Category: Self-Publishing

Choosing a Publisher, Networking, Self-Publishing

Self-Publishing and the Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference

I recently had the privilege of attending the annual Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference as a faculty member representing independent and on-demand self-publishing. Although, as the name implies, this was the Colorado Christian writer’s conference, attendees gathered in Estes Park, CO from all over the map.

Thanks to Marlene Bagnull and her staff. The conference was wonderfully orchestrated and attracted outstanding energy and author talent.

Perhaps the latter being most refreshing. In the old paradigm, authors would bring proposals to events like this in order to sell themselves to an acquisitions editor. The editor, in turn, looks at this proposal and considers whether she can sell not the manuscript, but some form of it, to a predetermined audience. Sound limiting, or even worse, familiar?

I was personally impressed by the number of conferees who recognize and are pursuing independent self-publishing. Writers merging art with the business of publishing, and ones who are required to sell no one but themselves on the potential of their project.

Understanding that publishing as a business continues to be a theme here. Beyond researching the commodities of your self publishing options, make sure yours has demonstrated success in getting author books sold. That indicates they not only the options and services, but consulting acumen to help you reach your greatest potential.

Have fun. Keep writing.

– Karl Schroeder

Choosing a Publisher, Self-Publishing

Self-publishing – Let’s Clarify

Tuesday’s post concerning publishing contract details prompted me to consider a few pieces of information self-publishing authors may benefit from on the front end, deciding which route to take their books. It’s true there can be a lot of confusion about self publishing and print-on-demand. Let’s clarify some misconceptions many have seen floating around.

1. MYTH: Whoever owns the ISBN owns the book.

FACT: This use to be true. Nowadays, not as much so. Most POD publishers assign an ISBN they own, and they do this for the authors’ convenience; in any case authors should ALWAYS keep all the rights to their book.

2. MYTH: Independent self-publishing is different from publishing with a POD publisher because the publisher owns the ISBN.

FACT: It is true that the ISBN identifies the publisher of record. Look for a publisher that allows authors to supply their own ISBN at some level.

3.MYTH: New York publishers promote and market all their books.

FACT: New York publishers usually devote the lion’s share of their marketing budget to the top 1% (Harry Potter, for example) of the books they publish. The other books published during that season are victims of the sliced marketing budget. Most authors don’t get any support from their traditional publisher at all.

4.MYTH: Printing a book with an offset printer is the same as publishing it.

FACT: Printing a book is one facet of publication. Before a book can be printed, it needs to be designed. Then it needs to be printed. Then it needs wholesale distribution through Ingram and availability online with retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Then it needs fulfillment of orders and invoicing.

Printing a book with an off-set printer accomplishes one of those steps. Publishing a book with a turn-key, custom self-publisher accomplishes all of them. Some authors choose to do both; an on-demand edition complements an off-set print-run very nicely.

Karl Schroeder

Choosing a Publisher, Self-Publishing

Self-publishing and Book Rights

I was recently consulting with an author in a transition from one self-publisher to another in order to take advantage of greater distribution and better book pricing. In doing so I wanted to review the initial publisher’s contract.

Here’s an excerpt from the letter the competing publisher sent to him:

“While Section Six (6) of your Publishing Agreements states, ‘If I cancel, will have the non-exclusive right to produce, market, and sell my Title for one year following receipt of my cancellation notice,” has chosen not to exercise this right.”

What’s the catch? They maintain the right to sell your book without paying you, but then they tell you it’s not good enough to do that.

It’s clear that this publisher had no intention of generating revenue from any book’s sales, regardless of market potential. No wonder there book prices were sky high – they make their money selling services and then books back to their authors.

The good news is that there are strong, full service self-publishers out there that keep 100% books rights where they belong – with authors.

Keep the pens rolling and the fingers punching.

– Karl Schroeder

Networking, Self-Publishing

Self-publishing Author Conferences

News of the first Self-Publishing Book Expo to be held in November of 2009 broke early this week, further supporting the growing advantages of self-publishing.

If you are a self-publishing author and unable to make it to New York in the fall, there is more good news. A Self-publishers online conference will be held in May this year, with the motto – “coming to a computer near you.”

Outstanding agendas and high power speakers are scheduled for both, including names like Dan Poynter and Sandra Beckwith.

Check out these websites for more details:

http://www.selfpublishersonlineconference.com/Speakers.aspx

http://www.selfpubbookexpo.com/

Perhaps we’ll see you there!

– Karl Schroeder

Choosing a Publisher, Self-Publishing

Tips on Annotation for the Self-Publishing Author

Last week we discussed the book marketing value of professional cover scribing. Annotation provides an avenue to use that externally to enhance that marketing online.

ANNOTATION is used by Ingram during the distribution process. When the book is listed on Amazon or Barnes & Noble’s website, it’s the annotation that fills the PRODUCT DESCRIPTION/OVERVIEW section.   The ANNOTATION is also restricted in length, although very often can be substantially longer than the Back Cover Copy.  Ideally, the ANNOTATION should be as long and as detailed as possible, perhaps requiring multiple headings to separate elements of the ANNOTATION.  The total character count, including spaces, should be as close to 4000 as possible without exceeding it.   It’s okay to include the author biography again in the ANNOTATION, provided a separate heading (Like “About the Author”) separates the content. Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble have the capability of understanding basic HTML formatting tags, so judicious use of several tags can help an ANNOTATION really stand out.  Two specific tags that should be used are the <b>BOLD</b> tags and the <em>italics</em> tags, both of which can help draw a reader’s attention to specific words and phrases within the ANNOTATION. Bullet point and numbered lists are good here, too.

Whew. Have fun. Keep writing.

– Karl Schroeder