Are you baffled and befuddled by
the complexities of the publishing world?
It is a confusing maze
and a bit overwhelming to
wannabes and new authors
Let us guide you through it,
help you select the best method
of publishing your book.
You’ll learn how to take advantage of the
recent advances in printing technology
and how to find the most cost-effective approach
for your specific book
Begin by reading the articles
in the blue box on the right
Many more will be
added in the weeks
ahead
We help you understand the plusses
and the negatives of each method
*
TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING
Most of the public assumes all books
are produced by the Traditional Publishing method
employing a three-way partnership between
author, literary agent and publisher.
THE MAJORS
The approach of major publishing companies has changed
dramatically over the past
two decades.
Ours was once an industry of proud intellectuals
who loved books, and happily sacrificed profit for quality
when they found works they considered important.
That’s no longer so, and that has made it more difficult
to publish your books traditionally
particularly for startups
like those of you
who are
writing in retirement…
but still
very possible.
Today, the majors have either merged
or been swallowed up by massive conglomerates.
The bottom line has replaced pride-in-product as the arbiter
in deciding whether or not to publish a book.
With rare exceptions, unless the author is extremely well
known or the subject very current or controversial,
many deserving books are regularly passed up by the majors
So it is vital that authors understand the alternatives
THE INDEPENDENTS
Many smaller, independent publishers from coast to
coast
are willing to take a risk when they feel a book
is valuable even
though it may not be a surefire seller.
These
dedicated
indies are especially effective if your book
is targeted to a niche audience. Many of them have built their reputations by being
very specialized.
It is helpful
to have a literary agent to represent you
in finding
and negotiating a contract
with an indie,
but not mandatory.
Unlike the
majors, many will accept submissions
directly
from an author
We’ll help you find these publishers,
and show you
the best way to approach them.
*
PUBLISHING-ON-DEMAND (POD)
Once looked upon as the pariahs of the Publishing industry,
POD houses have burgeoned in the last decade
as worthy tools to move a book to print
especially for beginners who have little familiarity
with the many details involved in publishing a book.
Using the new digital technology, these publishers
are able to provide very short press runs
particularly valuable to authors who want to distribute
their memoir just to family and friends. Retirees
often take advantage of this opportunity.
For an initial production fee, the POD house
will secure all necessary certifications including
ISBN, copyright, Library of Congress cataloguing, etc
and
will format the text, design a cover, print
and place the book with a wholesaler
You must be very careful in choosing a POD house.
Their offerings differ. Some seem like writer’s nirvana,
but a closer study will make you think twice.
We’ll show you what to look for.
*
SELF-PUBLISHING
Growing in popularity by leaps and bounds,
self-publishing has graduated from the stigma of
vanity publishing
to a highly respectable
method of bringing a book to life.
Authors choosing this approach
must be willing to tackle the myriad chores required
to prepare a book for printing.
They must also hire and supervise a printer
and arrange for adequate distribution.
Several excellent books on self-publishing have been
written. They can be found in the appendix
of my latest book The Writer Within You,
which
also covers all the basics to assist as you do-it-yourself.
*
As you can see, each methodology has its own special values
as well as its shortcomings as you search
for the most effective way to publish what you write.
Make sure you read the informative articles
in the blue column on the right of every page of this web site.
Find out lots more by reading the weekly column
A
careful reading
of The Writer
Within You
will help
you
choose the best method of publishing your book.
Article writers will learn how to find
the most likely
magazines and newspapers in which to publish
their work.