How can I make a CV in pdf format?

Info on self-publishing of articles and portions of books in PDF format on Amazo

• I was going to give a speech on Google and searched on the term "Google" in amazon.com. I was surprised to discover that there was a paper on Google that was being marketed in amazon and that I could download the article in PDF format for $1.99. I have found that Google classifies this type of document as an "e-document" and adds, after the title of the document, "[DOWNLOAD:PDF]. This type of PDF publishing was new to me. (I knew about e-books, but those require special equipment to read the book.) It seems that this PDF "short-run" "print-on-demand" publishing is a wonderful way for authors to market writings that may be say 5 ? 40 pages, or even more. Also, it would seem that this would be valuable for authors of non-fiction treatises or textbooks to obtain sales that they would not normally be able to obtain. For instance, the author of a book that would normally sell for, say, $50 could display a chapter outline and allow readers to immediately download individual chapters for $9.99 for the entire chapter. This would also be valuable for authors of, for instance, do-it-yourself books. Readers could, for even $3.99, download just a few pages on such topics as "How to Fix Your Faucet" or "How to Change a Light Switch" without having to buy a whole book. I have heard that a couple of famous novel writers have tried marketing their novels chapter by chapter, but that didn't work. The marketing of a novel is different, I think, from marketing, say a book on medicine, on law, on science, on cooking, or on home repair. I would like to find general articles on this type of PDF publishing. In addition to the general articles, I would like to find articles that would tell me: 1. How well does this system work? 2. Are authors happy with it? 3. Are there any special sites that specialize in this type of publishing? If there are, how do those sites compare with amazon.com's? 4. How much does amazon charge an author as its fee for allowing the downloading? For instance, how much does it charge the author for the listing of and the downloading of, for instance, a paper selling for $1.99 or a chapter selling for $10? 5. Where can I find a copy of Amazon's contract with authors? I think that PDF publishing has a huge potential audience and could be invaluable not only to writers, but also to searchers who are trying to find very specific writings that they would like to obtain immediately. This question and answer might also be of interest to the general readers of Google's Answers. I would appreciate not only the Answer by the Google answerer, but also comments other searchers or readers might make.

• Answer:

  Hello writer32~ This is an interesting and emerging topic; there are many opinions on e-books and e-book formats. I?ve tried to include as many viewpoints as possible within this Answer. While e-books used to require that readers download a special program to read them, e-books are increasingly being sold in PDF format. The advantages of PDF format are several. Perhaps most importantly, many people already have Acrobat Reader on their computer, so there?s no special program to download (which means that downloading problems are more rare, customer service less contacted, and readers needn?t clog their computers with yet another program). The disadvantages of PDF e-books include: ? The reader can?t adjust font size or correct problems with character recognition or display. ? Customers often complain about problems with text searches; this is particularly problematic with non-fiction works. ? Consumers also frequently complain that Acrobat Reader causes system instability, making their computer ?hang? and requiring rebooting. ? PDF files have some security issues; with the right ?tweaking? all of the security restrictions may be removed, making it easier for e-books in PDF format to be altered without the author?s consent. ? Due to the instability of computers and software, it?s possible to pay for an e-book, only to loose it later, due to corruption of the file, or other technical problems. Many authors are, indeed, happy with PDF e-publishing, particularly those who?d have a difficult time finding a traditional publisher because they write on topics that sell to small audiences. To get an idea of how some successful e-book writers feel about their work, you may find this website interesting: EBookInterviews (interviews with e-book writers), http://www.ebookinterviews.com Depending on the topic of the book, from the author?s standpoint, there?s generally less money to be made in e-books. For example, a book that might sell to a wide audience, such as a woman?s health book written by an accomplished OBGYN, would likely sell far more copies in print format than it would in electronic format. This goes both ways, though. A book that has a limited audience?but an audience that leans toward the technical(for example, a book on programming), might sell just as well in e-book format as it would in print format--if it?s marketed well. A big disadvantage to writers of e-books, however, is that traditional book publishers market their books, at least to some degree; few e-book publishers do this, however (unless you count displaying the book on their website). This means that e-book authors spend more time marketing their own work, thereby making their profit smaller. Unfortunately for e-book authors and publishers, the first place the average reader heads when they think books or magazines is either a storefront, or a large online source like Amazon. Though Amazon does offer some e-books, their sale of e-books is not nearly as strong as those of traditional books. In short, while PDF e-books may make it possible for more authors to be published, e-book authors may make less profit. Because of this, most published writers stick to print books and magazines; the established writers who?ve experimented with e-books generally walk away disappointed, or view e-books only as supplemental to traditional publishing, much like (but less profitable than) books on tape/CD. Some established writers do use PDF articles or book chapters to help promote their books, but there?s little advantage in using PDF format for such small items, unless you?re charging for them. (Reasons: It?s just as easy?-maybe easier--to read or print out a ?normal? web page article, and it?s more difficult for search engines to spot and list PDF files.) In addition, there still seems to be a certain stigma associated with e-publishing. If a book or article is e-published, many people seem to feel it isn?t as good as something published in a traditional manner. This attitude discourages some writers from exploring e-publishing--and some readers from buying e-books. (There?s actually at least a little something to this, since in traditional publishing, a writer must at least find an editor and publishing house that thinks the book is worth reading, whereas e-book authors often self-publish, and therefore, can produce either excellent or poor material?-who knows? This may be changing, however, as more and more e-book publishers come to the forefront. Although some e-book publishers may now accept virtually any book, they will likely be more particular as e-books become more popular.) If readers get to the point where they think of e-books as frequently as they do traditional books, and if e-publishing can get over it?s slight stigma, there?s little doubt e-books will be much more profitable for authors and publishers. There are a variety of websites that sell e-books in PDF format, including: ? Booklocker, http://www.booklocker.com ? E-Writer?s Place: http://www.ewritersplace.com/ebooksbyshery.html ? I-Uniververse: http://images.iuniverse.com/ad/default.asp?site=writerswrite (see their page on PDF format: http://www.writerswrite.com/epublishing/pdf.htm ) ? EBookMall, http://www.ebookmall.com/adobe-pdf/ ? EBooks Central, http://www.adobe.com/epaper/ebooks/main.html ? Planet PDF, http://www.planetpdf.com/mainpage.asp?webpageid=2330 ? Free Ebooks, http://www.free-ebooks.net/ ? Grass Roots, http://www.storesonline.com/site/ezebooks Such sites tend to have specialized clientele; namely, their customers are eager to read e-books. This differs from a site like Amazon, where customers are much more likely to be looking for traditional books. In addition, these sites do not have the all-encompassing selection that Amazon does. For the average e-book author or publisher, Amazon will provide a listing, and if an order is made, the author or publisher ships the book themselves. Amazon charges a 15% commission (plus a $0.99 fee) for this service. (For more information on this, check out ?Sell at Amazon Marketplace,? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/partners/direct/marketing-home.html/ref=adv_ld_mp/002-4421624-0183207 ) In another Amazon program, an author or publisher makes an application to Amazon, including several books for Amazon?s consideration. If the application is approved, a listing is included, and copies are consigned to Amazon?s warehouse. When someone buys a title, Amazon processes the order. The author or publisher then receives 45% of the suggested retail price. (For more information on this, see ?Amazon.com Advantage: Instructions & Rules,? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/partners/direct/advantage-rules-terms.html/002-4421624-0183207 ) Amazon?s contract for this is called a ?membership agreement,? and you?ll find it here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/partners/direct/direct-agreement.html/002-4421624-0183207 For more information on e-books and PDF formats, check out the following online articles: ? ?An Introduction to E-Books? by I-universe, http://www.writerswrite.com/epublishing/ebookintro.htm ? ?A Conversation With Angela Adair-Hoy and M.J. Rose? by WritersWrite, http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/apr01/hoy_rose.htm ? ?The Problems of eBook Publishing?(which discusses formats, including pdf), by Writer?s Write, http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/dec00/stork2.htm ? For information on the various advantages of e-book formats, check out ?Choose an e-book format,? by eBookMall, http://www.ebookmall.com/choose-format Regards, Kriswrite KEYWORDS USED: writers publishing PDF ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=writers+publishing+PDF&btnG=Google+Search e-book format* ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=e-book+format*&btnG=Google+Search ebook format* ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=ebook+format*&spell=1 PDF disadvantages ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=PDF+disadvantages