Self Publishing is rapidly becoming a viable option for many writers. However, this route to print is far from simple and with the potential for writers to make very expensive mistakes this blog post aims to try and offer some kind of guidance through the maze of options.
Despite the plethora of companies and websites offering self publishing services, these can be split into two main groups. The first is what I call one-click publishing. This option is website based and offers the writer a very simple route to print. The best example of one-click publishing is Lulu. The second option is what I call assisted publishing. This is were a specialist company offers writers advice and a range of print services.
One click publishing
In essence this kind of approach is designed to be a simple as possible. I am generalising, but a writer will upload their manuscript, design their own cover and make their book available for purchase on the hosting website. Then, when an order is placed the book is printed via Print on Demand (POD) service and sent to the reader. The writer gets the profit from the sale once the costs have been removed.
- Simple
- Good for books that will sell a very small volume (10’s rather than 100’s)
- No initial outlay
Disadvantages
- No pre-production (i.e. the editing and quality of text is left to the writer’s discretion)
- Print quality of final book can be poor
- The price per book can be high
Assisted publishing
This approach is designed to give the writer assistance in producing the best possible book. A good company (and they are not all good!) will at first contact offer the writer advice on the best way forward. The better companies will even go some way to dissuading writers from spending too much money on a product that may not ultimately sell enough to recoup their investment. Generalising once again, the process is started by the writer submitting the manuscript. This then undergoes some kind of pre-production. This can range from a simple type set to a complex copy edit and proofread. The cover will be designed and the book sent to the printer (most of the time this is short run print (200 – 3000) which is cheaper per book than POD). Many companies will also work with a writer to produce a business plan and offer pragmatic book marketing advice. This is just the tip of the ice berg and writers can often purchase a range of ‘additional services’. The model for writers recovering money differs, but one common model is for the writer to get a percentage of the final book cost once the company has remove printing costs and their handling fee.
- A writer has a realistic chance of actually making some money
- Good pre-production and printing will produce a quality product
- Marketing and distribution can come as part of the package
- It can all be done to a budget
Disadvantage
- There are some unscrupulous companies out there
- It can be expensive
- It’s not quick
