posted
Hey, all. Long time no see. Got a question about self-publishing. Anyone out there know of any good resources (online or not) I could look into for a) general info on actually doing it and b) places to have it done? Thanks.
posted
There are two places that I've looked at, though never done anything. I have heard from someone who did go the selfpublishing route that she regrets doing it now, as she really didn't realize what she was getting into - or rather what she was giving up by doing it.
Once place that I looked at gives you the basics in help, though they do submit their published lists to places like amazon.com and bn.com - so there is an outlet. (I think thier prices start at $500, though it might be more now). The other place will help with all your marketing needs, and do cover art, etc, I think they also list through bn.com and amazon.com, but their starting rate seems to be $4000. (though they won't actually quote a price until they see the entire manuscript). - I take it back there is a third which I have talked to, who will only publish if they feel they can get a certain amount of books sold, and then you give them about $200 to start. -- all three of these do give you payment for every book sold.
HOWEVER, something else to keep in mind is that most of these places will also point out that rarely will an author make back what he paid to get the book published.
There are some wonderful reasons for selfpublishing, and there are definately authors and books that have become integral parts of "must read" lists who without selfpublishing wouldn't exist. - Just make sure that you know why you are planning on selfpublishing, as opposed to going through a publishing house which is already set up.
and find the SEARCH link (in a table near the bottom of the home page), and click on that to get a search box.
Search on self-publishing and it will give you a bunch of articles to read on the subject, including articles on print on demand, and on vanity/subsidy publishers, and so on and so forth.
After you've read what they have to say, look up some printers (not necessarily copy shops, but places that do stuff like offset printing) in your phone book and ask them if they do bound books.
You don't need to pay anyone but the printer if you want to self-publish, but you do need to find a printer who can help you create a book you will be happy with. So shop around and ask to see samples of what they've produced.
posted
Thanks, Kathleen, I'll do that. That's what I'm looking for, really - a how to produce it myself, in a quality manner, not necessarily have someone publish it "for me" or "market it" for me (though print-on-demand, what very little I know about it, intrigues me).
Mags, not that your post didn't answer what I asked (thanks for the info!) just that it seems to be headed in a direction I'm not looking for (or, in my ignorance of the issues, may have just been answers I wasn't expecting to questions I don't know to ask yet - hee hee).
I'm not looking for vanity publishing, but actual self-publishing. I'm part of a rather large collaborative effort with a bunch of folks putting together an anthology of our own. I'm trying to get a feel for what it'll take to actually produce the work.
Thanks, both of you, and if anyone else has any thoughts, please share!
quote:Mags, not that your post didn't answer what I asked (thanks for the info!) just that it seems to be headed in a direction I'm not looking for (or, in my ignorance of the issues, may have just been answers I wasn't expecting to questions I don't know to ask yet - hee hee).
Yep, that would be my guess. - partially due to the fact that I wasn't sure what your end result was suppose to be.
There are many local print shops who can help you, and do good jobs. - if you go that way, make sure to shop around because not all of them offer the same options, nor do they all charge the same amount. (well, unless you live in a small town with only one printer)
posted
In response to Bathalsar's question "Why self-publish?" here is why I am considering the idea. I wrote a short novel last year, more like a novella. It would appeal to young adults and adults like me who like funny quirky stories. It is a time travel fantasy. I have sent it to 7 agencies and received fast rejections. I can't believe they read the 3 sample chapters asked for in their submission guidelines because the turn around was about 2 weeks. I paid $6 every time I sent it out on postage. So that is $42 dollars already just on postage.
I don't think this fun story will be the next Harry Potter, but I do think it is a good story. If I publish it on demand and spend $500 I might sell a few copies and I believe the marketing can be fun-book signings and conventions, etc.
I have one friend who went the way of POD and he sold 25 books the first month and sent me a copy...a very nice hardbound book that he can show his grandkids. A woman I met at Maui Writer's Conference had her book POD'd and in the first week sold 1000 copies(she networked with a bunch of Bay area bookstores and it is a really good book. It was picked up by a major publishing house and will be mass-published this summer. I have read other stories about self publishing success stories. The fellow that wrote the Celestine Prophecy started by self publishing and driving around the country with a trunkload of books.
A woman at the same confrence had self published seven books(YA) and had a pamphlet she was handing out...it got the attention of an agent at the conference and they signed her.
Lots of pros and cons, but just maybe, the publishing industry as we know it is changing. The WWW has made many differences in our lives and this could just be one of them.
posted
Moi? I'm not looking to self-publish, although as per Marianne's comments, I wouldn't forever rule it out. I just thought a writing site might have a few writers who thought the article had some value.
Posts: 1810 | Registered: Jun 2002
|
posted
Perhaps the lack of interest in the article has to do with the type of writers on this forum. I think most people are short story writers. There are only a few of us die hard, dedicated novelists. I know James has published his book at Phobos and Shawn has an agent(not sure if she is published yet) and I don't know if there are any others published.
I read the article and I went to the site Kathleen posted and read most of those. It seems that there are many pros as well as cons...I guess a person just has to look at their own needs and see what serves them best. Terry Brooks says writing is a craft and publishing is a crap shoot...anyone feeling lucky??
I found the article very fascinating! And I read through much of what Kathleen posted, and really gleaned some great info there, as well.
Sheesh! I'll be happy if I can ever finish the two things I'm presently working on! Being published-- self or otherwise-- seems a distant long-shot for me, at present...
Anyway-- thanks for sharing! I copied, pasted, and filed it away for future use! You all are great!
posted
I never read Terry Brooks or heard him say writing was a crap shoot. Honest. Now I feel like I've been plagiarizing him. (This really is a crapshoot.)
P.S. You're welcome, LL.
[This message has been edited by Kolona (edited January 21, 2004).]
I had already read that article, and was going to post a link to it in this forum, but then saw you had beaten me to it. I thought it was very interesting.
Not because I'm thinking of self-publishing, but because I think some of the technological changes that are making self-publishing more viable are going to force changes among the regular publishers.
[This message has been edited by EricJamesStone (edited January 21, 2004).]
posted
I stand corrected. I did mean the writing/publishing business but, still, I'll reprimand myself to be more specific. Words do mean things. Posts: 1810 | Registered: Jun 2002
|
Printer-friendly view of this topic
You all are great! 
(This really is a crapshoot.) 
