Lyn Chamberlain of Arcadian House Writing & Publishing is back for the next-to-the-last installment of her series on self-publishing.
Missed Part 1? Read So you want to write a book …
Missed Part 2? Read What do I do first?
Missed Part 3? Non-traditional publishers are all over the place. Can’t I just pick one?
My book is written and I’ve seen the difference in production at the bookstore. What should I ask a publisher?
Ask questions in four general areas: rights, quality, fee structure, and control Who will own the copyright to your book? Be sure it’s you. You’ll also need to purchase the artwork as a “work-for-hire” whether it’s supplied by you or your publisher. Don’t agree to pay royalties. Paying royalties can create a lot of confusion for the non-traditional author, the least of which is a bookkeeping nightmare. Read the fine print.
Ask to see samples of books the publisher has produced. Here’s where you use the knowledge you gained in the book store. Are the samples quality production? Quality is nearly always worth the extra cost, especially if your book will represent your business. If you’ll enter your book in contests, quality will definitely be a factor.
Will your book be printed on acid-free paper? Acid-free paper will not yellow quickly. As part of my training, in 2000 I published a book with an online publisher. The paper was not acid-free, and the book already looks very old.
Ask about prior experience. Non-traditional publishing depends on computer technology, but the technology to manufacture books does not denote an understanding of the publishing world. Vast differences stemming from training and experience can surface in the final product. You’ll want a publisher who knows about publishing.
When it comes to fee structure you may feel like you’re comparing pigs and broccoli! Originally, online POD companies charged one price. That included an ISBN number, necessary registrations, a template for you to load your manuscript into, and a few books, usually five or 10. Additional books were available at near retail price. Consequently the books you needed became expensive.
Since then, pricing structures have evolved and online publishers offer a variety of options. Knowing exactly what each contract covers allows for effective comparison.
Finally, ask how much input you will have in the process. When you publish with a traditional publisher, you surrender ownership of your book, but when you self-publish, you should have as much or as little involvement as you want. At Arcadian House we love having our authors involved at every step, from editing, through art choices, through prepress and proofing.
Next time we’ll talk about some publishing terms. Until then please visit my website at http://www.arcadianhouse.com for more information.
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