[FM Discuss] Publishing Process via Create Space

[John Rigdon]

Here are the basic steps for publishing a Floss Manual via Create Space as worked out by Anne and me.  Of course you're welcome to change the process and that can lead down a different path where some of these items may not apply.

1.  Publish the PDF version of the manual from within Floss Manuals.

2.  Check out the interior of the PDF to make sure all the pictures are in place and the content is displaying properly.

3.  Send me the PDF via email to jrigdon at ngohaiti.com.  I will then go through the process at Create Space of setting up the title, getting the ISBN # assigned, and checking the interior of the book for compliance with their guidelines.  Once the interior is accepted they provide a template for creating the cover.  I used PhotoShop to create the cover, but other graphics programs may be used. as long as they can output a PDF file.

4.  Create the cover and submit to Create Space for approval.  In the case of the 4 manuals Anne and I worked on, we both had a hand in this and it took several attempts to get it right.  That has been the case in all the other books I have published via both Create Space and Lulu, so there is nothing new here - just a process to get it right.

5.  Decide on a pricing structure and royalty fee structure if you are going to offer the book by Amazon and / or by the extended wholesale channel of Barnes and Noble, etc.

6.  Order a proof copy.  This will cost you about $10 with shipping unless you're in a hurry and that could cost you $30.  I have found that requesting the "slow" process generally takes about a week although they say it may take up to 3 weeks when ordering.

7.  Approve the proof.  If everything is right you're ready to go, otherwise you have to go back to the submission process and correct the interior or cover as needed, then order another proof for review.  In actual practice I found that I had to do this a couple or three times on average to get the proof right where I wanted it, but in the case of the Open Translation Tools we got it right the first time and I now have a nice published copy in addition to my dog-eared, spiral bound copy I printed myself at twice the cost of the CreateSpace book.

We can use these steps to flesh out an instruction manual on publishing.  We may want to go into details on the what ifs such as using the on-line template for cover design vs Photoshop or other graphics programs like InkScape or Open Office Impress, sizing and setting resolution on graphics for the cover and interior, etc.

John Rigdon

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