ChatGPT, My iPad Pro, and KDP: A Catalyst for My eBook Venture

In the realm of self-publishing, ChatGPT is often viewed with skepticism by some creatives. Yet, for me, it serves as an invaluable research assistant I otherwise couldn't afford.

For some time, I had aspirations to craft eBooks, but they were never focused on Apple technology, my usual niche. I am more than just a fan of Cupertino's products—there's more to my interests.

Take red wine, for example. While I enjoy it, I wouldn't claim to be an expert. My occasional dabbling made me feel like I was missing out on a deeper understanding. Writing about it seemed like an opportunity to broaden my knowledge and enhance my enjoyment. However, without sufficient expertise, the task of reading and comprehending the subject matter felt overwhelming—until I discovered ChatGPT.

The Journey Begins

As I delved deeper into this venture, I realized that even the most advanced AI wouldn't transform me into a wine connoisseur overnight. Consequently, I dismissed the notion of writing an exhaustive book on the subject.

My experience with red wine is more casual than scholarly—akin to someone who enjoys classical music from time to time due to snippets in commercials. This led me to consider that there might be others like me who share this casual interest. What if I created an eBook that helped demystify the world of red wine? Thus, the concept for "Grape Expectations: An Introduction to Red Wine" was born.

ChatGPT: My Research Ally

ChatGPT is both inspiring and intimidating, given its extensive capabilities. Understanding its full potential would take a lifetime, so I decided to focus on a few specific functions: its summarization skills and its ability to role-play.

I posed questions such as, "Can you recommend ten great red wines for newcomers?" and "How would a wine expert describe each variety?" I also inquired about the ideal aging period for different wines.

While I could have spent hours sifting through Google searches for this information, ChatGPT streamlines the research phase, which often consumes much of my time. However, I remain cautious about trusting its responses, as I don't fully grasp its selection criteria.

ChatGPT identifies patterns much like humans do, but it can also misinterpret data—leading to inaccuracies known as "hallucinations." I sought clarification on its choices, and the reasoning provided was sound.

Despite this, I still conducted random checks on its recommendations using Google, though I didn't dive into every detail. After all, my eBook isn't tackling life-or-death topics like heart surgery!

Crafting My Narrative

Just as I wouldn't directly incorporate research notes into my manuscript, I refrained from using ChatGPT's output verbatim. Instead, I summarized its information in my own words, which worked well for prose but not for straightforward facts.

For instance, while my description of the winemaking process was distinctly my own, phrases like "it has fruity aromas" were harder to rephrase. I concluded that raw data was challenging to alter; the true uniqueness lay in the narrative I constructed around it.

Mistakes in eBook Creation

I typically write using Ulysses but opted to create my eBook in Apple Pages, believing a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) interface would be beneficial. In hindsight, this choice caused unnecessary delays due to my unfamiliarity with Pages, which has its quirks.

Combining content creation with layout design proved problematic. Pages offers only basic spelling and grammar checks, and its concept of a "page" is more complex than it appears.

After several frustrating experiences, I realized I should have stuck with Ulysses, which conveniently exports to ePub format with a preview option.

Uploading to KDP

When it came time to upload my manuscript, I found that KDP offers various options for book creation. I was keen on developing a series and considered paperback publishing for its professional feel and the inclusion of diary pages for readers to log their wine tasting experiences.

However, paperbacks require a minimum of 77 pages, which was a setback. The diary pages didn’t fit well into an eBook format, so I modified my manuscript accordingly. I discovered that the cover page had to be uploaded separately, which added to my frustrations.

Ultimately, I resorted to using KDP's cover designer after encountering issues with image quality and resolution. I also faced challenges with the manuscript format, as KDP flagged my submission for lacking a table of contents despite its presence.

Navigating Formatting Challenges

As I transitioned to ePub, I had to decide between fixed and flowing formats. A flowing format lost page numbers and headers, which I initially resisted. However, upon previewing the eBook, it was clear that a flowing format was necessary for compatibility with various devices.

This revelation prompted another round of manuscript editing, as my earlier formatting no longer made sense. Finally, after much effort, I clicked the publish button.