Hi Everybody,
I submit and re-post my chapters by using the "Download" function in Google Docs and saving to a .docx file. Sometimes the formatting (such as italics, bold, etc) is preserved, other times it is not. Am I doing something wrong? Am I missing something obvious? I am a bit baffled.
Thanks for any insight!
E.P.
Google docs generates such convoluted code, whether if you download as html or docx. I never had the time to debug such a mess.
I wish I can give you a satisfactory answer, but when you use google docs for writing, the results will always be unpredictable.
I thought Microsoft created convoluted code, but Google beat them there too.
Got it. I will try my hand at using tagged text, since it seems like the easiest way to streamline the process. Thanks!
I will try my hand at using tagged text,
If you have to use Google docs as against a free word processing program like Libre Office, then tagged text within the document and download as .txt would be your best answer.
I get the best results on SoL by using Libre Office then saving as html with a css stylesheet - prior to that I used tagged text for good results from a .txt file.
I am quite new to this, so I haven't explored many of the free word processing options. Luckily I do not use extensive formatting in my stories, just some bolds and italics, so I will use tagged text for the time being while I explore other approaches. Thanks for the heads up on Libre Office. I will try it out.
Thanks for the heads up on Libre Office. I will try it out.
Libre (and Open) Office offer the identical functionality of the overpriced subscription Micros*it Word, though they're forced to rename each function, making them harder to locate.
Another approach is to simply write < I> and < /I> directly in the text before saving as txt, so you don't have to recode your inline formatting.
Got it. I will try my hand at using tagged text, since it seems like the easiest way to streamline the process. Thanks!
Many of us hand-edit our Word-generated htmls to ensure we get clean copies, which also trims the overall size too. It's practically essential in creating smooth ePub files. Although it's a pain in the ass, it's a good practice to develop, as once you get used to it, it's slightly faster than a snail's slugfest. :(
If you have to use google docs to write then instead of saving to any file, use copy paste to insert it into an .txt file. That will remove the idiot coding.
If you don't desire the frills and extras of formatting you can simply paste the text direct into the SoL story upload page.
If you have to use google docs to write then instead of saving to any file, use copy paste to insert it into an .txt file. That will remove the idiot coding.
But he would lose the italics and bold.
But he would lose the italics and bold.
Not if he switches to using the tagged text for that which he already said he intended to do.
Not if he switches to using the tagged text for that which he already said he intended to do.
Of course not. But I don't think that was the suggestion.
But he would lose the italics and bold.
Most establish publishers frown (i.e. actively discourage) on the use of inline-formatting (i.e. bolding, italics and underlining). You'll notice you rarely see them used in the mainstream bestsellers. While they're handy, most see them as literary crutches denoting amateur authors (which most of us qualify as).
Most establish publishers frown (i.e. actively discourage) on the use of inline-formatting (i.e. bolding, italics and underlining).
I mentioned italics and bold because that's what he said he used.
No publisher would frown on using italics when used correctly (e.g., foreign word, emphasized word, direct thoughts, etc.).
No publisher would frown on using italics when used correctly (e.g., foreign word, emphasized word, direct thoughts, etc.).
No, you're right, but on SOL, the uses are largely to emphasize specific words during normal speech, or denote excitement (the formatting equivalent of five exclamation marks in a row).
But since we're not truly professional authors (i.e. we might charge for our products, but we're unlikely to earn a living wage), there's nothing that says you can't use them as much as you like.
When I want italics I type < i>this be italics< /i> into my docx file. I then paste into a text only editor and save.
I then use a perl script to strip my comments to myself (paragraphs stating with ;)
Lines starting with '= = =' are chapter breaks. My script increments the output file name and makes the next line the chapter title.
The script copies dummy .html blocks front and back and I post the resulting files.
I then use a perl script to strip my comments to myself (paragraphs stating with ;)
Ahh, if only all of us stripped out the ";)" references in our posts!