| publishing has become common practice for many | | | | interesting in a small geographic area. Literary |
| writers who want accolades of having a book | | | | agents and book agents may also deny publication |
| published, no matter who publishes it. Writers | | | | because the book addresses an obscure topic in |
| choose self-publishing for various reasons. Many | | | | which few people are interested. Writers of |
| writers desire the freedom and business aspects | | | | controversial works may also choose to |
| of publishing work independently. A self-published | | | | self-publish, as many traditional publishers refuse |
| writer is one who is in control of every aspect of | | | | to work with controversial writings. Some authors |
| their published work. The publishing industry | | | | choose self-publishing because they want a larger |
| defines self-publishing as authors publishing their | | | | royalty from retail sales. |
| own books or other media, instead of with a | | | | IS SELF-PUBLISHING A SHORTCUT TO |
| third-party publisher. Today's technology has | | | | SUCCESS? |
| increased the pool of self-publishers, but it still | | | | Self-publishing is not a shortcut to having a printed |
| represents only a small percentage of the | | | | book. Depending on what your goals are, it may |
| publishing industry in terms of sales. The | | | | or may not be a direction you would like to take. |
| proliferation of media channels, such as blogging, | | | | In the hard copy world, self-publishing is costly. |
| video, and audio content, has contributed to the | | | | Getting a book into print costs more money than |
| increase in self-publishers. | | | | many writers want to spend. This is why the |
| THE BUSINESS OF SELF-PUBLISHING | | | | Internet is a blessing -- it's free. You can either |
| The business of self-publishing books and other | | | | start up a free website of your own and post |
| media is different from any other business. The | | | | your novel, or pay a small monthly sum and sell |
| absence of a traditional publisher makes | | | | your writing online. If you can write well enough to |
| self-publishing unique. The author of the content | | | | catch someone's attention, your readers may be |
| takes on the role of the traditional publisher. The | | | | willing to pay for a download of your book. By |
| author controls the editorial content, arranges for | | | | self-publishing online, you avoid the normal book |
| printing, markets the material, and distributes the | | | | publishing costs and still get exposure. Who |
| material to consumers and retailers. Self-publishers | | | | knows, you may be lucky and grab the attention |
| publish their books in printed form, or choose | | | | of a publishing guru who thinks you could make a |
| print-on-demand with no inventory. Many | | | | lot of money from your self-published book. |
| self-published authors decide to subsidize their | | | | Whatever your reason is for self-publishing, you |
| work rather than making money from it. Digital | | | | should know that self-publishing requires extensive |
| printing technology has evolved self-publishing into | | | | work. Self-publishing involves a long list of tasks, |
| digital photo book printing. Self-publishers are able | | | | which include prepublication and publication. |
| to get individually printed photo books from firms | | | | Prepublication includes editing or obtaining editing |
| like Apple's iPhoto, FotoInsight, Snapfish, and | | | | for the manuscript, proofreading, establishing |
| Printing-1. | | | | yourself as a legal retail business, and obtaining an |
| THE MOTIVES OF SELF-PUBLISHING | | | | ISBN “Cataloging in Publication” |
| Many writers have varied motives to self-publish. | | | | number. |
| One common reason is the writer's work is not | | | | The publication process involves formatting the |
| of interest to the commercial publisher, and | | | | manuscript, providing front matter and back |
| otherwise not marketable. Another common | | | | matter, and providing cover art for the front and |
| reason is the writer prefers to retain complete | | | | back covers and the spine of the book. |
| editorial control over content. Many writers are | | | | Self-publishers must also obtain printing quotes, |
| unwilling to compromise editing of their work, and | | | | determine how to deliver the manuscript to the |
| some writers prefer to have their work | | | | printer, and pay for printing and delivery of |
| presented “as is.” Literary agents | | | | finished books. |
| and book agents may deny publishing a book | | | | Publishing a book online is easier than publishing in |
| because the author is unknown and does not | | | | the world of hard copy. The result is not as |
| have a substantial resume. Self-publishing may also | | | | glorified, but it is a step towards success in the |
| be an alternative for writers who have written | | | | published realm. The more experience you can |
| material on a popular topic but the topic is only | | | | get writing, the better writer you will be. |