I compiled the SPAWN Market Update yesterday. (This is the meaty newsletter for members of SPAWN.) I included quite a bit on travel-writing for freelance writers as well as authors who are seeking publishers. I was surprised to find that when I did a search for publishers for travel books, or even novels, children’s books, young adult books or books on gardening, relationships, etc., several pay-to-publish companies came up first.
They are primed to be listed first on most all searches involving book publishing, whether your search is specific or not.
No wonder so many people are signing with these companies. Authors who are just emerging from their writing rooms don’t know any better. We are all programmed to glom onto the items appearing on the first page or two of an Internet search. Unaware, hopeful authors do this when they are eager to share their wonderful writings with the world. They follow the obvious links to these pay-to-publish companies. They are ecstatic to have found a publisher that actually wants to publish their book and they make it sound so easy. Most authors today sign with the first company out of the chute.
One such author told me, long after the fact, that he thought this company was the answer to his publishing prayers. This man is out of the authorship business now—one of the three-quarters of authors who fail every year.
And it is not necessarily because the company did anything bad or unlawful. It is because he didn’t take the time to do his homework. He made decisions before studying all of his options. He neglected to educate himself about the vast and highly competitive publishing industry.
Here’s my recommendation.
Study the publishing industry before you publish with anyone. Understand your options, the possible consequences of your choices and your responsibilities as a published author. If you didn’t do this before you wrote your book or before you completed it, then stop the forward motion NOW. Set your book aside and take a few months to learn about the industry.
Read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. This book gives you an overview of how publishing works and explains all of your options. It also gives you a clear idea of what is required of you as a published author. Herein, you’ll learn that you are totally responsible for your success.
If you are contemplating the “self-publishing”—pay-to-publish route, read Mark Levines’ book, The Fine Print of Self-Publishing.
Join writers’ groups and organizations, attend writers’ conferences, read books by the experts, subscribe to publishing newsletters and magazines. Enmesh yourself in this industry, making sure to enter into it with an open mind.