It is hard to forget something I created so long ago that I believe in. Blowing the dust off a project has kept me focused.
Years of rejection of a picture book (I lost count how many, but that does not matter) I am thankful the current trend to self-publish is on the rise.
The timing could not better. When I first began making a dummy to send out for submissions, I spent hours making a physical book on stiff paper, gluing copies of the illustrations and sewing it together.
Now look how far technology has taken us? I know how important it is for me to learn these new skills, but with the digital age, technology changes rapidly, and it is a continual process.
With clicks on the computer using programs a finished manuscript with images can become a completed pdf ready for print.
What I can tell you about my week is that my face has been planted in front my computer screen for 12 hours a day learning something new.
I am persistent despite the fact I feel physically ill, sitting in one spot for so long and mentally drained at the end of the day. I know I should get up, move, eat something, etc., but determination gets the better of me, even if it has negative coincidences.
The coffee pot has been working overtime to keep me going, if the grind basket does not sit in properly, the grinds spew out and make a big mess, not a good start when it happens. Did I mention the bag of leftover Halloween candy, which is now empty?
Here are some challenges I have faced. First, watching you tube videos the screens look different than mine. Second, I do not see this button, this word or this tool I am instructed to use. Third, the project gets deleted, and I need to start over multiple times. Fourth, I figure something out, Eureka! But do not know how it happened. Fifth, dragging images do not respond to my fingers on the mouse.
Fortunately, my youngest son, is a videographer, and made a video of himself going through the steps to create a pdf on photoshop. He said, “I am making you a personalized Masterclass.”
Yesterday, I had some success with his directions and was able to get multiple images into a PDF file. Seeing the artwork and text together in digital storyboard helps me to simplify the writing and its placement which is definitely an improvement over past methods.
However, when I opened it, the text on the pages were different, and they were set to the same size. Then, I signed up for a free trial Adobe Acrobat Pro, because it has the capability to edit the PDF text. Once again, I have followed the steps and not getting the results I need to fix minor issues, delete an extra word, a comma, etc.
Even though, I don’t find this process “easy or simple” as is said. I must admit learning new skills help my work, and a digital pdf is more professional, and far less messy than gluing and stitching a hand-made dummy.
I would love to hear about your frustrations and achievements with computer programs.
