Owner: Self-Publishing Articles URL:http://selfpublishing-articles.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:43:35 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Self-publishing articles - what, how, when, why... Site statistics:Click here
The Importance of a Pre-Publication Marketing Plan 2007-08-28 03:42:00 A Basic Guide for Self-Published and Print on Demand Authorsby Jennifer HollowellYou’ve written your book, gone through the editing gauntlet and decided to publish the finished product yourself. You’ve researched all the self publishing options, decided on a company, approved the book’s cover and polished the book’s final lay-out. All you’re “i’s” are dotted and “t’s” are crossed. Now, you’re ready to go to press. Right?Wrong!Day after day, week after week, my inbox is filled with marketing questions all centered on the same commonality: “My book was doing really well in the beginning, but sales have fallen off. Do you have any idea why this happens?”“My book has received some great reviews, but they aren’t resulting in any sales. Do you know why this is happening?” “I sent out one hundred press kits, but no sales have turned over. Why could this be happening?”These are just a small sampling of the distressed messages landing in my inbox. How are t Read more:Marketing
Self Publishing Success Starts With Marketing 2007-08-28 03:40:00 by Jean FritzSelf-publishing is not for the faint of heart. The publication process is lengthy, involves a considerable number of detailed, administrative tasks and can be expensive. This is the easy part; the real challenge involves “S & M” – sales and marketing.For an author to become a successful self-publisher, he or she must make a paradigm shift in consciousness from author to entrepreneur, and view their book in the same way that Madison Avenue gurus view the newest shampoo. An author has to be able to do a dispassionate analysis of the market the book was meant to reach. Is its greatest appeal to young people? Senior citizens? Men? Women? Members of a minority group? The definition of a market – or markets – will help to determine and focus the ensuing marketing campaign.Next, the author must develop a marketing plan. How can I reach my market most effectively? Freelance authors are already aware of the plethora of niche publications on the market. Now, instead of Read more:Marketing
, Publishing
, Success
Can You Afford to Publish Your Book? 2007-08-28 03:35:00 by Sophfronia Scott, The Book Sistah Money blinds. It’s as simple as that. Aspiring authors ask about the money issue all the time, in varying forms, (How much does it cost to publish? How much will I get paid in royalties?, etc.) but they can’t see beyond that issue to think about the thing that will truly decide the money question. And here it is:What Do You Want From Your Book? That is the real question! Once you are clear about what you want out of the publishing process, you can decide what route would be the most satisfying–and profitable–for you. When it comes right down it it, you can spend as much or as little as you want on your book. But how much are you willing to spend to get what you want?When you aren’t clear, you can make poor decisions that won’t line up with your goals. For instance, many authors have a goal of making a lot of money, but they won’t consider self publishing. The fact is that unless you can immediately sell on the level of an Oprah’s Boo Read more:Publish
Self-Publishing 101 2007-08-28 03:33:00 by Chris TolamaluTypically, authors write their books, send them to agents or publishers, and then hope for the best. However, some authors opt to not leave anything to chance; they take matters into their own hands and make sure that the book is published. Welcome to the world of self-publishing, wherein books or other media are published by those who have written them.Self-publishing enables the author to not only ensure that the book is published, but also gives the author complete control over content (traditionally, the publisher does maintain some editorial control over the matter). Other aspects that the publisher traditionally controls - design of the book, the layout of the text, the appearance of the cover, the bookbinding, the quality of the paper, and so on can also be controlled by the writer when self-publishing.How is self-publishing different from traditional publishing? Besides the fact that the author is also the publisher, self-publishing means that the author pays f Read more:Publishing
The Economics of Publishing Your Book 2007-08-28 03:29:00 by Bud Banis, PhD, CMASome might say— “Don’t even think about publishing!”Most books lose money.Many publishers receive 100 unsolicited manuscripts per day. There are 120,000 new books published every year, about 10,000 per month. Six mega-publishers account for 60% of all adult book revenues. It takes about 18 months to get a book to market after negotiations are completed. A typical first print run is 5000 books. Books typically remain on the shelves for less than a year, then “remainders” are sold off cheap to get them out of the way. Most publishers actively promote only the top 20% of their books. Authors usually get 6-10% of NET. With discounted sales, this is about $3000 on a print run of 5000, if they all sell. Most don’t. Most books lose money. Big publishers take control away from the author.60% don’t allow the author final copy approval. 23% don’t let the author choose the title. 20% don’t consult the author on jacket design. 36% rarely involve the author Read more:Publishing
, Economics
How To Publish Your Own Book 2007-08-28 03:25:00 by Rachel F. ElsonIf you’re telling yourself for the 57th time, “I could write a book,” but you don’t have a direct line to the editors at Random House, it may be time to consider self-publishing. Don’t knock it: James Redfield’s “The Celestine Prophecy” and John Grisham’s “A Time to Kill” started this way. But if you’re going to go to the trouble (not to mention the expense), you’ll want to make sure your precious copies don’t just end up in some dusty garage. How do you get your tome flying off the shelves at Borders? We asked some experts for advice:HYPE IT UP. Publicizing your book shouldn’t be the last thing you think about — you should start even before the masterpiece is finished. Begin by lining up people to blurb it — raid your Palm (and your friends’ contacts) for former colleagues, teachers or other high-profile prospects. Once you’ve typed those two gratifying words, “the end,” call the local media, and submit excerpts to magazines Read more:Publish
Questions about Publishing 2007-08-28 03:20:00 by Holly LisleHow do I pick a publisher to publish my book?The best way to find the publisher who will be right for you is to find the books that you read that are most like the one you have written (in genre, in style, in tone) and see who publishes them. If they bought books like yours, the odds are vastly improved that they will buy yours, too. Don’t waste time sending off your book to those “publishers” who advertise in the backs of magazines. (Not even the ones who advertise in the back of Writer’s Digest.) They’ll accept your manuscript. I almost guarantee it. They’ll also charge you for the privilege of being “published.” This is not the way the business works.Never send a manuscript to a publisher because you “noticed that you don’t have any romance novels out there—my book will fill a hole in your list.” Your book will fill an out-slot in the publisher’s mailbox. A key rule in publishing lists is “same, but different.” If the publisher does romanc Read more:Publishing
Good News About Getting Published 2007-08-28 03:08:00 by Henry DeVriesSo you want to get a book published and add “author” to your resume. A decade ago, there weren’t too many options for professionals and consultants to get into print. If a traditional publisher wasn’t interested in your tome, your only other option was to spend tens of thousands of dollars with a subsidy press or custom printer. And then, without ready distribution, good luck trying to sell the books.But all that has changed. Thanks to new technologies, today it is not only possible to produce a professional-looking copy of your book for under $1,000, you can also market the book through reputable sales channels.Alternative publishers are able to print both paperback and hardcover books as they’re needed due to the bold new digital publishing technology known as “print-on-demand.” Simply put, print-on-demand turns the traditional economics of the $27.5 billion publishing industry upside down. Going digital allows books to be produced in small quantities Read more:Good News
Self-Publishing: Is It For You? 2007-08-29 03:53:00 by Thomas M. SiposThe best short answer as to why you should self-publish was given by Spinal Tap lead singer David St. Hubbins: “There’s no way to promote something that doesn’t exist.”If you’re considering self-publishing, and desire a longer answer, it might be best to first define our terms:Types and Terms in Publishing
In traditional publishing, the traditional publisher screens books for quality and/or marketability, rejects most submissions, and invests in producing, marketing, and distributing the book. The traditional publisher also takes certain exclusive rights. This is true even though the copyright remains in the author’s name. Once you sell your book to Random House, you can’t sell it to Putnam.The self-publisher does all of the above for his own book. Because there is no independent third-party screen (such as an editor), self-published books are suspect in the minds of reviewers, bookstores, and readers. Some self-published authors are very hands-on, handli
To be published or to self publish, that is the question 2007-08-29 03:44:00 by E. WardIn today’s society the book industry is starting to resemble somewhat of a social hierarchy. Meaning that there are certain levels authors strive for before they are considered to be at the top of the food chain. Herein lies the quandary; how should authors reach the top and what can they do to get there?Many would answer find a publisher to take on your book, all of the costs involved and in the end get a royalty check every quarter. However, an equal amount of individuals would argue that self-publishing reduces the hassle of finding a publisher to begin with, and gets the books published
quicker. This method comes at a higher cost to begin, but can also come with the reward of less people touching the profits and the possibility of being picked up by a publisher (as well as an entrepreneurial spirit). So which one is better, and why do some authors have a problem with self-published authors? Besides the few who take a reserved approach to self-publishing, the majority of
Writers Turn to Self-Publishing 2007-08-29 03:44:00 by Crystalee WebbThe road from the initial brainstorming stages of a book to the finished product in a bookstore is a long journey with many twists and turns. Self-publishing is an avenue attracting more authors, despite its challenges.“With new technology, print on demand, anybody could start a publishing company,” said Martin Naparsteck, author and former professor at Utah State University.A current New York resident, Naparsteck has published four books and more than 400 book reviews for the Salt Lake Tribune. He has now opted for his books “War Song” and “Hero’s Welcome,” novels about the Vietnam War, to be published through print-on-demand on the Internet.Print-on-demand publishing is an option for authors who wish to self-publish, allowing them to hire a printer to manufacture the books as people order them online, cutting excess inventory.“Clearly, it would save publishers a lot of money,” Naparsteck said. “Some people estimate that more than 50 percent of boo Read more:Publishing
, Writers
11 Tips to Avoid Self-Publishing Traps 2007-08-29 03:42:00 by Marilyn and Tom RossSelf-publishing used to be the Rodney Dangerfield of book publishing. It didn’t get “no respect.” Today that’s all changed. With originally self-published books like The Celestine Prophecy, Butter Busters, The Christmas Box, and What Color is Your Parachute? monopolizing bestseller lists—do-it-yourself publishing is very much in vogue. To be successful, however, it’s mandatory that you adhere to certain guidelines. By following the tips below, you’ll avoid the pitfalls and enhance your chances of flourishing.1. Educate yourself. Self-publishing is a business. Approach it as such. There are informative books on the subject, seminars offered, and associations where you can learn the ropes and network with the more experienced. This can be very lucrative if properly approached. Conversely, you can waste thousands of dollars by blundering along without knowledge or a plan.2. Study the competition. Don’t add more to a subject that’s already glutted. Read more:Publishing
, Avoid
, Traps
When to Self Publish Your Book 2007-08-29 03:39:00 There Are Some Very Good Reasons to Self-publish Your Bookby Melanie Schwear Self-publishing or print on demand (POD) publishing is becoming a very popular topic on the internet. Many people have the dream of becoming a published writer, and self-publishing gives them the satisfaction of holding an actual bound book with their name on it without having to go through all the submission and rejection with a traditional publisher.With traditional publishing routes, the publisher makes sure to get your book onto store shelves and publicizes it well. After all, it is in their interest to do so. They make money off each book that is sold. With self-publishing, however, all of the promotion depends on you. Most self-published books never sell more than five hundred copies.You Already Have a Fan-BaseIf you are an already published writer, and you want to give your fans a little treat, self-publishing might be a great idea for you. You can quickly have any number of books printed that you can o Read more:Publish
Top Ten Reasons to Self Publish! 2007-08-29 03:37:00 1. Self publishing may be the only way to get published. You may not be able to get anyone to professional look at your idea.2. As a self-publisher you get to keep all of the profits from your sales. You only get 4 - 6% in royalties from a publishing company.3. You have absolute marketing and editing control when you self publish. 60% of the big publishers do the final editing, 23% select the final title, 37% do not involve the author in promoting their own material.4. Major publishers may receive up to several hundred manuscripts a week. Unless you’ve published before, the odds are they won’t even look at your material.5. When you self-publish you are in control every step of the way. By depending on a publisher, you take the chance of never getting anywhere.6. By self-publishing you gain a different perspective. You handle the complete marketing package.7. Self publishing saves you valuable time. Using a publisher it takes up to 18 months before the first copy reaches the market. Read more:Publish
, Reasons
, Top Ten
, Top Ten Reasons
How to Publish Print on Demand 2007-09-23 21:40:00 by HenryPrint
on Demand technology is the new wave of publishing. Authors of all stripes can now see their books in print. Self-publishing and Print on Demand are not necessarily one and the same. If you’re looking to self-publish, you won’t necessarily use a POD publisher. POD technology can also be used by established publishers looking to cut down on printing costs.Step One: Set your budget: some POD services will cost $600 or more for the service. This will include interior and exterior book design. Other services are free, such as Lulu, but advanced cover design is not included. With Lulu, there are some basic cover templates available. You may need to hire an outside designer.Step Two: Find a POD service. It’s important to keep in mind that some POD services will require you print a set number upfront—as many as 500 books. Other services will let you order books one at a time.Step Three: Edit your book. Print on Demand services will take books as is. Hire a copy editor to Read more:Publish
Publishing Your Own Book 2007-09-23 21:28:00 by Rhonda SwanI’m vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard Island in Massachusetts with my family this week and I brought along a few books, figuring I’d catch up on some reading and get to some reviews for this blog. Unfortunately, I’m having too hard a time wading through the first two books. Both are self-published by South Florida authors. The non-fiction title is so poorly written AND boring; I keep finding myself throwing it down in frustration.The novel is poorly edited. In fact, I don’t think it was edited at all because of the missing commas and periods and run-on sentences I tripped over in just the two-page prologue.So, instead of torturing myself any further or putting the authors on blast, I wanted to offer a few suggestions to aspiring authors, particularly those who want to self-publish. Not on the basics of the industry. For that, Dan Poynter’s “The Self-Publishing
Manual: How to Write, Print, and Sell Your Own Book” is considered the bible of self-publishing an
Subsidy Publishing vs. Self-Publishing: What's the Difference? 2007-09-20 19:53:00 by Moira AllenYou've written a book. It's a great book. You know it's needed, that people would buy it. But you can't persuade a commercial publisher to agree. So now you're considering investing your own money to have the book published.When you look at advertisements for "publishing," however, matters become confusing. Many "Publish Your Book" ads look alike -- yet some are for subsidy publishers and others are for printing companies that help authors "self-publish" their work. How can you tell them apart?Some DefinitionsA commercial publisher distributes books under its own imprint. It purchases manuscripts from authors, and handles the cost of producing those manuscripts: Cover and interior design, typesetting, printing, marketing, distribution, etc. The author is not expected to pay any of these costs. The books are owned by the publisher and remain in the publisher's possession until sold; the author receives a portion of sales in the form of royalties.A subsidy publisher a Read more:Publishing
Self Publishing 2007-09-20 19:46:00 Self publishing is not vanity publishing, but a well-recognised way of avoiding the limitations of conventional publishing. Poetry is the poor relation in mainstream publishing, but that's no reason why your collection shouldn't be made a stunning production through self publishing. Several approaches exist, but marketing and distribution are often the critical elements.IntroductionSelf publishing is not a criticism of the publishing trade. Anyone who has worked with publishing houses knows the flair, experience and dedication they bring to their profession. Many books today are works of art and, for all the thousands of hours in manuscript reading and rewriting, editing, proof-reading, cover design, illustration, layout, printing, marketing and distribution — specialist skills acquired by long experience — books are astonishingly cheap. Many, the coffee-table variety in particular, are not in fact designed to be read, but to be displayed and admired.Naturally, all this effort co Read more:Publishing
Navigating the Maze of Self-Publishing 2007-09-20 19:35:00 by Jane BussardSelf-Publishing
means: You the writer are going to invest a lot of money and time to have your masterpiece published.Some writers can use the technical computer programs that do everything required to prepare a manuscript for the printing press. Well, I was not one of those -- I knew absolutely nothing about a computer. So, my odyssey into writing and publishing was arduous and painful, although the challenge itself was fun. Other writers who have self-published will have a very different story than mine. There is one requirement however and that is...dedication. Without belief in your story, you will give up along the way.For me, it all started this way. Long after my retirement, I decided to write down the memoirs of an incredible lady, Rosa Ellen Scott, who was born in 1895. She was my mother and I had tape recorded our visits together over many years when she was in her 80s. At that time I had jokingly told her, "Someday Mom, I will write a book about your adventurou
Self-Publishing: Tips, Tricks & Techniques 2007-09-20 19:32:00 by James A. CoxMidwest Book ReviewIf you've chosen to publish one of your own books, you know you're in for a challenge, and lots of work, and lots of fun. For most of us the process starts out as an idea, then ripens into a dream. It takes hold of our lives, dictates how we spend our time, compels us to capture our thoughts on paper, and tests our ingenuity in a hundred different ways. But a dream without action is like a car without gasoline. It can't go anywhere. To move our book from inception to completion we must fuel ourselves with education and study; we must conquer the craft of writing and publishing.The undertaking is complex. The subject mater must be widely appealing -- or tightly focused. A snappy title must be created. Sloppy writing must be sharpened and honed to a fine edge. A myriad of business procedures must be mastered: pricing, discounts, invoices, licenses, and taxes all clamor to be reckoned with. Unfamiliar numbers and listings must be conquered. The fine po Read more:Publishing
Self-Publishing Steps to Success 2007-09-12 20:15:00 Write the darn book! Marketing the book.Editing the book.Format the page layouts. Get a hardcopy. Designing the cover. Printing the book. Paying for it. Selling the book. The first thing to do is to go buy The Self-Publishing
Manual by Dan Poynter. Almost every self-publisher credits this book as being the best tool for learning how the whole process works (including me!) It's essential reading. Dan has been self-publishing books for years and travels around the world giving seminars. He is the expert in the field and his book saves you a lot of headaches and educates you on the best way to go about the process.Source: www.crystalreportsbook.com Read more:Success
How to self-publish a book ... and who should be doing it 2007-09-12 20:01:00 by Simon HaynesWhat is self publishing?People write books for many reasons, but most have a common goal: to one day see their work in print. The traditional method is to shop the manuscript around in the hope that an agent and/or publisher will offer a contract. And traditionally, most agents and publishers send manuscripts back with a 'no thank you'.After a few weeks/months/years of that, many people start to look at the alternatives. Self-publishing is one of them.First, let's clarify exactly what self-publishing is. A few years back it meant employing an editor, a book designer and a cover artist to get the work into shape and ready for press, and then employing a printer for the books, another for the covers and a binder to put it all together. Print runs were usually in the hundreds, or even thousands, and the finished article looked pretty much like ordinary books in the stores. To get a book into print, self-published authors were pretty much setting up their own mini publish Read more:doing
Self-Publishing 101: Beware of Wolves Dressed as Publishers 2007-09-12 00:31:00 Company teaches authors the true definition of self-publishing."Keep all the rights to your book!" "Set your own prices!" If you are a new author looking to self-publish, you have more than likely come across these phrases from companies claiming to help you self publish your book. You have probably requested more information from these companies with the hopes that they will be the answer to your prayers in the quest for more information. These so called companies stand to make a huge profit from your book, whether you make anything or not. These so called 'publishers' promise to make your book available all over the world and in bookstores. Beware
. These companies are wolves. And they are out to get your money.BlackBerry Literary Services was founded in 2005 by author Sandra Peoples-Gates after she bought into the hype that she would be self-publishing a book, her book would be available in stores and people could purchase her book from anywhere in the world. Some hard core researc Read more:Publishing
, Wolves
, Dressed
, Publishers
7 Steps to Successful Publishing 2007-09-11 22:42:00 The decision to publish a book is very exciting! It causes the creative juices to flow and the eyes to light up. But wait – before you begin the publishing process, know about the seven most important steps you need to know before publishing a book. Make sure that you take every step into careful consideration so that your road to success is an easy one:1. Know why you are writing and publishing a book. Are you writing your memoirs for the family, are you writing a community cookbook, are you writing a book of regional interest or are you writing a national bestseller? All of these goals are valid, but each goal has different implications for your business plan. Know why you are writing and know that you can create that bestseller if that is your goal.2. Treat publishing as a business. You are passing beyond the realm of author into the exciting world of publishing. You are not just a writer, you are about to become a publisher who wants to produce a profitable book, and you want to Read more:Publishing
Key Differences Between Publishing and Self Publishing -- How to Publish a Book 2007-09-11 22:38:00 For many authors just starting out, it can be a confusing and overwhelming decision whether to self publish a book or to seek out a traditional publishing house. It is important to know that the decision you make can have a huge impact on the success, or the failure, of your book. There are many factors to consider, and the right decision is going to be different for every author and for every book. Here are just a few key factors and publishing tips excerpted from The Essential Book Publish
ing Guide to help you make the decision of exactly how to publish a book: Time: When seeking a traditional publishing house to publish your book, you will soon discover that the book will be published according to the publisher's timeline. Publishing
houses have a set production mandate and books are scheduled for publication far in advance. Often, books are signed on for publication one to three years before they are actually published. When you self publish, the only timeline restricting the publ
Confused about choosing a Self Publishing Company or Self Publishing Service? 2007-09-11 22:34:00 Here's what you need to know before you sign on... It seems that self publishing is becoming more and more popular by the minute. Authors are realizing that they now have the power to retain control of their books and to keep profits for themselves.However, with this rising popularity comes the emergence of more and more self publishing companies and self publishing services. There are endless options and it can be overwhelming. How do you choose? What should you look for? Is it worth it? Do you know exactly what these companies can do for you?No matter what you decide, know this: you should not, ever, enter into any agreement with a self publishing service or self publishing company without doing your research.You must have a solid understanding of the publishing industry before jumping into any contract. For example, do you know: whether or not you should sign over your copyright?exactly which rights you should give up, and which you should retain?what the duration of the contract s Read more:Publishing
, Service
How Should I Choose a Self-Publishing Company? 2007-09-11 22:28:00 by Christina M. SchumacherChoosing a self-publishing company can really be a difficult decision. There are many of them to choose from and they all offer a multitude of options for you to choose from. I have specific guidelines that I use now that I wished I had used when I published my first book.The first of these is: Is the self-publishing company's website easy to understand and navigate?In looking for the publisher for the fourth book, I was amazed at some of the websites I came across. I realize that there is a lot to cover for these companies, but I found myself lost far from the page I started from and having difficulties determining where I'd been and where I needed to go.The fact is, what I needed to know was what size books they printed, what type of royalty percentages they paid, what it would cost for the basic publishing package and their procedure. I found myself all over the place, literally digging for these things when they should have been found very simply. When a Read more:Publishing
A List of Self-Publishing Companies 2007-09-11 22:22:00 This list is by no means complete, but will give you somewhere to start if you are searching for a self-publishing company that is right for you. Just click on the link to be taken to each company's website.http://www.authorhouse.com/http://www.llumina.com/http://www.arborbooks.com/http://www.lulu.com/http://www.aventinepress.com/http://www.pagefreepublishing.com/http://www.booklocker.com/http://www.trafford.com/http://www.booksurgepublishing.com/http://www.unlimitedpublishing.com/http://www.equilibriumbooks.com/http://www.virtualbookworm.com/http://www.foremostpress.com/authors/http://www.wheatmark.com/http://www.infinitypublishing.com/http://www.wingspanpress.com/http://www.inkwaterpress.com/http://www.iuniverse.com/http://ww2.xlibris.com/ Source: www.nightwatchmanchronicles.com Read more:Publishing
, Companies
Is Self-Publishing a Good Idea? 2007-09-11 22:15:00 by Christina M. SchumacherIs self-publishing a good idea? This is a question you will hopefully be able to answer by the end of this article.There are a number of ways to publish a book, but the two we will discuss here are the most practical. They are:1) Traditional Publishing
2) Self-PublishingThe process for publishing with a traditional publisher can be a long one. Most traditional publishers take anywhere from three months to one year to determine if they wish to publish your book.If they do accept it, it will normally be another year to two years before it's actually out on the market.The advantage to traditional publishing is that you don't pay to have your book published, but you do still have to help market it. However, chances of getting your book into most bookstores is a much higher percentage than with self-publishing.So, if you don't mind the long wait and think you have a shot of competing with hundreds of other submitted manuscripts, then traditional publishing might
Best Tips For Book Marketing For The Self Publisher 2007-09-11 22:11:00 Assuming you're a self publisher or book publisher and you've already published your book, you need to immediately implement a strong, no-holds barred, book marketing and promotion strategy to sell your books fast. Your book selling, book marketing, and book promotion planning should begin before the manuscript is completed. Self publishers need to have a good marketing plan to sell books and should be written prior to writing your book and in place a year prior to publishing your book.Your book press release should not be written as you would a sales letter or flier, it should be written for the editor and tell about your book in a factual way, no opinion or glowing remarks. Press releases can generate thousands of dollars in sales when picked up by national trade or print media. Using press releases can be a very effective marketing tool if used properly.Make sure you have at least one good press release, written in AP style, which you can send out for the lifetime of your book. Se Read more:Marketing
, Publisher
Recommend Site To A Friend
