ebooks and PDF’s, it seems the two just can’t get along. Your best bet is to upload your manuscript as a Word Doc. Even if you’re using Google Docs, download your manuscript as a Word Doc, then upload it.

Goodbye, Microsoft Word

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No one likes to see a relationship come to an end. Especially a long-standing relationship. But, you know the old saying: “All good things must come to an end”. I’ve had a relationship with Microsoft Word for YEARS. I’m pretty sure it started sometime during my middle school years. We’ve been good friends. Then, something went wrong.

My nine-year-old Dell laptop was on its last leg, in terms of battery life. The battery lost the ability to hold a charge, and the laptop would only function if it was plugged in. Plus, my version of Microsoft Word, was horribly outdated. I finally broke down and purchased a new laptop: a Chromebook, by Acer. There’s just one problem: it didn’t come with Word. Apparently, this is a trend among tech manufacturers. Laptops used to come with Word, and other Microsoft programs. Now, those programs need to be purchased separately. Plus, this is a Chromebook we’re talking about, so I understood. But, even the HP and Dell laptops I looked at, didn’t have Word. My new laptop was only $149…I wasn’t about to shell out an extra $200 for Word. The $149 had already set me back.  Instead, I did two things:

  1. Got a subscription to the Word App via Google Play, so I could continue to open my Word files at home.
  2. Forced myself to become acclimated with Google Docs.

Word cost me $7.61 a month ($6.99 plus tax). Sales from my online store were taking care of that plus the cost of hosting each month, so W.E. was basically paying for it’s own services. However, once I got into Google Docs (I mean, really got into it), I decided, maybe it was time to say goodbye to Word. So, I did. The cord has been cut. 

Of course, I still download my work from Google and save it on a flash drive, but its nice to know everything is available to me online, whether I’m at home or on a computer at work. Of course, some of the margins I use for the manuscripts of the books I publish needed to be adjusted, but hey: nothing worth having is ever easy to obtain. 

Woolaston Entertainment

Learning to make friends with Page Breaks

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I must confess: as a writer, I have never used Page Breaks before. I’m used to simply typing my manuscript, starting new chapters on the next blank page, and then fighting with Create Space/KDP as I upload the manuscript, over and over again, due to formatting issues. However, I recently used Page Breaks to fix the manuscript for my latest book, Rock N Role Model.  And, I have to admit, they saved the day…and my sanity. 

Typing my manuscript in a “continuous” style is a bit uncomfortable for me. I’m not used to it, and it’s going to be a big change. But, I’m adaptable. This is a change I’m willing to make, for the sake of my writing. 

So, it looks like KDP and I are friends again. 

Celebrate Spring with Our Lady of Righteous Rage!

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Spring has officially sprung! The sun  is shining, flowers are in bloom, and temperatures are finally above 50 degrees. This month, Woolaston Entertainment is celebrating Our Lady of Righteous Rage. The next book in the series, Rock N Role Model, will be available towards the middle of the month. To celebrate, I’m going to post blogs devoted to the series. Plus, guest blogger Ebunnygirl will share why she loves the series so much. So, check back often, and I’ll keep you posted! 🙂

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https://ebunnygirl.wordpress.com/

Confidence Boost

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Happy Saturday, everyone! I wanted to share a piece of good news. I started my Books For Books Campaign at the very end of February, in order to increase sales for my website, and make donations to organizations in need. So far, it’s been one sale here, one sale there. It’s slow going, but it is only the beginning of March, so I decided to remain hopeful. But you know how it goes: you try something new, you go into it with high expectations, and when it doesn’t go as planned, you feel a little let down. Then, a customer reached out to me on Facebook’s Messenger. She asked about some of my books, and we talked about writing and publishing. I figured, maybe she’ll order a book, and I can match the order with a donation. The following morning, I checked my email, and received an unexpected surprise. 

She had placed a $100 order! She order ALL of my bundles, and two copies of The Witch of Fulton Lane. I was completely shocked. I contacted her to make sure the order was correct (and it was). I thanked her for the order, and I let her know her books would be in the mail by Monday. Even now, I’m still in shock.

100dollarorder
My first major order!

This order isn’t just a boost for Woolaston Entertainment. It helped me regain my confidence as a writer and a business woman (just in time for International Women’s Day, which is even more awesome!) Plus, I will match the order by donating books to the organizations I selected. 

To my customer: I promised not to mention you by name in my posts, but I have to thank you again for your support. I greatly appreciate it 🙂

Even when things look dark, and you feel like what you’re doing is pointless and you feel like saying, “Forget it. I’m done. I give up”, you have to keep going. Sometimes it takes a long while to get to where you want to be, but you will eventually get there.

I’m still matching purchases through my Books For Books Campaign: I will donate a book for every book that is purchased. 

Thanks for reading. 

woolastonentertainment.com

Valentine Month Promotion #2

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There’s 1 day left for the Valentine Month Promotion #2! Thank you to everyone who has downloaded a book so far! I’m glad you participated and I hope you enjoy the books. Promotion #3 will begin on Monday, so I’ll keep you posted!

For free book details, check out woolasonentertainment.com, and click on the Lola Vencent and Jo Fuentes buttons in blue!

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