Learning curves on new computer programs.

[MatrixGamer]

Recently I purchased Adobe Creativity Suite 2 (with a college discount so I'm not in hock for the next year!) I got it so I could start converting product files to PDF's. I have seen that people are making money at this and thought - hey I'd like some money to!

This brings up a topic I've hit many times before - Ugh! I've got to learn a new program!

Let me see - I started out with Wordstar in the lat 80's, went to Word Perfect, then MS Word, MS Publisher, HTML, Page Maker and now Acrobat/InDesign/Illustrator/Photoshop. Each step was accompanied with anxiety. In some cases I've been held up for a year or two by myself over this.

This time around I'm using a learning tool to help short circuit anxiety. It is this: "A little information plus experimentation creates experience." To this end, yesterday I read a page in the manual on converting old files to PDF. Last night I pushed the buttons and voila! PDF. It was pretty easy. Now when I think "Oh it will be so hard" I can counter that thought with "No, it's pretty easy." And I can believe that because it is based on my own experience as opposed to someone else saying it. We've all had tech guys say things like that to us and not been able to do it so hands on really is more convincing.

I have two questions. 1. I'd like to know other peoples tools on beating anxieties that hold up work and 2. What do you do with the PDFs once they are made? I know RPGNow sells them. Do you FTP them there. If so, how is that done.

I'm admitting my ignorance and anxiety to take the power away from it. I know from experience that that leads to much quicker learning.

Chris Engle

[guildofblades]

RPGNow has something like a $40 sign up fee for new vendors, but with that you also get I think 2 or 3 books that are guides to PDF making, using RPGNow and the PDF market in general. I have heard many newer publishers say that the information they recieved was well worth the money.

Other than that, RPGnow also supports a private e-publishers forum where you can aks lots of support related questions.

Ryan S. Johnson
Guild of Blades Publishing Group
http://www.guildofblades.com
http://www.1483online.com

[MatrixGamer]

Okay, it is two months later and I have two PDF products up on RPGnow. Both are free. They were test runs on how to upload pieces. I'm comfortable enough with that now so the next step is to put up a for sale product.

At that point the task is not so much about learning programs as marketing. A topic worthy of its own thread which I will start now.

Before I do though I have to say that my computer is old and cranky and everytime I upgrad in software it forces me to upgrad it as well. Maybe next year...

Chris Engle
Hamster Press = Engle Matrix Games

[David Artman]

Recently I purchased Adobe Creativity Suite 2 (with a college discount so I'm not in hock for the next year!) I got it so I could start converting product files to PDF's. I have seen that people are making money at this and thought - hey I'd like some money to!

[Bold added by me.]
OK, I just feel I must mention that you should look closely at the "Student License" under which you bought the Suite. I am willing to bet that it has verbiage which forbids the use of the Suite for business or monetary gain. Be sure to check that, if you care about being a legal business.

David

[MatrixGamer]

Point well taken. When I earn some money I'll upgrade so they get their cut. Until them the point is academic.

Chris Engle
Hamster Press = Engle Matrix Games

[Joshua A.C. Newman]

I believe that restrictive clause is no longer in the license.