Yesterday, we explored your publishing options. Are you convinced about which one is right for you? Or are you still unsure about the option to choose?
It’s a difficult decision for any author. Yet, hopeful authors frequently ask me to make that choice for them.
When they ask me, “Which publishing option is best?” I respond, “It depends on your project and it depends on you (your goals and your ultimate purpose for your book).”
So they ask me, “Which one should I go with?” I remind them of their options. I suggest that they review the pros and cons of each option, reconsider their purpose for the book and their goals and then make their choice based on this. Of course, they must also be painfully realistic. It is unlikely that a narrow niche book will interest a major publisher. A memoir by an unknown is generally not going to be a New York Times bestseller, thus probably of no interest to Random House.
Likewise, if you have no intentions of or ability to promote your book once it’s produced, you might as well give up the idea of landing any size traditional royalty publisher. But why spend the money to have a book published at all if you aren’t going to promote it?
Let’s go at this topic from a different angle.
Who should approach the major traditional royalty publishers?
• Those who have studied the publishing industry and understand its competitive nature.
• Those who have researched dozens of books similar to theirs so they know what’s out there and what’s selling.
• Those who have read those dozens of books so they recognize good writing.
• Those with extraordinarily good novels that have passed an evaluation by a publishing professional and have been professionally edited.
• Those with a well-written, professionally edited nonfiction book on a cutting edge subject or with a new, interesting, useful twist on an evergreen topic. Something that is needed/desired by a large audience and that has not been overdone.
• Those who are committed to marketing their books and who have the ideas, connections, time and energy to promote, promote, promote.
Who should seek out some of the hundreds of smaller publishing houses?
• Those encompassing the criteria above, but who have been turned down by the majors.
• Those with excellent books that, perhaps, have a smaller audience.
• Niche books. Approach a publisher who specializes for your books related to academics, history, art, biography, travel, business, astrology, religion or hiking, for example.
Who should self-publish (establish their own publishing company)?
• Those who will take the time to study the publishing industry before getting involved.
• Those with excellent nonfiction books on marketable topics in areas of their expertise.
• Those who understand their niche and the audience.
• Those who are committed to the huge task of producing and marketing their books.
• Those with connections, ideas, energy, money and time to promote their books.
Who should go with a fee-based, “self-publishing” (vanity) company?
• Those who study the publishing industry before getting involved.
• Those who will learn everything they can about this branch of the industry and who will understand the various offerings and contracts.
• Those who have realistic expectations.
• Those with books fitting into a narrow niche.
• Those with books of interest to friends and family only.
• Those who, if they want to sell a lot of books, are willing and able to promote their books.
• Those who don’t have the willingness or ability to promote their books and who have only the most realistic expectations with regard to book sales. (Your book won’t sell if you aren’t promoting it.)
Who should produce an ebook?
• Those who have studied the publishing industry.
• Those who want to test the waters with their books.
• Those who want to offer the ebook option for their customers.
• Those with the willingness to promote their ebooks.
I hope this puts things in perspective for you and helps you to make that huge decision you’ve been contemplating. If only you can look at your project realistically—from the publisher’s point of view (he’s in the BUSINESS of selling book) and the reader’s (know what people are reading). And, before making any choice (even before you write that book), honestly answer these two questions:
• What is the purpose of this book?
• Why am I writing it?
Your next assignment is to read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. The earlier in the process, the better. Order it here:
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
This book is designed to educate hopeful authors about the publishing industry, their publishing options, the possible consequences of their choices and their responsibilities as published authors. It will help you to make the hard decisions and to adopt realistic expectations and perspectives. And if you are already published and you have questions about distribution, wholesalers, working with booksellers, getting book reviews, writing a press release, bookkeeping for authors, how to work with Amazon.com, the steps to self-publishing and book promotion ideas, for example, this book addresses it all.
Need an editor? Want a manuscript evaluation? Contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com.