Sigil Ebook Editor now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IBookstore
Free Pre-release Offer:
Offering is Limited to the first 100 applicants Offer closed: Book has been released
Sigil – a free, open-source ebook editing program. This step-by-step manual defines the tools and menus within the program as well as how to create ebooks for epub and mobi (Kindle).
The following is an Excerpt from “The Lost Sigil Ebook Editor Manual”. If you would like a pre-release copy, please read: http://eepurl.com/l0dnL and then contact me via my online form.
Introduction
You’re a newbie and you know absolutely nothing about HTML, CSS or even what an epub file is. All you know is that you want to create one for your book.
You don’t want to spend hours reading long manuals. You want the process to be painless, easy and fast. Well, then this process MAY or MAY NOT be for you.
I believe that “anything worth doing is worth doing well.” Consider your clientele or your reputation. Formatting ebooks is something worth doing well because you aren’t branding your book, you are branding your name.
And all this takes (a little) time.
Sigil versus InDesign and Dreamweaver
The foundation of ebooks is HTML or Hypertext Markup Language. You see it every day on the Internet as the building blocks for web pages.
There are as many ways to format an ebook as there are programs you can use – some easier, better or more costly than others. The top three are Dreamweaver, InDesign and Sigil.
Adobe Dreamweaver is a powerful tool for editing HTML and creating CSS. I use it for designing websites.; however it is a fairly expensive program and beyond the need of most authors.
InDesign is ideal for design-oriented projects. I use this program for page-layout of print books. There is a built-in export feature to epub (though I have not used it); however, it too is an expensive program.
Sigil is a free, open-source software program. It offers a WYSIWYG format (What You See Is What You Get) though probably not as sophisticated or accurate as Adobe Dreamweaver or InDesign. It is more like “What You See Is Almost What you Get.”
The major difference between the higher-end tools and Sigil is Dreamweaver is an HTML editing tool while Sigil is only an ebook-editing tool with easy-to-use but limited HTML and CSS capabilities.
For example: Sigil does not include the ability to apply class rules with a click of your mouse as you can in Dreamweaver or InDesign. Any styles you create in Sigil must be hand coded into your HTML
What is lacking is a manual that not just defines the tools and menus in the Sigil ebook editor, but how you use them to make the process of ebook formatting a rewarding experience.
Short Excerpt from “The Lost Sigil Ebook Editor Manual”. Sign up for a pre-release copy, please read: http://eepurl.com/l0dnL and then contact me via my online form. This offer is now closed, thank you.
I would love to read your new book and leave a review
Rod, Thank you, I have added you to the list ;)
suz
It will be my pleasure to comment your book on Amazon, especially
because your video tutorials ‘Ebook Formatting Kit 3.0’ on YouTube
helped me very much in making e-books.
I am glad my vidoes were helpful. Even though I think I sound like Minnie Mouse :) — I have you on the list.
I’ve self published two different stories and created the epub two different ways, so I’d be happy to read and see what else I can glean and offer a review.
perfect. Input is appreciated. — I have you on the list.
Great offer. Sign me up please.
Thanks, Have you on my list
Thanks, looking forward to the book, (requested via e-mail)
Jon, You are on the list, thank you! — Suz
I got about a hundred of these errors today:
“OEBPS/toc.ncx|19|This element’s “src” attribute value is “Text/Section0001.xhtml#heading_id_36″but an element with an ID the fragment is referring to does not exist in that file”
What I had done is assigned my id’s for my h1 headings in the content file with names to be recognized by the toc hrefs. But for some reason Sigil did not put them in as the names that I chose, but kept them the same as they were before I changed them in the toc.ncx file. I had to actually go in and manually change them myself to what I had chosen them to be, in the toc.ncx file and save it. Then all was well and validated with no problems found. I post this because of you upcoming Sigil manual coming out, and for anyone who may have this problem in the future. Thanks for listening to my diatribe :)
<—– Slaps himself on the head! I went back and recreated the problem and a toc regeneration fixed it, doh!!! Even after I did many regenerations previously, I neglected to do the crucial one. Thanks for the reality check!
Good afternoon Suzanne, I hope there’s still a spot on the list for me to receive a copy… I’d love to be a part of this. William
William, I have added you to the mailing list — Suz
I am just about to evaluate Sigil as a tool to recommend for our Anywhere Classroom Initiative, so the timing of a manual for it could not be better. The site launches in July. I would love to take you up on your offer.
Geoffrey, I have added you to the list. Thank you, and have a great day. — Suz
Hi,
I’m embarking on several epub adventures. I’d be happy to help review your book, if the offer still stands, as I probably need all the Sigil help I can get to make these things look right.
You have been added. Thank you for your help. – Suz
Good morning Suzanne,
I hope I can get a copy. I am trying to make an interactive chemistry schoolbook as part of a iPad experiment we started at my school (ISG Arcus in Lelystad The Netherlands).
Regards,
Wijnhold
I have you on the list, Thanks, — Suz
I have enjoyed you previous books and look forward the release of this book. Best wishes!!!
Thanks for the Kudos — Suz
I’d be glad to read and review your book. One of these days (months) my book will be ready to publish and I’m going to need to know how!
Of course you are added — that was a given —
Suz ;)
Hello! Is it too late to get on your list? I am an absolute newbie and want to publish my first ebook. Is it within my capabilities as a newbie? I was told I probably could do Dreamweaver and what a laugh! It was way to complicated.
Thanks – Carla
Carla, I have added you to the list. Also, Sigil Ebook Editor is a free program and you can download at any time here: http://code.google.com/p/sigil/
Sigil is an easier program to use than Dreamweaver, through it is not as robust. You may still need to learn a few of the basics of HTML and CSS if you want to format your book properly.
As a newbie, this Manual will help, however it is only a Manual on HOW to use the Sigil program. I created a DIY Formatting Kit to help anyone format an ebook for both epub and mobi (kindle). It includes pre-made templates, CSS and video instructions. (VIDEOS: DIY eBook Formatting Kit 3.1 (Feb 2012) http://www.firststepspublishing.com/videos/index.html )
RECOMMEND: I would recommend you download the Sigil Program, watch my free HOW TO videos and then decide if you need further help.
Thanks,
Suzanne