There’s lots popping in the Matilija Press offices.
Two of my articles appear in two useful newsletters this week: RJ Pramshufer used my article, “How to Organize Your Small Book Project” as his lead article in Publishing Basics. Read it here: http://www.publishingbasics.com/current. And Fran Silverman published my piece, “How Many Book Promotion Activities Should You Do?” in her Book Promotion Newsletter. http://www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com
Dana Cassell, publisher of Freelance Writer’s Report ran an article I thought was interesting this week in her online newsletter, Writers-Editors Ezine, http://www.writers-editors.com It features how to test a magazine for the likelihood of them buying your piece. Well, one of the things she recommends is choosing magazines that use a lot of submissions.
I found that interesting for a couple of reasons. That was exactly one of my personal criteria when I was earning my living writing for magazines. The more articles the magazine published each month, surely, the greater my chances of having my articles accepted.
The second reason I found this interesting is because, I wrote a column for the monthly SPAWN Market Update just this week on that very theme and I listed several magazines that publish 100 pieces per month 0R MORE! The opportunities are out there and your chances of being published are sometimes in the numbers. (Note: The SPAWN Market Update is published each first of the month in the member area of the SPAWN website: http://www.spawn.org
The same is true of publishers. When you are seeking a publisher, do you ever check to see how many books they publish each year and how many submissions they receive? Publishers post information like this in the Writer’s Market. Here’s an example: Pocol Press in Clifton, Virginia publishes 6 titles per year and they receive 110 submissions. Ooligan Press produces 4-6 books and receive somewhere around 500 to 600 submissions. Hollis Publishing publishes 5 titles and receives under 50 submissions. Gibbs Smith Publisher produces 80 titles and receives 3,000 to 4,000 queries.
I see that some professionals are suggesting that you purchase your copy of the Writer’s Market in September. Guess what? I already have mine and I purchased it online at a discount here http://www.writersdigestshop.com/?r=writersmarketsite
A client of mine—someone who also attended my publishing workshop in Ventura, recently—called yesterday to ask about a particular “self-publishing” company. This made me realize how much there is for someone to learn and retain at the beginning of the publishing process. In my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, (which she bought) and in the workshop, not to mention during consultations with her, I have explained how to check out specific “self-publishing” companies—through Mark Levine’s book The Fine Print of Self-Publishing, and by doing a Google search using the publisher name and the word “warning,” for example.
As it turns out, she had already been talking to a representative at the publishing company and really didn’t like what she was hearing. She said she didn’t think it was reasonable that she should send him money now in order to “hold her spot.” No, no, no. Her book is still in the development stages. It will probably be months before it is ready. Hopefully, she will have gained a lot more savvy and knowledge by then and be prepared to make better decisions.
By the way, I looked up the “self-publishing” company she was interested in and it is at the bottom of the heap of Mark Levine’s recommended companies. It was listed under “Publishers to Avoid.” So glad she checked with me, before succumbing to the charm of the representative.
If you are just venturing into the large world of publishing or if you have been dabbling in it for a while and still feel somewhat confused and intimidated, be sure to read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. I give you a bird’s eye view of the publishing industry, including the “self-publishers,” and I help you to choose the situation that is right for you. I actually give pros and cons of each publishing model. Read more about this book at http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
Both you and Mark Levine do a disservice to readers by referring to companies as “self-publishing companies.”
By definition, no company can self-publish for you, any more than someone can take a bath for you or take medicine for you.
If you pay money to a company to publish your book, you are a customer of a vanity press — not a self-publisher.
It’s not difficult to become a _real_ self-publisher, and you can have a better book, publish faster, spend less and make more. You might even have some fun.
Michael N. Marcus
author of “Become a _Real_ Self-Publisher” — due later this month
http://BookMakingBlog.blogspot.com
http://Real-Self-Publisher.blogspot.com
http://www.SilverSandsBooks.com
Hello Michael:
THANK YOU!! I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been self-publishing (after having established my own publishing company) for over 25 years. Like you, I have fought the term these companies such as AuthorHouse, Infinity, etc, have adopted. I didn’t like the term “POD Publishers,” either. But when you are trying to educate people by writing about the industry, you have to speak their language–so they know what the heck you are talking about.
Often, I refer to these companies as “Fee-based ‘self-publishing’ companies.” But I have been searching high and low for a term that describes them succinctly and does not confuse the hopeful author.
From what I hear at conferences, etc., people who establish their own publishing company are now known as “independent publishers.” In your new book, do you coin a phrase for them that we can start using?
By the way, let me know when your book is ready. I’d like to review it for SPAWNews (circulation around 2,000–mostly authors and hopeful authors). http://www.spawn.org.
Again, thanks for chiming in on an issue that has been a thorn in my side for a long time.
Patricia