Self-Publishing, Independent Publishing, Traditional Publishing

Each of these three forms of publishing is different and each is viable in today's publishing world. But there is so much confusion about what they provide to aspiring authors worldwide, that I decided to address this for you today. Take what you will and leave the rest, but this perspective comes from first-hand experience in the industry.

Self-publishing: Actually, this is the murkiest water in which to swim. TRUE Self-publishing means, you create a true publishing entity, buy your own ISBNs from RR Bowker, and take all the responsibility for layout and design of your book, you find a printer, you are responsible for all marketing andyou are alone in the publishing world. To people who are skilled in graphic design and thrilled with taking risks, this is an invigorating endeavor. Companies that use the come-on "self-publish your book" to attract authors do the authors a true disservice for one reason: the author never truly owns his ISBN, and therefore, the way his book is produced, marketed and how he receives royalties is out of his control. There are many large self-publishing mills that accept anyone and exploit the innocence of writers.

Here is what one author told me this week:
I self-published 24/7 or Dead through one of the large POD firms, not an experience I would wish on my worst enemy. 13 galleys later, I still have uncorrected mistakes in my text but finally gave up because my publicist had booked PR appearances and I needed the book. I've visited your site and it appears to be a place where I could self-publish again, with your support. Am, I reading this correctly?

Here is how I replied to her:
"Well, there is so much misinformation about "self-published" books, and large POD firms are among the loudest perpetrators of misinformation. Nightengale Press is a true publisher using print on demand technology to get the books printed.

INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING:

Nightengale Press and 55,000 others can't be all wrong. Some independents keep a very narrow focus and publish only one or two titles a year. They reject lots of authors, looking for the one or two they want for their year's quota. They usually function very much like a traditional publisher, in that they take on all publishing costs, but often these are supported by grants with certain guidelines, and therefore stringent limitation. Some independents publish more titles, still within a clearly defined and often limited scope for one genre only. These publishers also function very much like a traditional publisher, however, they also reject lots of authors, looking for the numbers they want for their year's quota.

Nightengale Press does charge a modest fee for our services, yet, we take no money from the book sales until our authors have re-paid their investment. And we have many support services for marketing, not the least of which is our great affiliate program --- our most successful authors use this to great advantage. There isn't a better "deal" in the industry, and it is all because I am an author and believe with every fiber of my being that the author should get paid FIRST and FAIRLY!

The decision to self-publish poses this dilemma:
ARE YOU AN AUTHOR OR A PUBLISHER? Author? Or Publisher? That is the question. Jan Nathan of Publisher's Marketing Association said this after BEA in mid-May: "On a somewhat discouraging note, we met with many, many authors on the floor who chose to print their titles with Print on Demand houses, and were told by these houses that they were the publisher of their title, when in fact they are only an author with the POD house."

SEE? CONFUSION EVEN AMONG INDUSTRY EXPERTS.

FIRST:

Print on Demand is a printing technology, NOT a publishing status. I find the misconception that because a publisher uses POD technology to produce books the books they produce are somehow inferior, or they are somehow scamming the authors they serve hugely problematic.

SECOND:

A publisher is a person/business which seeks good authors, produces their books, assists to some degree with the promotion of the book, and builds a reputation through the ethical management of those authors and their work.

THIRD:
An author is a person who writes and publishes his work --- one way or another. Once a writer, always a writer - but not always an author. An author can be a publisher---thanks to POD technology and the self-publishing boom. However, generally, a publisher knows good writing when he sees it, but he may not be a writer, and he may not choose the best writers to publish.

How the work is produced has NOTHING to do with the quality of the writing. It has EVERYTHING to do with the marketing of the writing, and this is where the traditional publishing community is so threatened:
There is NO LIMITATION to good writers getting published. Every good writer can get published --- even if they self-publish as a first step. What good writers cannot get alone is GOOD MARKETING. There are pitfalls and scammers everywhere in the publishing industry, waiting to take advantage of the writer who is unaware, uninformed or unable to discern the value of his own writing.

THE BIG FIVE TRADITIONAL PUBLISHERS MISS THOUSANDS OF GOOD WRITERS. They have to. The must take only those they can reasonably bet on --- it is like a horse race --- there are the favorites (best-selling authors) who nearly always win the race. Then there are the yearlings, the writers who are new to the industry, and who know very little about the race, but they run like crazy in the pack. These are the writers who become self-publishers. Then there are the long-shots, and they are the ones even the big publishing houses can miss ---- the writers who have something very new to say, or a new way to say it that doesn't quite fit the mold. SOME PUBLISHERS --- apparently the "POD houses" Jan is referring to ---are not even clear on the subject themselves.

To tell an author that he is the publisher of his own book when he is not the owner of the ISBN on that book is a clear misrepresentation. But because a publisher uses POD technology doesn't make him a bad publisher --- in fact, most of the 55,000 or so small publishers in the USA couldn't do what they do without it. The costs of offset / traditional publishing are too great at the outset., tens of thousands of dollars, and even the big guys don't spend their money on the unknown author (who becomes more a number than a person in that realm, by the way).

So, what is a writer to do? Here is my motto, and it drives everything I do as a writer and as a publihsher:
Believe first in YOURSELF

You CAN achieve Excellence if you WORK harder than others think is necessary

EXPECT more of yourself than others think is possible

CARE more about your future than others think is wise

TAKE RISKS more than others think is safe

DREAM more than others think is practical

And

NEVER, EVER QUIT!

Valerie?s talk show on Global Talk Radio is a popular program which targets writers worldwide to provide them a place to promote their books, discuss their experiences as writers, and learn from experts who also appear on the program. When Valerie goes into the Publisher?s Corner, an informative segment that highlights book industry trends and reveals important issues affecting writers and their books, she gives her listeners the publisher?s perspective on vital information they need to keep up to date on a wide spectrum of topics. She also teaches the essentials to successful book development and promotion for aspiring and published authors alike.

Go to http://www.globaltalkradio.com/shows/callingallauthors to listen to archives.

Go to Valerie's Blog at http://www.valerieconnelly.com Learn about Publishing with Nightengale Press at http://www.nightengalepress.com

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Self-Publishing - Avoid the 5 Biggest Mistakes Authors Make When Self-Publishing

Self-publishing a book is growing more and more common these days. 

It may in fact be the only way new authors can get published.

There are lots of reasons for that. Commercial publishers are pulling back on the number of books they are publishing. They are less willing to take risks on new authors. In fact, increasingly they are looking to successful self-published authors rather than first-time authors who approach them.

Technology also makes it more attractive to self-publish. No longer do authors have to order thousands of books upfront, just to be published. (Requiring a huge minimum order is a red flag that you're dealing with the kind of company you want to avoid.) 

"Print on demand" technology means the book does not need to be printed until it's actually sold. An author's upfront costs need not be astonomical, nor do authors need to be stuck with a garage full of books they may or may not sell. (Publishers themselves are using POD technology for the same reasons.)

Given these realities, self-publishing can make a lot of sense, especially for first-time authors.

However, self-publishing is full of potential traps.

If you've ever done a search on Google for 'self-publishing companies," it gets even more confusing. The top search results are from self-publishers themselves, who of course will attempt to woo would-be authors with glowing promises. Many make it sound as if they offer the services similar to traditional publishers, when nothing is further from the truth.

Into this mix comes a welcome book by Mark Levine, The Fine Print of Self-Publishing: The Contracts & Services of 45 Self-Publishing Companies--Analyzed, Ranked and Exposed.

Now about to be released in its Third Edition, the book does authors a great service in ranking some of the most popular self-publishing companies, exhaustively going into the finer points of each company's contracts and ranking them in terms of how author-friendly their terms really are.

In a recent interview with Mark, we discussed the five biggest mistakes authors make when looking into a self-publishing company.

Mistake #1: Not knowing who the book is really for. As a book publishing consultant, I can't tell you how many times people say, "My book is for everyone." It may be, but "everyone" is simply too big a category.

Think about your own book-buying habits. What persuades you to buy a book? Aside from the number 1 persuader--a recommendation from a trusted source--don't you go by which author appears to solve the particular problem you have? If you had a self-help book you wanted to publish, would you be more likely to buy a book called "How to Successfully Publish Your Book" or "How to Successfully Publish Your Self-Help Book"? You might argue that the first title would appeal to every author who wants to self-publish a book, but in fact, a more targeted title and book will outsell the more generally targeted book.

Whether you self-publish or go with a traditional publisher, knowing your audience is key. A commercial publisher won't even consider you if you don't have a clear, demonstrated audience for your book. However, when you self-publish, you are free to write an unmarketable book. Nobody will stop you. You'll just be stuck with a garage full of unsalable books.

Mistake #2: Unrealistic expectations as to how many books you really can sell. Yes, all authors want to be the next big blockbuster phenomenon, but unrealistic expectations could make you vulnerable to spending too much money, especially in cases when you pay less per book if you order large quantities. So what if you pay $5.60 per book for 1000 books instead of $7.80 for 500? You're still out $5600 instead of $3900, and now you have to figure out how to store and sell 500 extra books.

Mark Levine says of his own expectations, "I'm happy if I can go out to dinner at a really nice restaurant once a month on the royalties for my book." A book can be a lot of things: a means of commanding higher speaking or consulting fees, an introduction to your knowledge that you can sell in other, more profitable ways. But in itself, a book is not the most profitable way to earn income.

Which leads to ...

Mistake #3: Not expecting to invest in marketing (time or money). In researching for this article, I was surprised at the number of people who warned against self-publishing because "they will not market your book." As if traditional publishers do. Yes, good ones usually do some kind of launch, but they concentrate their limited marketing dollars on authors they know will sell. Any author needs to accept full responsibility for promoting his or her book.

Traditional publishers now demand it. They won't even consider authors who are not interested in marketing their own book. Self-publishers don't demand it, of course. Some will offer marketing packages, but be very careful and very clear about what you will actually get for your investment. But do expect to invest something--if not money, then "sweat equity" in terms of getting the word out.

Mistake #4:  Not getting your book professionally edited and designed. Personally, the biggest giveaway to me that a book is self-published is the interior design. Amateurish artwork, sloppy layout (especially in terms of narrow margins), and unproofed copy will kill sales. A retailer (bookstore pro) can usually spot such a book and will reject it.  A potential reader may not be able to put a finger on exactly why a book doesn't appeal, but an unprofessional-looking book will be passed over.

You simply cannot skimp here. Get professional editors (a content editor and a copy editor--they are two separate things) to edit you. And a professional book designer to design the exterior and interior of your book. Make sure these people work with books, not other products.

Mistake #5: Getting published by the wrong publisher. There are good publishing companies with fair terms--and quite the opposite. The biggest way publishers gouge authors is in the printing markup, Mark Levine says. "Anything more than 15 percent markup on printing is simply not acceptable, unless you know what it is for and don't mind paying more than you should.'

To find a good publishing company, do your homework well. Don't be afraid to ask the publisher tough questions (this is how Mark Levine researched his book). Ask other authors their experiences, but be aware that they themselves may not have known there's a better way than what they chose.  Self-publishing can be a wonderful way to get your message into the world--or a sinkhole of time and money with disappointing results. With eyes wide open and the right knowledge, you can make your dream of becoming a published author come true.

To ask your own question about self-publishing, and hear his answers (either live or recorded, depending on when you access this), visit http://www.askaboutselfpublishing.com

For insider information on publishing, visit http://www.wordstoprofit.com and sign up to be notified of teleseminars, new articles and other resources for writing, publishing, and promoting a book or other information product profitably

--From Diane Eble, "Your Book Publishing Coach"

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

To Self-Publish or Not to Self-Publish - Thoughts About Self-Publishing

Out of curiosity, I hosted a survey about self-publishing on a writing site. Many people have self-published their books; others have considered self-publishing; and some would never consider self-publishing.

Answers to the questions in the survey varied considerably. One thought that seemed rather consistent was most people didn't know the difference between self-publishing and vanity press. In today's publishing world, the two differ, but they also seem to overlap each other at times.

The survey contained six questions or remarks. I will quote or summarize the results and in places add some information found through other research.

1. What is the definition of self-publishing?

A summary of comments include self-publishing is where the author has enough faith in his own work to underwrite the cost of publication. The author does not go via a commercial publisher, but arranges everything directly with the printer.

Self-publishing is where the author takes on the role of publisher, editor, layout specialist, publicist, marketing guru, production coordinator, and sales manager. For an author who is skilled in these areas, cutting out the middleman and keeping more of the profit makes a lot of sense. However, if an author is not skilled in all of these things, the end product can be a disaster.

According to definition, self-publishing is the publishing of books and other media by the authors of those works, rather than by established, third-party publishers. Although it represents a small percentage of the publishing industry in terms of sales, it has been present in one form or another since the beginning of publishing and has seen an increase in activity with the advancement of publishing technology, including xerography, desktop publishing systems, print on demand, and the World Wide Web. Cultural phenomena such as the punk/DIY movement, the proliferation of media channels, and blogging have contributed to the advancement of self-publishing.

2. Is self-publishing the same as vanity publishing? What is the difference or how are they the same?

One person answered, "No! But they do tend to carry the same stigma, for the same reasons. Too many people are too eager to see their words in print and too impatient to carefully attend to the details, so 'self-publishing' and 'vanity press' and 'subsidy publishing' all share this image of high price and low quality. I doesn't have to be that way, though."

Other remarks supported the first statement. In some respects the two are the same, except some publishers found ways to blur the lines. At least one "publisher" doesn't require the author pay anything to have a book published, but the author receives little or nothing in return. Only the most surface editing is done, and the book is not promoted. The royalty fees are low, and the author's rights are kept for seven years or more.

3. Have you ever self-published, or will you in the future? Why or why not?

The first group of comments deal with "no" answers. "No, though I easily could. But a writer shouldn't have to force himself on an audience ... But then, John Grisham is noted for self-publishing his first effort to sell out of the back of his care."

"No. I'm a bookseller. We resist vanity presses (considers self-publishing and vanity press as synonymous) all day, every day. Here's why:

The lack of an impartial selection process.

The (likely) lack of an editor in the mix.

My prior experience of hideous uncommercial amateur jacket art - do not let anyone tell your jacket design is irrelevant to a book's chance of selling.

The fact that Sale OR Return won't be happening, so if the vanity press title does not sell, the cash that purchased it is tied up in increasingly scruffy stock on the shelf.
owe it to the world to get my work into print, and they'll help me do that for just $4995, I'm going RUN, not walk, the opposite direction."

"I think a small or independent publisher would treat my work with far more care and dedication than a major publisher."

"Small publisher = smaller slush pile."

6. Comments:

A person should decide what he wants from being published before deciding what kind of publisher wanted.

From the bookseller: "I'm not sure that writers get how intensely booksellers despise vanity presses. You cannot imagine how abysmal the stuff they put out can be. ... The big commercial house put out enough bilge."

"My opinion is not formed by experience, but I have seen enough to sense that the 'times they are a changing.' A number of artists, mainly recording artists, now produce and distribute their own works, bypassing the stranglehold and limitations of the established producers."

The bottom line is whether or not an author has the means to have his work thoroughly edited, to have a quality design for book block and cover, and is will to do all the promoting necessary. If so, he might consider self-publishing. However, once the book is printed, the hard work begins: getting bookstores to accept the book, marketing it so that enough copies are sold to create a profit.

However, as noted above, getting work accepted by a traditional publisher is also extremely difficult. Even if an author is fortunate enough to have a quality agent accept him, persuading a publisher to accept a manuscript is hard.

Small publishing houses might be the answer for beginning writers, if they are good writers. Self-publishing may be answer for some authors and some types of writing.

After teaching composition for twenty-five years and becoming an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ a site for Poetry, Vivian Gilbert Zabel produced Hidden Lies and Other Stores, Walking the Earth:, The Base Stealers Club, and Case of the Missing Coach, which can be ordered through most book stores and on Amazon.com.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.