Off Topic Question for Renzey

[SPX]

Just wondering if you'd answer this for me. . .

As someone who is trying to break into the publishing industry, I have a question about the manuscript for your book.

When you were writing your book, whenever you needed to insert a chart (such as a the BS chart) or a graphical illustration (such as illustrations of cards to represent various hands), how did you signify this within your manuscript?

Just curious. Any info would be appreciated. . .

 

[Renzey]

When you were writing your book, whenever you needed to insert a chart (such as a the BS chart) or a graphical illustration (such as illustrations of cards to represent various hands), how did you signify this within your manuscript?

The charts were generated in Microsift Excel and inserted into the manuscript document, but the card hand illustrations were done the old fashioned way. Pasted full size playing cards onto an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper, reduced it to the desired size and submitted hard copy to the printer for camera shooting.

 

[SPX]

The charts were generated in Microsift Excel and inserted into the manuscript document, but the card hand illustrations were done the old fashioned way. Pasted full size playing cards onto an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper, reduced it to the desired size and submitted hard copy to the printer for camera shooting.

Wow, that's interesting. I am having my first article published next month and am considering working on a book-length manuscript.

I've always wondered how I would deal with that particular problem, of needing charts or illustrations or whatever. I assumed you simply indicated to the publisher, 'Oh, and an illustration of THIS goes here' and then they work with a graphic artist to make it happen.

 

[Mimosine]

Wow, that's interesting. I am having my first article published next month and am considering working on a book-length manuscript.

I've always wondered how I would deal with that particular problem, of needing charts or illustrations or whatever. I assumed you simply indicated to the publisher, 'Oh, and an illustration of THIS goes here' and then they work with a graphic artist to make it happen.

having published several articles (no books yet) you really need photoshop or illustrator. typically in a manuscript or draft you just include them in-line with the text. in word -> insert -> picture -> from file. charts from excel can usually be copy/pasted or exported as images then brought into word via the above descibed method. thus far i've had to make all my own figures, and i wouldn't have it any other way, because the significance of good figures that acurately and readily relay information to the reader can't be underscored enough. relying on someone else to do this for you is a mistake, or would require paying someone else a lot of money to do a good job. i.e. hiring a professional.

a scanner can also work wonders for what Renzey did to get pictures of cards in - at least for a draft.

hope some of this helps. for the record i've published a 300 page thesis, and several peer reviewed articles.

 

[SPX]

having published several articles (no books yet) you really need photoshop or illustrator. typically in a manuscript or draft you just include them in-line with the text. in word -> insert -> picture -> from file. charts from excel can usually be copy/pasted or exported as images then brought into word via the above descibed method. thus far i've had to make all my own figures, and i wouldn't have it any other way, because the significance of good figures that acurately and readily relay information to the reader can't be underscored enough. relying on someone else to do this for you is a mistake, or would require paying someone else a lot of money to do a good job. i.e. hiring a professional.

a scanner can also work wonders for what Renzey did to get pictures of cards in - at least for a draft.

hope some of this helps. for the record i've published a 300 page thesis, and several peer reviewed articles.

Wow, good info! Thanks. My first article is actually about film in the martial arts world and should be in next months issue of Black Belt magazine. But it was all text.

Next I need to get a good camera and learn a bit about photography, and it sounds to me like I need to learn to use Excel, Photoshop and illustrator as well. Guess my work is cut out for me.

 

[Mimosine]

Wow, good info! Thanks. My first article is actually about film in the martial arts world and should be in next months issue of Black Belt magazine. But it was all text.

Next I need to get a good camera and learn a bit about photography, and it sounds to me like I need to learn to use Excel, Photoshop and illustrator as well. Guess my work is cut out for me.

you'll need photoshop the most. pick up the cheapest version of it, it has enough features for what you need. also a dummies guide might be useful. photoshop has literally 1000 features. you'll need to know about 10-20 of them initially - so don't panic!

oh, and good luck!