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• and now the end is near

  2007 Dec 08

  A term within Lulu…
  Having set tasks within Lulu really made me play around and explore the system, something I have previously not done before. I do tend still to be scared of computers and really have no idea what they are capable of doing for me. Throughout this term I have had to face this fear and play around, do a lot of problem solving on my own and learn that these systems actually have everything explained for you if you use their ‘help’ and ‘search’ options.
  
  Live chat was something I had never done before; imagine there at Lulu central was some wonderful chappie just for me, to explain very politely my mistake. Something very simple that had been both puzzling and hindering the progress of my work for three days. Note to self, writing good notes in lectures can save three days of stress!!
  
  Personally I believe anything that challenges the norm and gets you thinking in different ways is a good thing. This module is not presented to us in a traditional, stuffy, listen and takes notes old school university style. We are studying a new art form and our lecture methods should reflect the move away from tradition. Saying this at times it was frustrating knowing what to do in class hours; I am quite on top of doing my work so did find myself unsure of what to do during some of the on-site hours.
  
  Become an online community was an interesting look at the class and how each person expressed themselves. There was such an array of difference in style of each person's e-tivities and how they coped with doing them.
  
  There was a lot of help being given through blogs, forums and in person between all classmates during this period. Considering so many seemed unfamiliar with Indesign only a few weeks ago we all managed to create and upload an interesting mix of books into the Lulu store.
  
  One thing I really appreciate about print on demand is the benefit to the environment. A company like lulu gives the individual/collective the opportunity to upload a PDF of what ever they choose to offer the consumer. It is then up to the said consumer to purchase as many copies of the artists work as they desire, no more spare rooms full of unsold books. Paper recycling skips worldwide hopefully are not being fed so much junk down to this factor.
  
  As an artist having total control over what you produce (bar the print job) is a bonus. I know that Lulu may not be the best print quality, but once you have established your book is a seller you then have the option to look elsewhere to get it repressed. As a confidence booster Lulu and all the other print on demand companies provide a service that unknown artists desperately need. I am sure most of us would struggle to get our work published until we are more established within the art word. In addition the DIY element enables you to cut out all the middle people that skim your cash, critique your work and probably do not care that much about you or your project.
  
  To first time users of Lulu, my experience within their system has been a pretty positive one. Saying this, times it can be very slow and take ages to manoeuvre around inside of. You can go all around the houses searching for the information that you need. This does of course give you a good grounding in its layout. Once the PDF is there within their shop the hard work begins, if you are serious about selling your work I would advise to promote the work widely within the stores groups.
  
  I do not think this will be my last project I do within Lulu, it is a positive experience to be in control of you work. Small book publishing fairs be warned, next year I will be lurking at a table somewhere within your midst’s.