The penny has dropped
The penny has dropped, means basically i have realised that i have no skills relavant to this industry,
From the start of the project it's been a real struggle:
I started writing after my Grandchildren bought me a teddy bear dressed as a coastguard uniform back in 2009, they thought it was appropriate because at the time my wife and i lived on board our Narrow boat, this was a Christmas gift.
That week i sat and wrote 12 different stories about a salty faced Captain called Grisswold and his crew of characters based on my G /kids.
since then i have tried to have it traditionally published and could not attract and agent or publisher, so i decided to self publish.
I had no idea what it was all about and decide to research and try to learn, but in learning there is a time we all have to pay for the skills we don't have, I had no money and tried to learn without paying. After a lot of head scratching and throwing my toys out of my pram, i gave in and paid an editor, this achieved good grammar and got the script through CS's interior reviewer
Then after my wife had drawn some fantastic pictures i had to learn how to meet the DPI (pixels) for CS to submit them into the interior files, all this time i was building a reasonable following on social media, which is probably the best thing i have accomplished so far!
I still needed a web site (more on that later) i still needed a cover and still needed a marketing plan, i thought the next thing in the process would be a cover, again i had no idea how to start, you might also gather from this that my pc skills are very limited and learning all the time,
Setting about the cover i had an idea to make one on word, which went well and finally i had a good looking cover as a word doc,but CS want it as a pdf or Jpeg and i submitted a pdf of my front and back covers which was rejected, or at least the back cover was, the front cover went through without a problem but CS only take one pdf's and i could not work out how to put the two together, and still haven't.
This morning i received an email from a friend on WA telling me that the website i thought i had built was a bloggers site, which showed up my complete lack of skill on every level and if anyone knows how to put a back cover to a front cover on Create space, please tell me before i go completely mad and pull out what's left of my hair.
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Hey Chris. What ever you write here are always relevant. We all learn something.
Use microsoft powerpoint to convert pictures to jpeg. Then send it to your publishers. Here's how:
1. Insert picture into powerpoint slide. Right click on picture and click on "Save as Picture"
2. Title it and select below title "Jpeg File Interchange Format", then save. and you have your jpeg.
To create a back and front will be a bit more tricky:
1. Change the powerpoint to Landscape
2. Insert the front cover picture on the right side of the slide, adjust to have a margin.
3. Insert back cover on left side of the front cover picture. Leave a larger margin between front and back picture.
4. click on back picture, with your left finger on Ctrl button right click the front picture. Select "Group" on the grouping icons. Then save as Jpeg as above. and you have your front and back cover.
or if you can trust me, you might like to email me the pictures as attachments with instructions and I'll email it back to you.
Here's my best email: shirleywoon.credo@yahoo.com
No obligations on your part Chris, I'll be pleased to help. Bless you.
Shirley
Thank you so much Shirley, i feel a little stupid now, this was an old post i wrote some time ago, i hit publish instead of delete by accident, i actually have three books published now on amazon (Captain Grisswold with his crew and friends). not going as i would like but moving slowly. So thanks ever so for your kind offer but it's all cured now, i was just having a clear out and hit the wrong button. Although it shows i still have many friends on WA despite my ranking going down like a brick, maybe i am still liked. thanks again.
Ranking has nothing to do with your popularity Chris. The only connectivity is it shows you have much activity in the WA, nothing to do with friends. As far as I can see, all your friends love you dear.... Just check all the hugs and smiles below.
And then, about your books...you've 3 published?!! Wow!! I can only stand back in awe. I'm so glad all's well now Chris. Keep my email address, it's still good anytime. God bless you.......
Shirley
One silly mistake but to be honest, it's a much needed boost in the arm, i have depression and struggle with inferiority problems. my shrink says it's the creative man in me. He's a bloody nuisance sometimes but thanks Shirley, you're a star.
Why do you even listen to shrinks?!! I think they're the ones who depress people. You're CREATIVE, period!!
Have you heard that creative people are often eccentric? Perhaps that's just it...You are eccentric....Not. God bless you and keep you.......
Shirley
Thanks Shirley, you are an inspiration, whether I'm creative(i would like to think so, with my books) or eccentric, I'm pleased to have friends like you.
Well thank you dear Chris. I'm proud to have friends like you too, and no, you are certainly not eccentric, maybe nervous, but NOT eccentric.
Though you may not know it I read all your blogs. I find your writing is creative and interesting. I don't always make comments, but trust me, I like your work.
By the way, I'll be posting a significant subject in a few hours today. Do keep an eye out for "Day 139 with Wealthy Affiliate" 10th June 2015.
God's blessings always on you......
Shirley
You little stalker Shirley, LOL I'm glad someone like my stuff, tell your friends and make them buy my books too PLEASE !
You have me intrigued by your mystery, is it a blog, is it a post, is it status, no it's shirley on day 139 WA. only joking Shirley. what could it be and where will it be?
I suppose you block off receiving too many emails or you would have received the notification by now. It's my latest blog.
Just right click on my kitten and click on "open link in new tab". You'll find Day 139 below my profile picture. Click on that and you can read all about this special day.
And yes, I'm stalking you. I'm trying to send your posts to all the social media. That would give more exposure to your books.....I'll let you know once I get it done....
Shirley
That's so kind of you Shirley, you'll have to let me know how to repay you or help in return, somehow.
Nothing doing, you don't repay anything. I'll be glad to have a friend in you and your wife.
What I would love for you to do now is read my latest blog, and make your comment what you think. I'll be notified the moment you do so.
Did and I thank you so much for such a beautiful message. You'll have to go back there to see my reply. I hope you like this activity, going back and forth on our separate blogs....this is fun.....
If you still need some help pm me. I would give a couple of tips but someone would think it is spam.
Thanks B, (haven't got your name) you more than most probably understand how i feel, somedays in agony, other days at hospitals, and odd days you can do something worthwhile. Thanks for your kind words.
There are a lot of us here who are not computer geniuses myself included. Have you asked the question here before?Just keep asking and someone will know the answer. I'm sorry I can't help I know nothing about publishing and if you really get stuck and you haven't an answer from WA then PM Kyle. Onwards and upwards my friend.
Lindon.
I have no experience in the world of publishing but thought of this bit of training that might get you started.. How To Write And Publish An E-Book
Have you tried bootcamp? Follow the lessons and take notes. I often watch a video three or four times as I have ADD. You can stop the video at any time to take a note. I stop almost every 10 seconds at times. Sometimes I put the video going on my cell phone as I apply the steps. I have almost no computer knowledge so it's slow for me too. Been three months and I'my on lesson 9. May not be much but as I look back I have the makings of a good website and I had a major breakthrough today. Ask lots of questions. The ambassadors have the best answers. I also go on live chat often. I get good instant answers there but if not it's a great place to hang out and get to know the wonderful people in here. Best of luck. If there is anything I can do for you, just ask.
Cheers Kirk, i know what you mean, but i sometimes think if everyone keeps seeing my name, they might just think i'm a nuisance, probably they do? it's just me, no confidence
I feel like a nuisance myself at times. None of us are though really as long as we take what we learn and pass it on to others.
I have no experience in that field but I see that Indi - Em is going to pm you.It must be hard setting up all the things it takes to get a book published,but the fact that you have great imagination to create a book in the first place tells me that you are talented.I watched the film of JK Rowling a few months ago,you probably know this but I will share it with you.She wrote her first Harry Potter book in a little cafe because she was a single mum and to take her daughter with her,I remember in the film that she was turned down by so many publishers and it was only by chance that she persevered and got a break with "Bloomsbury Publishings" how do you feel those other publishers felt when they see her success.Keep plodding on my friend you will get there.
Hi D not sure what you mean? one minute it's going fine the next it's a bag of Kack, and it's hard to know which day is today. if you know what mean. This is a blog i wrote a while ago, but it about sums up how i feel today again!!!!!
Oh, CHris...okay...I understand.
Let's see if people come to help. Sometimes, it's in how they deliver...
I think crossed purposes, somewhere, i have put out an old post and people have the wrong idea, i have been working on getting my books out and it is on sale at amazon now, the third book in the series. But my problem is i just can't seem to get the hang of these links every time i try to put a link something is wrong, and it's pissing me off because i can't get it right, sorry if i've annoyed you or anything, last thing i would want, you are a good friend to me.
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Well, techie questions I can't answer -- I would be as lost as you. But I'm sorry you are at wit's end. I can send you a hug... so here 'tis :-)
AWW That's better Pisces thanks, just what i needed a big hug.
:-))))))))))