Self Publishing
Self publishing means just that. The author controls all aspects of creating and producing the book. He, or she, does all the writing and is responsible for the editing, design, layout, obtaining the ISBN number, book printing and ebook conversions. The author is also responsible for all book distribution, marketing, and publicity.
Advantages: The self published author retains all rights, has complete control over the entire project, and keeps all the profits.
Disadvantages: Distribution can be difficult. Most booksellers will not allow self published titles in their stores, nor will all on line retailers list a self published book. Some book printers may require a minimum run of as many as 500 to 1000 books. The author will also be responsible for storing the books once they are printed.
Recommended for: Niche books, such as family histories, cookbooks for church or charity fund raising, and for back of room items for motivational speakers.
Subsidy or Partnership Publishing
Subsidy publishers work with authors who don't want to self publish, but want to avoid the hassle of finding an agent or dealing with rejection letters. Subsidy publishers will handle the printing, most will help with book distribution and provide the ISBN number. Some subsidy publishers include their name and logo on the book cover, as well as help with editing and book design. In most instances the author will be responsible for marketing and promotion.
Advantages: The author retains the rights and will have at least some creative input in the project. Books are typically printed using print on demand, (POD) technology, relieving the author of the hassle of storing large quantities of books. The turnaround time for most subsidy published books is reasonably short, oftentimes as little as a few weeks. Many subsidy publishers will also list the book with major online book retailers, such as Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and BooksAMillion.com. Some subsidy publishers pay a higher percentage for their royalties than do traditional publishers.
Disadvantages: Instead of the publisher paying the author for their manuscript the author has to pay the publisher to publish their book. Major book retailers, such as Barnes & Noble, will not carry POD books in their stores, but will offer them on-line. Most subsidy publishers do not promote the book. It is up to the author to get the book reviewed. While not as notorious for rejection as traditional publishers, not all subsidy publishers will accept all manuscripts.
Recommended for: Those authors who believe in their work enough to be willing to assume their own financial risk. Subsidy publishing is also recommended for self publishing authors who want their books to be of a higher, more professional quality, and to have them more widely distributed.
E-books
Electronic books, or e-books, have been getting a lot of buzz lately, but they've actually been around for sometime. An e-book is a digital file that is downloaded. Before the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes & Noble Nook, e-books were pretty much limited to computers. These popular new e-book readers and apps now make e-books portable and more accessible. While e-books now have a significant share of the book market, they will never fully replace printed books. Most traditional publishers now offer e-book versions of their titles. Some subsidy publishers may also offer e-book conversions.
Advantages: Self published authors can publish e-books for considerably less money than a printed book, and not have to worry about storing boxes of books in their garages or sheds.
Disadvantages: Sales of e-books only represent a portion of overall book sales. Those authors who opt to publish their books as e-books only will miss a significant share of the market. Since an e-book cannot be signed the author also misses out on having book signings, losing a valuable promotional tool. Not all e-book software guards against illegal copying and sharing. This can result in lost sales revenue for the author.
Traditional Publishing
Traditional publishing when the publisher buys a manuscript from the author. It is considered the most prestigious type of publishing. Major publishing houses include Simon & Schuster and HarperCollins.
Advantages: The author is paid for their work, typically by an advance against their royalties. Major book retailers, such as Barnes & Noble, only carry traditionally published books in their stores.
Disadvantages: Most authors, particularly new authors, will find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get a traditional publisher to buy their manuscript. Most traditional publishers will only work with a literary agent, and finding an agent can be a long, difficult, and discouraging process. The author usually gives up their rights once a traditional publisher buys the manuscript, and they may have little, if any, creative input once the manuscript is sold. The turnaround time can be as long as two to three years. Traditional publisher do not promote the book. The author is responsible for the marketing and promotion, and the publisher can drop the author, if book sales fail to meet their expectations.
Recommended for: Those authors who have had success with their self published or subsidy published books and wish to take their writing career to the next level.
For more information about publishing, and how Good Oak Press can help you publish your book, please visit our website at www.GoodOakPress.com.
