Self-Publishing With Help
How does self-publishing work when you use a self-publishing service?
• 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)
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.
