How to Customize Content as a Self Publisher
The advent of tablet readers has opened the door for a generation of writers to self-publish their original fiction or nonfiction works. New or unestablished authors no longer need to work with a printer and bear the cost of putting a book into printed form; publishing can now be done electronically. To dress up copy, authors can be original in how their book appears visually by taking steps to create graphics and make type format changes to customize their work.
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Instructions
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Design custom graphics inspired by your work. Charts, tables, illustrations and photos add interest for the reader and can supplement the written content. Alternatively, if you do not have graphic design or photography skills, consider hiring a freelance professional to do the work. Give your creative talent direction on what your book needs, particularly if it is a technical work such as a textbook.
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Insert your original art or photographs into your written copy. Place JPG images and graphics in the appropriate places of your typed Microsoft Word document. Within your text, click "Return" once at a paragraph or chapter break. On the Insert ribbon, select "Picture" and follow the prompts to add the JPG. Following the image, click "Return" to add a blank line before the text begins again.
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Use bold-face or italic type to highlight particularly important sections of the written work. This customization option will inform the reader of what you feel are the most important parts of a section or chapter.
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Export your document as an HTML file. This coding will ensure it is ready for view on tablet readers or traditional computers.
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Tips & Warnings
Most publishing portals online have strict guidelines for formatting, while still allowing you creativity within those rules. Thoroughly read any instruction guides provided at the self-publishing site.
Many handheld devices, like the Amazon Kindle, are not designed to display PDF files, which have set dimensions and design. HTML is more flexible for the tablet operating systems, allowing for better on-screen copy flow.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Sean Gallup/Getty Images News/Getty Images
