Marrying photos & text

Status
Not open for further replies.
The Mindful Writer

The Mindful Writer

Registered
Joined
Aug 9, 2009
Messages
22
Reaction score
0
Location
New York, NY
Newb question about publishing format and what is/is not possible...

I am writing a nonfiction dog book that will include a number of photos. For the most part, I am trying to write the text so that there is flexibility as far as where the photos can be placed (so the text stands on its own). There are a few chapters where I would ideally like to play the photo off of the text. So, I don't want the photo set on a separate page with its own caption - I would like to embed it after a line in the text to illustrate a point I'm trying to make. But I'm not sure whether this is reasonable logistically from a publishing standpoint.

Here's just a basic example to show you what I mean:
I raised my dog to have manners and follow two simple rules.
Don't put your paws on the table
(insert photo of dog on top of table eating human's food)
Don't be greedy
(insert photo of dog with head inside potato chip bag)

Is it ok to do this sort of thing?

thanks!
 

DerekJager

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 9, 2008
Messages
393
Reaction score
52
Location
New York City
Yes, it's perfectably fine to place your photos where you want them in the manuscript. Remember, it's "just" the manuscript--the final book will be designed and laid out, etc., so it will change some, but put your manuscript together the way you want it.

In my nonfiction book, I had a lot of photos too, and I placed them where I wanted because they were tied in tightly to the content. Sometimes, a picture and text would cause a page to only be 2/3 filled (if a photo was at the bottom but no room was left for text) and it's fine.

Good luck!
 

Horseshoes

lisapreston.com
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 29, 2007
Messages
827
Reaction score
104
Location
Pacific Northwet
Website
www.lisapreston.com
It depends upon the publisher--and it sounds like you're writing this on spec, or else you'd know how your publisher want it.

With my last book, the pub had me write a separate doc of captions, listing all photos and diagrams, numbered and annotated by chapter. If you're still creatin text for an on-spec non-fic piece, I'd just start the second doc and slip a sentence into it each time you're scribbling away in your text. In other words, instead of breaking up your text you're trying to sell with (insert photo of dog w/ head in chip bag), you'd have your gorgeous, compelling text and a separate doc of captions that has insert notes.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.