| How much should you pay to get your book | | | | Print On Demand Publishers |
| published? I know this question is confusing because I | | | | Many new writers think they are getting the attention |
| once led a teleclass where a student asked me four | | | | of a traditional publisher when they are pursued by a |
| times how much I paid to get my novel published. I said, | | | | POD publisher. Then they're shocked when they find |
| "Nothing!", but the answer didn't make sense to her. | | | | out how much they have to pay. You have to know |
| She didn't understand why I didn't have to pay anything | | | | that most POD publishers are totally reputable, but on |
| when she was being "pursued" by publishers offering | | | | a certain level, you're still self-publishing. POD publishers |
| packages that would cost her thousands of dollars. | | | | offer a wide range of fee-based options including |
| Welcome to today's publishing world where the old | | | | cover design, editing and marketing. They operate like |
| model is often confused with the digital/self-publishing | | | | a traditional publishing house in that the ISBN |
| models and writers don't know how or even if they | | | | (International Standard Book Number) is owned by the |
| have to spend their own money. Let me clarify. I hope | | | | POD, not the author, and the company pays royalties |
| this will help you make the right decisions for your | | | | to the author. Going POD can be pricey, but if you |
| book. | | | | have zero experience in putting a book together they |
| Traditional Publishers | | | | can be your best buy. Some of the popular ones |
| Whether a traditional publishing house is one of the big | | | | include Lulu, Trafford Publishing, Author House, |
| ones, like Random House or St. Martin's (which | | | | Outskirts Press and iUniverse. |
| published my novel), or moderate to small like a Hay | | | | Digital Printers |
| House, one thing remains the same: you pay nothing. | | | | The most important thing to know about digital printers |
| When one of these houses is interested in your book, | | | | is that they just manufacture the book. You maintain |
| they pay you an advance to write the book and, if the | | | | control. You keep the copyright, you own the ISBN |
| book sells well, they will continue to pay you royalties. | | | | (which you'll have to purchase yourself) and you figure |
| Depending on how large your publisher is and how | | | | out how to sell the book. You'll also probably have to |
| excited they are about your book you may also get a | | | | hire a designer and an editor to help you put the book |
| nice marketing push and your own public relations | | | | in tip-top shape before handing it over to the printers. In |
| person working to get your book noticed. There's also | | | | this process you can ask the printers to send you a |
| a level of prestige and acceptance that comes from | | | | price quote or even get several to bid on your project. |
| selling your book to a publishing house--reviewers take | | | | This could be your best pricing option. Just remember |
| notice and it's easier to get the major booksellers to | | | | to ask for references and interview the authors to see |
| stock your book. Of course, it's also really difficult to | | | | how satisfied they were with their final product. |
| get a traditional publisher interested in your book (you'll | | | | As always, do your homework. You can spend as |
| proba bly need a literary agent), but if this is what you | | | | much or as little as you want. Only you will know how |
| want for your project, you'll do the things you need to | | | | close you come to producing the book that's been in |
| do to get noticed. | | | | your mind forever. |
