Publishing Options
The publishing world is exploding with opportunity now, especially for authors who are willing to build themselves a platform and find readers for their books regardless of how they publish.
The Publishing Quadrant outlines the main 4 options for authors and the articles below expand on the topics in more detail. I happily publish in 3 out of 4 quadrants at the moment, but I may also pursue Traditional Publishing for my novels in progress. I believe the writing life is about Adventures in Publishing, so experiencing them all is the key!
Click here to watch my video on the Publishing Quadrant.
Click on the links to get articles, audio and information about the topics.
Traditional Publishing
The goal of many first time authors is to get an agent, get a massive advance and become a rich, famous author! Or at least to see their book on the bookshelves. Obviously you need to write a book first, but then there is a process you need to know about in order to maximize your chances of success. These articles are a good place to start.
Pros and cons of traditional publishing
Brilliant book proposals and the traditional publishing process with Julia McCutchen (audio)
How to be a NY Times bestselling author with Scott Sigler, author of Contagious, Infected and Ancestor (audio with transcript)
Killing the sacred cows of publishing with Dean Wesley Smith (audio + video)
On the traditional publishing process – lessons learned at Sydney Writer’s Festival
The Breakout Novelist with NY Times agent, Donald Maass
If you want to get published the traditional way, the very first step is to submit your book proposal to an agent or publisher.
In these fantastic ebooks, author and former publisher and literary agent Michael Hyatt goes through the steps you need to create a winning book proposal based on many years of experience at Thomas Nelson, a huge publisher.
Click here to read more about his Winning Book Proposal ebooks (yes, I am an affiliate because they’re great!)
Another product on book proposals is Danielle La Porte’s Big Beautiful Book Plan which is a full multi-media course and much more extensive – but also more pricey at US$150.
Danielle has had several big book deals herself but the course also includes the proposals from Tim Ferriss 4 Hour Body, Educating Millionaires by Michael Ellsberg and more. It also includes information for fiction authors.
I am a huge fan of Danielle’s work, so check out all the details here:
Click for info on Your Big Beautiful Book Plan
Self-Publishing, or Independent (Indie) Publishing
Self-publishing means doing the work of the publisher yourself, including cover design, typesetting, organising printing and distribution. You can also work with partners who help you do this so you play a management role in getting it done. There are companies who will help you for a price but beware of paying too much money. You can also use freelancers (which is what I do!)
Check out Print on demand and Digital Publishing below for how to combine with self-publishing to get your book out there for the least amount of financial outlay.
**Overview of How To Publish Your Book** Includes self-publishing, print on demand, ebooks and more as I go through the options for a coach approaching her first book.
Self Publishing and the Definition of an Indie Author
Self-publishing will not ruin your chances at a traditional deal (Writer’s Digest Jane Friedman)
How self-publishing can lead to a real book deal (Alan Rinzler, publishing veteran)
Amazon and CreateSpace vs Lightning Source – how things have changed and what you can do about it (Aaron Shepard, author of POD to Profit)
NY Times bestselling author Seth Godin gives up traditional publishing
Self Publishing: Your Questions Answered with April Hamilton, author of “The Indie Author Guide” (audio with transcript)
Self Publishing and Book Marketing Tips with Dan Poynter, of Para Publishing (audio with transcript)
Self publishing banishes the fear of writing
Book Design with Joel Friedlander, TheBookDesigner.com (audio)
People don’t buy books based on the publisher
Book Cover Design: The Process Explained
You should self-publish (JA Konrath who makes a fulltime living from ebook sales)
How Machine of Death became a #1 Amazon bestseller as an indie published book
Print on Demand
Print on demand is when you load a digital file of your book to a site like Lightning Source, Lulu or CreateSpace and create a sales page for your book on Amazon.com and other online retailers. Then when a customer buys a book, it is printed and sent after the order is made. So you print AFTER the order, NOT in advance. This has revolutionized publishing, especially for indie authors. This information seriously changed my life!
What is print on demand and why should I do it?
Print on demand changed my life
Print on demand will save you money
Comparison infographic: Offset printing self-publishing vs. print on demand
Sept 2011 – Amazon have changed the way they deal with other print on demand providers EXCEPT their own CreateSpace. Read this article from TheBookDesigner.com
Digital/ Ebook Publishing
Ebooks are all over the publishing news and now anyone can publish on the Kindle or the iPad for free. Here’s how you can too.
Ebooks: What are they and how do I create one?
EBook Publishing Inspiration with Mark Coker for Smashwords (audio and video)
Ebooks Q&A with Joshua Tallent from EbookArchitects (audio with transcript)
Publishing on the Kindle: Top tips
Publish your ebook with Smashwords – which will get your ebook onto the iPhone, the iPad, the Kindle and other e-readers in multiple formats, all for free.
How to publish your book on the iPad
Lessons learned from publishing on the Kindle
Creating iPhone apps for your books with Tom Evans, the BookWright (audio)
Ebook publishing with ireadiwrite (audio interview)
and because everyone always asks about piracy issues, read this first! Piracy vs Obscurity: Which is worse for authors?
I recommend saving your sanity and paying someone to convert your book for you. Click here for Ebook conversion services with Simon Cheshire.
I now offer a multi-media online short course on how to publish your book on the Kindle, iPad, Nook and other e-readers as well as answers to all your ebook publishing questions. Featuring video, audio and PDF information for only $39.99.
Click here for all the details.
If you would like more detailed information on self-publishing, print on demand and ebooks, then you might be interested in the Author 2.0 Online Course. 12 modules of multimedia information that will help you write, publish, sell and promote your book online – Click here for more information. Full 12 module course is US$297 for lifetime access and all upgrades to the material.
Images Flickr CC: bookstore by MorBCN, bookshelf by MrT in DC, b&w books by Georg, and my own images.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for passing on a wealth of good information. I’m a writer and artist who is passionate about sharing what I have learned about the importance of the arts in my book “YOU and THE ARTS-Why Art Matters.” Do you have any suggestions for finding a distributer?
Hi Ruth, sorry, but I don’t actually know much at all about physical distribution. It’s not something I have investigated as I use print on demand through Lulu and now LightningSource.
All the best, Joanna
It never ceases to amaze me how much great content you have. How do you get the time to do everything, and not just do the work, but such high quality.
Thanks Delece – it’s been 2 years of blogging almost every day so the content builds up! and I still have lots to share
I’m glad it’s helpful.
@Joanna I’m interested in more valuable information on e book publishing. Can you post few articles on e book writing and publishing.
Paul
Hi Paul,
You ‘re welcome to ask specific questions as I have pretty much covered all the basics and have interviewed experts etc. Did you want anything in particular?
Thanks, Joanna
Hi Joanna
I have a beef buyers guided, a book on how to teach people how to select and cook all beef cuts offered in the supermarket. I don’t want to bore you with details. My question is, you mentioned on one of your videos that you recommend getting a professional to format our book. can you tell me were I can find a list of reliable people that do this. I live in SC at the present time and would like to find someone local that I can sit down and meet. When you say not alot of money these days, what range are you talking about.
Also if you like to cook, check out my website at http://www.fromthecheftoyou.com videos, recipes and much more
Cookin’ & Teachin’
Chef Dave
Hi Dave,
I highly recommend starting with Joel at http://www.thebookdesigner.com/ and he can certainly refer you to other people. He does print book design but can help with lots of things and his site is a wealth of information.
On how much – you’ll need to be more specific about your book and then get a quote because a plain text novel is a totally different product than a full colour cookbook!
Thanks, Joanna
Hi Joanna,
I am thinking of creating an iPhone ap series – I remember you were going to ap for a while, and then you decided to take it off your “to do list”. Did you come across any Aussie developers (or any place to find them) while you were considerin this, who would be good to deal with? Or being an IT whiz would you just do that yourself?
Thanks
Dawn
Hi Dawn,
I took it off the list as I couldn’t really see the economics of it working for me. I don’t know any Aussie developers but I’m sure you can find some – although many people are doing the design themselves and then using a freelance developer from Guru.com or similar. You can also have a listen to this with Tom Evans on creating iphone apps – the principles would be similar http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2010/03/13/podcast-creating-iphone-apps-for-your-books-with-tom-evans-the-bookwright/
Hi Joanna.
I’m not a writer, but i own a marketing company. Which course would benefit me. I’m looking to help self publishers with create ebooks and marketing them on their behave.
Hi Dwight, if you want to help authors with marketing, then pretty much any of my courses will help you with that as it’s kind of what I do too
I suggest you try to go more niche focused with your business e.g. help non fiction authors with blogging and social media
All the best!
Dear Joanna,
This question is about a specific ebook format.
I’m an author / illustrator who is just learning about the ebook indie publishing and marketing world. I have an interactive E storybook built in pdf format with a sound narration mp3 and SFX file in-bedded.
Do you know if interactive pdf ebooks can be published through the iTunes bookstore? Where can interactive ebooks be marketed?
The storybook is about Harmony so the sound is very important
to the product.
Thank you! Mark
Hi Mark, I recommend you talk to Joshua Tallent at EbookArchitects who does specialist ebook formats
http://ebookarchitects.com/conversions/enhanced.php
I hope that helps, Thanks, Joanna
THANK YOU I LOVE YOU
Hello,
Your blog has very good information so keep it up. It helps some of us who are independent publishers.
I would like to publish a series of books for the International Audience.
I need help on how I can get the books a website and also how to get them available on amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, B & N, and other book stores.
Thank you and hope to hear from you soon.
Hi Wilfred,
I don’t actually publish anyone else’s books, only my own.
But if you want a print publisher, then have a look at Createspace for Amazon print on demand or LightningSource who also have a similar service.
For ebook publishing, use http://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/
I hope that helps and all the best with your books.
Please send me information about your services.
Jack West
P. O. Box 1765
St. Petersburg, FL 33731
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