Self publish a book - publish your book online
82Are you a writer who intends to publish a book? Have you
thought about how to self publish a book? Is self publishing worth it,
financially? In 2011 ebook sales have officially overtaken traditional book
publishing. The internet has changed the rules of publishing. Anyone can
now self publish a book. Ebook
sellers are now becoming the new kids on the block in business terms, and
proving it is profitable for both publishers and authors. So why would a writer
choose to publish a book online rather than publish traditionally? What is the
difference? What can an online publisher do that traditional publishers cannot do? And how is self publishing better?
Writers no longer need that clunky system or apparatus of traditional
or conventional publishing houses, prompting many observers to note that the
publishing game has now turned in the writers favour. It makes sense. Far
better to cut out the middle-man and thanks to the internet, and online
self-publishers, go directly to the audience. That way, writers pay themselves
first. A few years ago, this would have been unthinkable.
Lulu, Google, Xlibris, and Amazon are just some of
the bigger names on the internet who will help you self publish your book. Simply
put, you upload your text as a word file format (in rich text format) and
select the size of book from the choices offered by the website in question,
choose the size, the number of pages, the style of the book, the font, the book
cover colour and photos or art work, and the blurb for the back of the book.
The preview you will see will show you what the finished article will look
like. When you are happy with your choices, okay everything and approve it all.
The publisher will ask you for a payment or way to pay for your book, then the
billing address and your writer name and details, and address to which they
will send your new book. Typically, some of the best online self publishing companies
will have your new book mailed to you in about 2 weeks. The good publishers will offer to sell your book online and offline - such as in high street stores like Barnes and Noble, Waterstones, Tesco, WH Smith (Uk) and others. They will also sell your book or books via Amazon, the worlds top Online Book seller.
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Okay,
traditional publishers are doing a fine job for the most part. All those books
you see in book stores the world over are there thanks to traditional
publishers, and they don’t intend to just up and disappear. After all, their
role is to herd your manuscript through the production process at minimal time
and cost, get the book bound and printed, and send it through the usual
distribution channels. And to their credit, they do a great job. If you are lucky, the marketing department might
generate a press release and ship out a few review copies, and gain you that all-important review and so good referrals and thus sales. And then it comes to
money and who gets what. Aah yes, that would be the royalty schedule. For most writers, that's where the advantage of conventional publishing
gets stuck, and money becomes the big factor in everything. When you see how much others get paid and how little you get paid in the end, self publishing becomes an even bigger ambition and we value our writing differently.
Traditional publishers have Brand, and writers have brand, which is supposed to be good, right? The publishing world still deals with intangibles like prestige and reputation. That vast market is crammed with titles all screaming like newborns for the milk of everyone’s attention. Publishing imprints remain an important shortcut for reviewers, purchasing agents and readers as they try to determine what's worth their limited time and attention. Where am I going with this? I can give 4 major reasons why, as a new writer - you got nothing to lose by self-publishing...
Type in Blackberry, iPhone or Android into a search box in twitter to see how often they get mentioned. Now type in any well known person or a published writer's name and try the same. Then imagine the repetition of your own name or book title becoming a trend as you become more widespread, and spoken about and thus written about, and then linked, and searched and so on...
A little Tweeting goes a long way...
1. You are an established author with a
following...no, seriously - you do. A-List writers like James
Patterson, John Grisham and J.K. Rowling are known brands. And then there are
writers like Stephen King - who have demonstrated the viability of
digital self-publishing. Remember the books he sold successfully online? Selling
chapter at a time and then offering the book to readers if they liked the book.
And then electronic books, or eBooks as
they are now called. But your audience doesn't have to be mass-market. If you
know there are reviewers who know your name and thousands of readers waiting to
buy your book, then the economics of digital publishing can suddenly make
perfect sense. There is also the Facebook and Twitter factor. If you can get
hundreds or thousands of fans or followers on social media platforms like
these, then it can be as good as having good reviews. Nothing works like person
to person recommendation. Nothing works faster than tweets. Even Charlie Sheen knows that.
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2. You are a completely unknown writer with little
to lose, so go for it. Well, the internet is a great leveler.
The entry costs are low to minimal - so why not? What is stopping you?
Reputation? Brand? Publish for free on a place like Hub Pages and gather opinions
on your work, get people’s views on your work, take advice and listen to what
is said. Nothing interests a traditional publisher or agent more than saying
"my self-published book got 50,000 downloads." Or something like “...100,000 people are
following my writing on the internet.” (You could always plan to find a publisher at a later stage if you wished...)
3. You are writing in a genre that's got a ready-made audience. Fan-based communities for genres like science fiction, mysteries, romance novels, military adventure, poetry etc. are meritocracies that recognize good content, whether it's got the publisher's stamp of approval or not. This is the 21st century, people. So are you feeling righteous now?
A $10 book that sells 100 copies a month is small pickings, and will net you $1,000 (minus the percentage the publisher gets for the publishing – printing cost of each book). So if you got $7 per book normally – that is $700 for 100 books. But stay with the gross income for a moment. Now what if 200 people sold your books per month and each sold 50 books for you. That would move 10,000 books. If they got a 20% commission on each book, it would still be far better than just selling it yourself, and the profits would be enormous. That would be $80,000 after commission paid out. And that is per month. Now multiply for 12 months, and suddenly your desire to pay a traditional publisher is becoming a distant memory.
4. You have alternative distribution channels. The biggest advantage that a publisher provides is getting your book in stores. But what if you don't need stores? If you sell most of your titles at trade events and through your website, an e-book with a print-on-demand option (Like with Lulu.com) provides the same service and lets you keep more of the revenue. And what if you become the seller yourself with the free assistance of blogs that have shopping carts with ability to accept payment in Google Check out or PayPal format? There are others too. A writer or seller can just as easily now put their book or books on sale on Facebook, with free to use systems like “Payvment”. Or sell the book on a dedicated website, or eCommerce site or through an affiliate system. The Affiliate system is a huge area, as there is a queue of people looking to sell your book for you if you give them a percentage of the profits.
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Lulu.com is showing writers how a book can burst into existence in two weeks as opposed to a near 12 months using the traditional route. Now, services like CreateSpace lowers the entry costs for self-publishing more again. They are moving to replace the few value-adds that publishers still offer, such as editorial and marketing support. (You still have to fill that void and edit and promote yourself, except the web offers so much for the budding writer.) These online services are wearing away the traditional stigma of the "vanity press" and providing you the writer with a broader, more profitable platform. You don't need the superstructure and processes of a publisher. Embrace the change - and get self-published.
Copyright (c) 2011 Cassy Mantis. All rights reserved.
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As someone who enjoys writing I have to say I would rather not selfpublish as I consider it the path of failed writers, sorry but if you have the talent you will be spotted.
I have seen loads of peeps who have come out with the "Look at me I am Sandra Dee", hmmm wrong line, I meant "Look at me I have a book published" but what they mean is its selfpublished, for me that doesnt count.
Anyways loved the hub, whats with the 49 hubscore, I can only think its because you are putting your hubs on your own site, if not its a disgrace but I see these days you get a hubscore of 95 if you joined 4 weeks and have 1,000 reads, jeeez I get that number of reads whilst going to the loo.
Cheers for that lovely mention on your website, loves you loads and I must put links on all my websites to your site tomorrow xoxo
Cassie, just skimmed through this, I have the Flu or something, but it looks like its up to your usual standards!!
Hy Neil, how you these days? I hope you are well! I am a fan of the self publishing thing because I am tired of reading about writers being ripped off, and getting the scraps and left overs. And the fact that it is more democratic a way of doing it all. We are all seeing changes, and I hope writers stay around in hub pages long enough to see the changes happen. Thanks for the encouraging words, as always Neil! Big hugs back!
Hy Art! You prefer the trad method of getting published. I see nothing wrong with it except it pays less. Heh! I know great writers who have self-published like Blaise25 (Fehl Dungo) and I bought her book, and so have other hubbers. I am smiling at the Sandra Dee quote! Heh! If I sold a few thousand copies of my forthcoming book, Art - I'd be very pleased indeed. :D
Yes, I have been removing some hubs to greener pastures, and they will have more ads and comment boxes and all. Pity about the comments already on them. Ce La Vie. Hub score - I no longer loo at it. I could care less. I do moi own thing now. Cathy has a new poetry website up, and I am making more dosh off hub pages than on the critters. Hehehe! How stupid is that? My number of twitter followers will surpass my followers on hubs in the next month.
Yes, the best thing to do here is close your account and open a new one and start from scratch - your hub score will be brilliant. Except it won't really, and you know why. You are a long time doing this and you know the score, Art! LOL!
Anybody with under-performing hubs should post them onto new sites, they will go up. Be careful in the loo! LOL!
Oh I am happy to put your links there. And thanks for adding me to your new pages! I will be checking them tonight! Congrats on the new launch! Wehey! Cheers Art! XOXOX
Hy Gary - wow, is my hub up to its usual standards or your flu? That's kind of weird. :O
Yer hub silly!!!! I am a bit sick, so I may not make a lot of sense!! Ever worse than usual!! I want to ask you something more serious though, did you need to delete something I sent you earlier today (very seious nature) on the App, or did I forget to send it?
No offence moi friend but there is no such thing as self published Great Writers, self published writers maybe but not Great Writers, me, I may write a book one day "Confessions of an online Flirt" xoxo
Hehe! Glad it's my hub in that case, Gary. Sorry to hear you still got flu. Take lemon drink, use Vicks vapor rub if you got it. Yup the serious app thing was put on another hub comment area in another hub early today...not this new one about self publishing books.
Art, I know of some interesting writers who stated life as self published. One is Irish! Roddy Doyle the writer of The Commitments book and film fame. He self published as he kept getting rejections from publishers. Eventually a publisher snapped him up, and he wrote a sequel called "The Snapper"...LOL! Hey, the Confessions book idea would work a treat! Heh! OXO cube. LOL
Great post Cheeky Girl! I doubt if I'll publish. Maybe my daughter will see fit. Thank you ma'am!
Hy Micky! Aw, sorry to hear you might not do it as you have some cool hubs and great posts! Maybe your daughter will do that! Aw, you are so welcome Mr Dee Sir!! :D
How encouraging this is. :-)
Well done :-)
Hello De Greek! I hope it is encouraging, as it can help people get published and without the usual hoops and "quid pro quos" to jump through. Cheers! :)
Cassy, I'm feeling a bit better today, can't wait to read your confessions!!! LOL
Nice to hear you are better, Gary. :) Yes, the book is getting there! Can you handle it, I wonder?
Cassy, I was born ready, so no need to wonder if I can handle it. You need to be more worried, depending on how bad you have been, if I have to go all the way to London to spank you!!! LOL, have a great weekend!!!
Glad to hear that, Gary! LOL! Oooh, spanking? Anyway I am getting moi hair done this weekend. ROFL! And I am never bad, just very cheeky! LOL!
Nice hub and useful information. Thanks for writing this. I learn much from you. Rated up!
Hello prasetio! Great to get your comments as always! I'm glad you are finding it useful, my friend. :) Self-publishing is one great way to get published without going through the usual mess of traditional publishing. Cheers! Always happy to help out great Hubbers like you!
Cassy, howz the hair? LOL Starting a new venture with a contact in Mexico, can't wait to send you the site!!! Real cold here again, like 20 F tonight!!!
Hair is still there, Gary. LOL! You are so funny! Oh, I'd love to see the new website. Everyone is getting new web sites these days. People are discovering better ways to earn from the internet, and get their message out to more people too. Better ways to self publish if ya ask me! LOL! Stay warm, Gary. Light that fire and chuck a few logs in it! Heh!
Excellent hub moi friend! You should be having a column in a newspaper there. You write so well. Hmmm well set aside poetry I know :D Self publishing could be a doorway to a new pretty place. It's easy and free and totally nothing to lose. It's better than never. Wow, I know that website :) Like Cathy will always say, dream the dream :)
Who is this gguy? He's funny LOL
Well twentyfive, you let the cat out of the bag, if you don't know WHO I am, you must be from another planet, you might as well admit it now!!! LOL, have a good week!!!
Hellooo Twen...er I mean Fehl! LOL! A column in a paper would be so wonderful! I am afraid Cathy is already beating me to that, although she doesn't get her name on her work, if you get my drift! Um, please don't mention the er...poetry. LOL! *blushes* Well, you have "been there and done that" publishing thing, Fehl. Especially with your new website and all. *hint hint*
And yes, I believe it can happen for any aspiring writer. Online book sales have gone way up now. People are realising they can load the books right onto mobile phones, iPhones, Androids, Blackberry's, Kindles, Nook, iPads, Sony eBook readers and more. Plus, you can add click-able links to eBooks, but less so to traditional books.
You do know that Lulu website. What an amazing coincidence! :D Yes, we dream the dream!
Oh Gary is this new guy, he is funny, I think he wants to move over here, he visits me a lot! LOL! And he's into spanking and has a thing for my hair for some damn reason! Hehehehe! Did I get that right, Gary dear? LOL! Okay, I am kidding!
Fehl is a legendary Hub Writer in these hubs, and a great and wonderful friend, Gary - so be polite, okay! Actually Gary, you should read Fehl's amazing poetry and her hubs under the "Twenty five" name too! Everything is cool here! Cheers! :D
Cassy, I am already following her now, r u jealous? LOL talk sooon!!
Gary - I expected you to follow Fehl / 25. She is a cool Hubber! LOL! You are so funny! :D
@gguy - yup, I'm from another planet..which is why I transform from Twentyfive to Blaise..LOL Nice meeting you :) Happy Thursday Gary!
@Cassy - you're amazing! No wonder Gary has a thing for you Curly :D LOL
Blaise. It's still Wednesday here!!! LOL Yes you have morphed again!!!! LOL, nice meeting you too!! Yes it is not easy to resist Cassy!!!
You know, the ladies do find my grey skin hard to resist also, they say I coordinate well with them when they are wearing a little black dress!! LOL
It is Thursday in moi hot planet LOL Funny guys are hard to resist.. :D
Twentyfive, is your "hot planet" as hot as you? LOL OOPS Cassy might get jealous!! LOL
Fehl, meet Gary, Gary - meet Fehl! LOL! This is hilarious! Ain't never seen comments like this on moi Lil' Hubs! Hehehehe!I may have to change my name from Cassy to Curly! LOL!
Gary, resistance is futile, unless you're a Borg from Star Trek. LOL!
Fehl / 25 : uh yeah! Right!...
Gary / gguy : yeah, you too! Jealous, yeah, I have been there, the country where Fehl lives, I mean...LOL!
I'm just making a cup of tea here - you guys carry on...! I will have to set up a Facebook Instant Messenger here soon! ROFL!
@Gary - I dunno gray guys standards to hotness LOL Cassy and you have the chemistry so we are cool :D Maybe we have the physics LMAO I kid.
@Cassy -Someone else calls you Curly, too? No way! haha This is hilarious!
Twentyfive, what country are you from when visiting earth??
Cassy, well if the Alpha-Females from Alpha-Centuri are as tough as the Alpha-Females from earth, then yes, resistance is futile!!!
You Ladies don't have any idea what's going on in my head, then again I guess I don't either. LOL I should have been a comedy writer!!1
Fehl, the photos of you two are certainly in black n' White. Ever thought of going for adding some colour in them, a bit of spray paint just to spice them up? LOL! Kidding guys....! LOL! Though I read somewhere that colours in a faveicon or avatar increase your "visibility" ! Ooh! Now there's one for you! :)
Gary - thanks , now we know what part of Space you are from! Hey Fehl, it's Alpha Centuri! Get the ship ready! LOL!
What's going on in your head, Gary - h'mm, I have a pretty good idea actually! Hehehe! Yeah, ever thought of submitting some scripts to Hollywood? ROFL!
Fehl, I don't know about that chemistry, Cassy keeps telling me she has a sister for me so I keep comming back!!! LOL
Gary, I am an only child. Don't tell fibs. LOL!
I was not know about Xlibris and Lulu.com. Many thanks for sharing your experience on self-publishing sites.I think publishing online is a great opportunity for me to share my thoughts and get feedback from others on how my thoughts are aligned with the rest of the people of the world,if and only if people read what I write :)
Cassy, you may still have "sisters" ever hear of multiple personality disorder?? Just Kidding!!
Hy andromida, glad you liked my hub on self publishing. I think it is the way to go for getting our message out there, well besides the internet of course. I know a few hubbers who have already self-published books and their books are amazing. Thanks for the comments! :)
Gary / gguy, you are a real kidder! LOL!
Cassy, did I tell you a friend of mine is working at Westminster Abbey preparing for the wedding?
A very wonderful article. I always love reading your savvy hubs!! Thanks:)
Gary, I didn't know that! Wow, try get a backdoor pass! And bring your camera! LOL!
Hy Tracy - thanks for the comments. I am a self-publishing fan (maybe fiend is a better word...) I do moi best! LOL! Cheers! Enjoy this great weekend!
If you are nice maybe I'll take you also!!!! LOL
Gary, I wouldn't put it past you to sneak in and get photos of the couple just as they are in mid flow. Hey, you could make a bundle for Hello magazine getting behind the scenes photos. LOL!
I'm sure I could sneak in, as you can see from my photos, I am only about 9 inches tall!!!lol
I have always wanted to write a book and everyone I talk to tells me I should, but I just can't seem to get started.
Susie, cute puppies, Cassy, so what is your wise and wonderful advice here??
Hy Gary, why you are just a lizard...how are you able to reach the keys on the keyboard? LOL!
Hello SUSIE405, hey if you have a story inside you, then put it down on paper or pc. Just write it out. That's what I did. Then get opinions on it the same way we all do with hubs. Do it bit by bit. I just finished a book recently, and I am editing it at the moment. You can do it. Start at the start of the story...pick a high point, a moment that is attention-getting.
Gary, read the above if you like. Yes, the puppies are cute. :)
Susie, remember most creative projects of all kinds start with rough concepts, and get polished from there. Don't get bogged down trying to make it perfect at first.
Cassy, I use special voice recognition software that translates lizard to english, then types it out. LOL
Great advice there, Gary. Doctor Gary on the job. LOL. Writing is fun, even trying to imagine a lizard writing with a pen. Only in a cartoon! Heh! :D
Cassy, here is the real story, when I first came to this planet to study humans, I took on the foerm of a human. However the people around me noticed that I was a bit different and I was worried that I might be found out. So I decided to morph into a lizard, since other lizards are less particular than humans, the don't notice me. I spend most of my time in tropical and sub tropical resort areas of the U.S., Mexico, and Belize studying the strange behaviors of humans. I am also evaluating several humans to possibly beam back to my planet. Sorry, thats all I can tell you for now!!
Cassy - this hub (and the author) are worth a second read. Keep up the great writing. Your fan and friend with a hug.
Okay Gary. I got all that. Keep taking the tablets. LOL! I am kidding, really. Excuse my cheeky humor. But it's a funny story. Oooh, evaluating several humans to bring somewhere... I was going to ask how a lizard can drive a 4-wheel drive spaceship, but I won't try to catch you out with any trick questions, as you never mentioned having a 4-wheel drive vehicle... ROFL!!!
Think it's me who needs the damn tablets not you... LOL!
Hy Neil!. Oh I am so glad your score is back up! I am on the way. :) Cheers!
Cassy, better watch out, you may be one of the specimens we are looking for!!! LOL
Oh, you don't have enough cheeky girls? LOL! Or is it something else? *wink*
Who but Cassy would write another for my all-important references.
My goals are, however, by intent, quite convoluted and chaotic.
Now that's not to say, I ask for chaos, because I did once, and someone or something up above (or below?) nearly drowned me in it, but I've taken a page from our corporate "educators" and plan to not only write, but to illustrate, propagate, overrate, and pontificate a thousand different ways, to make my point.
I write plays, build exhibits, design machines of the highest drama, let alone function, sculpt and animate my characters to nine feet tall, and endeavor to use all that to tell a simple story of love, love of my wife and son, most poignantly, but also my friends, who are 99% here as hub writers, but, in the end, my love of the six billion and twenty billion souls that are and yet to come, not to mention our incredible wild inhabitants....(even if the vast majority could give a rat's ass about me...)
What I mean is, is that the paths of communication, at those levels, don't even exist yet, so to say that any one paradigm is superior to another really misses the point.
All paths must be studied, for the future will most assuredly be a bastardization of that collective, and in the end, not only will we need to redefine that ultimate conversation, but redefine how we solve the incalculable challenges of a precious blue planet, its magnificent animal and plant inhabitants, and the destructive weight of billions of inherently special humans...
Hy Will: gosh, this is a big comment! I salute your intention to write and illustrate and be creative and instructional. For you, getting self-published would be great! It's great to have an important message to give to everyone and a medium to publish in, be it Hub Pages, or the published written printed word or the internet or otherwise.
It sounds like you are on a mission of importance. Honestly, I think the Internet in that case will be your friend, as it is a great leveler and allows the free dissemination of information world wide. And as to the paths of communications that might not exist yet, maybe that inventive mind of yours will help to create some new "paths" for the rest of us.
The world is a precious and beautiful place, I agree. Never be afraid of following your dreams, even if they are a wee bit convoluted, Will. Having s dream is better than having no dream at all. Cheers!
Self publish? Hell yeah!
Hello Jed, thanks for the comment! I see you are a self publishing fan too! :)
Cassy, I have good news and bad news for you.
First the good,in our testing you scored the highest ever, virtually a perfect example of the human Alpha Female, which our studies show is at the top of the food chain on earth.
Now the bad, since you are ssoooo popular on earth and we want to remain on good terms with the earthlings,we cannot beam you back to Alpha-Centuri sorry.
One question though, why do Alpha Females consider human males between mice and rats in the food chain? It would be considered strange on our planet. Thank You, YRAG (Gary in your language)
Gary, you never cease to amaze me! LOL! Why are you putting me on a pedestal? Heh! You are so flattering! Well on Hub Pages, there are women better than me for starters, you need to read waaaaay more hubs. I don't want to be beamed anywhere, unless it's an actual "Beamer", (slang around here for BMW! Joke!)
Gary, are you jealous of moi lil' bit of popularity here? Heh! Stop being so insecure. I can't speak for all Alpha Females, as I haven't met them all. But I put your comment about how men are treated more so - down to possible personal experience you have had with some women. I welcome being corrected if wrong. Please don't pre-judge me. Maybe you just need to have more confidence in yourself.
I say this for a reason - your comments about mice and rats is indicative of some causality towards small ground-dwelling creatures - well, your photo is a lizard after all! LOL! Maybe it is you who puts males there, moi friend!
So now that I have plucked that chicken, *chuckles* you will excuse moi as I head to my beddy byes! Tis late here for this Cheeky Girl! Night night, Gary! ;)
Cassy, Thanks for your in depth analysis, but their is a much simplier explanation for my comments, I just like you and have fun teasing you. Hope I did not offend!!! Hope your day is going well!!!
No Gary, I'm not offended. Well that is nice to know you like me. At least you are honest! Wel the feeling is mutual. And yes you are a teaser! LOL! But I handle most things well enough. My day is grand. I hope you are enjoying anything like the early pangs of summer we are getting here! Everyone in shirts and shorts today. Too good for staying indoors. Cheers Gary! :)
I agree with you. Future is going to belong to self-publishing.
Thanks ,Great Hub on Self publish
Thanks V Kumar, the future does belong to self-publishing, and roll on the day when it is universally accepted. Cheers!
Hy htodd, thanks for the comments! :)
Cassy, I am going to try something new with you and be serious, I was thinking of writing a book on fireplaces, but the problem I see with self-publishing online for that would be the photos. I wonder if anybody is doing P.O.D. books.
Gary, just be yourself! LOL! Now that self-publishing idea has merit. Since the book might have many photos, it would be perhaps more expensive to publish. As to the cost, you'd have to shop around and get estimates from publishers. Xlibris, Lulu, Matador (UK), try a few of them and get prices. So much for Print on Demand. As to ebook, would you consider that? An illustrated Photo book? Sent out in a mailing list?
Could you not do a deal with another business that does perhaps something like interior designs or decorations, and furnishings, and the book could have your fireplaces and their luxurious interiors...just a wee cheeky suggestion, Gary! Cheers!
Hey, thanks, I'll look into it!!
Hey Cassy. gguy's question and your comment got me thinking.
In terms of e-books, is there a place for full color publication? I mean I haven't really thought about it, but would a full color illustrated book have as much impact as an e-book. For me, since I want to combine my art and my writing, it would be much simpler to provide e-books.
I suppose things are working in my favor each day, so I'll continue to pay attention.
And if you don't mind, as it is kind of a self-publishing question, I'm trying to incorporate some poetry into my sculpture, but to me, words inscribed in bronze or whatever material I use are kind of hard to read.
Have you ever seen something that works in that regard? I'm thinking maybe a black lettering transfer on a white ceramic background plaque of some sort - something melded, rather than simply nailed or bolted to my pieces.
Anyway, I think your very special and incredibly intuitive, Cassy, and I appreciate any opinion you may have. Thanks...
Oh, and good luck to gguy and all our other publishing hopefuls...
bbnix, and cassy, that is exactly my point about the color photos!!
I would love to publish my own book someday, it would be great.
Thanks Gary, I hope it works out for you. I'm glad you are getting some ideas on this. Heh! Maybe I should start a consultancy thing in Hub Pages or something!. Naah! I'm kidding. Heh!
@bbnix: Will, you ask a similar question, where can you get a colour book published? Really any Printer than can print in colour for you would be able to do it. Obviously one that prints books. And when it comes to online publishers, there are many.
The thing about colour printing is this, if you print a run of books, and they are finished, sometimes going back and printing more does result in small changes in colours and hues, as the exact tones might not be possible or uniform. Better to decide ahead of everything just how many you need. The bad thing about conventional publishing is that there is always too many left over at the end, of it all. And so it leaves lots of stuff gathering on shelves or pallets or in boxes in storage.
Print on Demand or "Just in Time" print runs are different, they print only what is needed, and when fresh orders come in, the work is reprinted. This is the area of specialist "short run" printers or Digital Print Presses, who both cater tho this. (Well in Galleries in the UK that has been the case anyway.) There may well be some new technologies that may have transpired - which can also do the job. The trick is to work out how many you need to sustain you for the whole "order" or lifetime of the "product" that you think will happen. Nobody knows that better than you.
Maybe the best thing to do is talk to a person who is a Printer and who specialises in Short Limited Print Runs, and see what they say. But they will have a solution that suits you.
You could opt for a Digital Printer on the net, and I hear good things about Lulu as their photo colour books look great. But there are others too, and you need to compare who offers the best value, and service. I hope that helps you somehow.
@ Gguy (Gary) I got your point, and many thanks for this. Self publishers sure are getting popular round here!
@ celebritie: You should aim to get your book published , and I encourage you to do this. We all have at least one book or great story in us all, and it would be great to read that story. And some of us have many great stories to tell. Where conventional publishers are reluctant to help, the Self-publish route can be a viable alternative to us. Thanks for the great comments, folks! You all help to make the hub great. Cheers! :)
Thanks, Cassy, I just want to say one more thing, so many people I know are so depressed with the current state of the job market, and so many small retailers are having a lot of problems. People really need to think outside the box and find new ways of doing things, and this is a great way to start!!
Gary, that is a good point, as many folks out there are finding things difficult, and for the aspiring writer, now is as god a time as any to get self-published. Retail in books is certainly down as sales of eBooks has overtaken sales of paperback books now. There are alternatives for writers by getting published online. The retailers can always get into on-line publishing as it is profitable, and the internet opens up lots of possibilities. Cheers!
Cassy, Happy Easter, and glad to hear you are OK, had a dream you got eaten alive by a giant Easter Bunny, HAHAHA just kidding!
Seriously, though, I see changing technology in so many areas and people need to stay in tune evev though it's not always easy, in order to prosper in the future!!
Gary, Happy Easter to you too. Giant Easter Bunny! Hehehe! That is so funny! Yup, technology is changing every minute it seems! Speaking of which, now Friendster is going to delete contents of members by end of May this year. Ouch! And Google are getting into games in a big way! And 39% of Android smartphone users use their phone in the er...bathroom! Oh, and Google Earth has been downloaded 700 million times!
Gee, I love high tech! LOL! P.s, I still got a bit of chocolate from my Easter egg left! :)
Great information, I've learned a thing or two here from your self publishing. Thanks for the great resource, admittedly I will be reading this again when I have more time. I will no doubt learn more the next read on ebook publishing. :) Katie
Hy Katie! I am so glad you liked the hub! I loved your hub on ebook publishing too! Actually I just tweeted this linka few minutes ago, it's a Seth Godin Interview on the future of ebook pubilishing. If you are a Hub Page writer and love the way we can all publish instantly here, and are interested in eBooks too, check the link out. It has a link to a radio interview with Seth, and he says some astounding things. Cheers!
Have a great weekend, Katie!
this is an interesting hub, i would love to be able to set up passive income streams through by publishing my own content..Thanks
Hy 7hands, we all want a passive income from our web content, whatever it happens to be. Publishing our own content is a new and very cool innovation thanks to the internet. Cheers! Thanks for the comments.
Wow!!
To my shame I have never read this before Cheeky Girl.
I found your hub so inspiring and dripping with delightful morsels of encouragement.
My passion for writing has been revived.
Thankyou xo
Hello Eaglekiwi, you are perfectly okay - getting published no longer has to be the strict market arranged and set out the way publishers want it...now anyone can come along and get published. And it is easy to do! To be a writer and see oneself in print and published is a big dream come true. And the writers who have passion will succeed. I hope you follow your dream, and yes, I hope you feel encouraged to following your dreams. Thanks for the comments. Cheers! xo
Very helpful, and informative hub. God Bless You Precious Heart.
Cheek- Ty for the boost of confidence to self publish. I been thinking of possibly finding a fellow writer and looking into a collaboration of either poems, or short stories. Will keep that a little closer to the front of mind for sure now. -Paul
Hello stars439, many thanks for the comments! I am glad you find this helpful and informative. Blessings to you too, my friend. Have an excellent day.
Hy Plarson: Pauk, I understand about the confidence thing. We never know we can write till we show our efforts to others, and they get to give us feedback. Hub Pages helped give me the confidence to write more, and I have never looked back. The collaboration thing is good. In fact that is a great idea. Don't give up on your dream of being a published writer. We can all become writers with a book published. I know poets and other authors in Hubs who have done this already. Cheers, Paul.
Awesome info!
Thanks for sharing!
Alot of food for thought!
Voted up!
Hello Rasramermaid, what an interesting name you have. Glad you found this awesome. Wow, I am glad you are finding this useful. I wish you luck in your publishing endeavors. Thanks for the vote up too! :D
Great tips! We have an ebook store, so these will be great for writers who ask for advice.
Thanks!
Hey Jenny, thanks for the comment! You have an ebook store? Really! I will have to check this out! EBooks are cool! I love'em! My local stores are practically giving paperbacks away now as they are struggling due to ebook sales taking away their income! Feel free to recommend the hub. I am an avid eBook advocate. And thank you for checking this out! Cheers!
I, for one, would be interested in hearing more about Jenny's e-book store...
I agree! EBook stores are always interesting to everyone! I am thinking of setting up one myself! One more thing on a long list of things I want to do! All you need is a domain! And I got three already! Sheesh! LOL!
Great hub.
Hey pretty! LOL! Can I call you that? Thanks for checking out my self-publishing hub! Hope you enjoyed it! Cheers!
Just to add that some spam had to be removed here. Otherwise, thanks everyone for these comments so far! It seems self-publishing is quite popular! Cheers! :)
This is one of the most affirming articles I've ever read on the topic of self-publishing. Your words are great motivators for anyone who's sitting on the fence trying to decide yes or no. You make a strong case for having nothing to lose. Up and useful!
well done and well said, it's all true the more your publish the better you get, and the better you get the more the following and hopefully a bit of cash on teh side!
Wow!! Thank you for your helpful hub. I have been in a dilemma as to how to get started for my book/s to be published of my poems and a story I wrote for my friend. Thank you so much for the help. I have definitly marked this one up and awesome, as well as bookmarked it for reference. : )
I have a dream to publish my own book! I think I will take this chance after I have something to write and fix my english! Thank you cheeky girl, very good like always.
Cheeky, first I think you handled your self with your reviles very well. You also got a lot of comments. You have given me a special gift a dream come true, im going to try to publish a book, I cant think you enough. You are very wise, and kind. Thank you Cheeky and may God bless you
Hey sweetie, I am back from outerspace!!! I am gonna work on my fireplace book this winter!! I will be looking for advice!!
Time for you to put the Kris Kringle hat back on!!!
Hi, Cheeky Girl - reading this has gotten me to thinking. My novel sits wasting away, have not got around to shopping it out. But if nothing happens, this seems like a great way to go. Self publishing is no longer what it once was. The world of reading and writing has changed a lot in the last few years!
Well gosh (blush) thank you, dear!
Liked your phrase; "the milk of attention."
Cheers, Maren! Glad you read the Hub!
Thanks so much for the information in this hub-- I am on my way over to Lulu to check it out. Like everything else, the internet has leveled the playing field book publishing and here we are in a wonderful new world for both writers and readers. Great hub-- vote up and useful
Hy Robie2! Lulu are great! Anything is great that isn't following doggedly the old way of getting published. It's a whole new ballgame now. Writers are doing it for themselves! I hope you get published and make good income on your writings! Cheers!
Good hub....informative and easy to understand...I self-published using a local printer...cost $6.95 per book for 250 pages...minimum 100 copies....I've sold thirty and I'm so damn happy I did it because now I don't have regrets about it. The goal was to see my writing in print and I accomplished that goal. I also published through Lulu with an ebook....limited success....oh well! Nobody ever said I would become the next Harper Lee.
Hey Billybuc, thanks for this! Wow, congrats on the book getting published! I wonder did you advertise the book, and maybe ask someone to do a write up review of it, or submit it anywhere? But hey, if yo are happy then so be it! Plug it on Facebook and Twitter and on perhaps some book groups on the web, see if you can get a few more sales? Just a wee thought!
Lulu books are now available on iTunes, again, I would recommend promoting it on friends websites or blogs or any of your own (if you have any). The main thing is you tried, and that is what counts! Wonder what you'd do if you sold all your local printed book stock? Now there's a thought!
Best wishes to you. I admire your go-get-it attitude! Cheers!
Great ideas Cheeky; a few I have done and the rest I will get to in the next month or so...thanks for the suggestions.
Cheers Billy! There's always a way to promote a book! I'm going to be knee-deep in promoting my own book soon as well! Best of luck with the book! Let me know the title, okay? I will check your profile page to see if it's there, and hey, if it isn't, then why not add a link to where it is on sale... every link and promo helps!
Hubs are known for having great audiences and "Link Juice". Hubs are seen and read by many folks in search of great content. Make use of this! Cheers!
Great info. You have done a great job of putting this useful information together. Rated up and interesting.
Cheers! As I am about to publish a novel of my very own, it helps to do plenty of research before publishing. Any writer can do this if they put their mind to it! What have they got to lose?
I also highly recommend for you to out the Writer's Market book on your article here. It's very helpful as I have been using it a lot.
Hy Miranda! Thanks for this! And yes, I have heard of this book! I use the Writers Yearly Handbook and Yearbook too! I have read them both almost cover to cover! I have a novel that I am just finishing and I found having these books invaluable! :)
That is very useful and valuable article, i was looking for, many thanks, keep sharing
Hey girishpuri: thanks for checking this out! Glad you found it useful! Enjoy! And good luck if you are writing and getting published!
Neil Sperling Level 5 Commenter 14 months ago
Embrace the change - and get self-published. - That sums it up nicely! the whole world is in a state of change... and no matter what you, I or anyone does to keep up with it will lead us ahead. Keep up the good work Cassy
Hugs -- HUGE hugs