The purpose of this article is to consider Print-On-Demand publishing as an alternative for the aspiring author. It has its strengths and its weaknesses. You may wonder as you begin reading this, but in the end I'm going to say some good things about it.
The title explains the technology. The way that literature has traditionally been printed involves running many copies simul- taneously in order to bring the price per copy down. Smaller print runs, such as advertising, brochures, or concert programs, cost more per copy because they are small print runs. Until recently, printing a single book was all but unthinkable.
In the case of novels, the traditional print publisher begins by printing several thousand copies. His goal is to run off the smallest number of copies he can while getting the best possible price per copy.
These books are then sent to bookstores, which tend to prefer something along the lines of what has succeeded before. The remainder sits in a warehouse somewhere. Perhaps to be shipped as the orders come in, perhaps to be joined by any "remaindered" copies the bookstores couldn't move.
This represents an investment on the part of that publisher, hence his paranoia about experimenting with new formats or (more importantly) new authors.
Print-On-Demand (POD) uses a completely different process. The end result is, the price per copy on a small run is much lower. How small of a run? Try one book. Zero inventory. The book is economically produced when the reader orders it, not before.
This technology was probably invented for sales literature. Then someone realized it might be a pretty cool way to get ARCs (Advance Review Copies) out to the book reviewers before the book was actually available. Finally, someone decided to get it into the publishing mainstream.
Why is it so much cheaper to publish a single book via POD? The reasons really aren't relevant to this article, besides which they'd probably bore you. But if you care, the first link below spells it all out.
http://www.jdwrite.com/writing/pod_01.htm
http://www.jdwrite.com/writing/pod_02.htm
http://www.jdwrite.com/writing/pod_03.htm
http://www.jdwrite.com/writing/pod_04.htm
http://www.jdwrite.com/writing/pod_05.htm
I recommend reading (or at least skimming) all five of those, by the way. It's quite a comprehensive analysis of how. Then come back to this article to determine why. Or if.
Have you ever heard of the author who self-published and wound up with a best-seller? They do exist!
Now look at all the self-published authors who couldn't do that. They're the vast majority. The author who uses POD faces similar longshot odds.
POD has a definite advantage over other self-publishing, in that you don't wind up with a few hundred (or more?) copies of a book in your basement because you can't sell them. Thus, it's cheaper, with no difference in quality unless you hook up with losers.
But neither option will bring you the readership that you'll get from a successful book with a traditional print publisher.
I have self published. I went to a local print shop back in the pre-POD days, ran off 80 copies at $3 a copy, and sold them to local bookstores for $6 a copy. Lots of fun, and lots of learning, but I didn't get rich. My wage per hour stunk, but that was fine with me because I honestly didn't care. I broke even and gave away the rest. A pleasant way to spend lunch hours during the work week.
Most of us, though, just don't have that kind of time. And even if we do, why bother? Take the money you'd have invested and buy some Microsoft stock, then take the time you'd have invested and write more books. You'll be happier and you'll make more money.
Having said all that, why am I recommending POD at all? In my case, it's because I've written some books that no print publisher will ever pick up. That's my honest appraisal.
If I were a mercenary type, I'd follow that up with something like "Why'd you even write those books then?" But if you're a REAL writer, you know the answer.
It's always about writing first, marketing second. Two different hats. I'm assuming you already did the writing and now are wondering what the heck to do with it.
As an example, my EPPIE 2002 finalist is too short. I wrote it back when print publishers wanted 40,000 words. Now they want 50,000. But it doesn't take 50,000 words to tell that particular story, and I'm not padding it. Even if I were willing, it'd stink and nobody would buy it. Give the publishers some credit. They know padding when they see it. The same goes for the readers.
As another example, consider my short story collection. Critically acclaimed and selling moderately well, but no traditional publisher wants short story collections from unknown authors. It's just that simple.
So, I simultaneously published these books in e-book format and POD format. E-books are cheaper and more environmentally friendly, but the paperback option is still there for those who can't or won't ever read an e-book.
(Daddy is in that group, by the way. How about your family?)
Places who publish only POD began by accepting anything sent their way. Pay your money, and do your own editing and marketing. This gave POD a credibility problem. There are POD outfits who don't operate this way, but the credibility problem will take time to heal.
As an author, your goal is to write what's in your heart, find people who like to read what you like to write, and get it out to them. (That's my goal, anyway.) If your name happens to be Tom Clancy, that equals many readers. But that's simply luck of the draw.
Many of us don't have such mass appeal. Possibly you're the sort of writer who knows exactly where you stand in that respect. But many don't, and they're flooding the POD market with stuff that most readers just plain don't want. Add to that the badly edited stuff, and the credibility problem with POD is understandable.
Ideally, what you want is for your e-publisher to simultaneously release your book in both formats without charging a POD setup fee. That way, you can direct all your promotional efforts to that single URL. However, these e-publishers have a real problem with backlog now, so if you want to travel the road I did, you'll need much more patience than I did.
Taking advantage of a free POD option with your e-book will also help your promotional efforts. Many reviewers just plain won't touch an e-book. If you've done the POD bit, in addition to being able to tell all your friends and family, "Look at this, I'm a real author because here's the paperback," you'll be able to send review copies via POD to those book reviewers.
If you find yourself with an e-publisher who doesn't offer free POD, you may wish to shop around for a POD publisher. As you do this, remember the business model. If a publisher makes all its money from writers, it doesn't need to sell a single book to a single reader to stay in business.
No matter how much praise they send your way, that's the bottom line. Writing is a calling, but publishing is a business. Those authors who can't distinguish between the two are what keep the opportunists in business. I was such an author for most of my life.
Some POD places are no more than thinly veiled vanity (or subsidy) presses. They have a role to serve, but let's be honest. Most do no editing, and they don't care. They may not be making a massive profit from your setup fees, but they're making enough to stay in business. Even if you don't sell any books to anyone except your Gramma.
Earlier, I recommended e-publishing before print publishing for the free editing you'll receive. If you're going with POD, consider it mandatory. Either that, or pay an editor. The author who can write a mistake-free manuscript does not exist.
Still interested in POD publishing? Here are the questions you should ask yourself when you select a POD publisher:
A) Sale price of each book
1) Who decides what it is?
2) Will readers pay that much?
B) Profit per sale vs. your setup cost
1) How many copies must you sell to break even?
2) Can you do it?
3) If not, do you care? How big of a financial hit are you willing to take just to see your name in print?
As a rule, US$100 or less setup cost is good and US$1000 is very bad. The latter, no matter how much publicity they promise you, is only a thinly disguised vanity publisher. You won't sell enough books to recoup that $1000 unless you're a real marketing machine. Even then you shouldn't pay the $1000. It won't get you anything that $100 won't.
If the POD place only prints "trade paperbacks," which are the larger ones, your cost per book (and sale price per book) will be higher than if you can print "mass-market paperbacks." The choice is yours, but whatever you decide, visit the local bookstores and price similar-sized books. If you write like Stephen King but charge twice as much per book, readers are going to buy the author they've heard of, and that's probably not you. Yet...
A comprehensive list of POD publishers, along with descriptions, can be found on-line at http://dehanna.com/database.htm
It fails to mention Booksurge (http://www.booksurge.com), also known as Digitz (http://www.digitz.net). US$99. I have no experience with them, but I've heard only good things about them.
Another that isn't mentioned is Digital Print Australia at http://www.digitalprintaustralia.com. I've used them. My setup cost was AUD$35 (roughly US$18 back then), which compares rather favorably to those listed.
Their price per copy is also excellent. The quality equals what you'll find in the bookstores. If you've ever bought a paperback from Writers Exchange, you've seen it. If not, Digital Print will send you a free sample. They sent mine to China.
Two problems you may have with them, though, are shipping charges from Australia if that's not where your readers are located, and the fact that they don't offer a way to sell the books on their site.
Copyright 2005, Michael LaRocca
Michael LaRocca's website at http://www.chinarice.org was chosen by WRITER'S DIGEST as one of The 101 Best Websites For Writers in 2001 and 2002. His response was to throw it out and start over again because he's insane. He teaches English at a university in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, and publishes the free weekly newsletter WHO MOVED MY RICE?
maid service near Lake Forest ..During the past few months I have received many questions... Read More
As a student of Spanish, my goal was to think... Read More
Beyond three and four act story structure, lies the Hero's... Read More
Back in my school days, if the teacher demanded a... Read More
When you read a letter from someone, we are immediately... Read More
Mix a martini, don't forget the olives, or pour yourself... Read More
Charles Dickens was born in Portsea, England, in1812. His father... Read More
The following rules are essential if you want people to... Read More
Style manuals are all well and good, and in fact,... Read More
The dash--that curious mark of punctuation people use in their... Read More
Recently, I was hunting for a book that would simply... Read More
Far too many inexperienced writers create flat, stereotypical characters: the... Read More
Sit back, and imagine what it feels like to be... Read More
Do you want to publish something? An article, a non-fiction... Read More
If you are looking for copywriter books, you'll want to... Read More
Despite the widespread use of e-mail in commerce today, traditional... Read More
Punctuation, when used creatively, is powerful. Note, however, that when... Read More
Everone knows that comedy is mostly about timing. If you... Read More
Rudolf Flesch, a specialist in writing skills, ran classes... Read More
FIVE MINUTES ... Is All You Need ........to phone a... Read More
To capitalize on ways to make extra income you can... Read More
When I was young, I used to talk to myself.... Read More
Great writing transports one vicariously to realms that the reader... Read More
Freelance editing opportunities are out there, you just need to... Read More
Writing leads to reading. Therefore, it's only fair to supply... Read More
top rated cleaning service Des Plaines ..Every writer eventually develops her own unique style of writing.... Read More
One of the biggest problems that inexperienced writers have is... Read More
Is your book nearly finished, finished, published, or even in... Read More
Your struggling to sell just a few copies of your... Read More
If you find your sentences filled with commas, and they... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?We all tackle plotting differently. How you... Read More
You have just completed a draft of an article. It... Read More
If your dream is to get published, the chance is... Read More
(This excerpt is taken from my new writing workshop Writing... Read More
Everyone has a unique story to tell. From explaining business... Read More
Writers are an insecure lot.It's easy to understand why. You... Read More
If you are an aspiring writer, or you simply want... Read More
What is a freelance grant writer? These individuals have a... Read More
I've just come back to work after nine glorious, sun-drenched... Read More
For any great novelist, defining your cast of intriguing characters... Read More
What is Sense of Place? It's the image of a... Read More
Becoming an author is probably a lot easier than you... Read More
Hundreds of writing contests tempt screenwriters with the lure of... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Our plotting stage is our testing area.Everything... Read More
In reviewing and browsing web sites over the years, I... Read More
Sometime one must coax the words out.Each day is a... Read More
As a child, I loved to write. I can't remember... Read More
If your writing muscle isn't in shape, writing a novel... Read More
What do you mean, you don't have a website yet?... Read More
No user manual? Surely you jest!It may seem comical, but... Read More
Writing |