| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| soapmommy60543 |
Posted - Mar 01 2013 : 07:48:59 AM
As many of you know, I'm working on a cookbook. It's in the final stages, and all that's left is the index.
This thing has given me fits. Like to the point that index is now my new curse word.
So my question to you, sisters, is this:
Do you even use the index in your cookbooks? I've heard a few yes's and a few no's from my friends.
I don't want to spend the time, effort and $$ on extra editing fees if you don't use the index.
To be fair - before you answer, none of the individual recipes is listed in the table of contents. That may change your mind.
Thoughts and input are always greatly appreciated!
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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| 19 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| soapmommy60543 |
Posted - Mar 14 2013 : 1:56:11 PM
So you will all be very happy to hear that the final approval form was faxed in to the publisher yesterday, after all the final revisions were double checked, and I crawled back through that (insert your favorite expletive here) index with a fine tooth comb again. She looks good, so in about 6-8 weeks, she'll be on bookstore shelves, and available through barnesandnoble.com in either paper copy or ebook.
Thanks to all for your input!
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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| Lavender Rose |
Posted - Mar 14 2013 : 07:26:37 AM
I always start with the index. I have way toooooo many cookbooks to look through for certain recipes. Without the index I probably wouldn't use them. Takes to long to find what's needed.
Lavender Rose
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| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Mar 11 2013 : 11:25:56 AM
you're welcome, I meant to add that it has a GOOD search engine in it which would help in making a index.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| soapmommy60543 |
Posted - Mar 09 2013 : 4:22:59 PM
Thanks Heather!
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Mar 09 2013 : 09:39:07 AM
I use mastercook and love it...it has a recipe book making section and is fairly cheap program and VERY simply written (think back to MS dos days).
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| soapmommy60543 |
Posted - Mar 09 2013 : 06:43:03 AM
STATUS UPDATE: The draft of the index is DONE!!!!! Yes, give a whoop and a holler and jump up and down! You will be very happy to know that it is in 3 categories - all recipes, by category, and by ingredient. Some of the ingredients are even listed in different ways, because I know there are days that I don't always think to look something up a certain way, so plenty of cross-referencing.
Brenda, I originally tried the index function in Word. Because it's a computer, it only thought logically, so for example, I had two entries for eggs. One for egg, and one for eggs. It totally ignored egg whites and egg yolk. I got so frustrated with the darn thing that I figured it would just be easier to do it all manually. I wanted to be sure all the pagination was correct anyway, so it was just one more (painful like a toothache) step.
Thank you all for your support! As soon as I hear a publication date, I'll let ya' know!
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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| brightmeadow |
Posted - Mar 07 2013 : 08:14:09 AM
I really appreciate the cookbooks with recipes indexed by both type and category, but also by main ingredients. Are you using a word processing software like Microsoft Word, or some special cookbook software? It shouldn't be so hard! Hugs...
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blogs at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com (farming) http://brightmeadowknits.blogspot.com (knitting) or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| soapmommy60543 |
Posted - Mar 07 2013 : 04:45:55 AM
Thanks ladies! You'll be happy to know that the index will have 3 sections: a list of all recipes in alphabetical order with page numbers, a list of the recipes by category (soups, salads, etc.), and the last section(which is the hard part)is by ingredient. So if you have almonds and want to make something with them, you can find a recipe for that.
I'm hoping to finish by the weekend, so we can get the book rolled out soon!
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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| lovinRchickens |
Posted - Mar 06 2013 : 9:07:09 PM
I always use indexes as well. I hope your cookbook Ann is a huge success, best wishes to you.
Blessings
~Kelly~ |
| buzzn bee |
Posted - Mar 06 2013 : 4:40:33 PM
I would be forever seaching if not for indexes. It seems as though I am always in a hurry, buzzn around like a bee looking for honey. I need the indexes to keep me sane. LOL! Your new cookbook sounds wonderful. What a true farmsister you are. That is a lot of work. I am proud of you. Sounds like you have a passion for cooking and trying new recipes. Keep up the good work. You make your farmsisters proud! YAY!!!
Hugs and best wishes on the new book!
Debbie H.
Buzzn Bee |
| Lyndell |
Posted - Mar 05 2013 : 11:07:56 AM
Sounds like you've decided to use an index after all - good! Just wanted to add that I also use and love cookbook indexes.
Think about it this way: if someone doesn't use the index, their decision to buy a cookbook WITH one wouldn't be affected either way. But if someone DOES use the index, and they're considering a cookbook without one, it will most likely make them decide not to purchase it. And the more sales you can get, the better, of course :-)
Best of luck!
http://foxgloveandfolksongs.blogspot.com
Farmgirl Sister #4236 |
| soapmommy60543 |
Posted - Mar 02 2013 : 06:12:15 AM
Thanks ladies!
And to answer the questions: All the recipes are gluten free, and the book will include everything from a few soups to desserts.
I'll be polishing up that index this weekend!
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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| oldbittyhen |
Posted - Mar 01 2013 : 6:41:48 PM
I too use the index to look up something I have never made or rarely make...makes it much faster, so my vote is YES...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
| sjmjgirl |
Posted - Mar 01 2013 : 5:52:30 PM
I definitely use it. Especially the ones that are listed by main ingredient.
Farmgirl Sister # 3810
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
- Dalai Lama
April is Autism Awareness month. Autism affects 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys, including my son). Go to http://www.autismspeaks.org/ to learn more and help Light It Up Blue on April 2nd!
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| Ninibini |
Posted - Mar 01 2013 : 1:19:13 PM
Yes - me, too!
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| SheilaC |
Posted - Mar 01 2013 : 12:59:15 PM
I mostly always use it too :) I get frustrated with ones with an incomplete index!
http://troutwife.blogspot.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/brooktroutwife |
| LeighErica |
Posted - Mar 01 2013 : 12:50:56 PM
I use the index all the time. Just because I don't normally have the time to sit down and read through the cookbook. That's not to say I don't read the cookbook..I do, but when I am cooking a recipe...I want it ASAP. So, yes....I use the index. Congratulations on your book. That is awesome!!! Will you be offering it for sale on the forum and/or are you going to list it with booksellers too? I would love to buy it from you if possible. How exciting....keep up the good work...don't get too frustrated. It will be great!!! Hugs, Erica
Farm Girl #2731 |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Mar 01 2013 : 12:38:47 PM
ALL the time, personally I probably would NOT buy a cookbook with out.
Cause in fact it's the first thing I always look at in a cookbook, to get a feel for the kind of recipes I will find in this book. Secondly, I would be TOTALLY frustrated with out one, when ever I wanted to look up something. I use the index pretty much every time I get out a cookbook!
Today my mom was wanting canned beans (in glass jars not in tin cans), so I looked in my ball canning book and first thing I did was go to the index to look up beans, and then the specific beans she wanted so I could go right to that page to see if I needed a pressure canner or it could be done in the water bath canner. Any way...had it not been for the index, that huge cookbook would of been totally useless to me, I would NOT of wanted to search through every page to look for beans!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| ddmashayekhi |
Posted - Mar 01 2013 : 08:24:22 AM
I always use the index in my cookbooks to find the exact page a certain recipe is on. I also use it to look up a recipe to make a particular ingredient I have on hand, like butternut squash. I rarely look at the table of contents since it doesn't have the recipes/ingredients in alphabetical order.
Good luck & have fun writing your cookbook. What kind of recipes will you be putting in it?
Dawn in IL |
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