Touching Base

[R. C.]

I've been using Kindle Create and Calibre to generate ePub files from docx sources.

Both generate decent files that require editing... Sometimes a lot of editing...

It's time to "up my game" and generate high-quality files that require less format editing.

Q: Which WINTEL apps for ePub creation does the cohort recommend?

TYIA

R.C.

[Lynn]

I still use and like Jutoh. There are several good or good enough apps and programs available that will have a shorter learning curve to output fancy ebooks, but I still like how much control Jutoh gives me over the output.

It looks kind of old style and a little outdated but it's actually extremely powerful. It gets regular updates, and the creator is very responsive when you have an issue. https://www.jutoh.com/whatsnew.html

However, if you're looking for something that is modern looking, and you just want to import your document and spit out your EPUB without having to really touch anything, this is probably not for you.

In all honesty, for paperbacks I'm still just using LibreOffice Writer. I haven't found the quality difference to be significant enough to make it worth the investment to switch to something else, and creating print books just doesn't take that much time after so many years of doing it and having created some nice templates for myself. I've been telling myself I was going to switch to Scribus but never have and then Affinity Publisher but never have, LOL.


Oops. My phone double posted before I'd finished so I deleted the extra.

[TimothyEllis]

What's wrong with the docx?

[R. C.]

What's wrong with the docx?

Nothing.

What I am interested in is a more efficient ePub creation process.

R.C.

[TimothyEllis]

What's wrong with the docx?

Nothing.

What I am interested in is a more efficient ePub creation process.

Why? 

What does an epub give you before upload that the docx does not?

[R. C.]

...
What does an epub give you before upload that the docx does not?

After spending too much money trying to find an audience, I have resigned myself to a passive marketing approach. I use D2D, and I like the idea of Fourthwall.

My latest effort is eligible to go wide next week. I started the process of creating the ePub to load into Fourthwall.  However, the tools I use create formatting issues with the content flow.

I have the skills necessary to edit an epub file. However, I don't want to spend time tweaking a file produced by a tool that should understand a font change, erroneously inserts blank lines, or removes blank lines intended for readability.

Money isn't the single motivator. Beta readers and editors of the latest work stated (paraphrased): "This is your best work. Your writing is so much easier to read. Damn it, where's book two?"

TLDR: I'm lazy, and I want to create a better product to market outside of 'Zon.

R.C.

[TimothyEllis]

Why not upload the docx to D2D, and and download the epub from there?

[Bill Hiatt]

If I recall, D2D doesn't provide much flexibility. Tools like Vellum or Atticus (allegedly--I haven't used it--provide for a broader range of formatting options.

It's true, though, that if one was content with the D2D formatting, that does seem like a simpler solution.

[R. C.]

If I recall, D2D doesn't provide much flexibility. Tools like Vellum or Atticus (allegedly--I haven't used it--provide for a broader range of formatting options.

It's true, though, that if one was content with the D2D formatting, that does seem like a simpler solution.

Vellum is only MAC; I have no experience with the app. I have tested Atticus a couple of times. The first time, it was 'primitive.' Months later, the second review was better, but not enough to pay and switch.

To Tim's point, I can format manuscripts using MS Word (Docx) perfectly for print. The tools for ePub are "good enough."

Another reason I am seeking an improved tool for ePub creation is that my style intentionally uses white space more than most fiction creators.

Too often, the ePub tools insert and remove blank lines. Again, I have the skills (XHTML and others) that I use to "correct" the output files. So... PIA.

One more thing?Version 3.3 of the ePub "standard" allows the insertion of WebP and Opus video formats. Foreshadowing: Assuming the security issues are resolved, it will soon be common for eBooks to contain embedded videos. Think of opening a book on an e-reader, flipping to chapter one, and watching/listening to the main character present the back story in a prologue format.

R.C.

[R. C.]

Why not upload the docx to D2D, and and download the epub from there?

D2D conversion is less quality than either Kindle Create or Calibre.

Kindle Create is good but hard to correct when you want to make changes. KC's intent is to remove the XHTML from the user. The interface requires a lot of cut-and-paste to get the desired format and flow. In Calibre, it is easy to edit the XHTML directly.

Plugging D2D's output into Calibre is possible, just one more PIA step.

R.C.

[TimothyEllis]

Another reason I am seeking an improved tool for ePub creation is that my style intentionally uses white space more than most fiction creators.

Can you post an example of what that looks like?

[Bill Hiatt]

Videos in ebooks sound exciting, but isn't that going to create a massive file size?

[R. C.]

Videos in ebooks sound exciting, but isn't that going to create a massive file size?

Yes and no. Mp(x) can be large. Most video formats will be excluded because of security concerns. GIFs are small under the WebP format. GIFs are the future.

R.C.

[R. C.]

Another reason I am seeking an improved tool for ePub creation is that my style intentionally uses white space more than most fiction creators.

Can you post an example of what that looks like?

Sure. Here is a passage from the Prologue of my latest effort. It is the internal dialog of the narrator.

- - - - -

Without white space:

Any story of murder and mayhem varies by who is telling the lie ? this tale is no exception. The consistent element for a legend of depravity and murder is someone died. Everything else is variable. Who died? Who did the murdering? When did the confrontation happen? Why did the crime occur? Each person who recites their version of the event shifts the details slightly.
A boy used his girlfriend as bait to commit murder. He killed his father in a manufactured fit of rage when he found his father with his girlfriend.
A girl talked her boyfriend into a murder-suicide pact. They killed her father as revenge on her mother for what Mom allowed Dad to do to the girl. The suicide pact left Mom with a lifetime of grief.
A young couple became involved with a cult based on a science fiction story. In the story, the alien invaders will spare those who have shown a willingness to kill without remorse. The girl?s family died in their sleep ? the boy?s family in a car accident.
Whatever the reality of past events, the truth I have learned is to accept that some people deserve to die.

- - - - -

With white space:

Any story of murder and mayhem varies by who is telling the lie ? this tale is no exception. The consistent element for a legend of depravity and murder is someone died. Everything else is variable. Who died? Who did the murdering? When did the confrontation happen? Why did the crime occur? Each person who recites their version of the event shifts the details slightly.

A boy used his girlfriend as bait to commit murder. He killed his father in a manufactured fit of rage when he found his father with his girlfriend.
A girl talked her boyfriend into a murder-suicide pact. They killed her father as revenge on her mother for what Mom allowed Dad to do to the girl. The suicide pact left Mom with a lifetime of grief.
A young couple became involved with a cult based on a science fiction story. In the story, the alien invaders will spare those who have shown a willingness to kill without remorse. The girl?s family died in their sleep ? the boy?s family in a car accident.

Whatever the reality of past events, the truth I have learned is to accept that some people deserve to die.

- - - - -

The moment of reflection between "...shifts the details slightly." and "A boy used his girlfriend..." and also between "...in a car accident." and "Whatever the reality..." creates a pause in the reader's mind. The pause invokes new, but connected, imagery to begin.

R.C.

By the way, if a member of this cohort wants to read my book, send me a DM with your email address, and I will send you a freebie link.

[TimothyEllis]

The paragraph gaps would be dangerous in KU.

For me that's getting close to double spaced, and I can't and won't read that.

As far as technical goes, put that on a smartphone using a large font, and those empty lines become major gaps.

So anyone with bad sight who needs larger type is going to hate it.

[R. C.]

The paragraph gaps would be dangerous in KU.

For me that's getting close to double spaced, and I can't and won't read that.

As far as technical goes, put that on a smartphone using a large font, and those empty lines become major gaps.

So anyone with bad sight who needs larger type is going to hate it.

Noted and understood.  From the point of creating "paper first," the spacing is needed (IMO).

Part of the process I am attempting to streamline is creating a second docx file to feed the epubs. Using the replicant file, I iterate between testing the epub readability and altering the docx. Ultimately, however, I end up tweaking the XHTML code to achieve the look I desire.

In addition to spacing problems, issues arise when the conversation tools fail to recognize Header One from Header Two and other specific formatting required to improve readability.

R.C.

[R. C.]

The responses to this thread generated a research interest...

FYI - From KDP Creating Kindle Editions with Audio/Video Content : "Kindle Direct Publishing. KDP doesn't currently accept Kindle Edition with Audio/Video content. This format does not currently support Enhanced Typesetting."

Also, I found the only area where animation within epub files is being broadly attempted is for children's books.

I'll create a sandbox and see what I can conjour... News at eleven.

R.C.

[Post-Crisis D]

You might want to look at Sigil which is available for Mac, Linux and Windows.

It's not a WYSIWYG editor like Vellum though.  You need to be familiar with HTML, XHTML, CSS, etc. which it sounds like you are.

I used to do my ePubs manually but used Sigil for my last book (or two?).

But, it sounds like you need something that will convert your Word doc into ePub/HTML without a bunch of crud thrown in.  In that case, Sigil won't work for you because you have to provide it with the HTML/XHTML/CSS/etc. files.