Self-publishing is a hot, hyphenated buzz word in the trade world. It is also growing leaps and bounds. In the academic world, it’s not even a word without any leaps or bounds. As noted previously, publishing, including self-publishing, has been around since Jurassic Park. Cave men and women experienced some of the same frustrations authors have today trying to get their work published. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that self-publishing became a booming business. This was attributable to 3 revolutions: (1) the American, (2) the French, and (3) the Iranian…”WAIT! That’s ridiculous! You’re notes are all mixed up.” Sorry. I meant (1) desktop publishing, (2) print on demand (POD), and (3) online bookselling.
Traditionally, “vanity” presses are publishers who would publish any academic book on the author’s dime. They have been considered the publisher of last resort, albeit the evil alternative, because the book was not worthy of publication by a commercial publisher or university press. Typically, it was not subject to the revered peer review process. (Personal Note: I mentioned in a previous blog that one of my manuscripts was panned by reviewers because of the humor. My publisher proceeded with serious text plus buckets of humor in spite of those reviews. He has been blessed. End of Shortest Note Ever.)
These vanity presses have been replaced by a bunch of self-publishing options that still retain the same evil stigma by academicians. What’s to prevent them from crossing over and publishing in the trade world? There are many professors who could be labeled “cross-published.” On campuses, that’s part of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Write” policy.
SELF-PUBLISHING
Self-publishing with POD has become an attractive alternative for those 90% of authors who have been whacked by commercial publishers. It has a 100% hit rate if you have the dough to pay for it. Nonfiction works seem to be the most profitable, although fiction is improving. There are 3 types of self-publishing: (1) full-service, (2) self-service a la carte, and (3) self-service ATM. It’s just like going to the gas station, but instead of gas, a book is pumped out.
FULL-SERVICE COMPANIES transform your manuscript into a book and handle printing and distribution (e.g., AuthorHouse, iUniverse, Xlibris, Wordclay, Booklocker, and BookSurge at Amazon). Prices range from $400 to $3000, depending on what services you want and the company.
Once you submit the manuscript, you decide on the package. Services are provided on a graduated price scale for different packages, ranging from plain brown cover with text printed on recycled paper bags to glossy brown cover with your pic and text printed on recycled Bounty paper towels. Of course I’m kidding. You can also pick a black cover. Services can include cover design, page design and typesetting, copyediting, proofing, printing, and distribution. Customized designs are more costly than templates. They have something for everyone’s taste and budget.
The various packages are appropriate for newbie writers with little knowledge of book production as well as veterans who want custom features. As always, the book product follows the old adage: “A bird in the hand… WAIT!! That’s the wrong adage. It’s “You get what you pay for,” including an adage that ends with a preposition.
My next blogs will describe self-service a la carte and ATM. Stick around. The plot thickens. I hope some of these ideas are swimming around in your noggin. Let me know your thoughts and experiences in publishing.
COPYRIGHT © 2009 Ronald A. Berk, LLC
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