Writing Wednesday: Self Publishing…
WRITING WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday’s I like to share information I picked up on my path to publishing, marketing and preparing to publish again. Information that I wish someone would have shared with me, back then.
SELF PUBLISHING
I am not an expert in Self-Publishing but I know a lot of self-published authors and I am planning to self-publish myself, in the future so I have been taking notes.
There are a lot of advantages to Self-Publishing:
The Author has total control
The time frame. Your book can be published in a few months vs. 18 months-2 years
Royalties of 20-80% vs. 5-15%
The disadvantages of Self-Publishing are evaporating quickly. The success stories are mounting. Like any business venture (yes writing is a passion but publishing is a business) it will take research, investment, hard work and most importantly a great product to have any chance at success. No matter which publishing choice you make it will be difficult at times and will take time and patience but it will be so worth it. I cannot even describe how amazing it feels to hold your first book in your hands.
Once your manuscript has been critiqued and professionally edited by a literary editor and you are planning to self-publish on your own, you will need an ISBN number [International – Standard Book Number] for your book. This is a social security number for the book. There are a lot of company’s out there that will be happy to sell you an ISBN # but BOWKER is the International clearing house for these numbers so you might as well skip the middleman and get it from them. The cost is $125.00. If you are using a company to assist you with self-publishing they may offer to get the ISBN# for you. Deep discounts are offered to companies that buy multiple #’s so they may offer it to you for less or include it in their package. If they charge more than $125.00 you can easily apply for it yourself.
You will need a business plan/proposal or an outline for fiction
If you are planning to self-publish 100% than Amazon is the place for you. Smashwords is One of the Amazon companies for e-books and Create-Space is used for print books.
If you use Amazon for publishing your book will never be available in an actual book store. This is because Amazon Publishers will not process returns. You will have to design all of your marketing around online booksellers. Amazon offers a KDP (Kindle Direct Program) a program that offers some marketing opportunities.
Lightening Source is a company you can use if you want your book to be available in book stores. They process returns, for a charge. All publishers, even traditional ones charge you for your returns.
To have any chance at having your book in a book store, your publisher has to be willing to offer your book to them at a wholesale discount price of at least 55% off the cover price. The books must be returnable if they do not sell within the stores allotted time-frame.
All print books are delivered through a book distribution center. The two major distributors are Ingram and Baker & Taylor. If the publisher you are planning to use does not use one or both of these distributors, move on from that publisher.
Here is a list of random Self Publishing Boutiques that offer a variety of packages to authors and come with some good references. As always never sign a contract unless you have had it reviewed by an attorney.
Blue Lobster Book Company
She Writes Press
Book Locker
Turning Stone
Lucky Bat Books
Assisted Publishing
Tate Publishing and Enterprises- Tate offers a publishing package that includes editing, formatting, cover design, ISBN#, copyrighting, marketing assistance and they handle returns. They deal with Ingram so your book will be available to any store, school or library that wants to stock it or make it available for order. Once your book sells 1000 copies, Tate refunds your investment. They basically operate like an Independent publisher. There are many other companies out there like this one and new ones are being started every day. I cannot stress enough for you to have any contract reviewed by an attorney and ask for and check references. It is also a good idea to order books from several authors of any company you are considering, so you can check the quality of the printing etc…
A good book to read is Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur/ Guy Kawasaki
Tuesday is the only day of the week that new books are released
Traditional Publishers make their money selling 100’s of copies of only several titles verses other publishers that make their money selling 100 copies of thousands of titles.
If you have any experience with self publishing it would be great if you could leave tips in the comments. Did you work with a company that you were thrilled with, please share.
If you have any questions please leave those in the comments and I will do my best to answer or find someone who can.
Thank you for reading,
Doreen
But it is all worth it when you see your book in the window at Barnes & Noble for the first time:
As always, incredibly useful. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Thank you so much Cindy! Miss you.
interesting information. Thank you
Thank you!
Wow, Doreen, this is such great information! I will definitely save this. If I ever do finish anything, I’ll probably try to self-publish vs. traditional, because I want total control and don’t believe a publisher would be interested in me, anyway! Thank you 🙂
Thank you and I have faith in you, you will finish something.
Unfortunately my reading ability is on the blink, so I’m not getting much of this wisdom tonight. I will bookmark and try again later. Thanks for posting. It is appreciated. (PS: I did contact an editor, as you suggested. Thanks.)
I am sorry your reading isn’t going so well. I hope tomorrow is better. Congratulations on thinking about an editor. They can be golden.
Now I know who to turn to if I get off my butt and finally begin the book I’ve always wanted to write! I will be coming back to your posts for great advice!
Thank you Cathy. Yes you need to write that book.
I have been looking forward to today specifically to find out what new nuggets you have today! I have been scouring publishing packages and struggling to figure out which fits the best for the project I am working on. This is, as ALWAYS, is perfectly timed information!
Tomorrow may I ask you if it is Wednesday yet? Very grateful for the info and inspiration.
Thank you so much Ruth and I wish you the best of luck with your project!
Lots of good tips. And great to see your book in the window!
Thank you Loni. That was an amazing day!
Very interesting…going to pin for later. I have no plans to write a book but hey I never had plans to be a blogger either. And those pictures are awesome, especially love the clock and the pile of paper wads.
Thank you Kathy!
You are such an inspiration! One of these days…I really would love to do it.
Thank you Tam. You must sit down and write that book:)
Wonderful tips and congratulations on your newest book! How wonderful!
Thank you so much Wendy.
Fabulous tips, Doreen. Thank you. I appreciate this as I’m going back and forth on the traditional vs self publishing. Each time I get a bite from a traditional editor it seems to fade fast and I never reach “published.” I’ll be coming back again and again to your info here as I try another route.
Cheers to your book in the window! That’s so very cool!
I know that feeling Lisa. I wish you the very best and hope you find a good fit for you and your book.
Thanks for the outline Doreen. She Writes was at BlogHer and made a nice case for the hybrid publisher I thought.
I haven’t heard any complaints about She Writes and I have a lot of respect for the founders.
Thanks for these great tips. I am bookmarking!
Thank you Carol.
Love that Writing is Hard photo — so true! Publishing is a whole different world these days, and I’m bookmarking these great tips.
That picture honestly looks like my office this week. Scary!
Great tips Doreen! I pinned for later use. I hope you hit the big leagues, you so deserve it.
Thank you so much Rena. Lets have wine together when we get called up to the bigs!