| p>You've spent a good deal of your time and | | | | will provide services such as editing and book |
| energy writing a book, and now you'd like to get | | | | design. Vanity publishers, on the other hand, |
| it published. You've been thinking about this for a | | | | require the author to take all of the financial risk |
| long time. Maybe you've even sent queries to | | | | and have a bad reputation of being willing to |
| agents and publishers, with negative responses. | | | | publish anything, regardless of quality. This article |
| Now, you're leaning towards publishing on your | | | | address the pros and cons of Subsidy Publishers. |
| own, but aren't sure where to begin. | | | | Benefits: You will have experienced help with the |
| To help you get started, this article compares the | | | | publication of your book. While you do need to |
| benefits and drawbacks of three self-publishing | | | | make an investment, you are partners with the |
| options. | | | | publishing agency and receive royalties based on |
| 1) Doing it all on your own | | | | book sales. (Vanity houses usually charge author |
| In this form of "true" self-publishing, you, the | | | | fees.) |
| author, take control of the entire process, from | | | | Drawbacks: Generally, subsidy publishing houses |
| hiring an editor to overseeing the typesetting. You | | | | require ownership of at least some of the |
| work with the various contractors and price each | | | | copyrights and pay royalties to the author. You |
| part of the process individually, rather than | | | | may not have much control over the book and |
| working with an all-in-one publisher. Think of | | | | cover designs. As noted above, the bulk of |
| publishing like buying a house: you can pay for a | | | | publicity effort is also yours. |
| contractor to handle all the details, hire the | | | | |
| workers, and manage the workflow, or you can | | | | 3) Print on Demand (POD) |
| be the contractor. In this example, you are the | | | | Print on demand uses digital printing technologies |
| contractor. | | | | to print books as they are ordered. Books can be |
| Benefits: The author owns all rights and makes full | | | | ordered one at a time, or in mass quantities. |
| profit from sales of the book, which, if successful, | | | | Benefits: POD requires a minimal investment. |
| can be significant. In addition, some larger | | | | Depending on the POD company you use, they |
| publishers will pick up a book that has had a | | | | may offer editorial and design services, or you |
| successful small-press run, giving it a larger | | | | can farm those services out to a third party. You |
| audience. If you are knowledgeable and have a | | | | have a good deal of control over design and print |
| good aesthetic sense, controlling the process | | | | quality. There is no commitment to a particular |
| yourself can also result in a higher quality product. | | | | number of sales, and it does not require |
| Drawbacks: The initial investment can be large. | | | | acceptance by an agent or publishing company. |
| You'll have to assume the entire financial risk, | | | | Drawbacks: The cost of each book is generally |
| which can be substantial depending on how many | | | | the most expensive of the three methods. Sales |
| books you decide to publish. In addition, you would | | | | may be low. Larger publishing houses might not be |
| have responsibility for all publicity, sales, | | | | willing to consider taking on your book if it's been |
| distribution, and storage. With this method, you | | | | published POD. |
| can expect publishing to cost you money, rather | | | | All self publishing requires the author to handle |
| than make a profit. However, the benefits that | | | | publicity and marketing. If you're good at |
| come with complete control over your book may | | | | marketing and have created a strong reader |
| outweigh the the drawbacks. | | | | base, self-publishing in one of these forms is a |
| 2) Vanity or Subsidy Publishers | | | | viable option. If you do decide to self-publish, I |
| You may have heard the terms "Vanity Publisher" | | | | highly recommend hiring a professional editor. The |
| and "Subsidy Publisher. Subsidy publishers generally | | | | end result will be worth the investment. |
| require a financial investment of the author, but | | | | |