In another thread discussion has moved toward templates and formats etc. I use a story template and below is the detail of it and the basic process I use to create the finished story formats.
I use a template format for my stories I create in Libre Office. The template is such that when I'm finished I can save the file as a print ready PDF file. Every item of text in the file is in a pre-set paragraph style, of which I have 19 styles. Of those styles 7 are removed when making the HTML file that I make the e-pub file from. Every one of the remaining 12 styles are defined in the CSS style sheet code I use for the HTML file.
Note: The CSS code for the SoL HTML file is very different as I use the SoL defined styles there and don't need to include the paragraph styles at all, just the colour designations.
Not all of the styles are used in every story, but every possible text application I use in a story is covered by one of them. All new text being typed is in the Default Paragraph style and I have to highlight the text and apply the other style I wish to use for that text. I write using the font Palatino Linotype in 10 point as the default size. However, all font code is removed during the conversion to HTML with only some aspects being listed as part of the CSS code. The only codes applied to text in all of the formats are bold, italics, red, blue, and green.
The styles I use are:
Heading: - is for the story title of the title page.
Centred green, bold, italic text in 32 point font set to appear about a third of the way down the page.
Heading 1: - is for each chapter title.
Centred red, bold text in 18 point font set to appear about a third of the way down the page.
Heading 2: - is for each sub-chapter title.
Centred blue, bold, italic text in 14 point font set to appear at the top of the page.
Heading 5: - is for a section title where I use one.
Centred bold text in the default font size.
Heading 6: - is for special text to look the same as a sub-chapter title in other areas of the text. Is usually used for the title of a notice in the story.
Centred blue, bold, italic text in 14 point font.
Heading 9: - is similar to Heading 6 but is rarely used.
Centred blue, bold, italic text in 12 point font set to appear at the top of the page.
Heading 10: - is for the author's name in big text on the Title page.
Centred bold text in 18 point font.
Default Paragraph: - is for every section of text not in a specified style.
Justified plain text in the default font size. Indented 5 characters.
Central: - is for text centred in the page in black text.
Centred text in the default font size. Is also used for scene change text.
Centred: - is for text centred in the page in blue italic text.
Centred blue italic text in the default font size.
Quotation: - is for quotations and notes which are indented and in blue italic text.
Justified blue italic text set in from both sides of the page.
Quotation 2: - is for alternate quotation and note text which includes some non-italic text as well as italic text.
Justified blue text set in from both sides of the page.
Contents Heading: - is like the sub-chapter but for the contents list.
Contents 1: - is the contents list for the chapters in red.
Contents 2: - is the contents list for the sub-chapters in blue iralics.
Footer Left: - is for the left hand page footer.
Left align number in the default font size.
Footer Right: - is for the left hand page footer.
Right align number in the default font size.
Header Left: - is for the left hand page header.
Centred text in the default font size in italics.
Header Right: - is for the left hand page header.
Centred text in the default font size.
With the last 7 paragraph styles being used only in the original text file and PDF file. They are removed before I create the HTML file.
I also have a defined page for a 6 x 9 inch print book which has set inner and outer margins as well as top and bottom margins plus defined headers and footers.
When the story is finished and edited I save as ODT and PDF then I create 2 HTML files. The HTML file for SoL has the CSS code for the colours and the centred text as everything else except the bold, italics, and heading types has been stripped out by the script which has also converted the H1 to H3 and H2 to H4 to align with the SoL Heading requirements (which is why I don't use them myself).
The main HTML file I use for my own website and for creating the e-pub strips out the excess format code and replaces the rest with the codes defined in the CSS code. Once that's done I have to add the CSS code and tweak the file a little to include the proper text for any images in the story.
I then import the HTML file into Calibre to make an EPUB file and a MOBI file, with the MOBI file being for Bookapy.
While that all may sound like a lot of work the majority of it is done by the scripts I use to remove and replace the formatting code. I end up with the following:
1. PDF file for Bookapy and printing.
2. HTML file for my website and for making e-pubs.
3. E-pub for Bookapy, Lulu and anyone else. The ones I give away via the Lulu distribution network and D2D end up on Amazon, Apple, B&N, and other sites without any changes to the E-pub files lodged.
4. MOBI file for Bookapy.
5. HTML file for SoL, FS, and SciFi Stories.
