I had a lot of comments and requests to copy a recent blog post—the warning to authors about a way over-priced, ridiculous package one of the “self-publishing” companies was promoting. I hope this made a whole lot of authors stop and think before signing up for a publishing, editing or marketing program with any company.
Just because the company is well-known, does not mean it is ethical. Just because they say they love your book, doesn’t mean they have your best interest at heart. Just because your self-publishing company offers the opportunity, doesn’t mean it is a good opportunity.
Please, please, please check out the “self-publishing” company you are considering before signing up for anything. Do an Internet search using the keyword “warning” or “complaint” with the company name. Compare their services and prices with other companies. Never be so eager to get your book published that you make costly mistakes.
If you have thousands of dollars to spend on bogus marketing plans, you probably should be hiring a good book editor for your manuscript instead. If you are in such a hurry to publish your book that you will go with the first company you find, you might as well just put copies of your manuscript in paper shopping bags and sell it to passersby from a street corner. If you are not savvy as far as book marketing and if you don’t understand that it is up to the author to promote his or her book, you might as well put your manuscript in the paper shredder and find another pastime.
Before publishing, do an Internet search and pay attention to what you learn from it. Be smart. Be savvy.
Read Mark Levine’s book, “The Fine Print of Self-Publishing,” to find out how this attorney rates and ranks the self-publishing companies. You might be unpleasantly surprised. But this one step—followed up by an honest Internet search—might save you thousands of dollars and a lot of heartache.
Have your manuscript professionally edited, sign with a legitimate self-publishing company or do true self-publishing (establish your own publishing company), learn something about your responsibilities as a published author and you have a much better chance of publishing success.
To get a free e-copy of Mark Levine’s book, join SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network). By the way, SPAWN is a major networking organization and resource center for authors. http://www.spawn.org
And Read my book, “Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author.” Yes, it includes information about the publishing industry, your options and how to make the right choice for you and your book. It goes into self-publishing (how to establish your own company), distribution, book promotion, self-editing and much, much more. http://www.matilijapress.com/PublishYourBook.html Also available at amazon.com in print, kindle and audio and at most other online and downtown bookstores.