| Under the self-publishing umbrella, there are many | | | | the general public, authors may want to have an |
| options for writers when they are considering | | | | advance review copy of their book for either |
| how they want to get their work out into the | | | | their own review or to send to a book reviewer. |
| general public. Traditionally, authors were limited | | | | Having an established book reviewer give a good |
| with either working with a traditional publisher, or | | | | review of a book prior to full printing is a good |
| finding someone to help them self-publish their | | | | indication as to ultimately how many copies should |
| work. As discussed in other articles of this series, | | | | be printed. In the alternative, a bad review might |
| there are many different ways for authors to | | | | indicate the need to go back to the drawing (or in |
| get their work out there depending upon each | | | | this case writing) board to clean up the work. |
| author's individual needs. | | | | Also, Print On Demand solves the storage issue |
| In the past, whether an author worked with a | | | | for books for both a publisher and an author. In |
| traditional publisher or self-published, hundreds of | | | | the past, whether published traditionally or |
| their books needed to be printed at any one time. | | | | self-published, when a book was done, there were |
| With the advent of new technology, writers can | | | | copies hanging about until sold. Both publisher and |
| now actually see their work in print prior to | | | | author would have to warehouse them which |
| printing without sticking them with too many | | | | could get expensive, although the author usually |
| unsold copies of their book. In addition, they have | | | | ended up with hundreds of books on their kitchen |
| the option to print a copy of a book only when | | | | table or in their basement. With Print On Demand, |
| one is sold. Authors can do this through | | | | a book is only printed when needed. |
| Print-On-Demand (POD) technology. | | | | At the same time, in order to see a copy of their |
| Print On Demand, as the name implies, allows an | | | | book in print prior to printing the larger number of |
| author to print as small a number of copies as | | | | copies, an author would have had to pay an |
| they want, whenever they want, through a digital | | | | absorbent amount of money to a printer to get |
| printing process. Because the book is being printed | | | | the single copies. Now, it is usually just a small set |
| digitally, there is no need to set up the traditional | | | | up fee to the digital printing company and an |
| offset printing presses, which would be cost | | | | author has a book in print. |
| prohibitive for a single or a just a few copies of a | | | | All the above are some benefits of Print On |
| book. Once the set up is done for the digital | | | | Demand. However, it is not the answer to all |
| format, it is done and can be used repeatedly | | | | publishing ills. In the other parts of the POD series |
| whenever the need arises. | | | | I will discuss some negatives that may be deciding |
| Print On Demand solves many issues for new | | | | factors on not going with Print On Demand |
| writers not being published by a publishing house. | | | | publishing. |
| For example, prior to getting their work out to | | | | |