The Basics of Self Publishing Explained
// July 4th, 2009 // No Comments » // Self Publishing
Publishing a book is considered to be an honor in most people’s opinion. When you get a book published, you’ve accomplished something to be proud of.
However, in today’s world, you don’t have to be one of the less than 1% of authors that ever get accepted by a traditional publisher. There are other options out there. Self-publishing is a growing trend in today’s publishing marketplace. Many authors are turning their hopes to this form of publishing in order to get their book out there.
What exactly does self-publishing involve?
How does it differ from a traditional publisher? Let’s look at the basics of self-publishing and see if it fits your needs.
The first thing you should know about self-publishing is that its extremely quick and easy. Unlike a traditional publisher, you’re not looking at more than a year to get your book into print. In some cases it can be a matter of weeks or a few months to get the job done. You simply submit your book to the self-publisher, they print it up for you and you get a hard copy in your hand relatively quickly.
Self-publishers will vary widely in the services that they offer their authors. Some publishers are considered vanity presses and will accept a submission for anyone that is willing to pay for it. They make all of their money from the authors who pay to have their books published. They don’t try to sell the books for you in the marketplace.
They are just designed to help you get a physical copy of your book and nothing else. These are a great option for those that only want some books to give out to their friends and family. Many times, its only about the pride of having a printed book in your hand. If you have the dream of being a successful, famous author, then this probably isn’t the way to go.
Self-publishers will offer different aspects of the book publishing process to their authors. Many of them have designers on staff that will design the book cover for you. Others just take in a file from you and print it up. It’s up to you to provide the cover and the book.
Other companies offer a marketing package that you can pay separately for and might even hook you up with a literary agent. The quality of these services vary from company to company.
Many companies are very professional in their layout and development and even offer editors on staff. Other companies are basically a glorified copy machine. To find the best option for you, you really need to do your research. Every type of publisher has advantages and disadvantages. A traditional publisher takes on all of the financial risk for you, but what are your chances of getting accepted by one?
In today’s world, they usually only go after established authors. Do your homework before you get involved and find out if self-publishing is right for you.
Dan Moore.
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