Re: Book writing mode?

[Micha Feigin <michf@post.tau.ac.il>]

On Thu, May 27, 2004 at 12:44:16AM +0200, upro wrote:
> "Peter Milliken" <peterm@resmed.com.au> writes:
> 
> > Last time I looked publishers accepted Latex format - it was around before
> > Word and it was created to be used by publishers and the publishing of
> > books - something that is still not that wonderful an experience to do in
> > Word - the number of times I have lost work because of a Word crash......
> > Emacs doesn't crash and Latex does what you tell it without complaining like
> > Microsoft Word.
> 
> My publisher wouldn't accept any LaTeX format, only doc or odf, as
> long as the pdf is formatted exactly as he whishes - which is not _so_
> easy with LaTeX...
> 

You can always use a latex to rtf converter and then open it in work
and save it as doc.

Anyway, I don't understand the word requirement. Its hell for the
publisher to format it consistently unless the author is proficient
with styles, and even then its a major head ache, and its not a very
publisher friendly format. Plus it really restricts the available
platforms. Mac looks like a much nicer platform for authors then
windows and I am not sure of the state of word for the mac (there are
surely better solutions), not to mention Linux (although you can
always use openoffice to convert to word/pdf from wither the original or
latex2rtf).

> I use emacs for writing the contents, then, if I have to, convert it
> into pdf using LaTeX or submit it as txt -- but normally I use many
> different font enxodings so pdflatex is a choice once you're
> proficient in LaTeX...
> 

The nice thing about latex is that you can write it in latex not
worrying about format and then either set up a style file that gives
the required formating or get someone to make one for. From there you
can just use pdflatex or whatever.

> >
> > Writing with Word is like a continual battle (technical documents at least -
> > if you want to write a novel then I am sure it would be OK) between you and
> > the bugs that seem to be perpetuated from one version of Word to the next -
> > I guess they (the programmers) are striving for backward compatibility i.e.
> > the same tried and true bugs are in each version :-).
> >
> > Peter
> >
> >
> >
> > <gebser@speakeasy.net> wrote in message
> > news:mailman.7535.1085590987.1061.help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org...
> >>
> >> I'm sure that latex is very nice, but if you want to get published, you
> >> should submit manuscripts in a format which the agent or editor desires.
> >> For electronic submissions this is generally Word (.doc) format or plain
> >> text (ASCII).  If you're submitting only hardcopy, then this matters
> >> much less.  If you don't care about being published, then you can use
> >> whatever you want.  :)
> >>
> >>
> >> At 15:36 (UTC-0000) on Wed, 26 May 2004 Michael Slass said:
> >>
> >> = juman@jumans.net writes:
> >> =
> >> = >Is there any more then me out there who write articles, books or longer
> >> = >storys and uses Emacs? If so what mode do you use for easy editing and
> >> = >do write your text using HTML, DocBook etc or so for easy publishing?
> >> = >
> >> = >/juman
> >> = >
> >> = >
> >> =
> >> = If you're going to make a habit/career of writing documents for
> >> = publication, and you like emacs for your text editing, I would
> >> = recommend that you learn to use LaTeX, a document preparation system.
> >> =
> >> = LaTeX uses embedded commmands somewhat analogous to HTML tags that
> >> = tell the program about the content of your document so it can
> >> = determine appropriate formatting.
> >> =
> >> = There is a wealth of information on the web about LaTeX, but I would
> >> = go buy a copy of the canonical work on the subject:
> >> = Lamport, Leslie, _LaTeX: A Document Preparation System, 2/E_.
> >> = ISBN: 0-201-52983-1
> >> =
> >> = Also, there is an excellent mode for working with LaTeX documents from
> >> = within emacs, called auctex, available here:
> >> = http://www.gnu.org/software/auctex
> >> =
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> 
> -- 
> Michael
> 
> r-znvy: zvpunry.wryqra  jro.qr (chg gur "@" jurer vg svgf...)
> ab fcnz cyrnfr
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