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I could see that helping. It seems like transcription will prove a serious pain, though. More importantly, Linux on an old laptop could still support Dropbox.

I could see that helping. It seems like transcription will prove a serious pain, though. More importantly, Linux on an old laptop could still support Dropbox. I would have lost a lot of work to a dead hard drive just last week if not for that. It only takes one leak or one energetic puppy to destroy a paper manuscript.

daeken 14y ago
I'm likely going to hire someone to scan/OCR and fix up my pages. It'll likely only cost me a few grand for a whole novel -- a drop in the bucket compared to good editors and all that. But that's assuming I actually manage to write in the first place, which is a pretty big leap!
- thirdtruck 14y ago
  Your laptop can serve as that OCR service and it can cost a few - even several - times less than that estimate. Case in point: I write this reply on a $250 Woot.com netbook, which already saw me through a few novel drafts. Please watch your costs here. My writing still hasn't covered the costs of the netbook I bought for my first novel, drafted back in 2008, and I paid only $500 for that one. A hundred sales counts as serious success for a brand-new author, and that likely won't bring in a grand on even self-published eBook royalties (70%). Editorial and other services (layout, etc.) shouldn't cost you anything close to that first estimate, either. Dean Wesley Smith (http://deanwesleysmith.com http://deanwesleysmith.com), a 30-year industry veteran, has more to say on these points.
  - daeken 14y ago
    I don't disagree at all with what you say, but it assumes that I'm doing it to make money. I see it as a hobby that I'm willing to throw money against; the likelihood of me seeing a dime is incredibly slim, and not at all the goal. Thanks though -- it's always good to have more info!
    - thirdtruck 14y ago
      Glad to provide! You're going in with open eyes to your intent, and that makes all the difference.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]

daeken 14y ago

I'm likely going to hire someone to scan/OCR and fix up my pages. It'll likely only cost me a few grand for a whole novel -- a drop in the bucket compared to good editors and all that. But that's assuming I actually manage to write in the first place, which is a pretty big leap!

thirdtruck 14y ago
Your laptop can serve as that OCR service and it can cost a few - even several - times less than that estimate. Case in point: I write this reply on a $250 Woot.com netbook, which already saw me through a few novel drafts. Please watch your costs here. My writing still hasn't covered the costs of the netbook I bought for my first novel, drafted back in 2008, and I paid only $500 for that one. A hundred sales counts as serious success for a brand-new author, and that likely won't bring in a grand on even self-published eBook royalties (70%). Editorial and other services (layout, etc.) shouldn't cost you anything close to that first estimate, either. Dean Wesley Smith (http://deanwesleysmith.com http://deanwesleysmith.com), a 30-year industry veteran, has more to say on these points.
- daeken 14y ago
  I don't disagree at all with what you say, but it assumes that I'm doing it to make money. I see it as a hobby that I'm willing to throw money against; the likelihood of me seeing a dime is incredibly slim, and not at all the goal. Thanks though -- it's always good to have more info!
  - thirdtruck 14y ago
    Glad to provide! You're going in with open eyes to your intent, and that makes all the difference.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]