Indie Author Magazine Featuring Joseph Alexander: Indie Author Magazine, #7

By Chelle Honiker and Alice Briggs

Formatting manuscripts for self-published authors, Using InDesign, Vellum, and Affinity to format your novel, and preparing print and ebooks for upload and sale.

Once your manuscript is finished and ready for publication, it's time to put on your publisher's cap and format your book. For some, this part is worse than a double root canal, and can result in a flood of frustrated tears. 

But it doesn't have to. Formatting is a skill that can be mastered, or outsourced successfully and within the tightest budgets.    

★ In this issue of Indie Author Magazine, you'll learn the top software tools the pros use to format manuscripts for every retail outlet, and how to use them, whether you're publishing your first or fiftieth novel. 

Read the three key formatting articles: 

✓the Word On Formatting: Using The Most Popular App To Format Books

✓ The Perfect Polish: Using Professional Apps Like Indesign And Affinity

✓ Va-Va-Vellum: Fast, Polished Formatting That's Easy To Use

You'll also meet Joseph Alexander and read about his journey from musician, to author, to publisher and what that means for his future and the future of his company.

Plus:

Our sassy advice-giving aunt, ★ Indie Annie ★ shares sage advice for keeping up with writing during the holidays... 

From the Stacks: our formatting picks for indie authors.

Praiseworthy Podcasts you need to bookmark and listen to every week.

The technology tools the top-selling authors use -- plus video tutorials!

What makes middle-grade readers delve into stories? Learn the tropes they treasure. 

Ways authors can authentically connect with readers at Author Signing Events.

All you need to know about horses and the mistakes writers make.

Ten Tips for YouTube: The second largest search engine authors often overlook.

What key terms and technologies you need to know, when considering book formats

Part three of how to kick Imposter Syndrome to the curb.

Want to format Amazon A+ Content? Here's your guide to making it shine.

BONUS: Merri Maywether kicks off NaNoWriMo and shares tips for success.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chelle Honiker
• Release date: Nov 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201726478

Book preview

Indie Author Magazine: Featuring Joseph Alexander

Indie Author Magazine: Featuring Joseph Alexander

Formatting manuscripts for self-published authors, Using InDesign, Vellum, and Affinity to format your novel, and preparing print and ebooks for upload and sale.

Chelle Honiker

Alice Briggs

Athenia Creative Services, LLC

Introduction

Once your manuscript is finished and ready for publication, it’s time to put on your publisher’s cap and format your book. For some, this part is worse than a double root canal, and can result in a flood of frustrated tears. 

But it doesn’t have to. Formatting is a skill that can be mastered, or outsourced successfully and within the tightest budgets.    

★ In this issue of Indie Author Magazine, you’ll learn the top software tools the pros use to format manuscripts for every retail outlet, and how to use them, whether you’re publishing your first or fiftieth novel. 

Read the three key formatting articles: 

✓the Word On Formatting: Using The Most Popular App To Format Books

✓ The Perfect Polish: Using Professional Apps Like Indesign And Affinity

✓ Va-Va-Vellum: Fast, Polished Formatting That's Easy To Use

You’ll also meet Joseph Alexander and read about his journey from musician, to author, to publisher and what that means for his future and the future of his company.

Plus:

• Our sassy advice-giving aunt, ★ Indie Annie ★ shares sage advice for keeping up with writing during the holidays... 

---

• From the Stacks: our formatting picks for indie authors.

---

• Praiseworthy Podcasts you need to bookmark and listen to every week.

---

• The technology tools the top-selling authors use -- plus video tutorials!

---

• What makes middle-grade readers delve into stories? Learn the tropes they treasure. 

---

• Ways authors can authentically connect with readers at Author Signing Events.

---

• All you need to know about horses and the mistakes writers make.

---

• Ten Tips for YouTube: The second largest search engine authors often overlook.

---

• What key terms and technologies you need to know, when considering book formats

---

• Part three of how to kick Imposter Syndrome to the curb.

---

• Want to format Amazon A+ Content? Here’s your guide to making it shine.

---

BONUS: Merri Maywether kicks off NaNoWriMo and shares tips for success.

Contents

About This Version of Indie Author Magazine

Typewriter Tales

1. Breaking Up (With Software) is Hard to Do… And Expensive Too

2. When Your Dreams Come True

3. Charge Forth into Writing

Featured Author

4. Making Music with the Written Word

The Write Files

5. Formatting Books

6. Podcasts We Recommend

7. Formatting Tools

Technology

8. The Word On Formatting

9. Va-Va-Vellum

10. The Perfect Polish:

Genre Tropes

11. Delving Into Story

Dear Indie Annie

12. Hectic in Harrisburg

Design & Typesetting

13. Seeing Through the Fog:

Business

14. Paperback Paparazzi:

Devil in the Details

15. Hold your horses:

Marketing

16. 10 Tips for YouTube

17. The Lowdown on Amazon A+

Health and Wellness

18. Take a Wrist Break

19. Taming the Beast:

Before You Go

About This Version of Indie Author Magazine

This is a full and complete issue of the October 2021 Indie Author Magazine, including handy links throughout this e-book to expanded reading on our website. Some of those articles may require a membership to read them fully.

If you’re not yet a member you can see all the benefits on our website.

Please enjoy this article-only version of Indie Author Magazine on your e-reader, and explore our expanded versions:

Full-Color Magazine Print

iOS App from the Apple Store

Android App via Google Play

Interactive Website, which includes a large Flipbook version

Audio Podcast

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In whatever format you view or listen to Indie Author Magazine, thank you.

We welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Typewriter Tales

Our executive team and special guest contributors offer a bit of perspective and insight into the issue.

1

Breaking Up (With Software) is Hard to Do… And Expensive Too

Chelle Honiker

You could safely call me a digital hoarder. If there were a show about nerds who download and play with apps and find obscure programs to solve problems (that probably don’t really need solving) with technology, I would be its poster child.

I am obsessed with trying new things. Two of my favorite words are ‘beta tester.’ Trust me, if you think your program can’t be broken, then please — I beg you — give it to me. I will find your bugs. I will break it in thirty-seven ways you never thought possible.

I think my gleeful geekiness is delightful. It’s adorkable. After all, what harm is there in trying new apps, courses, and tools?

The Real Cost is Incalculable

In the world of entrepreneurship, the cost is, of course, your time. Which is the most precious asset you have. It’s finite, and should be carefully considered when you do, well, anything with your business.

Because when your paycheck is tied to your effort, it could mean all the difference in the world to your bottom line.

Trying new systems is fun. Learning is also fun.

But buying and downloading fresh courses, apps, and tools with no intention of making them part of your everyday tech stack will serve only to pull your attention away from your business.

This month, we look at the systems and best practices for formatting your manuscript. You’ll take a really deep dive with some of the information we’re about to give you like a firehose.

So consider this a tap on your proverbial shoulder. Protect your time. That’s all I’ll say.

Actually, I’ll