• Author enters into an agreement with a publishing service to publish the book for a fee. A contract usually stipulates what the author will pay for the service upfront, what that service entails and what the royalty structure on copies sold will be.
• Affordable self-publishing options, almost without exception, use print-on-demand or short-run digital printing technology.
• Typically, the lower the cost, the more authors must do on their own. Some services—particularly those offering e-publishing—can be free if the author provides printer-ready files, final cover files, etc.
• Publishing services vary tremendously in how they edit, design and distribute books. Usually the business model of these services depends on making a profit from the upfront fees, not from book sales. It’s to their advantage to sell additional services upfront, to create a better product while increasing profit.
A Breakdown of Different Types of Self-Publishing:
TRADITIONAL PRINT RUN / PRINT-ON-DEMAND (Create a Physical Book)
EVERYTHING FROM E-BOOKS TO WEBSITES AND BLOGS (Go Digital)
INDEPENDENT SELF-PUBLISHING (Go Your Own Way)
SELF-PUBLISHING WITH HELP (Use a Service)
This article appeared in the March/April issue of Writer’s Digest. Click here to order your copy in print. If you prefer a digital download of the issue, click here.
The Full Package on Self-Publishing:
- The Truth About Self-Publishing
- The Reality of Self-Pubishing: An Agent’s Perspective
- What Can Your Publisher Do for You?
- Book Publishing Stats (2009)
- An Insider’s Look at Self-Publishing
- How to Create a Cover Package
- 2009 Directory of Self-Publishing Companies
- Future Self-Publishing Models?
