PUBLISHING OPTIONS

1.   Large trade publisher:

Advantages: 

national publicity;  
lots of stores

Disadvantages:  

hard to break into;  
may take two or three years before book is actually published;  
publicity will drop off suddenly unless you hit best-seller lists;  
contract often requires a lawyer to negotiate; 
small profit;  
you may not have control over editing, cover, etc. 

Warning: some major publishers are now requiring unknown authors to purchase large quantities of books up front, with only the bookstore discount.

2.   Mid-size trade publisher:

Similar to #1, but easier to break into.

Many are becoming Print-on-Demand publishers as well, charging the author for different "packages" offering production, publicity, distribution, etc. Watch these contracts carefully;  there may be problems.

Some of the good ones offer co-publishing as an option. This means author and publisher share both costs and profits,  which often produces more satisfactory results than POD or self-publishing.  This can be an ideal situation for an author who has the ability to sell books at workshops and readings, to target audiences. The author can obtain books at cost, but doesn't have to carry a large inventory or pay for a large print run up front. If you deal with a publisher who has a good track record, you will have a high-quality book you can be proud of. The author often handles initial editing and publicity to keep costs down even further, but the publisher ensures a quality product. 

Check Custom Printers who are now offering publishing, distribution, and other services in addition to printing books and all types of promotional materials.

3.   E-book publishers: 

companies like IUniverse, Xlibris and Author House

Advantages:
             costs are lower than self-publishing

Disadvantages:  

your book doesn't really exist anywhere;  
you have to promote and sell it yourself;  
this type of publishing is looked down on by the industry

4.   Reputable Print-On-Demand publishers 

(who publish ONLY this way and produce actual hard copies of books).

Advantages:  
cheaper and faster than trade publishing;
you control everything; 
you can opt for package that meets your exact needs;  
you keep a substantial portion of profits

Disadvantages: 
although they will do some promotion and distribution for you,  you still have to handle most of the publicity yourself;  
costs can be high, especially for a limited run

Go to www.trafford.com/5915 for details about one reputable POD publisher with a good track record.
Their books get reviewed; they have a good catalog; they treat authors well. Trafford participates in BookExpo and is now sending co-op ads to newspapers as well as broadening its distribution and publicity.

5. Self-publishing with some help 

Advantages: 
cost-effective;  
you get the best prices for printing;  
you have full control and see actual proofs;
you keep all the profits;
you can sell books in any venue 

Disadvantages: 
you have to be able to produce camera-ready copy; 
you will have to hire an editor to ensure quality in layout as well as text;
you need to pay for a cover design;
you have to handle marketing, distribution and publicity yourself  

CONTACT BOBBI if you decide to self-publish, for help throughout the process.
See MENTORING FOR WRITERS.

Here's what Dan Poynter says about deciding to self-publish:

Our books are our children. There is a gestation period of weeks, months, or even years. Then one day, we give birth. Our books are part of us. Our books are our progeny. We bring them into this world and we have a responsibility to raise them. Fortunately, the commitment is not 20 years and we do not have to send them to college. But children will not raise themselves and books will not sell themselves. We want the very best for our offspring.

Do you plan to approach an agent and put your book up for adoption? Do you want to give it away?

Do you plan to sell out to a publisher and consign your book to slavery? Yes slavery. If you do not get paid for your work; if you work for nothing, that is slavery.

What does your book deserve? It deserves your very best. Raise it properly. It does not matter if your sell out to a large New York publisher or publish yourself, the author must do the promotion. You have to do all the work so why not publish yourself?

Only two people make money on a book: the printer and the investor.  Don’t you have enough faith in your work to invest you own money? Give birth, raise a good book and let the world know it exists. Publish yourself.

BEFORE YOU CONSIDER PRINT-ON-DEMAND OR INTERNET-BASED SERVICES, PLEASE CLICK HERE

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