The Origami Forum

Hey guys!
I need help in making an origami book, any tips or recommendations at all...
The book is going to be primarily tessellations, but i will throw in 10 or so representational models, like my sea serpent, duck, etc...
I will post pictures of models that are going to be in the book in about a week, and the diagramming style is going to be photo diagrams, like Eric Gjerde`s book, in most cases (for the tessellations as they are incredibly hard to diagram otherwise).
So yeah... if anyone has got any tips or help, please post them here...
(By the way, I have asked Josh about his book, so dont bother telling me off about asking other authors.)

I think one of the biggest things to consider is the look and feel of your diagrams. Your diagramming style should remain consistent throughout the book (same line weights, consistent arrows, etc.). I understand using different styles for tessellations vs representational stuff, but I think you know what I mean. They need to look good and clean. I would worry about that first, as the actual diagramming is going to be the most time-intensive task.

(Awwww, no more 1337 posts )

Where to start. First, what John said, make your diagrams consistent and professional. Your text should be clean and clear of grammatical, spelling and typing errors.

Beyond that it is difficult to assist you. What is your intention? Do you intend to publish? Self publish? Why are you writing your book?

Thankyou both, Jon, I think I will utilise a progam such as InkScape, for the representational models, for the sake of clarity, and what do you mean"no more 1337 posts"?
And Steingar, I think I am going publish through a publisher, and the reason for writing the book is to help people create origami designs through major variation of models, tessellations, in this case could be reverse at a single twist to create different back - light patterns, and so on and so forth.

So do you have a publisher in mind? Have they given you any length requirements? I got burned on my last book because they wanted to decrease the page count fairly precipitously, thus I had to cut out a third of the models. Oh well, more for the third book. I'd recommend keeping the page count to a multiple of four. I'm told that's better.

First thing you want to think about is what does your book have that no other does, i.e. how to sell it. Don't expect the publisher to fall all over themselves because of your wonderful models, you have to sell yourself. What is your target audience? How big is it? How will you reach it? For my books I sold the aspect that I'm a pilot who can write cogently about aviation. No other origami airplane book has that aspect, and my publisher was sold on it instantly. That to me is the absolute biggest thing. If you have no track record you need a good sales pitch. You're asking a publisher to dump a pile of cash into a project with a very uncertain future. Be persuasive.

Now I get to play Devil's advocate. Your book of tesselations and complex models is duplicative, there are extant books with both. Moreover, your target audience is diminutive. How many people can fold such complex models? I don't mean to discourage you in any way, just to forearm you to questions you may have to answer later on.

The reality is it is far easier to write a book than to sell one. Grow a thick skin and get used to rejection. You might look at the titles out there and who's published them. The other alternative is to self publish. John Montroll has self published most of his books. You take all the risk, but you also get all the reward. There are on-demand printing companies now that can give you product with very little turn around time, thus allowing you to do on-demand sales. They're very inexpensive (the one we'll use for Centerfold will be about $5 per book, and that's in color).

And I am of course hoping like crazy that I'm wrong about everything, and that a big fat rich publisher gives you a sweetheart deal right out of the gate.

Seeing as I am only 13, it seems impossible for me to get a publisher, so I had the idea of getting it published through e-book, just like Josh Goutam`s book, through Nicolas Terry.
I havent asked him yet, because i havent exactly finalised anything.
Complex models arent going to be in the book, VARIATIONS on models will be present, such as modifying the traditional swan from 22.5 degree angles, to a swan that utilises 30 degree angles.
And as for books about tessellations, off the top of my head, i can name 3, 1 of which has simple, scarce diagrams, i think a new book for that subject would be "refreshing".

And by the way, which books have written?

heres urban dictionary on leet speak. btw if you make your book you should try not to cuss in it...
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=1337

ಠ_ಠ
2 things, I know what 1337 speak is, I just dont know why Jon posted it there.
And Secondly why would i swear in the book?

because you swear on flickr and facebook and the forum...

OH...
That stuff!
Jeez, man I know when to be polite and not swear!
Im not going to swear in this book, its going to be a bit of satire and Jeremy Shafer-esque book.

redheadorigami wrote:Seeing as I am only 13, it seems impossible for me to get a publisher, so I had the idea of getting it published through e-book, just like Josh Goutam`s book, through Nicolas Terry.
I havent asked him yet, because i havent exactly finalised anything.
Complex models arent going to be in the book, VARIATIONS on models will be present, such as modifying the traditional swan from 22.5 degree angles, to a swan that utilises 30 degree angles.
And as for books about tessellations, off the top of my head, i can name 3, 1 of which has simple, scarce diagrams, i think a new book for that subject would be "refreshing".

And by the way, which books have written?

It is in no way impossible for a 13-year old to publish a book, though it is somewhat unlikely, and would probably involve parents or guardians in the financial aspects. I am a bit of a dinosaur and didn't think of E-publishing, though I imagine there are fees to have it converted to the format used in electronic readers.

Variations on extant models doesn't float my boat, but I'm not the one to whom you're trying to sell your work. You make a good case for tesselations, at least as I see it. You might get in touch with Josh and see what he went through, if that's the route you want to take.

Like everyone has been saying, standard grammatically correct English. Your diagrams should be clearly drawn, and by all means have them beta-tested. Just because they make sense to you doesn't mean they'll work for everyone. I continue to find that out all the time.

Get someone with a good camera to take high resolution photos of your models when you're done. If you're publishing electronically there is no reason not to put those in. Make the models for the photos out of the best paper you have, they'll sell your book better than anything else.

Again, good luck.

redheadorigami wrote:ಠ_ಠ
2 things, I know what 1337 speak is, I just dont know why Jon posted it there.

Look at his post count...

Good luck with your book!
If you want to have it as an e-book only, you don't need to worry about colours, otherwise it might be a good idea to make black and white instructions only. Photos need to be clear but not necessarily in colour. Printing colour is still more expensive than black and white and there is still the possibility to make a few colour pages to show the finished models in all glory.

Forgive me Anna, but I think you have it a bit turned around. I would stay away from color in the print world as it costs more money (though my current book will be printed in full color with a page of color photographs!). I don't think electrons really care if they are color or not, though I won't claim to know the effects on file size. I would think that for an electronic book, lots of nice colors could be a selling point. However, that is only what I think. I claim only minimal expertise at paper printing, and none in electronic at all.

Thank you guys, and sorry Jon!
For the sake of almost everything I think e-book sales would be best, although it allows piracy to be more apparent, it; lessens the cost of postage, printing, etc.
Allows for colour pictures and diagrams
and it is easily accessable when its on a computer.

Clear diagrams and standard english shouldnt be a problem, and I do have a couple of beta - testers in mind.

well on the last page you could say something like "if you download this book you burn in hell" then people would atleast be embarrassed about downloading it lol