THE WRITING JOURNEY
Progress Writing In the Book
It’s Getting Closer
I am almost done editing my second book in the three-book series on getting a job I started writing last July. I chose to concentrate on that second book when NaNoWriMo started in April of this year and figured to add 15,000 words to it. Right now, the second book in the series stands at 34,000 words, with three more chapters that need to be edited. The intention in July 2022 was to write a 30,000-word book. It just kept getting bigger and bigger until I split it up into a three-book series.
I still need to go back to Books 1 and 3 to do editing and proofing, but the end is near. It’s close.
A couple of days ago, I started learning how to format the document to upload to KDP or Kindle Direct Publishing to make a 6x9” book at Amazon, which, I think, is considered typical for a non-fiction book. With an estimated additional 12 pages for front matter stuff like a title page, dedication page, and table of contents, it only figured to be 92 pages. I used a 12-point font and came up with a rough estimate of 425 words per page. Had I gone with a smaller font, it would have been more words per page.
Until I actually start laying the manuscript into a template, I won’t know exactly how many pages are involved. There are things to consider like I want to start every chapter on a new right-facing or recto page. Left-facing pages are called verso pages. Also, I want to start each new chapter halfway down the page with the chapter title above in a larger font.
I was shocked. To me, a 92-page book is almost nothing. It’s not even half an inch thick. So, I’m already committed to this series of books. I can beef up the page count by adding six or so pages at the end of each chapter with some homework assignments the readers can complete, which sounded to me like a good idea. I want them to think while they are reading the book. I want them to take notes. What better way than to provide some lined pages they can use to take notes that are already in the book and that they won’t lose?
Next time I write a non-fiction book? I’m going to aim for a larger book. A gas expands to fit the room, doesn’t it? I’ve got enough hot air in me to write up a blue blaze.
I’ve been watching a guy named Paul Marles on YouTube, who has provided a wealth of information on how to do the actual formatting. He’s also got tons of other ideas about other sorts of books to make, like low-content coloring books. Those books are about 80 to 88 pages with half the number of pictures. The idea is that you don’t know what sorts of markers or crayons folks are going to be using to color, and that stuff tends to bleed through the paper. So, you put a picture on the right side of the book with the page behind it blank. You could make yearly planners at about 120 pages and all sorts of logbooks and journals. It boggles the mind. So, I might also go that route too. My not being able to draw well is solved by learning how to use AI at MidJourney.com. So, lots more to think about.
Blessings.