Self-publishing is often the quickest and best way for a new author
to publish a book. Rather than spend months looking for an agent and submitting your manuscript to
publishers, why not consider simply arranging to publish the book yourself? If you choose to go this route, you can have your book in print in a matter of weeks,
and distributed through online giants like Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. You can even get your
book distributed by regular bricks and mortar bookstores.
On demand publishing is also an excellent option for instructors or organizations
looking for cost effective means to publish limited numbers of a book or manual.
Self-Financed On-demand Publishing
The cost of self-publishing is very affordably
priced.
iUniverse
provides a flexible choice of services to help the novice or seasoned author
get their book into print. You can choose as little or much help as you feel you
need or can afford. If you're confident of your own editing skills, you publish
your book for as little as $299. This package includes distribution through
their online bookstore. The $459 package includes marketing materials plus
listing your book on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble and more. Hardcover editions
are also available as an option.
Other companies that provide on demand publishing
services include
Trafford, with packages
priced between $699 and $1949, and
XLibris, which charges from
$500 to $1600. Trafford offers an excellent online sales platform for your book,
and is the best choice if you intend to buy the books and distribute them
yourself - although their initial charge is higher than iUniverse, they provide
very deep discounts (up to 60%) off the price of printed books ordered by an
author.
When you're ready, you sign a contract and submit
your manuscript along with any cover art you want. You then have a chance to
review and copy edit the final version, after which your book goes to print!
Your up-front costs pay to get the book information into the proper electronic
format and set it up for on-demand printing. Costs are kept down by only
printing when orders come in - that avoids keeping costly inventory.
Free Self-Publishing
Other options are offered by CafePress.com
and Lulu Press
that require no cash outlay on your part. They offer a completely free service
to publish your book. As well, they will sell you book online and pay you
commissions on any sales. You are totally responsible for content, layout, and marketing. If you are more interested in publishing just a few copies
as keepsakes or gifts, then you can create the book for free and buy as few copies as you wish at very reasonable prices. If you are motivated to
market your books, such with your own website or other publicity, then you can also sell in volume through this service.
The retail price of your book is determined by the number of pages, and you earn a royalty on each book sold.
To make the most money, it is vital that you also actively promote your book yourself.
In fact, you can order copies at a discount and then sell them directly to people you know.
Self-Publishing is perfectly suited to any genre of writing, whether it's a novel, poetry,
memoirs, academic, travelogue, or other nonfiction. Instructors can put together manuals of notes
and readings for their classes, and companies can publish company histories or create manuals
for their employees.
More Self-Publishing Resources
Find out more with
information about self-publishing
in the Romance Notes directory, as well as
entries about
on demand publishing.
Dozens of relevant web sites are profiled and
previewed to make it easy to find just the right material you need.
For an excellent guide to self-publishing, read Dan Poynter's
The Self-Publishing Manual, which is now in its 14th edition and is still a best seller in
the market. You should also try
Complete Guide to Self Publishing by Tom & Marilyn Ross, which is its 4th edition.
Self-Publishing
