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Authors: what is self-publishing? is it the way to go?
- Thread starter Jess
- Start date
Self-publishing is when you pay to get your book published, without needing them to read the book to see if they want it published by their company.
This is most usually the wrong way to go, because then you won't be able to know if your book is truly deserving of being published. When you don't self-publish, you face dozens of rejections from publishing companies, but they happen for good reasons.
Answer mine?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090628211645AA1Dv7I
This is most usually the wrong way to go, because then you won't be able to know if your book is truly deserving of being published. When you don't self-publish, you face dozens of rejections from publishing companies, but they happen for good reasons.
Answer mine?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090628211645AA1Dv7I
sensualgruv
New member
Some vanity presses using print on demand technology act as printers as well as sellers of support services for authors interested in self-publishing. Reputable firms of this type are typically marked by clear contract terms, lack of excessive fees, retail prices comparable to those from commercial printers, lack of pressure to purchase "extra" services, contracts which do not claim exclusive rights to the work being published (though one would be hard pressed to find a legitimate publisher willing to put out a competing edition, making non-exclusivity meaningless)
A self-publisher is an author who also undertakes the functions of a publisher for his or her own book. The classic "self-publisher" writes, edits, markets and promotes the book themselves, relying on a printer only for actual printing and binding. More recently, companies have offered their services to act as a sort of agent between the writer and a small printing operation. In these cases, the distinction between self-publishing and vanity publishing is less obvious than it once was.
With vanity publishing, the author will pay to have their book published. Since the author is paying to have the book published the book should not have to go through an approval process as it would in a traditional setting where the publisher is taking a financial risk on the author's ability to write successfully. Editing and formatting services may or may not be offered, and they may come with the initial publishing fee (or more correctly, printing fee) or might be at an additional cost.
A self-publisher is an author who also undertakes the functions of a publisher for his or her own book. The classic "self-publisher" writes, edits, markets and promotes the book themselves, relying on a printer only for actual printing and binding. More recently, companies have offered their services to act as a sort of agent between the writer and a small printing operation. In these cases, the distinction between self-publishing and vanity publishing is less obvious than it once was.
With vanity publishing, the author will pay to have their book published. Since the author is paying to have the book published the book should not have to go through an approval process as it would in a traditional setting where the publisher is taking a financial risk on the author's ability to write successfully. Editing and formatting services may or may not be offered, and they may come with the initial publishing fee (or more correctly, printing fee) or might be at an additional cost.
Zed Wrecked
New member
From a published author's perspective:
Self-publishing CAN be a way to go, depending on how and where you go about it.
A friend of mine self-published through Lulu.com and was extremely successful. He got picked up by my publisher and his book is now outselling one of mine. Many others, however, barely sell any copies through Lulu. Lulu is a Print-On-Demand service. That is, you don't pay a cent to them--they just take a large percentage of the cover price of each copy you manage to sell in return for printing and shipping the books for you.
Do NOT--under ANY circumstances--publish through a venue that wants you to pay them to publish it. Especially publishamerica--stay far far away from them. I've heard horror stories to make your skin crawl. Places that make you pay are called "vanity presses" and they are NOT worth your time.
Print-on-Demand services CAN be very much worth your time. Remember, though, that when you go this route you get out of it what you put in. Write a quality novel, find yourself a good cover artist, and make sure your presentation is excellent...get yourself a press release or two out! Send them to your local newspapers and your favorite websites.
At the very least, self-publishing a work will net you experience.
But remember--stay far away from any and all vanity presses. The moment a "publisher" asks you for money, run away.
And yes, it is safe, especially if you make sure you copyright your work with the US copyright office before you submit it around. (Do not use the "mailing trick." It will not hold up in court.)
So by all means, give it a shot--while traditional publishers offer better returns and higher circulation, self-publishing also has its benefits, such as building an initial fan base--which in turn can lead to future works being picked up by more traditional publishing houses.
Good luck!
Self-publishing CAN be a way to go, depending on how and where you go about it.
A friend of mine self-published through Lulu.com and was extremely successful. He got picked up by my publisher and his book is now outselling one of mine. Many others, however, barely sell any copies through Lulu. Lulu is a Print-On-Demand service. That is, you don't pay a cent to them--they just take a large percentage of the cover price of each copy you manage to sell in return for printing and shipping the books for you.
Do NOT--under ANY circumstances--publish through a venue that wants you to pay them to publish it. Especially publishamerica--stay far far away from them. I've heard horror stories to make your skin crawl. Places that make you pay are called "vanity presses" and they are NOT worth your time.
Print-on-Demand services CAN be very much worth your time. Remember, though, that when you go this route you get out of it what you put in. Write a quality novel, find yourself a good cover artist, and make sure your presentation is excellent...get yourself a press release or two out! Send them to your local newspapers and your favorite websites.
At the very least, self-publishing a work will net you experience.
But remember--stay far away from any and all vanity presses. The moment a "publisher" asks you for money, run away.
And yes, it is safe, especially if you make sure you copyright your work with the US copyright office before you submit it around. (Do not use the "mailing trick." It will not hold up in court.)
So by all means, give it a shot--while traditional publishers offer better returns and higher circulation, self-publishing also has its benefits, such as building an initial fan base--which in turn can lead to future works being picked up by more traditional publishing houses.
Good luck!