Self Binding Q Also Q's about Microsoft Word (Help?) - Writers Forum

PrisonerOfPrey · 07-06-2008, 03:15 PM

I'm making a book for my boyfriend filled with his/my poetry short stories etc. I've found some site on how to sew the pages together (although, if you know of a good one please share)

The problem is...I want to just take my pages and fold them in half. That means the words will be sideways. How can I change Word to make the words in two columns going horizontal? Once I figure this out i'll try out the sewing, but I need to know this first.

Also, how do I get tones or accent marks on word? A character I have is named Nilla. But that sounds like Nil-lah when it should sound like Niy-lah.

Cran · 07-07-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrisonerOfPrey

I'm making a book for my boyfriend filled with his/my poetry short stories etc. I've found some site on how to sew the pages together (although, if you know of a good one please share)

The problem is...I want to just take my pages and fold them in half. That means the words will be sideways. How can I change Word to make the words in two columns going horizontal? Once I figure this out i'll try out the sewing, but I need to know this first.

In Word, go to File: Page Set Up ... select the orientation to Landscape ...

then go to Insert: Columns ... select two ... from there, you should be able to access the advanced settings section to change the column widths to allow for the gutter (the gap between the columns where the fold will be) ...

Quote:

Also, how do I get tones or accent marks on word? A character I have is named Nilla. But that sounds like Nil-lah when it should sound like Niy-lah.

In Word, go to Insert: Symbol ... hunt through the groups until you find the one you want (hopefully in the same font - not guaranteed) ...

you might have (or can set) icons on your toolbar for both insert columns (looks like two columns of text) and insert symbol (the Greek symbol - Omega)

if that doesn't work, consider changing the spelling of Nilla to Nila ...

PrisonerOfPrey · 07-07-2008, 12:11 PM

You are amazing! Thank you so much! I was starting to think it wasn't possible. If I may venture a further question, do you know of an easier way to get them to print front to back in the correct order that to go through and manually paste page 1 and 4 on the front side and 2-3 on the other? if not, its ok! And again, a million times thank you!

lin · 07-07-2008, 12:16 PM

Word is so awkward at this I usually end up just making a dummy (folding blank pieces of into a "book" of the same size, then numbering the pages) then printing out the pages and pasting them up in the proper order, then taking them to a copy shop.

Where they might have a stapler that will reach to the middle of the page (incredibly, the standard office stapler will not reach to the middle of an 8.5x11 sheet from either direction) if you decide not to stitch them.

This leaves you with the "shingle". Once your book is collated, you'll notice that the pages stick out from the cover in a wedge shape.
Take it to a small printer and ask them to "trim the shingle", leaving a nice flat edge on the book.

If you are only doing one or two books and they are slim, you MIGHT get away with using a guillotine cutter, but you have to be EXTREMELY careful not to spoil your book this way.

lin · 07-07-2008, 12:17 PM

Thank God... I thought you said "Self-blinding" and figured it was phase two of the "mutilation is cool" thread.

PrisonerOfPrey · 07-07-2008, 12:39 PM

Thanks Lin. I'm only hoping to scrape up two or three signatures. (I'm going to have to write a lot, I don't have much previous writings to print up.) So i'm going to try and get away with doing this all on my own. (heh.) Good thing I like rough edges...

I've just found out (through trial and error) that if I do page 4 and then 1 on the first page and 2 and 3 on the next it works out nicely. ~sigh~ It better be worth it!

EDIT Shit! well...that system is fine if I wanted a four page book. ARRGHH! oh well...I'll figure it out, probably the hard way. Oh well.

Cran · 07-07-2008, 09:59 PM

lin is spot on about the best way to go, especially if you wanted to do a small print run (Christmas gifts for friends/family/etc) ...

plan your book or booklet around multiples of 4, with the pattern that you worked out - even numbers left, odd numbers right (the numbers should add up to n +1 where n is the multiple of 4 you've chosen) ... for larger volumes, you'll need to divide the book into sections - the number of sections depends on the gsm (thickness) of the paper you end up using ... but for very large volumes, you're better off considering alternatives to stitch-binding it yourself ...

don't forget to include the covers and index pages (if any) in your patterning

and don't fret if you have a blank page or two (I forget what they're called), at the front or back ...

if you're going to do the whole thing yourself at home, then at least get some quality paper for the final (so the reverse printing doesn't bleed through) ...

BUT do practice run on cheap paper first - to see that the text blocks are correct and that there's no silly typo on Page 3 ... or worse that you put the paper back in upside down ...

cpickett · 07-09-2008, 02:07 PM

Have you checked with any local print shops that might be able to help you? For example, there's one in my area that charges $30/hour or so for graphic services. Since they would be experienced, it should certainly go pretty quickly. Of course then they can print it too and you'd have a variety of paper etc. to choose from.

The cost per copy isn't as cheap as doing it yourself, but personally, I don't have the interest nor patience to do all the layout/graphic stuff.

Just a thought.

PrisonerOfPrey · 07-10-2008, 11:17 PM

Thank you. I don't think I have any local print shops...but maybe if a traveled to the next city over...