A whole lot depends on what you're planning to do. I've gone the self-publishing route twice and the POD once and am none the worse for wear. But I just wanted to have my stories available.
A couple of things if somebody wants to go this route that are helpful: Don't buy the line "why let the publishers get the profits?" The publisher's going to get the profits one way or another--traditionally by chopping the percentage of the royalties to the author, or as with most self-publishing/vanity houses by just taking it off the top.
Also, don't plan to get rich self-publishing. When I started all the houses were touting Richard Paul Evans and The Christmas Box. That's a once-in-a-million chance that probably won't happen to you--unless you're really, really good (which I'm not).
Keep the printing down--my first runs on both the original stories was only 500 books. I've sold enough of both to make back my outlay, but not much more. Which means I still have between 300 and 400 of both titles (anybody want to buy a book? I can make you a great deal if you want to buy both).
Bottom line. If you want to make it as a writer, don't self-publish. It's a good avenue if you want to have a nice package to give stories to your family and friends. But if you really want it to work, find an agent, a distributor, and a reputable publishing house to sell your book. Then remember, you (as the author) still have to do the lion's share of the marketing.
2 comments:
A whole lot depends on what you're planning to do. I've gone the self-publishing route twice and the POD once and am none the worse for wear. But I just wanted to have my stories available.
A couple of things if somebody wants to go this route that are helpful: Don't buy the line "why let the publishers get the profits?" The publisher's going to get the profits one way or another--traditionally by chopping the percentage of the royalties to the author, or as with most self-publishing/vanity houses by just taking it off the top.
Also, don't plan to get rich self-publishing. When I started all the houses were touting Richard Paul Evans and The Christmas Box. That's a once-in-a-million chance that probably won't happen to you--unless you're really, really good (which I'm not).
Keep the printing down--my first runs on both the original stories was only 500 books. I've sold enough of both to make back my outlay, but not much more. Which means I still have between 300 and 400 of both titles (anybody want to buy a book? I can make you a great deal if you want to buy both).
Bottom line. If you want to make it as a writer, don't self-publish. It's a good avenue if you want to have a nice package to give stories to your family and friends. But if you really want it to work, find an agent, a distributor, and a reputable publishing house to sell your book. Then remember, you (as the author) still have to do the lion's share of the marketing.
Sound advice. Henry David Thoreau said something like this: "I have a library of a thousand books, nine hundred of which I wrote myself."
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