A Celebration of Women Writers Program

The following information is intended for WebTV™ users, or other people with limited email and/or browser capabilities, who might wish to help put out-of-copyright works online. If you use a computer, the instructions found at the Build-A-Book Homepage should answer your questions.

The Build-A-Book program is starting new titles, so this would be a very good time to join in. What is it, again? Well, I'll tell you a little here, but full info is available at the Build-A-Book Homepage.

Because putting an entire book online by yourself can be daunting, Mary Mark Ockerbloom at A Celebration of Women Writers came up with the Build-A-Book program.

• She finds and purchases two copies of books that are suitable (out of copyright, etc.) and divides one of the books into sections.

• The sections are mailed out to volunteers who then scan or type the text into a file and/or email and then proof-read it. [Proof-reading is the most important part.]

• Sections are 15 - 25 pages. [Even typing in one page a night, you can be finished quickly.]

• Sections are only sent to those volunteers who have indicated they want them and are ready and able to work on them. [You aren't under any obligation to take sections when busy, etc.]

• The files are then emailed back to Mary Mark Ockerbloom who re-proofs them (using the second copy), adds HTML codes, and 'assembles' them online. [You don't have to know HTML!!]

• When finished, the book is announced and is free to everyone with Internet access.

While it is true WebTVers can't scan and can't make attachments, they can still participate in one of several ways. It is a very worthwhile cause and I hope some of you will consider helping. [I highly recommend Option D. It is the method I use and is the simplest.]

A. USE REGULAR EMAIL -- The 'Bounce' System

If you know how to 'bounce' an email [send to a fake address (e.g., Kelly@vtbew.ten) so that it comes back to you], address an email to your favorite 'bounce' address. Start typing in the text. When you finish for that session, hit send. When you have time to work on it again, use the 'edit' button on the returned mail to bring up what you have already done and continue from where you left off. Repeat until your section is finished, then address the proofed section to Mary Mark, and send.

Advantage: You already know how to do this, or can learn really easy.

Advantage: WebTV™ has a programmable SpellCheck.

Disadvantage: Uses bandwidth.

B. USE REGULAR EMAIL -- Cut Copy & Paste

Address an email to yourself. Type in as much of your section as you feel like doing in this session. Hit send. When you have time to work on it again, you can (1) cut & paste what you've already done into a new email and add to it or (2) you can do each session as separate emails and then cut & paste them together when you've typed in the last of your section. Proofread and send the entire section to Mary Mark.

Advantage: You already know how to do this, or can learn really easy.

Advantage: WebTV™ has a programmable SpellCheck.

Disadvantage: ???

C. USE A FREE HOMEPAGE

If you already have a website or have had one in the past, you can see how to do it. If you've never had a website, sign up at Tripod, or wherever***. [Nearly all free homepage providers offer a way to make webpages without having to know HTML.] Using the simplest editor or builder available, begin to type your section in where it asks for text. Be sure to save it when your session is finished. For the next session, choose the 'edit' or 'change' option and continue typing from where you left off. Proofread, then when finished, email the webpage address to Mary Mark.

***You can use the free webpage WebTV™ provides through the Community link on the WebTV™ start page. I recommend using the Gray background (for ease of text reading) and then just click on the "Add Item" button. Choose "Text" and type in as you would an email. Each time you come back to it, a yellow cursor box will be on the text you've already done. Click and continue. When you've finished and done your proofing, click PUBLISH on the sidebar. A page will come up telling you the address of the finished section. Email that address to Mary Mark.

Advantage: Any webpage can be spell-checked at Dr. Watson. [Just type in the page's URL and check the 'Spell-check non-HTML text' option.]

Disadvantage: If you haven't tried it before, it seems complicated.

D. USE YAHOO MAIL (OR HOTMAIL OR...)

Sign up for a free email account at Yahoo! Mail at any of the many web-based email providers. Type the text like any email.

Advantage: Yahoo! and most other web-based email allow you to save drafts and go back to them later.

Advantage: Some have programmable Spell Check.

Disadvantage: ?????

Please consider helping out. Maybe you'll get hooked, as I did, and decide to put a whole book online!:-)

If you have any questions about the Build-A-Book program, A Celebration of Women Writers, online books in general, or using one of the above methods please feel free to email me. If I don't know the answer, I'll track it down for you!;-)

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