A Grindable, Clickable eBook Table of Contents

There’s been a lot of confusion and debate over how to create a table of contents in an eBook that will survive KDP and Smashwords conversions. Some say you have to do it all manually, and some say you can use MS Word automation. Lynne Cantwell wrote a post about the manual method, and Dick Waters just recently wrote about a more sophisticated style.

Personally, I go with a completely manual method, because I run all my eBooks through MobiPocket Creator and convert them to a prc before I upload to KDP – and that will for certain strip out any coding MS Word has graciously conjured up. The lovely Laura Clark (author LB Clark) showed me how to do this way back in 2011 when I self-published my first collection of short works with fellow author Newton Love. (The prc method was one of the ways KDP recommended for conversion back in 2011 – but you don’t have to do it this way. It’s just my method of choice because it’s what I’m used to.)

You can use this table of contents method on an existing document or a new document, that’s not a gating factor. I usually do it in an “assembly line” fashion, as that’s faster, but I’m going to do it one “chapter” at a time so the sequence is clear. Continue reading “A Grindable, Clickable eBook Table of Contents”

Free: Still A Bargain

There is a free lunch, but some would have you believe it’s not good for you… because it’s free. Most people on IU, I’m guessing, are pretty comfortable with some version of the idea that you can sell more books by giving some away.

But not everybody out there in “writer web world” is and some even take it to the next step: moronic denial. Some examples of the arguments one runs into—and should beware of paying serious attention to: Continue reading “Free: Still A Bargain”

Jamais Vu Seeks Dark Fiction

Jamais Vu, a literary journal from Post Mortem Press, seeks submissions for its Spring 2014 issue. Oriented toward dark fiction and horror, the publication is looking for short fiction, book/movie reviews, poetry, and nonfiction.

Prizes:  Publication and per word payment.

Reading fee: None

Deadline is January 15, 2014

For more information, please visit their website.


Indies Unlimited is pleased to provide this contest information for the convenience of our readers. We do not, however, endorse this or any contest/competition. Entrants should always research a competition prior to entering.

Three Changes to Help Indie Authors and Publishers

New changes in YouTube, Facebook and TwitterSocial media platforms are always evolving. Here are two major changes that have occurred over the past few weeks that can help us as writers and publishers.

How many times have you posted to Facebook and later found a typo? Comments and likes have started to pile up, but you need to delete the post and start from scratch. You hate to delete it because you’ll lose the conversations. Fret no more. Continue reading “Three Changes to Help Indie Authors and Publishers”