The way that something looks is difficult in many ways. And of course what one person likes, the other will not. Ultimately, I realise that you can’t please all the people all the time ! Obviously, because it’s the written word, you lose some of the subtleties and nuances that speech and (best of all) face-to-face communication bring. I have tried to find a way that is not only simple, but that also allows at least some scope to convey some of the subtleties that get lost when you’re in print or on the screen.

All the best,

Roger

Thanks for your ebook! For me, the ‘typewriter’ look is good – perhaps because its different. One of my peeves is the ‘graphic designer’ look to articles. You know, ten different fonts on the first page, sometimes two or three juxtaposed in a single sentence. Yuk!. I thought your look was fine. For what it’s worth.

As to the info you shared, how you put it across, I find your style an easy read, and while I already know some of what you shred, your slant on it was both refreshing, aand a good refresher of the important elements.
Many thanks!

Anthony

Rod, I’m grateful that you make it clear that my content isn’t unprofessional or inaccurate

I hope that none of us are misrepresenting what Alex said in our remarks here, but I tend to agree with the general thrust of your statements about how things should look. But within that, there is always room for personal preference. For example, I quite like the typewriter look – I’ve seen it elsewhere and I like the “retro” feel – whereas Andrew prefers something else.

Either way, I do have minimum standards that I want to reach and I didn’t let this report out of the door until I felt I had reached them, in spite of what Alex says and the advice I got from one or two close friends and family. If the latter had got their way, this report would have been out there this time last week. If I’d had my way, it might NEVER have got out of the door ! There’s always “one more thing”, isn’t there ? LOL !

Andrew, I’m slightly alarmed that you say the font looks like it’s “run out of ink” ! It doesn’t look like that for me (otherwise I wouldn’t have let it out !) … has anybody else got the same problem ?

However, as with blogging in general, I have striven for quality of content above all.

All the best,

Roger

Just read your ebook.

Thanks for getting it out – I liked it a lot.

Personally, I didn’t like the typewriter (run out of ink) font, but that’s nothing to bother about.

Well done – I’m sure it will go down very well.

Andrew.

I’ve just signed up so not read it yet.

In not having yet read it, I can say two things that I feel are true and relevant.

One is that it is important to actually get it done and well done Rog for getting out – I’m still some time away, but working it on it.

The second is that Rod has a very valid and important point – and I’m not able to comment beyond that until I’ve had chance to read it.

Well done though Roger for doing what 98% of well meaning people don’t achieve.

Andrew.

That may be true to an extent but, for the most part, I disagree with that statement. Especially when it leaves one looking unprofessional and lacking in knowledge.

First impressions speak volumes and if one is putting up second rate content then that’s what people will conceive you as being.

I’m not implying in any way, shape or form that’s what your eBook is, you did a great job, but to what that statement of Alex’s can lead people to doing.

Put up a amateurish blog full of errors, etc. following that advice…do you think people will return?

How can you presume to do posts offering advice when you come across as being lazy and ill informed due to not spending time on getting it right?

Personally, I think Alex has done some of the students a great disservice with that statement.

Cheers,
Rod

You’ll appreciate that Alex’s dictum is to not spend too much time on things, not to fuss too much over every detail. That said, I felt guilty that it took as long as it did to prepare ! So “rushed” ? No ! That said, I am obviously culpable for all errors – my typo count is usually low and I try to be consistent with type faces. Occasionally my software played tricks on me but I thought that I had caught everything truly obvious. Perhaps you’d email me privately with the details ? Maybe there are some trans-atlantic mismatches occurring here too !

Thanks on the 404 too. Having just checked, I did catch this earlier but did not upload the corrected version – until now !

Oh yes, “accountancy” is a word here ! Though I try not to think about it, I was once enrolled on a “Bachelor Of Accountancy” degree course.

Some critiques.

I think you might want to spend a bit more time proof reading before going to release. There’s some typos and erratic formatting. i.e.: some titles in bold type, others not.

The beginning, to me at least, reads like sales copy with all the larger font headlines.

Is accountancy a word? May be a British thing but we use accounting on this side of the pond.

Your link to this page from the eBook brought me to a 404 page.

As I said, I think you’ve done a great job with the content overall but I get the sense it was rushed to release.

Cheers,
Rod