Post by Lisa on Apr 10, 2010 17:56:57 GMT -6
Hello everyone! I wanted to discuss self-publishing. I've spent the past several years reading and studying the industry in order to determine if self-publishing is a viable option. Here are some things to think about if you are considering self-publishing:
1. Are you willing to pay someone to format, edit, and create a cover? Are you willing to learn the ropes to do it yourself?
2. Are you willing to actively market your book? Books do not sell themselves. You must get out there.
3. Are you willing to educate yourself on self-publishing in order to take the best route for you (not to mention save time and money)?
If you answered yes to these three questions, then self-publishing might be the answer for you. Perhaps you are wavering. Consider this:
1. It can take up to 6 months to hear back from a traditional publisher as to whether or not they will publish your book. Traditional publishers frown upon receiving manuscripts or proposals that you are sending out to other publishers at the same time. This means submitting one at a time.
2. It can take 1-3 years on average from the time you sign a contract before seeing your book on the shelf.
3. If your book goes out of print, unless you make sure your contract specifies that your rights return to you - you can basically lose your book.
4. Traditional publishers pay .50 cents to $1 on a book. Self-publishers have the potential to make $5 or more.
5. You will need to spend time and money marketing your book whether or not it's traditionally published or self-published.
You might be concerned about being frowned upon if you self publish. Don't. A) Most buyers are clueless. B) There are ways to set yourself up as a small press. C) Just check out the teachers who self-published: Barry Lane, Gourmet Curriculum (two retired teachers I believe), Vocabulary Cartoons, and others. They did it and so can you!
1. Are you willing to pay someone to format, edit, and create a cover? Are you willing to learn the ropes to do it yourself?
2. Are you willing to actively market your book? Books do not sell themselves. You must get out there.
3. Are you willing to educate yourself on self-publishing in order to take the best route for you (not to mention save time and money)?
If you answered yes to these three questions, then self-publishing might be the answer for you. Perhaps you are wavering. Consider this:
1. It can take up to 6 months to hear back from a traditional publisher as to whether or not they will publish your book. Traditional publishers frown upon receiving manuscripts or proposals that you are sending out to other publishers at the same time. This means submitting one at a time.
2. It can take 1-3 years on average from the time you sign a contract before seeing your book on the shelf.
3. If your book goes out of print, unless you make sure your contract specifies that your rights return to you - you can basically lose your book.
4. Traditional publishers pay .50 cents to $1 on a book. Self-publishers have the potential to make $5 or more.
5. You will need to spend time and money marketing your book whether or not it's traditionally published or self-published.
You might be concerned about being frowned upon if you self publish. Don't. A) Most buyers are clueless. B) There are ways to set yourself up as a small press. C) Just check out the teachers who self-published: Barry Lane, Gourmet Curriculum (two retired teachers I believe), Vocabulary Cartoons, and others. They did it and so can you!