Tag: Writing

Choosing a Publisher, Self-Publishing

Statistics Suggest Good News for the Self-Publishing Author

Bowker, the global leader in bibliographic information management, recently released 2007 book publishing statistics compiled from its Books In Print database. Based on figures from U.S. publishers, Bowker is projecting that U.S. title output  last year increased slightly from 2006 to almost 300,000 books. That’s over a quarter of a million books published in one year alone.

Here’s another interesting statistic, while traditional book publishing was basically flat last year, there was a staggering rise in the reported number of on-demand and short-run books to 134,773, pushing the grand total for projected 2007 U.S. book output to 411,422 books. In fact, Bowker has planned to separate this particular output from its traditional reporting and has begun tracking the On Demand industry segment separately.

What does this mean for you? To begin, your book may not stock in every bookstore. Or any bookstore. And it’s entirely possible that you may not want it to.

As a self-publishing author, these statistics undoubtedly suggest your sales opportunities will continue to grow and become more profitable. Sales are shifting from offline to online. More and more people are becoming comfortable with (and even accustomed to) shopping online. Selling books online is more cost-effective than selling through a typical bookstore, and that means more money in your pocket. It’s no coincidence that Amazon’s book sales numbers mirror the same increases on an annual bases. That’s good news.

It’s been said before on this blog, make sure your self-publishing choice lets you set your own retail price, royalty, and discount to take maximum advantage of shifting consumer trends.

Something to keep in mind as you wrap up your writing and begin the publishing process.

Have fun and keep writing

– Karl Schroeder 

Uncategorized

Ask the Book Doctor – Writing Flashbacks

Q: My question has to do with formatting. Is there a

standard way to insert a flashback? For example, should I

have an extra line space before and after the flashback?

Should I indent the flashback five spaces on both sides?

 

A: Formatting is not the only way to indicate a flashback;

it must also be handled with a narrative transition from

the present to the flashback and from the flashback back to

the present at the end. You can, however, also add a line

space before and after the transition, but do not indent on

both sides, which is a formatting device reserved for long

quotations. Do indent the beginning of each paragraph,

through.

 

What’s your question for Book Doctor Bobbie Christmas? Send

it today to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com.

Uncategorized

Ask the Book Doctor – Dialogue

Q: When I write dialogue, must I make all my characters

speak in contractions? My critique circle members say all

dialogue should use contractions. Aren’t we supposed to

give each character a unique voice? If so, can’t one of my

characters be so prim and proper that she doesn’t speak in

contractions?

 

A: The members of your critique group have the right idea—

natural dialogue does usually rely on contractions, but

creative writing gives a writer a great deal of leeway. You

know your characters best, and if one doesn’t use

contractions, so be it. Don’t let anyone–not even members

of your critique circle–cram a singular opinion down your

throat. Listen to the suggestions of others, thank them,

and then do whatever you want. If, however, an acquisitions

editor asks you to change something to make your piece more

marketable, that’s the time to listen and follow.

 

What’s your question for Book Doctor Bobbie Christmas? Send

it today to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com

Choosing a Publisher

Vanity Verses Self-Publishing

The self-publishing author community is becoming increasingly educated in options available, naturally comes in part as the by-product of approaching sound resources and asking good questions.

One question I do see stumbling around from time to time is some form of this, “Isn’t self-publishing the same as Vanity publishing.”

The answer: not really at all…

Vanity Presses often very dubiously attempt to present themselves as small presses, similar to ‘traditional’ publishers. They do this by claiming to be selective in terms of content. But those rejection rates are very low – generally reserved only for those manuscripts containing things like libel or pornography. But vanity presses do not otherwise screen for quality. They publish anyone who can pay, but don’t disclose that until well into the publishing process. Often, those fees are hidden in obscure production services unrelated to design, materials, or binding. That is where these operations ultimately make their money – charging authors book printing costs only to sell right back to authors.

The good news is that quality self-publishers are available with open, upfront, book production, distribution, and marketing options. And once books are professionally published copies are available where readers actually buy books. Unlimited printed copies are availabe for retailers and wholesalers on-demand, without additional out-of-pocket printing costs.

Keep writing.

– Karl

Book Promotion, Choosing a Publisher

Self-Publishing Resources

Self-publishing continues to gain footing in the book industry, bringing authors to the captain’s chair in terms of creative control, book pricing, and marketing. As this wave continues to build in speed and size, publishing options will inevitably follow.

Finding quality, researched information on self publishing options is important for authors looking for an advantage on the back-end, when sales help get good work into the marketplace. Stacie Vander Pol’s recently published book, Top Self Publishing Firms Revealed, is a new and sound resource in that arena.

The book is the product of Vander Pol’s own search for information about how several leading self-publishers fare in terms of book sales performance – actually helping authors get books in off press and into reader’s hands. Information about upfront fees, book pricing, and distribution is profiled as well.

Vander Pol notes in one interview that the her favorite part of the book is the enormous listing of current top-selling titles published by the organizations profiled. Keep an eye out for this one. It includes some solid, independent advice based on quality research.

– Karl Schroeder