You have lots of options

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You have a lot of choices

This is a checklist of many of the things you can decide about concerning your book. Some are important, others are just a matter of what is your "whim."

1. Do you want a security splash screen?

Option a. No splash screen. This means there is no password (the way it is now). If you want your book to be read by the public and searched on the internet as you write it, you don't have to do anything. We will just leave it the way we started you up without a password screen.

Option b: A splash screen with a simple password for your readers. There is another advantage in that this keeps your book contents from being "Googled" and available to the world, prior to your release. If you want your book only to be viewed by those you invite, choose a password to provide to those potential readers.

Next Step: If you want to have a security splash screen, simply create a new topic (tech support question) in your private author's forum. This will start a thread where you will receive help on this topic.

2. What "default" style would you prefer?

There are several book display "styles" available for anyone to use for displaying the book. Over on the side panel you will see a "drop-down" menu with several "styles." Any reader, at anytime, can go to that drop-down menu and choose to see the book in the style of their choice. The "default" style means the one which your book launches as. You can decide which of these you want as your default.

These are:
a. booklike (your current default, or what you have now).
b. beigepages
c. white pages
d. bluepages

Try each of these, using the drop-down menu and tell us in the forum which one you want as your default.

Next Step: If you want to specify a different "default" style for your book, simply create a new topic (tech support question) in your private author's forum. This will start a thread where you will receive help on this topic.

3. Would you like to have a "customized" style?

If you like, you can have a style which you design. You can choose:

Various background and page color options, using a simple selection guide (we will show you a page of choices and how to create a new style).

You can always do this later. You have the option not to do a custom scheme. You can request to customize a schemes at anytime in the future. It is very simple to create one.

Next Step: If you want to have a "customized style", simply create a new topic (tech support question) in your private author's forum. This will start a thread where you will receive step-by-step help on this topic.

4. Are you happy with your book title?
Probably, you are. But, this is just a reminder that you book title can be changed later (and as many times as you wish).

Next Step: If you want to change your book title, simply create a new topic (tech support question) in your private author's forum. This will start a thread where you will receive help on this topic.

5. Do you want the "page turn" (or sweep) feature?

The way your default style appears now, it has a graphical gimmick that gives somewhat of an illusion so that when you go to the next page, the pages appear to turn (by having a sweeping effect across the page). If you like this, we can have it on any or every style. If you don't want it (or just want it on certain of your styles), we can make those changes for you.

Next Step: If you want to turn off or change the page turn feature, simply create a new topic (tech support question) in your private author's forum. This will start a thread where you will receive help on this topic.

6. How would you like your Title graphics to appear?

There are several "book specific" graphics, which you can customize. If you are handy with digital art preparation (like using Paint or other graphics programs), you can do it yourself (jpg or gif) creating image files. Or, if you like, we can provide you with free graphics assistance to create any of these according to your preferences.

a. If you do it yourself

There are locations in your WriteandShow file manager, where you can upload your own graphics. Let us know if you want to create you own and we will provide more detail with specifics, plus the various dimensional requirements and where to upload.

Next Step: If you want to do your own title graphics, simply create a new topic (tech support question) in your private author's forum. This will start a thread where you will receive help on this topic and upload steps.

b. If we do it for you, we need:

- Your book title (whatever you have decided).
- Your brief book description.[/b] Can be changed later (and as many times as you wish).
- Your author name. How you want your author name to appear. Could be a pseudonym or your real name (check the posting which follows this one for a discusion about pseudonyms versus real names for authors).

- Any images you might like to show in your book title. If you have no preference will just do one that is artistically pleasing.

Next Step: If you want title graphics from our art department, simply create a new topic (tech support question) in your private author's forum. This will start a thread where you will receive help on this topic.

7. How would you like your book's front and back covers to appear?

There is a drop-down list on the side panel called the "Features Menu." Two of those choices are front and back cover. You have same options for the front and back covers as for the booktitle graphics. You will be given step-by-step guidance about book covers in a their own topic thread.

Next Step: If you are ready to talk about book covers, simply create a new topic (tech support question) in your private author's forum. This will start a thread where you will receive help on this topic.

8. Do you want chapter images (can be an author photo)?

a. Each chapter can have its own image or
b. You can have the same image for the entire book
c. You can use "the chapter image" for an author pic or any images you specify.
d. You can choose to turn off chapter images.

Next Step: If you want to have chapter images or just want them customized, simply create a new topic (tech support question) in your private author's forum. This will start a thread where you will receive help on this topic.

9. Would you like to have a photo gallery?

In your Features drop-down menu (located on your side panel) you will see the option for a "Photo Gallery." In WriteandShow, you have many options for a variety of photo galleries. We can show you several example galleries (including slide shows). However, you don't have to have a photo gallery and if so, we will remove this option from the drop-down menu.

Next Step: If you want to have a photo gallery or want to explore various gallery options or not have the photo gallery menu choice, simply create a new topic (tech support question) in your private author's forum. This will start a thread where you will receive help on this topic.


10. Is there anything else you don't understand or wish to see changed?

The look of your book is very flexible. There are many features which you have have seen illustrated somewhere (like in an example book). We are here to help you make your book to be just the way you want it.

Next Step: If you want to make any changes or implement other features or need better explanations, simply create a new topic (tech support question) in your private author's forum. This will start a thread where you will receive one-on-one help on the topic you specify.

To create a new topic.

Go to the topic in your private author's forum.called, Sticky: Asking tech support questions. There is a button there to start your new topic.

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Should your author name be real or a nome 'd plume?

You might consider authoring the book under a pseudonym. There are many reasons for doing this.

a. Your subject matter may not be what you want your family or friends to be identifying as coming from you. You might be telling some family secrets. Or, your subject matter might be of a "sensitive" nature,(maybe you are writing a juicy romance novel). Maybe it might be about a topic (or have passages) which might cause your employer to frown (or even dismiss you). If you were in a job, where public image is important (like a minister or school teacher), or perhaps if you work where the "corporate culture" of the company doesn't permit employees who don't fit their restrictive profile, then using your real name, might be inadvisable.

b. Or, you might have legitimate concerns about possible risks, which might come from being public with your real name. There are evil people, who track public people down and harass them. There are also those who might attempt to do some kind of identity theft. If your book is going to be revealing information about where you live, assets which your own, identification specific info, such as your birth date or your parents names (and other personal particulars), then you might have a very good reason for writing under a pseudonym.

Legal considerations for using a pseudonym (or alias).

Some cities and states vary on the procedure for registering an alias (or pseudonym). In fact, in some locales, it is a crime (in some states, a felony) to write, even anywhere on the internet, with an assumed name, without such registration. In most places, you can just go down (to perhaps the city hall or county offices) and register with the same form as creating a business (called a DBA). Check out the legalities in your community, if you decide to write under a pseudonym.

On the other hand, using your real name might be best

There are strong arguments for using your real name. When you are promoting your book or seeking publishers, it is nice to be using your real name. It shows people in the position to assist you (or publicize you) that you aren't "hiding" from who you really are. And it shows that you are not being deceptive (especially if you are writing a factual book). Your real name is required for contracts and royalties and sometimes people who have operated under a pseudonym have problems they weren't prepared to handle when it comes time to make associations with outside interests. It also will let you be interviewed more easily on the broadcast channels (it's easy for them to verify you as a proper, upstanding and responsible citizen). As long as you make your home address and your phone numbers private, most publishers advise that using your real name is the best approach.