Publishing Choices For Writers - Self-Publishing Vanity Presses (Part One)

Another type of publishing under the self-publishing umbrella is what is euphemistically called Vanity publishing or a Vanity press. A vanity publisher is one which will publish any book as long as an author is willing to pay for it. Because it is almost impossible for someone to get into a traditional publishing house as an unknown, vanity presses are very attractive to new authors.

The name vanity publishing stems from the fact that certain publishers, for a fee, will publish any work by appealing to an author's vanity. These authors would be willing to pay a fee to see their name in print, no matter what the quality of the manuscript. As such, vanity presses gained a reputation of being more interested in the money they got from the authors than in the quality of work since the author takes on not only all the costs but also all the risks of the success of their book. Basically then, vanity presses have nothing to lose by publishing any type of work.

This stigma attached to vanity publishers has only recently begun to be re-evaluated as the publishing industry's choices have expanded and new vanity presses have changed the vanity press business model. However, depending upon who you talk to and their outlook on vanity publishing, an author will need to look closely as to whether or not they want to choose to publish with a vanity publisher.

There are several keys to recognizing whether or not a company is a vanity publisher. The vanity publishing business model is based upon obtaining profits from being paid by the author rather than from any sales of a book. Since they will have already received their income from making the book, a true vanity publisher does not have to be concerned with the quality of the work they publish because they do not care whether or not the book ever sells.

A second key to look for when trying to determine whether an author wants to work with a vanity publisher are the services that are provided to help the author with their book. A true vanity publisher will offer no services to an author and will take a work and publish it "as is", no matter how many spelling or grammatical errors the work contains. If an author just wants to see their book in print, then this will not be an issue. However, if an author wants to have a book they are proud of displaying, then having the option to take advantage of editorial and design services is a necessity in any publisher they choose.

More recently, hybrid vanity publishing houses have emerged which are changing the way the public is looking at vanity publishing. Author House, IUniverse, Lulu, UPublish, Xlibris are all examples of hybrid vanity presses. Like vanity presses, they will publish any work for a fee, no matter the quality of the work with no editorial quality assurance review. However, these houses have added editorial and design services that an author can pay for, thus making them not true vanity houses, but rather vanity hybrids. If an author takes advantage of the editorial, cover design and layout services, these presses can produce excellent work.

Why would any author want to publish with a vanity house if it has such a bad reputation? In part two of this series about vanity publishing, I will discuss several reasons why a vanity press may be an appropriate option for an author.

Candace C. Davenport is a retired attorney and published author whose love of writing led to co-founding a small independent publishing company, Our Little Books. Our Little Books ( http://www.ourlittlebooks.com ) is dedicated to publishing inspirational, educational and fun little books for pocket or purse. Candace encourages all people to find their inner muse and become published authors with their own little book, either for pleasure or for their business. Sign up for a free report on how Becoming a Published Author Will Improve Your Credibility and Make You an Expert in Your Field at http://www.ourlittlebooks.com/free-report/. Enjoy!

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How to Get Your Book Published

Congratulations! It has taken a lot of time, effort and concentration to bring your book to this point.

Writing was the easy part! The next stage will take as much - if not more - concentration, discipline and "stickability." There are thousands of manuscripts in cupboards around the world that did not reach the production stage and get successfully get published.

First things first

a. Proofreading. Has your manuscript been proofread and thoroughly checked for spelling and grammatical errors? Is your content logical and reasonable ? Is your manuscript easy to read and understand?

b. Acknowledgments. Have your quotations been acknowledged? Check the front pages of Bible translations for information about acknowledging scripture or visit the publishers via the Internet.

c. Accuracy. Are your facts accurate? e.g. "During the time of St Jerome in AD 275, everyone believed in the laying on of hands by the Bishop or the elders for the baptism of Holy Spirit.." (Did "everyone" really believe that?)

d. Editing. Finding a professional editor to give your book a good polish is the next stage in producing a book that will be salable. Submit your completed manuscript to your copy editor on a rewritable CD or memory stick so they may make changes directly onto the disk and return it to you. If the corrections are made on a hard copy with ink, that leaves room for additional errors when updating your manuscript.

Choosing a Publishing Route

Basically you have four choices - self-publishing, print-on-demand publishing, finding a formal publisher or using a literary agent.

1. SELF-PUBLISHING

Self-publishing is when the author bypasses all the intermediaries, deals directly with the editor, cover artist, book designer and printer, and then handles the marketing and distribution.

If you self-publish you take a greater risk, but you also get to press sooner, keep control of your book, and make more money. You are required to invest time and money, but the rewards are greater.

Famous authors who self-published their books before finding Publishers include John Grisham, D.H. Lawrence, Edgar Allan Poe, George Barnard Shaw, Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling, and Virginia Woolf. You will not be the first.. or the last!

Should you choose the self-publishing route, you need to make decisions about the following.

The size of your book (physical size and number of pages).
The cover design. (Use a good artist.)
Additional pages - e.g. Dedication, Foreword, Introduction, Prologue (if appropriate), Acknowledgments, Advertisements, Copyright notice, Autobiographical sketch, and legal Disclaimer.
Copyright notice. "Copyright is a right granted to creators under law. Copyright in all artistic works is established from the moment of creation - the only qualification required is that the work must be original."
Layout and typesetting. (Use a professional typesetter).
Obtaining ISBN and bar code.
Selecting a good professional printer and requesting quotes on an initial print run.
Marketing of the finished product. (Where, when and how.)

2. PRINT-ON-DEMAND PUBLISHING

Search Google for Print-On-Demand Publishers. These are companies that prepare your book for printing using special technology.

Print-On-Demand publishing is one of the easiest ways to get your book published on the Internet. There are a number of good companies offering this service. They work with you and turn your manuscript into a beautiful physical book. You pay the costs up-front, which are far less expensive than normal printing and, because they are not investing money in your project, they will print anything you have to offer (within reason, of course).

The difference between P.O.D. and regular publishers is that they do not actually print your book. They simply prepare it for printing. Technology has advanced to such a degree that they are able to print one complete book at a time, as needed. The quality is excellent.

Some examples of Print-On-Demand Publishers are createspace.com, booksurge.com and authorhouse.com.

3. FORMAL PUBLISHER

Finding a Publisher is not easy. Publishing is a business and the expected financial return is the bottom line for Publishers. Publishers carry all costs and authors usually receive royalties of around 10% of net receipts (i.e. what the publisher receives for books sold.)

It is estimated that publishers receive about two million book-length manuscripts every year, so unsolicited manuscripts have little or no chance of being well received. It is, therefore, important to do extensive research in order to find a publisher who is interested in your type of manuscript. It is highly recommended that aspiring writers purchase the "Writers' & Artists" Yearbook" for information on publishers and their submission requirements.

4. LITERARY AGENTS

Literary Agents are specialists who work for both the writer and the publisher. They assist writers to find interested publishers. They also protect publishers from being overwhelmed by unsuitable manuscripts, which is why many overseas publishers only accept work submitted by Literary Agents.

There are two types of Literary Agents. Some simply evaluate your book and return unsuitable work. Others offer editorial services and assist to bring books with potential to their final stage. You may expect to pay around 15% of your royalties for their services, plus administration costs.

Should you choose to use a Literary Agent, send a synopsis, your manuscript and a brief history of your background and achievements in writing. The Agent will evaluate your book and either accept it for submission to a publisher, suggest re-writes, or reject it. If accepted, it is usual to sign an agent/writer contract.

IMPORTANCE OF CONTRACTS

Whatever your choice of publishing route, make sure you have a valid, legal, written contract covering all details, financial and otherwise.

Val Waldeck
http://valwaldeck.com - reaching our generation one book at a time Visit my website for a *free* copy of my special ebook, "When The Storms Come"

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How to Self-Publish Using Print on Demand

The introduction of Print on Demand publishing sparked a bit of a revolution in the publishing industry. Writers no longer need to be at the mercy of editors and publishing houses, earning only tiny portions of the sales their hard work actually generates.

What is Print on Demand?

Print on demand is not a publishing style. Rather it's a form of technology that allows the printer to create limited runs of a book that you've created.

Print on Demand simply means that the printer creates only as many copies of your book as you've ordered. Computer technology effectively replaced the old type-setting blocks that used to be the standard in publishing so that writers are now able to take control of their own publication careers.

Before the advent of Print on Demand (POD), writers who wanted to self-publish had to pay for large print-runs of books that they would often need to store in garages or spare rooms until they'd sold. Using POD means that you only need to order as many books as you've sold. This saves you time, money and storage space!

Why Should Writers Self-Publish?

The traditional method of publication was to write a novel, submit it to a publisher and then wait 6 or 12 months for the editor to decide if they would accept or reject it. If they accepted it, the book would go into a large print run of usually 10,000 and get shipped out to stores.

The writer got offered a contract that promised that they'd get paid 5% or 10% of the sale price of the book in the stores. If the book didn't sell well within a few short months, then the book was withdrawn from sale and the writer would usually not get offered a new contract to write anything else.

This is a harsh way for any talented writer to make a living, but self-publishing changes the rules.

When you self-publish, you're self-employed. You're in control of all the profits - not just a tiny percentage of them - and you're in charge of marketing and sales. By using Print on Demand technology to have your book printed, it means that you only have to print as many books as you have orders for.

Writing Your Book

Always be sure you've written and edited the complete manuscript before you send it out to your Print on Demand publisher. Many newer writers tend to send out incomplete manuscripts that haven't been edited to check for typing errors or plot problems.

This might not seem like such a big thing when you're excited about finally finishing your manuscript, but your readers will notice. Word of mouth is vitally important to a self-published author.

Visit some of the professional writing sites available to learn how to edit your work on your own properly without having to pay exorbitant fees to a proof-reader.

How To Self-Publish

There are plenty of reputable print-on-demand publishers available, all willing to allow writers to publish their own books. Always check that the company you choose has a good reputation with the writers who have already used them.

Some POD companies, such as Lulu or Booklocker, will create an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) for you as part of the printing service they provide. If you don't want them to have control over who owns your ISBN, you can register your own at isbn.org

Check and double check the formatting guidelines your print on demand publisher expects. There's no point sending in a manuscript that is incorrectly formatted. After all, your printer will only create what you send them. It's important that you get your formatting right before it goes into print.

Creating a Cover

If you know someone who is great with graphic design and you can have your own cover created, then this can help you enormously. Paying a print on demand company to hire a graphic designer for you can get a little expensive, but it's still a better option than trying to create something yourself.

Remember, your self-published book could be listed on sites like Amazon or Barnes and Noble, so you'll want it to look as professional as possible.

Print on Demand vs. Vanity Press

Learn the difference between self-publishing and vanity press. A true self-publishing print on demand publisher will always be clear about you keeping your own rights to your work. You control the content and the cover art. You control the sales and pricing.

A vanity press is where you pay a company to publish your work for you and then you only receive a percentage of the sales price back in return. This arrangement is NOT the same as self publishing through print on demand and can actually compromise your rights to your own work.

Marketing Your Self Published Book

If you decide to self publish, you're not just in charge of writing and creating the book. You're also in charge of sales and marketing too. The first place most writers think of selling their book is in a book store.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of bookstores and chains won't stock self-published books. However, you might be surprised to find that more books are sold outside of bookstores anyway.

It's possible to list your books for sale on your own website, but unless you have some serious visitors to your site, you might find your book sells a little slowly. Your POD publisher might have a great bookstore listing right on their own website that will happily list your book for sale there.

Submit your book to book review sites. Many readers will only buy books after they've read a recommendation and a little teaser about what the book's about.

Finding a way to get the large online bookstores to list your book can be a great benefit to your marketing efforts. Submit your book to Amazon, Barnes and Noble or any other online bookstore you can think of to help increase your exposure.

Conclusion

Self publishing can be an incredibly rewarding way for any writer to realize the dream of being published. You not only get to hold your finished book in your own hand, but you might also find that the freedom of creativity you have along with the control over the potential profits is second to none.

Discover how to successfully self publish from leading self published authors. Here at Self Publishing Explained we focus on bringing you the most relevant self publishing information. Start now with real life strategies and information by visiting Self Publishing Explained to read what people are saying. http://www.selfpublishingexplained.com

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A Quick Guide to Online Publishing

First of all, the cost of online publishing is typically affordable, often free. Online publishers don't have the overhead that paper publishers do. In addition, online publishers generally make their money off of advertisements and premium accounts, so there is no need for authors or creators to pay large sums in order to publish their documents. Second, online publishing is much easier than traditional publishing. Determining whether or not a print publishing company is reputable can be difficult, and finding a print company willing to take on your work at all can be challenging. Online, however, you not only have the choice of many publishers, but you can view the publisher's work easily on their web pages. This means that you know what you're getting into well before you publish.

Because of the success of online publishing, more and more online publishers have been springing up over the Internet. Modelling print publishing, different types of online publishers are available for different types of work. For instance, online literary magazines accept creative writing and art. A variety of web sites, like Associated Content and Orato, allow users to publish their own journalistic endeavors. Magazines for niche audiences, like students, women, sports enthusiasts, etc., have also gone online. Writers, artists, and other creative professionals can choose to submit to these online publishers. However, the Internet also offers opportunities for individuals looking to take the self-publishing route. Blogs and web sites are two examples. Free and easy to use, a blog allows an individual to turn anything--from recipes to diary entries to poetry and music--into a published work. Users can choose whether this work is private or public, in much the same way that they would if publishing traditionally. Blogs are now used for everything from magazines to newsletters for groups and clubs.

However, a blog presents a problem for the individual looking for an online publisher. Although they are easy to customize, blogs don't give readers an interactive, professional looking document. This takes a great deal of creative options away from designers, as they can't dedicate mock pages to photos, pull quotes, etc. An alternative is the traditional web site. One method of online self-publishing is to choose a domain name that will be the title of your publication, whether it is a magazine, newspaper, journal, or other document. Then you can design the page to look as you would like, with few logistical limitations. The limitation that does exist, however, is related to time and effort. This process is very time consuming and requires you to learn aspects of web design, in addition to charging you for the domain name and hosting.

Fortunately, a new online publishing technology has recently emerged that offers the advantages of blogs and web sites without the disadvantages. This is the file sharing online publishing portal. Sites like megaupload allow individuals to upload documents that they have already designed using software such as Microsoft and Open Office publishing programs. Free to use, megaupload also hosts the documents for free so there is no need to worry about them expiring. Most online publishers allow users to select a privacy level. This way, newsletters for a local baseball team can't be read by the rivals!

Because it is easy, cost effective, and may actually reach more readers, online publishing is the option that many of today's writers and creative professionals take. However, the options for online publishers are numerous. To choose an online publisher, you must determine what your needs and limitations regarding cost and time are. Then, you can decide whether the web site, blog, or file-sharing portal is for you.

Martin Alan enjoys writing on subjects such as literature, digital publishing, digital magazine, publishing software, carbon neutral publishing, file sharing sites and self publishing. He also enjoys keeping up-to-date with the latest developments and innovations in technology and online marketing.

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Publishing Choices For Writers Series - Introduction

Most everyone feels they have a book in them. Eventually, a small percentage of those people will actually become an author and write a book. It used to be that even a smaller percentage of those who actually wrote a book were ever able to get it published despite the fact that was their goal. However, with advancing technology, anyone who has written a book can now get it published in some form or another. For authors, the world of publishing has blow wide open.

There are basically two types of publishers- the traditional publishers and self-publishers. Traditional publishers are any publisher who pays an author an "advance" in hopes of recouping their money (and more) through sales of a popular book. The traditional publisher model has stayed fairly consistent over the years.

Self publishers on the other hand, have changed and evolved with the times. Initially, self-publishing consisted of subsidy and vanity publishers who pretty much published any book for a fee, no matter the quality of the manuscript. If an author was self-published, their work was not viewed with any credibility. Off-shoots of this idea developed such as co-publishing and shared publishing, where self-publishing companies took an active role in helping the author and were more discerning about what manuscripts they published.

These concepts eventually morphed into POD or print on demand companies who may or may not work with the author, but who only printed a copy of a book when the book was bought. Finally, publishing has evolved most recently into e-books; books that are read on a computer and not physically printed. This e-book niche exploded beyond computers with the advent of e-readers such as the Kindle, Nook or iPad and people can even read books on their smart phones. Nowadays, the opportunities for an author to get their work published seem endless!

Book publishing is difficult no matter how a book is published. And like all industries, there are good players and bad players which can give the different types of publishing a bad reputation. But each method of publishing has its benefits and detriments and you probably can not say that one is better than another. They are just different.

While traditional publishers initially looked down on self-publishing and convinced the literary world that self-published authors were not as good as traditionally published authors, these same traditional publishers have had to scramble to change their business models as their profits eroded to the various different self-publishing models. But the bottom line is that the publishing world has opened up opportunities everywhere for authors to find some method to get their books printed. Authors are no longer limited to just one method of seeing their work. And that is a good thing for writers.

Authors have to find the right modality to fit their work. Books that look great in print may not be e-book material. At the same time, the e-book method may be the only way that some authors can make any money. Authors may only want a few books for just their friends and family, while others may see their book as being number one on the New York Times best-seller list. What all these options do, depending on what an author needs, is to give every author a chance to become published and that was not the case in the past.

With the new and different publishing opportunities come new and different responsibilities for authors. Authors need to be aware of these prior to choosing any one specific method to publish their book. In the other articles in this series, I will discuss the different methods of publishing, their pros and cons. With this information, potential or repeat authors will be able to examine the opportunities now open to them and make better choices on how they want their book published.

Candace C. Davenport is a retired attorney and published author whose love of writing led to co-founding a small independent publishing company, Our Little Books. Our Little Books ( http://www.ourlittlebooks.com ) is dedicated to publishing inspirational, educational and fun little books for pocket or purse. Candace encourages all people to find their inner muse and become published authors with their own little book, either for pleasure or for their business. Sign up for a free report on how Becoming a Published Author Will Improve Your Credibility and Make You an Expert in Your Field at http://www.ourlittlebooks.com/free-report/. Enjoy!

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A Guide to Self Publishing

Self publishing involves the act of an author publishing books or magazines at his or her own expense. If the author self publishes, the author has control over content, editing, printing, marketing and distribution. In traditional publishing, the publisher invests money prior to publishing for marketing, printing, binding and promotion of the publication. Because the publisher wants to recover the cost of the initial investment, the publisher researches to make an educated guess about whether the author and the book will earn enough money to recoup the initial investment after its release. The publisher will only select the author's writings if a profit can be earned.

The author will assume all financial responsibility of the project from marketing to distribution and storage. The writer will receive all of the profit from the sales and maintain all rights to the publication. In this case, the author typically will not accept pre-prepared packages, but will submit a bid for each aspect of the publishing process. In some cases, because the author has full autonomy and receives all proceeds, the author can yield a much higher quality product.

Vanity publishers will publish the work of an author without regard to the quality of work or its potential to be marketable. The vanity publisher is only responsible for printing and binding the publication. Since, the responsibility lies solely with the author, vanity publishing is often more expensive than traditional publishing, but offers more autonomy. Vanity Publishers make their money from the fees charged to the author, rather than on sales from the publication. Therefore, it is the author's responsibility to market and advertise to gain exposure.

Print on Demand allows authors who have a desire to self-publish to do so for a small fee and in some cases, for free. Print on demand companies typically offer to print and ship a book only when the book is purchased. Their services can also include collecting royalties, listing in online bookstores and in some instances, formatting, proof reading and editing. Because the process is digital, the initial investment required by the author is generally less than vanity publishing.

Print on Demand companies such as Lulu, xLibris, and Trafford Publishing all require a small initial investment for each of their packages. Companies such as Yudu.com, Amazon's Booksurge and CreateSpace offer self publishing services for free. When publishing a work with these companies, the responsibility of getting a work to submission ready status generally lies with the author. These companies allow the author to design book covers, as well as, choose whether the publication will be an eBook, hardback or paper back.

These low cost services give amateurs, as well as, seasoned authors independence from publisher demands, editorial control and more profits or royalties than with traditional publishing.

With subsidy publishing, the author pays for the printing and binding of the book, but the publisher will contribute a certain amount to the author to cover expenses such as editing, distribution, marketing and storage. Because of the publisher's contribution, the publisher possesses, owns the book and also has a portion of the rights, while the author only receives royalties on the copies that are sold. In this scenario, the author will possess little or no autonomy in certain production decisions.

Martin Alan enjoys writing on subjects such as literature, online publishing, digital magazine, publisher software, file sharing sites and how to self publish. He also enjoys keeping up-to-date with the latest developments and innovations in technology and online marketing. For more information on online publishing click here; http://www.yudu.com.

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Book Publishing Tips For the New Author

As a new author, perhaps the most difficult step to realize success is getting your first book published.  Book publishing companies each have a procedure you must follow for your book to get published, or even considered.  But with a lot of effort and persistence, you're sure to see the words "manuscript accepted" come through your inbox or mailbox soon. Use these helpful hints on book publishing to get started.

Before Contacting a Book Publisher

Proofread your book several times, and then hire a professional proofreader to read through it at least twice.  Also, spend some time on choosing a title for your book as well as chapter headings.  These are very important and will determine how well your book sells.  A book is often initially judged by its cover and its title.  People won't even consider buying it if the title does not captivate their interests.  Also, book readers will often scan the chapter headings to get an idea of the book's overall theme!

Know Your Book Publisher

One thing that's sure to get your manuscript rejected is to submit it without following the book publisher's required procedure.  You might feel that jumping ahead of everyone else or using non-traditional tactics to get your manuscript more exposure will boost your chances of getting published, but this is far from the truth.  The key to success with book publishing is to follow the publisher's rules precisely.  Find out what they require before submitting anything.  Some publishers require a synopsis and the title only at the start, while others require you to submit the entire manuscript.  Some prefer e-mail submissions while others prefer postal mail.  Each book publisher has a way of doing things, so you must find out what they require to even be noticed in the publishing world.  The Web has made this process easier because you can visit the publisher's website to find out their procedures.

Don't Rule Out Small Book Publishing Companies

Small publishing companies are sometimes easier to work with and might even help you get published faster.  A small company doesn't have to sift through a heavy volume of manuscripts like a more well-known publisher would.  Also, the publisher might be able to offer more one-on-one counseling for book promotions should they decide to publish your book.  Look for a book publisher that's willing to work with new authors and guide you through the entire process.

Use an Agent

An agent can help you get started on the road to getting published and save you much time and energy.  Some book publishers are more likely to consider publishing your book if you have an agent.  It shows you are serious about getting published.  An agent may also have contacts with publishers who are more likely to be interested in your type of writing. Some publishers work with only certain genres (such as specializing in children's books or self help books), while others may accept all types of writings.

Keep Contacts Personal

When e-mailing or mailing a query or manuscript, always address your letter to a particular contact person at the publishing company.  Don't just address it "To Whom It May Concern."  If you're not sure who to contact, call the company or view the contact list on the website to get a name and appropriate e-mail or mailing address.  This will ensure that your query will at least be delivered to a decision-making individual.

Make Your Query Brief and Interesting

Use words and statements that will spark interest with any editor.  Use excerpts from your book for illustration, but keep your query limited to one page or less.  Several paragraphs should do the trick.  Keep focused on the good points of your book, while also explaining if you had struggles with writing any portion of the book.  Book publishers will appreciate your honesty and willingness to change portions of the book (if asked) to make it a better read.

Be Patient

Please understand that in order to get published, you must demonstrate a certain amount of patience.  Book publishers must read through many manuscripts before choosing the ones they will promote.  That's why it takes so much time to get published. No matter what form of technology our society invents, publishers will still have to read through long manuscripts to find those "jewels" among so many writings.  Read all the information you can about how to publish a book to get great tips. There are many online resources to help you with the process.  Submit your query or your manuscript, and then wait patiently for an answer.  You might even start writing another book if you plan to continue as an author.  Even if the first book doesn't get published, you'll at least have another iron in the fire to give it another shot!

Make the most of your book publishing experience, and enjoy the ride.  You only live once, so make the most of your days as a becoming author!

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about Book Publishing.

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