Use Google Drive to Make Your Own Ebooks and Sooth Your OCD

I converted Bentley’s master’s thesis to an ebook. I also converted a web page that was as long as a novella to an ebook. I’ve done it with a few classics too. It’s because my OCD demands an easy reading experience and, most of all, sweet cover art (yes, I judge books by their covers, which is why I’ve never read Brandon Sanderson’s Alcatraz books—but he said new covers are coming soon).

When my buddy Joel asked me how it’s done, I decided to blog it to share with the likes of you.

If these instructions aren’t crystal clear, leave a comment, and I’ll help you out.

  

FIRST

Download and install Sigil (it converts .html to .epub)
Download and install Calibre (it’s like iTunes for ebooks)



THEN TAKE THESE EASY STEPS

1. Paste the text of your ebook into a new Google Doc.





2. Change the margins to 0. Make sure there’s no space after paragraphs. (Basically, you want to keep the formatting as simple as possible.) OPTIONAL: Format all headings as H1, H2, etc., then insert a table of contents.




3. Download the file as a webpage (HTML zipped).





4. Load the HTML file into SIGIL, then save it as an .EPUB.





5. OPTIONAL: Load the .EPUB into CALIBRE to change the title, author, and (best of all) add a cover. Then save it again as a new .EPUB.





6. Go to https://play.google.com/books/uploads to easily upload the .EPUB to your Google Play Books library.





7. Read the file on your Nexus 7 or Android phone with this app.
Or read on your iPhone or iPad with this app.
Or read the file anywhere you have an internet browser: https://play.google.com/books/



FYI

Google Play and most ebook devices use .EPUB as their ebook format. It’s an open platform. Kindle uses .MOBI and .AZW3, which are proprietary. If you want to use Kindle format, Calibre can convert it for you in that 6th step.