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Self Publishing Your Own Book: When Should You Consider It?
27 Nov, 2009
Deanna Mascle is a published author, creative writing teacher, and freelance writer. Check out her free report “Self Publishing: Is It Right For You” at http://answersaboutwriting.com/selfpublishing/
Self publishing your own book is one of the publishing industry’s dirty little secrets. Mainstream publishers, editors, and authors easily dismiss self publishing and print on demand publishing as a rip-off for both the writer and reader. After all, if the writer was a real writer then they could find a real publisher, right? That has been the conventional wisdom for a long time but in today’s modern, technological society that conventional wisdom does not always hold true. So who should consider self publishing?
Real writers should consider self publishing. Published authors often find themselves placed in a prison of their own making. Once they have achieved even modest success in a specific niche it is often hard to break out of that niche and publish something different. However self publishing gives authors control over their own writing so they can change direction or genre if they choose. Published authors who have taken some time off from their writing often find it just as hard to return as it was to break in initially. They can often easily parlay their experience and audience into a successful self publishing career. Finally, writers who have an idea that does not fit neatly into one of the major publishing houses slots may find self publishing their only alternative. Just because it doesn’t fit into a neat slot doesn’t mean your book doesn’t have great potential — think about Diana Gabaldon and J.K. Rowling.
Control freaks should also consider self publishing. Once you sign your baby over to a major publisher then you lose control of your book. The publisher can slap a horrible or inappropriate cover on it, change its name, or even alter the main characters. Your name will go on the book but what is published may be drastically changed from your original creation–and not always for the better. Think it won’t happen to you, or that you won’t care as long as you get the royalty check, then think again. I can tell you that I still cringe whenever I have to claim a book I published in 1998. It’s not the book that makes me want to crawl under a rock–but the cover and title the publisher slapped on it.
Money grubbers should also consider self publishing. While the independently wealthy may consider their art reward enough the rest of us need to eat and pay the mortgage (not to mention buy paper and pens) so money does matter. And of course, we want all our hard work to be rewarded. In our capitalist society that reward should be monetary. While self publishing may require you to put up some of your own money and traditional publishing will instead offer you an upfront payment, the final balance sheet will tell you a much different story. The initial advance from a traditional publisher will be small (unless you are Stephen King) and may be the only money you receive for your book for a long time — and perhaps ever depending how your book sells. Any book royalties you receive will be for a small percentage and will be spread out over years to come as well as held ransom for book returns. The final indignity is that your book’s sales depend greatly on the promotional effort your publisher puts into it. The ugly truth is that the publisher does not much care about your baby and will rarely put any extra money, manpower, or thought into how to promote your book. Most midlist and lowlist authors conduct (and foot the bill for) their own promotion. At least when you self publish you know you will be on your own and you can factor that into your budget.
If you are a real writer, a control freak, or a money grubber (or perhaps some combination) then you should consider self publishing your own book.
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August 24 Book Marketing Expert newsletter:
The Importance of Copyediting and Proofreading Your
Book
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There's a new book in my local bookstore. There's a book signing
coming up this week. Last Sunday, the book was reviewed in our
town's newspaper.
It wasn't a good review. The reviewer said there were so many
typos and inappropriate footnotes as well as other glaring errors,
including
the writing, that they gave the book a less-than-favorable review.
Creating a book properly is like dressing for a black-tie event.
If a man's tuxedo tie is last year's style, he looks out of
place. If a book isn't proofread properly, the book's mistakes
stick
out like a sore thumb, and even if it's a good book, and well-written,
it will not be favorably received by the publishing industry.
Moral of the story: spend the money and have the book copyedited
for spelling and grammar, and proof, proof, proof.
Article courtesy of Ellen Reid:
Ellen Reid is president of ELLEN REID'S BOOK SHEPHERDING
(SM) a division of Smarketing-Infinite Possibilities, which
orchestrates,
consults, and collaborates with authors who want to publish
their own books. An expert in positioning, she works with
a coterie
of
award-winning book designers, copywriters, editors, graphic
designers, web designers, printers and more, guiding authors
to take their
book from manuscript to print, including all the support
materials and services to launch the title and author. You can
contact
Ellen at ellen@bookshep.com.
August 10 Book Marketing Expert newsletter:
Looking for Longer Shelf Life for Your Book?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fiction authors: Have you thought about using the new Paperback
Original concept for your book? Publishers say there is no harder
sell in the world of books these days than literary fiction.
A recent New York Times article said, "Even critically acclaimed
literary novels often have a short shelf life in hardcover, with
one-half to three-quarters of the books shipped to stores often
being returned to the publisher, unsold."
That has a growing number of publishing companies, from smaller
houses like Grove/Atlantic to giants like Random House, adopting
a different business model, offering books by lesser-known authors
only as "paperback originals," foregoing the higher profits
afforded by publishing a book in hardcover for a chance at attracting
more buyers and a more sustained shelf life.
Now the small and independent publisher can not only print short-run paperback original books ... they can print them with enhancements,
or book "decoration." Even with a print run as small
as 500 copies, some printers will do spot varnish and embossing
on the cover.
Visit your local bookstore to see what the big houses are doing
now with paperback originals to see what I mean.
This is a great opportunity to create a quality
book, print in small quantities first and at an affordable price.
Article courtesy of Ellen Reid:
Ellen Reid is president of ELLEN REID'S BOOK SHEPHERDING (SM)
a division of Smarketing-Infinite Possibilities, which orchestrates,
consults, and collaborates with authors who want to publish
their own books. An expert in positioning, she works with
a coterie
of
award-winning book designers, copywriters, editors, graphic
designers, web designers, printers and more, guiding authors
to take their
book from manuscript to print, including all the support materials
and services to launch the title and author. You can contact
Ellen at ellen@bookshep.com.
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