Comments on: Getting serious about self-publishing http://writerunboxed.com/2008/11/20/is-it-ever-right-to-self-publish-2/ about the craft and business of fiction Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:56:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Self-Publisher of Children's Books http://writerunboxed.com/2008/11/20/is-it-ever-right-to-self-publish-2/#comment-96492 Self-Publisher of Children's Books Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:24:04 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/11/20/is-it-ever-right-to-self-publish-2/#comment-96492 As a self-publisher, I think the co-operative publishing venture has a lot of merit. You could share knowledge, ISBNs, a shopping cart, a website, and build a catalog a lot faster than going it alone. Probably the toughest part will be trying to figure out how to manage the division of labor and profits. One thing I was curious about... your book: Jumpstart Your Novel with Kitty-Cats in Action. The title gives me some idea that it might be advice for writing a novel?? but ... there's more to it than that? I happened upon THIS blog entry in a random internet search, so I don't have any background information. So... you'll need this to sell your book, with a short answer, what do you say when asked: "So what's your book about?" Good luck and congrats on your decision. I assume you've found either SPAN (http://www.spannet.org) and/or IBPA (http://www.pma-online.org). If not, you'll want to get acquainted. As a self-publisher, I think the co-operative publishing venture has a lot of merit. You could share knowledge, ISBNs, a shopping cart, a website, and build a catalog a lot faster than going it alone. Probably the toughest part will be trying to figure out how to manage the division of labor and profits.

One thing I was curious about… your book: Jumpstart Your Novel with Kitty-Cats in Action.

The title gives me some idea that it might be advice for writing a novel?? but … there’s more to it than that? I happened upon THIS blog entry in a random internet search, so I don’t have any background information. So… you’ll need this to sell your book, with a short answer, what do you say when asked:

“So what’s your book about?”

Good luck and congrats on your decision. I assume you’ve found either SPAN (http://www.spannet.org) and/or IBPA (http://www.pma-online.org). If not, you’ll want to get acquainted.

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]]> By: Zoe Winters http://writerunboxed.com/2008/11/20/is-it-ever-right-to-self-publish-2/#comment-92977 Zoe Winters Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:39:45 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/11/20/is-it-ever-right-to-self-publish-2/#comment-92977 Fantastic! I started my own micro-press as well. Though I will be using POD technology through Lightning Source (check them out before you commit fully to doing an offset print run, you'll lower your overhead considerably: http://www.lightningsource.com) Their production values are very high quality. Major publishers use them for their backlist, small publishers are starting to use them for their front list, and Publishers like HarperCollins and Random House are creating entire divisions to use them. POD, IMO is the future, until and unless you sell a LOT of copies. As for bookstores. It's nearly impossible for a micro-press to get a book onto bookstore shelves (unless it's an independent bookstore.) It can be done but it's really difficult. Plus there is the insane returns policy, so I'm not sure why so many author/publishers try so hard to get in, unless it's merely for the validation, because it surely isn't the only or even strongest sales channel for books any longer. I personally wouldn't concern myself with brick and mortar chain stores to start anyway. A recent Zogby poll (in the last year or so recent. For publishing, that's recent haha), stated that the chain bookstores had 32% market share of the book buying public for where people buy "most" of their books. But Amazon.com had 43%. Chain bookstores are losing ground, Amazon.com is gaining it, every single year. In addition, when asked, there was an equal percentage (within one percentage point) of book buyers who bought at least SOME of their books online, compared with those who bought at least SOME of their books in chain bookstores. So the landscape is shifting quite a bit, and you need as much working capital as possible. And it's just not true that bookstores wont' shelve a POD book. They won't shelve an iUniverse or Authorhouse book, but Lightning Source is a printer using a technology, not a vanity publisher. They are also owned by Ingram and have several strong distribution channels you can use. I'm not saying "don't" do offset print runs, cause Lord knows you'll suffer stigma from all the "true self publishers" if you go POD, because they seem completely unaware of Lightning Source, or how widely they're used now. But I am saying, you can free up a lot of money for marketing (where it's better spent in your first year or so), if you go POD through Lightning Source. Fantastic! I started my own micro-press as well. Though I will be using POD technology through Lightning Source (check them out before you commit fully to doing an offset print run, you’ll lower your overhead considerably: http://www.lightningsource.com)

Their production values are very high quality. Major publishers use them for their backlist, small publishers are starting to use them for their front list, and Publishers like HarperCollins and Random House are creating entire divisions to use them.

POD, IMO is the future, until and unless you sell a LOT of copies.

As for bookstores. It’s nearly impossible for a micro-press to get a book onto bookstore shelves (unless it’s an independent bookstore.) It can be done but it’s really difficult. Plus there is the insane returns policy, so I’m not sure why so many author/publishers try so hard to get in, unless it’s merely for the validation, because it surely isn’t the only or even strongest sales channel for books any longer.

I personally wouldn’t concern myself with brick and mortar chain stores to start anyway. A recent Zogby poll (in the last year or so recent. For publishing, that’s recent haha), stated that the chain bookstores had 32% market share of the book buying public for where people buy “most” of their books.

But Amazon.com had 43%. Chain bookstores are losing ground, Amazon.com is gaining it, every single year. In addition, when asked, there was an equal percentage (within one percentage point) of book buyers who bought at least SOME of their books online, compared with those who bought at least SOME of their books in chain bookstores.

So the landscape is shifting quite a bit, and you need as much working capital as possible. And it’s just not true that bookstores wont’ shelve a POD book. They won’t shelve an iUniverse or Authorhouse book, but Lightning Source is a printer using a technology, not a vanity publisher. They are also owned by Ingram and have several strong distribution channels you can use.

I’m not saying “don’t” do offset print runs, cause Lord knows you’ll suffer stigma from all the “true self publishers” if you go POD, because they seem completely unaware of Lightning Source, or how widely they’re used now. But I am saying, you can free up a lot of money for marketing (where it’s better spent in your first year or so), if you go POD through Lightning Source.

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]]> By: Donna http://writerunboxed.com/2008/11/20/is-it-ever-right-to-self-publish-2/#comment-92733 Donna Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:14:54 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/11/20/is-it-ever-right-to-self-publish-2/#comment-92733 Well, good luck with your venture. I've always thought that you can 'do-it-yourself'...Have you read: Damn! Why Didn't I Write That? How Ordinary People are Raking in $100,000.00 Or More Writing Nonfiction Books & How You Can Too! by Marc McCutcheon It might give you some pointers about publicity and no, I'm not Marc, but wish I were! Well, good luck with your venture. I’ve always thought that you can ‘do-it-yourself’…Have you read:
Damn! Why Didn’t I Write That? How Ordinary People are Raking in $100,000.00 Or More Writing Nonfiction Books & How You Can Too!
by Marc McCutcheon
It might give you some pointers about publicity and no, I’m not Marc, but wish I were!

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]]> By: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2008/11/20/is-it-ever-right-to-self-publish-2/#comment-92699 Kathleen Bolton Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:25:11 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/11/20/is-it-ever-right-to-self-publish-2/#comment-92699 Wow. I think you've covered all the angles, and like Therese I'm impressed with the thought you've put into this, especially creating the FtQ Press. You know we've got your back, Ray! Wow. I think you’ve covered all the angles, and like Therese I’m impressed with the thought you’ve put into this, especially creating the FtQ Press.

You know we’ve got your back, Ray!

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]]> By: Richard Mabry http://writerunboxed.com/2008/11/20/is-it-ever-right-to-self-publish-2/#comment-92697 Richard Mabry Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:05:09 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/11/20/is-it-ever-right-to-self-publish-2/#comment-92697 Ray, You've really been busy. I'll be watching with interest. And how about adding that professional headshot to your site, Flogging The Quill? Ray,
You’ve really been busy. I’ll be watching with interest. And how about adding that professional headshot to your site, Flogging The Quill?

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]]> By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2008/11/20/is-it-ever-right-to-self-publish-2/#comment-92670 Therese Walsh Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:29:24 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/11/20/is-it-ever-right-to-self-publish-2/#comment-92670 I'm really impressed with all you've done, Ray, and I can't wait to read Kitty-cats in Action. Best of luck with your project and your new company! I’m really impressed with all you’ve done, Ray, and I can’t wait to read Kitty-cats in Action. Best of luck with your project and your new company!

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