Getting an Ebook Onto an Ereader
So you've finished your eBook, had it edited, designed a cover and now you're ready to put it out to the world.
Now what? Well you could put it on your own website but you'd rather it ended up on an eBook reader like the Kindle or Nook.
But how? There are two ways to do it.
The first is to go to each of the readers you want it to appear on.
Download their format requirements.
And then format your book to fit each of their required formats.
This includes both a template and a file format.
At this point in time almost all of them are using an independent (file) format.
Having said that, the EPUB format is an industry format which is slowly being adopted.
The second technique is to make use of either Smashwords or Author Solutions to convert your eBook into the standard formats.
Smashwords is a fairly new company.
It takes a manuscript and then creates a number of different formats for each the author or publisher.
It also provides two different catalogs.
One consists of the books which it makes available.
The other (called the Premium Catalog) is used for promotion to the Sonystore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble amongst others.
Each of the catalogs has its own set of requirements.
However, you should follow the requirements in the Premium Catalog.
This catalog adds requirements which the customers require.
As a result, if you follow those requirements you will also meet the requirements of the standard catalog.
Smashwords has very strict requirements for their manuscript formatting.
This is because of the fact that they use an automated conversion facility which will destroy the result if the initial format is not within their boundaries.
Generally speaking, their format for manuscripts is not beyond what you should be using.
For example they prefer Microsoft Word and its native paragraph formatting rather than spaces and tabs.
If you are using a good system, you will know that you intend to use Smashwords before you begin writing.
It's much easier to simply use their manuscript format rules, than to convert afterwards.
Smashwords is based on a services-for-self-publishers model similar to the print-on-demand printers.
Smashwords currently charges based on sales (they take 15-20% off the top) and there is no fee for registering or using the service.
Although that is subject to change and you should check first.
As of the writing of this article (early 2010) they did not provide other services directly.
They were, however, willing to provide recommendations to service providers based on feedback from other authors.
Another alternative is Author Solutions.
Author Solutions, however, is based very closely on the vanity publishing model.
This is to be expected since they are part of the Trafford Publishing group.
Their focus is on helping authors prepare their books for publication.
Their focus is on taking your manuscript and then providing you with a saleable package at the end.
This package could include an eBook or an inventory of printed books.
They therefore charge based on the services rendered.
Now what? Well you could put it on your own website but you'd rather it ended up on an eBook reader like the Kindle or Nook.
But how? There are two ways to do it.
The first is to go to each of the readers you want it to appear on.
Download their format requirements.
And then format your book to fit each of their required formats.
This includes both a template and a file format.
At this point in time almost all of them are using an independent (file) format.
Having said that, the EPUB format is an industry format which is slowly being adopted.
The second technique is to make use of either Smashwords or Author Solutions to convert your eBook into the standard formats.
Smashwords is a fairly new company.
It takes a manuscript and then creates a number of different formats for each the author or publisher.
It also provides two different catalogs.
One consists of the books which it makes available.
The other (called the Premium Catalog) is used for promotion to the Sonystore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble amongst others.
Each of the catalogs has its own set of requirements.
However, you should follow the requirements in the Premium Catalog.
This catalog adds requirements which the customers require.
As a result, if you follow those requirements you will also meet the requirements of the standard catalog.
Smashwords has very strict requirements for their manuscript formatting.
This is because of the fact that they use an automated conversion facility which will destroy the result if the initial format is not within their boundaries.
Generally speaking, their format for manuscripts is not beyond what you should be using.
For example they prefer Microsoft Word and its native paragraph formatting rather than spaces and tabs.
If you are using a good system, you will know that you intend to use Smashwords before you begin writing.
It's much easier to simply use their manuscript format rules, than to convert afterwards.
Smashwords is based on a services-for-self-publishers model similar to the print-on-demand printers.
Smashwords currently charges based on sales (they take 15-20% off the top) and there is no fee for registering or using the service.
Although that is subject to change and you should check first.
As of the writing of this article (early 2010) they did not provide other services directly.
They were, however, willing to provide recommendations to service providers based on feedback from other authors.
Another alternative is Author Solutions.
Author Solutions, however, is based very closely on the vanity publishing model.
This is to be expected since they are part of the Trafford Publishing group.
Their focus is on helping authors prepare their books for publication.
Their focus is on taking your manuscript and then providing you with a saleable package at the end.
This package could include an eBook or an inventory of printed books.
They therefore charge based on the services rendered.