Book Publishing Agency
Self Publishing Your Own Book: When Should You Consider It?
Author: Deanna Mascle
Self publishing your own book is one of the publishing industry’s dirty little secrets. Mainstream publishers, editors, and authors easily dismiss self publishing and print on demand publishing as a rip-off for both the writer and reader. After all, if the writer was a real writer then they could find a real publisher, right? That has been the conventional wisdom for a long time but in today’s modern, technological society that conventional wisdom does not always hold true. So who should consider self publishing?
Real writers should consider self publishing. Published authors often find themselves placed in a prison of their own making. Once they have achieved even modest success in a specific niche it is often hard to break out of that niche and publish something different. However self publishing gives authors control over their own writing so they can change direction or genre if they choose. Published authors who have taken some time off from their writing often find it just as hard to return as it was to break in initially. They can often easily parlay their experience and audience into a successful self publishing career. Finally, writers who have an idea that does not fit neatly into one of the major publishing houses slots may find self publishing their only alternative. Just because it doesn’t fit into a neat slot doesn’t mean your book doesn’t have great potential — think about Diana Gabaldon and J.K. Rowling.
Control freaks should also consider self publishing. Once you sign your baby over to a major publisher then you lose control of your book. The publisher can slap a horrible or inappropriate cover on it, change its name, or even alter the main characters. Your name will go on the book but what is published may be drastically changed from your original creation–and not always for the better. Think it won’t happen to you, or that you won’t care as long as you get the royalty check, then think again. I can tell you that I still cringe whenever I have to claim a book I published in 1998. It’s not the book that makes me want to crawl under a rock–but the cover and title the publisher slapped on it.
Money grubbers should also consider self publishing. While the independently wealthy may consider their art reward enough the rest of us need to eat and pay the mortgage (not to mention buy paper and pens) so money does matter. And of course, we want all our hard work to be rewarded. In our capitalist society that reward should be monetary. While self publishing may require you to put up some of your own money and traditional publishing will instead offer you an upfront payment, the final balance sheet will tell you a much different story. The initial advance from a traditional publisher will be small (unless you are Stephen King) and may be the only money you receive for your book for a long time — and perhaps ever depending how your book sells. Any book royalties you receive will be for a small percentage and will be spread out over years to come as well as held ransom for book returns. The final indignity is that your book’s sales depend greatly on the promotional effort your publisher puts into it. The ugly truth is that the publisher does not much care about your baby and will rarely put any extra money, manpower, or thought into how to promote your book. Most midlist and lowlist authors conduct (and foot the bill for) their own promotion. At least when you self publish you know you will be on your own and you can factor that into your budget.
If you are a real writer, a control freak, or a money grubber (or perhaps some combination) then you should consider self publishing your own book.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/writing-articles/self-publishing-your-own-book-when-should-you-consider-it-105928.html
About the Author
Deanna Mascle is a published author, creative writing teacher, and freelance writer. Check out her free report “Self Publishing: Is It Right For You” at http://answersaboutwriting.com/selfpublishing/
Tagged with: book on demand publishing • book self publishing • e book • publishing your own book • self publishing
Filed under: Uncategorized
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You could consider to register ISBN for your book on your own.
There are a lot of printing-offices to look up the best for your target. Initially, limited edition. If it’s successful, you could get more copies printed.
For example, Ruby on Rails, serie “Pragmatic Programmer” was privately published by two authors, in Raleigh, NC, and Dallas, TX.
Intermediators (big publishing houses) rip you off. Their salaries are bloated. The really good book will find her readers without them, in the era of Internet.
People spread good word via news conferences, blogs, etc these days.
authors, not publishers, employ agents. An agents job is to help the author with legal contracts, career building, and marketing the manuscript to editors at publishing houses.
Publishers are generally a company, not a person. They employ editors of various types (senior editor, junior editor, assistant editor). A senior editor is very much like a business manager and oversees everyone involved on each project. Junior and assistant editors help select and polish manuscripts as well as oversee and choose cover art, advertising, and distribution. Marketing personnel, artists, contract lawyers, accountants, proof readers (some publishers still use them), and translaters are also involved in the process of getting a book to market.
Some publishers own their own presses (so would have additional employees there, though not many use actual type setters anymore), and some own their own wholesaler/distributor companies. Other publishers have to contract the actual printing and distribution of their books.
If you want more detail, you’ll have to do more research. I know there are a few sites that cover it, as well as some books about book publishing. Offhand, I can’t remember any names (maybe another answerer can).
I would contact iUniverse[1], because it’s the only publishing company I’m familiar with. They will either guide an author or do the work for a fee, in order get works published. See their website for a list of services.
First,
Edit your book many, many times to make it as good as it can be. Put it away, and don’t even think about it, for a month or two, then take it out and edit it some more.
Type it in proper manuscript form (http://www.writersdigest.com has the details on what is needed).
Think about joining a writer’s group (online or local) to get feedback from other would-be writers.
Get it proofread by someone who knows what they are doing (do not rely only on spellcheck).
Now, you can start looking for an agent. At the library or bookstore, look for Writer’s Market 2009, Guide to Literary Agents, published by Writer’s Digest or Bowker’s Literary Marketplace (or visit http://www.agentquery.com ). Look for agents that handle your genre, and are looking for new clients. Read, and follow, their submission guidelines.
Learn how to write a query letter, which is what you send to the agent, first (those books will have something about it). It’s part explanation as to why your book should be published and part synopsis of your book. You have just that one-page letter to wow the agent, so take the time to make it a good one.
Expect the whole process to take lots of time, and plan on many rejections. When you are accepted by an agent, they will submit your book to publishers, not you.
The entire process of getting an agent is FREE, except for postage, until your book is bought by a publisher. That is when the agent gets their portion, usually 15%, of the money that goes to you. Run away from any agent who asks for money upfront.
Good luck!
I’ve been in the book business (writing, publishing, jobbing, marketing) for 27 years and I have never heard of that company.
Go to the public library and ask for the APBD (American Book Publishing Directory) or LMP (Literary Marketplace). They list every book publisher in the U.S. and what sort of books they publish, etc.
Get a copy of the latest edition of Writer’s Market. Also get a copy of How to Be your own Literary Agent. These two books should give you all of the information you need to find the appropriate publisher for your book. Whether that publisher will think your work is appropriate for them is another question. But good luck.
Buy a copy of Writer’s Market where they list hundreds of magazines, antholigies, etc, suitable to your needs. Good publishers don’t ask for money
I would worry about finishing the book first before you worry about publishing. Publishers do not want ideas, they want manuscripts (your book typed up.) Good luck! Tell your friend, once he is done, to go to the bookstore (or library) and get Writer’s Market 2008 as well as Guide to Literary Agents 2008.
A literary agency acts as the broker between authors and publishing houses. The agency works with the author and makes sure that the book or manuscript is fit for publishing and has a big chance of getting accepted by the house.
Publishing houses publish the books they accept based on how they want it packaged and distribute/promote/sell the books according to their own policies.
Visit a bookstore. Who published the books in your genre? Find them in the most recent edition of Writer’s Market, Literary Marketplace (US), or Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook (UK). Each listing will indicate “agented submissions only” or not.
Remember, reputable agents and publishers charge the author NOTHING (although some agents deduct expenses from the first check). The moment an agent or publisher says they need payment for some service, that’s the announcement that they’re not legitimate.
You can determine whether an agent or publisher is the real thing rather than a scammer making profits from author payments at Preditors and Editors (http://www.invirtuo.cc/prededitors/).
Don’t sent agents or publishers your manuscript. Send only a one page query letter and a self-addressed stamped envelope for their reply. Check submission guidelines for their preferred method of contact and any other enclosure they may want. here hope this helps.
Can you recommend a good book publishing agency?
I’m looking for someone to publish a book of short stories. Can you recommend me somewhere as I’m now to all this and don’t want to get ripped off.
Does anyone know any story competition websites or book publishing agencies that don’t ask for a lot of money?
i love to write and i wanna become a professional author when i grow up. pls help me whichever way you can and i need publishing agencies who don’t ask for a lot of money to publish your story.
are the strategi book publishing agency any good?
How does one go about publishing a book?
My friend is writing a book, and he doesn’t know what do do after he’s done writing. How does he choose a Publishing Agency, how much money should he expect to spend, and how can he keep his work safe?
What is the personnel involved in a (book) publishing agency? ?
I need to know what the structure of a publishing agency is$. It’s for a school project, I need to know basically who works in one and what they do (agent, editor, who else? …) Can you help? Thanks.
What is the difference between a literary agency and a publishing house?
I’ve been offered a work experience placement at a literary agency but I want to get into book publishing. What’s the main difference and can i still use this experience in the long run?
I’m writing a book. What’s a good publishing agency?
It’s a teen romance novel. It’s written to be a sequel.
It’s a teen romance novel. It’s written to be a series.
How do I find a publishing agency and How do I get my book published?
What are some reputable book publishing agencies?
I am specifically looking for one that accepts queries by email for action/adventure.
Who would you contact to form a strategic business partnership with a book publishing agency?