Kyle Rankin @kyle@librem.one

@FanCityKnits I think that could work well, especially if the bands repeat at relatively similar distances.

There is a project/technique in Inventive Weaving on a Little Loom called "Palindrome Skeins" where the skein is looped so that the color repeats show up in bands together. Then it is all warped according to those bands.

@Kymberly During my first attempt at overshot weaving, I learned just how much more it wants to draw in compared to other techniques, which combined with my poorer technique, meant abrasion on the edge of the warp.

Before then I was intimidated about breaking warp threads. That project I got to practice replacing warp threads at least a dozen times. So all that to say, if you get to that place and need help, ask away!

Some might find it interesting that all of the work to turn a bunch of disparate articles into a properly-formatted book, from the additional writing and formatting work (VIM + LaTeX plugin), digital page proof review (Evince), LaTeX research and integration with the self-publishing platform (Firefox), cover photo tweaks (GIMP), happened not only with FOSS tools, but all on my personal computer, which happens to be a Librem 5 phone attached to a lapdock.

#Librem5 #lapdock #convergence #foss

I worked on my book all weekend. I finished the book layout in LaTeX and reviewed the 200-page digital "page proof" word by word, correcting any formatting mistakes and other errors. I finished my final tweaks to the index and this evening uploaded the completed and proofed PDF, designed the cover, and submitted all of the rest of the information.

The final step before I release "The Best of Hack and /: Linux Admin Crash Course" is printing and reviewing the finished physical product.

#writing

@shawnp0wers Do it! Write a book! You can do it!

@jkepler Yes I am doing all of the layout of the book with my Librem 5 and Lapdock Kit. I am actually going to use the tablet mode feature when it is time to review the full book as a digital page proof before I order the printed version. Living in the convergence future!

#Librem5 #lapdock #convergence

@Viss Well, if it's cheaper, faster, and more effective in all respects, then clearly the practice will continue until/unless it is regulated.

@Viss I also wonder whether, in addition to getting the data faster, if buying the data is cheaper than the attorney fees to get a warrant.

@aral Phonetically it reads like "hash-faith" which would work for a blockchain company.

@jkepler I am reluctant to move to something with less history, smaller userbase, and less documentation since I am just learning and need all of the online support I can get.

@lwriemen I found an existing class for technical books that does most of what I want, although I have had to do some modifications so it isn't perfect.

@apples_and_pears You are the second person who has asked me to document what I've learned so far with using LaTeX for tech book publishing.

I am strongly considering (if this experiment works out) writing a full book on the subject of writing and publishing a tech book both through traditional channels and self-publishing. Of course this idea is only hours old and it will depend a lot on how this proof of concept works out.

@markuswerle Thanks! For the most part the formatting best practices for tech books have already been burned in my brain from the dozen books I've formatted over the years for different publishers. At this point it's mostly just mapping those style guides to this particular LaTeX book template I'm using.

It feels similar to the process of switching from one publisher's Word template to another's, only I can use vim and a keyboard, instead of a mouse!

@JohnsNotHere Yes I already have a solid, formatted book with a single complete chapter in it as a proof of concept. It's now "just" a matter of adding the remaining chapters (already written) with formatting and indexing along the way, and picking some cover art.

Of course it's going a lot faster for me since I have already formatted numerous books using multiple publishers' own professional templates (ranging from XHTML, to web-based, to multiple Word templates) so I have that background.

This weekend I managed to climb the steepest part of the learning curve with formatting a book using LaTeX.

Watch this space, as I should be able to complete and publish this proof of concept pretty quickly. If this book works out to be worth my time, you can expect quite a bit more publishing from me soon.

#writing #publishing #SelfPublishing

And both that morning equally made
My book formats in white and black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing the learning curves at play,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two apps to format books, and I--
I took the one that used vi,
And that has made all the difference.

The App Not Taken

Two apps diverged to format books
And sorry I could not master both
And be an expert, long I stood
And tried out Scribus as far as I could
Its GUI promising rapid growth;

Then took on LaTeX, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because of its history and lofty air;
Though with no GUI present there
The learning curve was not the same,