Self Publishing

Abelloid · 30-03-2010 11:52PM

That's interesting, e-books are not something that would appeal to me personally as I'd much prefer to have a real book in my hand, but some of the cheaper downloads could be tempting.. initially I saw a few for around $12 which put me on the wrong track.

I should come clean and admit I do know in minute detail the costs involved in producing books but it's good to hear from writers and their thoughts on the matter, and the whole process. Thanks.

EileenG · 30-03-2010 11:55PM

I like real books too, but if it's a choice between e-publishing or having to do it myself, I'll definitely go the e-pub route.

Besides, I'd like think I haven't hit my peak, and that subsequent books will be better than the ones I'm doing now, so if I can make any sort of reasonable sales on e-pubs, that's a big selling point when approaching a paper publisher with a new book.

Abelloid · 31-03-2010 09:39PM

Do e-books present the same issues as MP3s, can they be copied and distributed illegally in the same way? Are they just PDFs or do they require special software to view? I really know nothing about them....
It does seem to be the fastest and cheapest method to get your work out there.

For anyone still interested in self publishing I spotted news of conference later in the year, details here -

http://eoinpurcellsblog.com/2010/02/27/introducing-the-one-stop-self-publishing-conference-16th-october-2010/

dawvee · 31-03-2010 09:53PM

Ebooks are generally special formats with DRM encryption to prevent unauthorised copying. Like any DRM though, it can always be cracked by anyone determined enough.

Another difficulty is competing formats. Not all ebook formats will work with all ebook reader software and devices, particularly if the DRM encryption needs to be licensed in some way. Some encryption schemes are proprietary to a single vendor, like the Kindle DRM. If you want your book available for these devices/software, you're going to need to enter into a contract with that vendor specifically.

All told, ebooks are still a relatively small market, but devices like the Kindle and now the iPad look set to change that in a big way, though.

Abelloid · 31-03-2010 10:04PM

Smashwords say they only publish non-DRM files..

ramsmobile · 13-04-2010 08:51PM

I've been through the self-publishing process, having launched my own book in Summer 2008 (www.lordoftherams.com). The biggest inhibitor to self-publishing (in my opinion) is the costs. It's expensive and, almost two years after launching my book, I have yet to break even (and my book has sold reasonably well by Irish standards) but I am confident I will get there some day :-) And I must admit, I did make a few bad financial decisions, which added substantially to my costs (purchased too much stock, spent too much money on questionable marketing initiatives, etc.).

Pros:

Allows the author total control of the book - cover design, content, marketing, book launch, etc.
Can be very rewarding - everything that you achieve is down to you and the hard work you put into it.
Fantastic learning experience - you will learn a huge amount about marketing, dealing with the press, sales, etc.

Cons:

Very expensive
Distribution can be tricky. You will need to approach shops directly to stock your book. And if the books don't sell, you will be left with a bunch of seconds that you can't sell - more expense. Selling via Amazon and other online book chains will cut your royalties to 1 euro a book (if you're lucky). Your best chance of success is through selling directly to your customers (so make sure you have a good website and a presence on Facebook).
You will need to work very hard to make every sale (after you've exhausted your supply of friends and family sales). You will need to keep coming up with new ways to garner sales - new marketing twists, fresh press reviews, etc.
Time spent marketing the book will mean less time available to write.

Overall, I can see that self-publishing certainly isn't for everyone. The most important thing I will say is don't do it if you're using money you can ill afford to lose. If you can afford it, then it's certainly worth considering.

Although I have made plenty of mistakes along the way, it has been a great learning experience and one of the most rewarding things I've ever done.

Best of luck, whatever you decide to do.

Funky_Corsa · 15-09-2010 03:52PM

Not sure if this is the right place to ask so feel free to move it. I am helping someone who is publishing their own book, it is not a novel it is more aimed at sports coaches. The book is designed and ready for print but there are a few little things that need to be resolved.

1. How to get a barcode for the book? Who is responsible for this and is there any cost involved?

2. How to get an ISBN number? Who is responsible for this and is there any cost involved?

Also one other thing, does anybody know much about Google Books? Can they take any book and put it on their site or are there copyright issues?

Thanks

bigmoma22 · 22-09-2010 01:52PM

Hello everyone,

I will self publish the kiddies book and do some activities in the local school. I wish to donate part of the profits, probably half to the local school. Found a very decent printer and was highly recommended.

Big question now: do I need to register as a business or publishing house? I understand that as an artist I have to keep record of sales and submit this to the revenue to get exempt from tax. Is there a specified income range or would everyone have to do it when seling an artwork?
I will print the first run, hopefully not the last, without the ISBN to save money, as it won't go on sale to bookshops.

Thank you all, in advance, for your comments.

Eoinp · 22-09-2010 05:07PM

Funky_Corsa wrote: »

Not sure if this is the right place to ask so feel free to move it. I am helping someone who is publishing their own book, it is not a novel it is more aimed at sports coaches. The book is designed and ready for print but there are a few little things that need to be resolved.

1. How to get a barcode for the book? Who is responsible for this and is there any cost involved?

2. How to get an ISBN number? Who is responsible for this and is there any cost involved?

Also one other thing, does anybody know much about Google Books? Can they take any book and put it on their site or are there copyright issues?

Thanks

Barcodes are generally based on the isbn and can be generated using free or paid for software tools. Most printers will be able to doit for you too.

ISBNS are supplied by Nielsen for a fee (http://www.isbn.nielsenbook.co.uk/controller.php?page=121).

Google books generally allow you to upload a pdf of the book, you make the decisions about what gets displayed and therefore control copyright (if you have an account in the partner program).
Eoin

Montallie · 25-10-2010 06:56PM

Of course self-publishers are not all pathetic. Everyone would like to be snapped up by a traditional publisher, but this is quite impossible nowadays with the number of people writing and trying to get an agent or publisher interested in their books (it's estimated that over 8 million in the States are writing novels).

Besides, going the traditional route is not so wonderful, either. Only a handful of writers become well-known this way - the others are backlisted pretty quickly and never heard of again. By self-publishing you have control of your jacket art and, if your book should take off, you will get much more of the proceeds.

One of the main problems with publishing your own book is that you also have to market it. Actually, so do those writers who are traditionally published, but they have the backing of publishers who are probably well known enough to get them radio and TV slots and newspaper interviews or reviews. Many of the large retail shops like Eason's won't take your book unless you can show that you have a marketing strategy in place, so you need to study how to do this while you are finishing the editing of your book. There are plenty of books on guerrilla marketing in the shops or on Amazon.

The main reason that self-publishers have been until recently regarded as second-class citizens in the writer's world is that their books are often very poorly edited, with grammatical and spelling errors as well as bad construction. So when you have your book as good as you think you can get it, you need to run it not just by those of your friends who are readers and well-educated enough to know when something is grammatically wrong, but you should also have a professional editor look at it - there are many writers' services available now both online and in the real world.

Finally, before you go the Lulu or other POD (print-on-demand) route, you should be sure to buy your own set of ten ISBN numbers (plenty of info on the net about this, too), rather than using one provided by the POD. Retailers or distributing companies are far more likely to take your book then.

There is an excellent self-publishing Yahoo group (heavily weighted towards the American market, but with plenty of useful info for those of us this side of the ocean). By reading through its archives and studying up as much as you can about publishing your book before setting out to do so, you will avoid making some basic mistakes and will find your venture is far more likely to be successful.

iguana · 25-10-2010 09:06PM

Fatboydim wrote: »

Yes you are right.

Yeah, it's not like Booker prize winning Roddy Doyle would do such a thing. No, no wait........................:p

RickBockwinkle · 27-11-2010 07:54PM

I've been looking into the possibility of self-publishing some work, and there are a few different companies that offer self-publishing services, Lulu.com and originalwriting.ie being the biggest ones I've seen.

I was wondering if anyone here has used any of these, what their experiences were with them, or have any general tips for self-publishing.

Thanks.

pickarooney · 27-11-2010 08:27PM

There are a number of threads on this. Look back a few pages or search for 'lulu' 'self-publishing' and you should find a good bit of info.

the history press ireland · 15-02-2011 07:10PM

Just on the point of local history being suited to self-publishing, it sometimes is, but there are publishers, such as ourselves, that do look at publishing local history in the traditional way. We are always looking to speak to people who might like to write a book for one of our series, and there are no costs. We pay the authors.

In terms of self-publishing, there are good and bad ways to do it also. One good resource is www.saltwater.ie, who properly edit and design the books, and don't just print them.

EileenG · 15-02-2011 09:10PM

If you have a niche book and are willing to spend a lot of time and effort marketing and distributing it, then self-publishing could be an option. However, it takes a lot of time and effort, and you really need to hire a professional editor to whip your book into shape. Everyone I've seen who did it themselves regretted it.

You MUST be prepared to work at marketing and distribution. Lulu.com is on record as saying that the average print run for their books is 50. You hear about the people like Roddy Doyle who self-published and made it big, you never hear about the thousands who did it and made an expensive and embarrassing mistake. Bear in mind that all your friends and relatives will not buy it, they'll either expect free copies or won't be that interested.

EileenG · 15-02-2011 11:24PM

I just had a quick look at some of the books available from Authorhouse.co.uk and read some of the previews - presumably the very best, most enticing bits of the book.

Here's a sample:

A Touch of Immortality
A Novel By Vivian Ditzler

When I woke up from this nightmare Ethan was sitting next to me. I tried to sit straight on my bed. “Are you feeling better,” Ethan, asked me. “Yeah, what happened to me?” I was confused still didn’t remember how I got sick. “You were so pale like a piece of paper and collapsed in the library.” “The last thing I remember you left with Alex and this man appeared from nowhere. I must have said something rude, because he was furious, I think I saw you again and that’s that.” I was lost in thoughts trying to remember my conversation with this stranger. “Who was he, do you remember his name?” “I don’t know, I think he mentioned his name but I forgot.” “Why am I feeling so drained, so exhausted?” “You lost consciousness Nadya, maybe a low blood sugar. That’s what your mother said,” Ethan touched my hand. “What time is it, for how long have I been sleeping?” I panicked; my God it looks dark outside has Ethan being here with me watching me sleeping, I must look terrible. “It’s almost six, you’ve been sleeping for hours,” Ethan squeezed my hand not so hard but firm enough. “It is that late!” “Now that you’re up I’ll better go. Alex is downstairs devouring your kitchen; your mom’s cooking is really good.” “Ethan… Thanks, I can’t explain what happen but I’m glad you were there.” “Yes, me too,” he kissed my hand, I felt my blood rushing through my face concentrating in my cheeks, he smiled noticing I blushed. “See you later Nadya, I’ll be back tomorrow to check on you.” Later that night I wanted to finish with the notes from my Social Studies report. I’m shocked staring at my last words, I remember writing something seconds after I noticed the presence of that strange man at the library. I wrote with a hint of chill in my handwriting. “He is a VAMPIRE, Run Away Nadya”. The word VAMPIRE was stamped in my head I looked at it thunderstruck.

They are charging £17.40 sterling for this book.

EileenG · 15-02-2011 11:29PM

Here's another one

The Educated Heart
By Janet Logan

The housekeeper was out food shopping and Donna was napping. Bobbie, in the kitchen sipping a cup of herbal tea, grabbed the phone before it rang a second time and woke up her mother.

“Hello?”

“I say, who’s this?” asked a deep, dark-chocolate voice.

“I live here. I think you’d better rephrase your question.”

“Oh, sorry, that sounded frightfully rude, didn’t it?”

Her ear picked up on the British inflection. “If that was your question, I guess I’d have to agree.”

A rumbling laugh, like French roast coffee in a percolator, tickled Bobbie’s ear.

“May we begin again? Good afternoon! Norman Stone here.”

Bobbie was smiling; his laughter was infectious. “And I’m Roberta Bloom.”

“It’s entirely possible I dialed a wrong number, Miss Bloom. I was trying to reach Mrs. Gross, Mrs. Benjamin Gross.”

Bobbie was beginning to enjoy this conversation. The owner of the magnificent voice must be a member of the Stone family Ben had mentioned. Their conversation thus far had created a delightful sensation just north of her knees.

“Mrs. Gross is my mother. She suffered a heart attack last week, and….”

“A heart attack!”

“Yes. She received a report that I had died,” Bobbie explained.

“Obviously a bit of an exaggeration,” Norman interjected.

Bobbie decided to ignore the wisecrack. “She just got home from the hospital yesterday. She’s taking a nap right now, but I can have her call you later.”

“My parents are hosting a seder next Friday evening, you see, and my mum asked me to call Mrs. Gross and find out whether their daughter will be able to attend.”

“Actually, there’re two daughters¾his and hers.”

Norman Stone chuckled.

“I know Michelle Gross, but I don’t believe we’ve met, Roberta. I say, will your mum be well enough to attend the seder?”

“She predicts very confidently that she will be there because she bought a new dress several weeks ago for the occasion.”

Norman’s laughter percolated again.

“I’ll tell my mum to expect all four of you. Are you as lovely as your voice?”

Smothering a smile, Bobbie cradled the phone next to her ear.

“Even lovelier, except for the glass eye and the five missing teeth.”

“Indeed! You sound like my kind of woman.”

<SPAN style="mso-no-pr

Perfect Bound Softcover(B/W)
Price: £7.20
Dust Jacket Hardcover(B/W)
Price: £12.60

EileenG · 15-02-2011 11:49PM

Friend or Fae
By Hannah Blatchford

"I had come back to the place I started from, back to the memory of when things were bright and the future stretched before me like some great and glorious adventure. Back to when things made sense, when badness was just an idea, a nightmare dispelled with the coming dawn. Home had been for the longest time a vision in my head, one of simple goodness, proof against everything that went to bad and then worse. I could go on, no matter what as long as it was there waiting for me. My strength, my salvation.
As always I got it all so hopelessly wrong.
The house was still there, the rooms barely changed. The trees down the drive just a little bit taller, thicker. The house was still there all right, but not the home.
That had been the dream all along, dying at last with my mother.
Still it made no difference in the end though, either way. Some things you could not run away from, some troubles too deep. Lessons learnt the hard way, the bad way that never faded, images that stuck in your mind but it might as well have been your throat the way they rose up and choked you. Your world, my world it made no difference, the past was a story you could tell however you liked, but never change.
Some days were good days, when I could lie to myself that things would be okay. When I could almost feel normal, as if I had never left this grand old place and things had never had to change. What came to me later in those dark, dreaming hours put paid to that though and as always my mind led me treacherously back to the bleak and inescapable truth.
There was no cure for what one had seen or done."

EileenG · 15-02-2011 11:53PM

I could go on, but reading this drivel is making me lose the will to live.

All I can say is that anyone who publishes with this crowd will be considered to be on a par with this ****e.

Kinski · 16-02-2011 01:41AM

Norman’s laughter percolated again.

This was my favorite line.

pickarooney · 16-02-2011 10:15AM

Kinski wrote: »

This was my favorite line.

Distill does nothing for me.

the history press ireland · 16-02-2011 01:42PM

After poetry, fiction is the easiest thing to do badly, and the idea of doing it without a good editor is pretty risky. At least with non-fiction you have to know something about your topic. This also kinds of highlights what it is that publishers would hope to bring to the process, as in all the invisible stages that go on behind the scenes between the manuscript being delivered and the book going to press. And that doesn't even include the marketing and distribution that has to happen afterwards.
One great book on fiction writing was 'How Not to Write a Novel', very useful for anyone thinking about it.
And the ideal, we would obviously say, would be to get a publisher to do all this for you.
But books need editing, there's just no way around it.

bookgirl · 19-02-2011 07:09PM

EileenG wrote: »

I could go on, but reading this drivel is making me lose the will to live.

All I can say is that anyone who publishes with this crowd will be considered to be on a par with this ****e.

I just realised when reading through this you had quoted my book that I had self published. It made me feel quite sad

I didn't have the choice of what quote Authorshouse put on their website - this obviously isn't getting the readers interested!

You just have to take the good with the bad - I have had some positive reviews online (and not from my friends)

One downside of self publishing is negative feedback

the history press ireland · 19-02-2011 07:38PM

bookgirl wrote: »

I just realised when reading through this you had quoted my book that I had self published. It made me feel quite sad

I didn't have the choice of what quote Authorshouse put on their website - this obviously isn't getting the readers interested!

You just have to take the good with the bad - I have had some positive reviews online (and not from my friends)

One downside of self publishing is negative feedback

Dear Bookgirl,

It's an awful lot easier to be a critic than to write a book. As a company we have published about 200 books over the last few years, and, believe me, you will always get criticism. Luckily sometimes this is helpful and makes us improve what we do. Sometimes it doesn't. But the main thing is that it's an extremely brave thing to write, and given that so few people make a fortune from it, it should hopefully be an enjoyable thing to do also. I hope that this is true for you, and that your book does well.

bookgirl · 19-02-2011 09:27PM

It was just a shock thats all. I originally logged on to post something insightful about using Authorshouse and then wham - there was my book getting a drubbing!

Oh well bad publicity is better than none at all (I think?!)

I was going to say I used Authorhouse as it was the most affordable way to get my book into print and then on Amazon and Waterstones online. This was the biggest hurdle for me, now it is available I have managed to sell quite a few online.

Using POD publishing requires a lot of input from the author as well if you have any chance of success - you need to get out there and start promoting like crazy online and in bookstores. Its a lot of work but can be one of the only ways to get into print if you are a first timer and not a celebrity.

the history press ireland wrote: »

Dear Bookgirl,

It's an awful lot easier to be a critic than to write a book. As a company we have published about 200 books over the last few years, and, believe me, you will always get criticism. Luckily sometimes this is helpful and makes us improve what we do. Sometimes it doesn't. But the main thing is that it's an extremely brave thing to write, and given that so few people make a fortune from it, it should hopefully be an enjoyable thing to do also. I hope that this is true for you, and that your book does well.

EileenG · 20-02-2011 05:14PM

bookgirl wrote: »

I just realised when reading through this you had quoted my book that I had self published. It made me feel quite sad

I didn't have the choice of what quote Authorshouse put on their website - this obviously isn't getting the readers interested!

You just have to take the good with the bad - I have had some positive reviews online (and not from my friends)

One downside of self publishing is negative feedback

Ouch. I had no idea. But all those excerpts clearly suffer from lack of proper editing. It's quite possible that with some ruthless editing, they could be excellent.

A downside of any publishing is negative feedback. If anything, self published books don't get reviewed at all.

EileenG · 20-02-2011 10:32PM

bookgirl wrote: »

I didn't have the choice of what quote Authorshouse put on their website - this obviously isn't getting the readers interested!

Hold on, you're paying them, and you don't even get to pick which extract goes up on the website?

bookgirl · 21-02-2011 08:33AM

With Authorshouse they only put the first few paragraphs of the first chapter on the website - I think they assume that most writers will have at least got the first bit sorted out.

This makes sense although if the book is not terribly good then no extract will be that helpful when it comes to sell (as you will have found out!).

With POD publishing the key thing to remember is that they have made their money already - anything more is just a bonus to them.

If you want to make some money too then you face an uphill struggle of self promoting and marketing. This is no easy feat but can be done if you are determined enough. Not for the fainthearted!

smcgiff · 22-02-2011 07:27PM

Did anyone hear the interview of the girl on the Marion Finucane show this weekend?

Didn't get the girl's name - she selft published her book 'Mouse Trap' based on her time at Disneyworld. She got good reviews from traditional publishers, with a good few looking to see her entire manuscript. But, all said they didn't think there was enough of a market.

She published through Createspace and has gone on to sell nearly 3,000 books through Amazon (so she said).

Also, 'Smashwords author Ruth Ann Nordin, who today is dominating the best-seller list in the romance category at the Apple iBookstore here in the US. Her Inconvenience Marriage is at #1 for paid books, and What Nathan Wants is at #4'

WHile most self published books are a poor imitation of traditionally published works it looks like good self published books have a chance at a market.

EileenG · 22-02-2011 10:02PM

It's not impossible to do well with a self-published book, just as it's not impossible to win the Lotto, it's just very difficult, and you don't hear about the vast majority of people who sell an average of 50 copies.

My own inclination, if I were going to self-publish, would be to sell my book as an e-pub through my own website. I'd be able to offer it at a much lower price, and would have more control over it. And these days, anyone with a halfway decent phone can download a book to their phone and read it at the busstop.

Self Publishing

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