Need help finding software to help me with my project! - Writers Forum

Horitexan · 02-10-2008, 03:09 AM

Hi there everyone!

I'm brand-new to this forum and this is my first foray into writing a book. So I'm looking for some help and advice and I'm asking for your indulgance if I ask a commonly asked question!

I'm a fairly well known tattoo artist by profession and I've started writing a book about tattooing. It's meant as a sort of A-Z instructional book that I hope tattoo apprentices will use as they learn to tattoo- the intent is not for it to be a substitute for and apprenticeship but, rather, to be a companion to an apprenticeship to aid both the student and the instructor by laying out a course of instruction.

one of my problems is, at the moment, that I'm getting far enough now that I need to look forward to the end- when I will need to create an index of important words and phrases so that the reader can quickly refer to the proper section. I would like to build this index as I go, rather than wait until the end and have to go back through and compile it.

I'm wondering if there's a software that, among other things, will allow me to build an index (of keywords and phrases) as I go along- adding them to a list and allowing me to associate instances of the word, and the corresponding page number/location, automatically?

Also, I'd like to find some sort of sofware that will allow me to organize my notes, outline and chapters so that I can toggle back and forth between them. If there is such a program. Basically, I'd like to have some software that will help me to organize the book as I create it (including illustrations, if possible) so that I can get ahead of the organization. Rather than trying, later, to organize dozens and dozens of files and folders into a single manuscript, at the end. Currently I'm just writing in "OpenOffice."

Any software suggestions I can get, would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, SO MUCH!

Nick Anderson
Austin, TX

flashgordon · 02-10-2008, 11:08 AM

A true index cannot be done via software since not all words correspond to their references within the text. For example, if you want to refer the reader to tattoo styles, you don't want to just index the words "tattoo styles" but also the various styles which may fall under different words.

If you want to compile a list of keywords that are mentioned in the text and on what page, all word processing software does this. Word does it fairly easily. You can compile the index as you go, but it will have to be updated at the end. It is better to just keep a list in a separate document of the words and phrases you believe are important to have and then at the end those words can be "marked" via field codes in Word (or InDesign or Quark) and the index will be built automatically. OpenOffice does the same thing. The process is similar to building a table of contents in OpenOffice.

Hope that helps.

As for the organization, sorry but when the book gets to the design and typesetting stage it will need to be put into either Quark or InDesign and built there. So I would just work on the text via OpenOffice and put in virtual place holders for all images (something like Picture 1 here). Then in a separate folder keep all the images and have their labels correlate with those in the OpenOffice document. Then, when the OpenOffice document gets dropped into Quark, the typesetter/designer knows where to put the images.

If you have further questions, I'd be happy to answer them to my best ability. I can be reached at pnj "at" bauuinstitute.com

Hope that helps, good luck.

Horitexan · 02-10-2008, 11:52 AM

Thanks for the info- I wish that there WAS a software solution, but at least I'm saving some money by not having to buy a program right now. Let me ask you this- What is the better program for the final typesetting stage, Quark or InDesign? I have InDesign as part of an Adobe Suite I have; but if Quark will be better I'd like to know so I can begin saving.

Also, can you explain what "field codes" are and how to use them- especially in OpenOffice, if you know?

Thanks so much for your post and your offer to help. Lord knows I need it! I know the topic I'm writing about, but have no experience trying to write a book. Please feel free to email me at: Horitexan "at" Gmail.com

Regards,

Nick

flashgordon · 02-21-2008, 11:18 AM

Nick,

Both InDesigna and Quark work the same. If you have InDesign use it. Do ALL of your layout and formating and typesetting in InDesign. Only use Word or OpenOffice for the word processing part. Same goes for the building of the index. InDesign can do this and you will want to do it then since all of the pagination will change when it is dropped into InDesign from OpenOffice.

I'll send you an email...