Comments on: Do It Yourself Layout http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2004/11/29/do-it-yourself-layout/ Web site and blog for Maria Langer, freelance writer, commercial helicopter pilot, and serious amateur photographer. Thu, 17 May 2012 13:33:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2004/11/29/do-it-yourself-layout/#comment-118 Maria Langer Sat, 26 May 2007 13:23:09 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=215#comment-118 Your publisher will probably NOT want InDesign files. I've worked with many publishers over the years and only one has allowed me to do layout. All the others want complete control. Even when I proved to one publisher that I could exactly match the book's existing layout and cut weeks off the production process, they still wanted Word files using their antiquated template. That said, if you take the time to prepare InDesign files, you're likely wasting that time, since you'll still have to create the files in the format they want. And since it's very unlikely that your layout will match theirs, you really won't be seeing what finished pages will look like when you create them with InDesign. Their finished pages will look different from yours. My advice: talk to your main editor or production editor about this. If they're okay with InDesign files or letting you do layout, go for it. If not, don't waste your time. If you want to learn InDesign, your best bet is to pick up a book about it. The "InDesign Visual QuickStart Guide" by Sandee Cohen is an excellent start. Good luck! Your publisher will probably NOT want InDesign files. I’ve worked with many publishers over the years and only one has allowed me to do layout. All the others want complete control. Even when I proved to one publisher that I could exactly match the book’s existing layout and cut weeks off the production process, they still wanted Word files using their antiquated template.

That said, if you take the time to prepare InDesign files, you’re likely wasting that time, since you’ll still have to create the files in the format they want.

And since it’s very unlikely that your layout will match theirs, you really won’t be seeing what finished pages will look like when you create them with InDesign. Their finished pages will look different from yours.

My advice: talk to your main editor or production editor about this. If they’re okay with InDesign files or letting you do layout, go for it. If not, don’t waste your time.

If you want to learn InDesign, your best bet is to pick up a book about it. The “InDesign Visual QuickStart Guide” by Sandee Cohen is an excellent start.

Good luck!

]]> By: Mia http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2004/11/29/do-it-yourself-layout/#comment-117 Mia Fri, 25 May 2007 23:11:37 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=215#comment-117 I would love to be able to do this - I have InDesign but haven't spent the time to figure out how to use it (I'm quick with this stuff so it should be ok), but I'd really love to put my books in a mock lay out so I can get a sense for how it looks on the page (and not on an 8.5 x 11 double spaced 12pt TNR). I doubt my publisher would accept pages in this format, but I am planning to pitch a couple of projects to a some other small publishers where a finished project is more desirable. Do you have a template you'd be willing to share? Or some specific tips for the InDesign novice? Thanks, Maria! I would love to be able to do this – I have InDesign but haven’t spent the time to figure out how to use it (I’m quick with this stuff so it should be ok), but I’d really love to put my books in a mock lay out so I can get a sense for how it looks on the page (and not on an 8.5 x 11 double spaced 12pt TNR). I doubt my publisher would accept pages in this format, but I am planning to pitch a couple of projects to a some other small publishers where a finished project is more desirable. Do you have a template you’d be willing to share? Or some specific tips for the InDesign novice?

Thanks, Maria!

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