tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668066.post2338220042857918882..comments2024-03-28T16:17:20.965-05:00Comments on Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Thinking about Self-Publishing?mybillcriderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02350478005243505108noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668066.post-26047033807681239142007-11-13T20:07:00.000-06:002007-11-13T20:07:00.000-06:00Sound advice. Henry David Thoreau said something ...Sound advice. Henry David Thoreau said something like this: "I have a library of a thousand books, nine hundred of which I wrote myself."mybillcriderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02350478005243505108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668066.post-31025106757890666912007-11-13T18:22:00.000-06:002007-11-13T18:22:00.000-06:00A whole lot depends on what you're planning to do....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. <BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>Also, don't plan to get rich self-publishing. When I started all the houses were touting Richard Paul Evans and <I>The Christmas Box</I>. 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).<BR/><BR/>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).<BR/><BR/>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.Benjiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05155472883124774755noreply@blogger.com