After months or years of writing, you’ve finally finished your book. You’re ready to sign up with a publisher. But which one? What’s the best publishing option?
Answer: It depends on you and it depends on your project.
Ideally, before you start writing your book, you will consider your audience and your promotional plan. But most first-time authors don’t think outside of their need or desire to write that novel, children’s story, memoir or reference guide until the book is written. Then they ask, “How can I find a publisher for my book?â€
I frequently tell hopeful authors that publishing is not an extension of your writing. While writing is a craft—a heart thing—publishing is a business and your book is a product. You’ve probably read this in some of my former blogs. What does this mean? It means that when you decide to publish your book, it is time to shift from creative mode to business mode. And the best time to start making this transition is before you start writing the book.
• Understand your publishing options and select one.
• Unless you plan to self-publish, choose a few potential publishers even before you start working on the project. Why? A publisher could drive your project—prompt you to include aspects and features that will make it more salable.
But okay, you didn’t do any of that—you followed in the footsteps of most first-time authors and you went ahead and wrote your book. So what is the best publishing option for your book? Again, it depends on you and it depends on your project.
Traditional Royalty Publisher
For most newbie authors, a traditional royalty publisher is a good choice because he takes care of all technical and legal aspects of your project—final editing, page layout, cover design, choosing a title and some promotion (inclusion in their catalog, a web presence, a few reviews and, perhaps, space in bookstores) and they pay the expenses. Your only responsibility is promoting the book from your end—perhaps arranging for speaking engagements, radio/web interviews, book festivals, book signings and so forth.
I would advise seeking a traditional royalty publisher for a niche book such as one featuring haunted houses in Arizona, cycling for ultra-fitness, the history of railroads and trains, vintage cars or how to build a covered bridge, for example. If you can find a publisher who specializes in your topic, this is probably an excellent choice. Why? Because this publisher is already marketing to your audience. He knows where they are and how to reach them. If there’s money to be made with a book like yours, he probably has a better chance helping you make it happen.
Self-Publishing
Question: When is a traditional royalty publisher not a good choice?
Answer: When you have a business book or a highly specialized book within your realm of expertise and you have a solid platform. If you have a following within your field, when you are living a lifestyle conducive to promoting this book (you conduct seminars worldwide on this topic, for example), you’re better off self-publishing.
Now, when I say self-publishing, I don’t mean signing with a fee-based, POD “self-publishing†companies. I mean establishing your own publishing company. Self-publishing is, in my opinion, the best way to produce a book that you know you can sell. Why settle for royalties when you can collect all of the profits?
Fee-Based POD Publishing Companies
If your book would be of interest to a relatively small segment of readers—a memoir featuring your pregnancy, a self-help recovery book for cigar smokers or the story of your great uncle’s eccentric behavior during the depression, for example, and this is the only book you’ll ever produce, consider going with a fee-based POD “self-publishing†company. If you are like many one-time authors and have no interest in promoting your book, I’d recommend not publishing at all. But if you insist on moving ahead with the project, turn it over to a POD—pay to become a published author, sell a few copies and then go on with your life. Most likely, you won’t recoup your investment, but you will accomplish your goal of getting this book published.
If you are serious about entering the competitive field of publishing and you desire success, I can tell you how in two simple steps.
Before you start writing the book,
• Study the publishing industry.
• Write a book proposal.
For help with both of these important tasks and many other facets of writing, publishing and selling a book, order your copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book AND the accompanying Author’s Workbook TODAY.
News Flash: We received news that the revised 2nd edition of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book won’t be delivered here in Ojai until around October 12th, so I’ve extended the prepublication Discount offer through October 1, 2007. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html