Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. We post the first Wednesday of every month. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. Because hopefully, you’ll be using it for years to come. (Myself included.)īut if you’re ready to tackle formatting yourself, do your research and get the program that best suits your needs. We have many listed on the Self-Publishing page here and several of our IWSG members format print books. If formatting your own book seems like a monument us task, you can always hire someone to format it for you.
For a professional look, avoid using Word. While fine for formatting EBooks, it was never intended to format print books and the results are often amateurish. You’ll notice one program that many authors use that’s not listed here or there - Microsoft Word. InDesign, the program most traditional publishers use, scores perfect in every category. Top Ten Reviewsoffers an excellent comparison of the ten best print book formatting programs available.
From those listed, PageFocus Pro and PageStream are more limited. A few are not available for the Mac.Īnd of course, you have to consider the ease of inserting tables, graphics, images, and other extras you want to include in your book.
It also depends on whether you have a PC or a Mac. InDesign, QuarkXPress, and PagePlus all have this feature.
Many of the programs also come with options to convert the print book into EPub. "May you have warmth in your igloo, oil in your lamp, and peace in your heart." Eskimo Proverb What works best for you to keep track of goals and your plans? Are you a Moleskin lover or think they're just overpriced name-droppers? Are you already thinking of your goals for next year?Īnd I'll say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays with this. I'm sure that the first IWSG posts on January 6, 2016, will be filled with goals and plans for the coming year. And remember, studies show that writing things by hand stimulates the brain more than using an electronic device. I always seem to remember if I write it down without even having to look at it. Those things work great and are pretty easy to use. I know lots of my friends have digital calendars on their smart devices to remind them of things. I have marked the days for guest posts, for IWSG, for bloghops, and writers' meetings. Already in my 2016 model, I have notes jotted in April for the A to Z Challenge. I don't think I would keep up my blog without my planner. But the point is, this is what works for me to keep track of my plans for my novels writing and everything else. I like the planner to lie flat on my desk so I always get a spiral bound one. I secretly crave a Moleskin Planner just because it's Moleskin but I've never found one that suits my needs. Every inch of space gets filled with jotted notes and reminders.
The past few years, I've purchased The Old Farmer's Almanac Engagement Calendar style planner. I love to write by hand and my planner shows it. I confess to a strange love of planners and journals.