Yesterday, we explored your publishing options. Are you convinced about which one is right for you? Or are you still unsure about the option to choose? <\/p>\n
It\u2019s a difficult decision for any author. Yet, hopeful authors frequently ask me to make that choice for them. <\/p>\n
When they ask me, \u201cWhich publishing option is best?\u201d I respond, \u201cIt depends on your project and it depends on you (your goals and your ultimate purpose for your book).\u201d<\/p>\n
So they ask me, \u201cWhich one should I go with?\u201d I remind them of their options. I suggest that they review the pros and cons of each option, reconsider their purpose for the book and their goals and then make their choice based on this. Of course, they must also be painfully realistic. It is unlikely that a narrow niche book will interest a major publisher. A memoir by an unknown is generally not going to be a New York Times bestseller, thus probably of no interest to Random House. <\/p>\n
Likewise, if you have no intentions of or ability to promote your book once it\u2019s produced, you might as well give up the idea of landing any size traditional royalty publisher. But why spend the money to have a book published at all if you aren\u2019t going to promote it? <\/p>\n
Let\u2019s go at this topic from a different angle. <\/p>\n
Who should approach the major traditional royalty publishers?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022\tThose who have studied the publishing industry and understand its competitive nature.<\/p>\n \u2022\tThose who have researched dozens of books similar to theirs so they know what\u2019s out there and what\u2019s selling.<\/p>\n \u2022\tThose who have read those dozens of books so they recognize good writing.<\/p>\n \u2022\tThose with extraordinarily good novels that have passed an evaluation by a publishing professional and have been professionally edited. <\/p>\n \u2022\tThose with a well-written, professionally edited nonfiction book on a cutting edge subject or with a new, interesting, useful twist on an evergreen topic. Something that is needed\/desired by a large audience and that has not been overdone. <\/p>\n \u2022\tThose who are committed to marketing their books and who have the ideas, connections, time and energy to promote, promote, promote.<\/p>\n Who should seek out some of the hundreds of smaller publishing houses?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022\tThose encompassing the criteria above, but who have been turned down by the majors.<\/p>\n \u2022\tThose with excellent books that, perhaps, have a smaller audience.<\/p>\n \u2022\tNiche books. Approach a publisher who specializes for your books related to academics, history, art, biography, travel, business, astrology, religion or hiking, for example.<\/p>\n Who should self-publish (establish their own publishing company)?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022\tThose who will take the time to study the publishing industry before getting involved.<\/p>\n \u2022\tThose with excellent nonfiction books on marketable topics in areas of their expertise.<\/p>\n \u2022\tThose who understand their niche and the audience.<\/p>\n \u2022\tThose who are committed to the huge task of producing and marketing their books. <\/p>\n \u2022\tThose with connections, ideas, energy, money and time to promote their books. \u2022\tThose who study the publishing industry before getting involved.<\/p>\n \u2022\tThose who will learn everything they can about this branch of the industry and who will understand the various offerings and contracts.<\/p>\n \u2022\tThose who have realistic expectations.<\/p>\n \u2022\tThose with books fitting into a narrow niche.<\/p>\n \u2022\tThose with books of interest to friends and family only.<\/p>\n \u2022\tThose who, if they want to sell a lot of books, are willing and able to promote their books.<\/p>\n \u2022\tThose who don\u2019t have the willingness or ability to promote their books and who have only the most realistic expectations with regard to book sales. (Your book won\u2019t sell if you aren\u2019t promoting it.)<\/p>\n Who should produce an ebook?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022\tThose who have studied the publishing industry. I hope this puts things in perspective for you and helps you to make that huge decision you\u2019ve been contemplating. If only you can look at your project realistically\u2014from the publisher\u2019s point of view (he\u2019s in the BUSINESS of selling book) and the reader\u2019s (know what people are reading). And, before making any choice (even before you write that book), honestly answer these two questions:<\/p>\n \u2022\tWhat is the purpose of this book?
\nWho should go with a fee-based, \u201cself-publishing\u201d (vanity) company?<\/p>\n
\n\u2022\tThose who want to test the waters with their books.
\n\u2022\tThose who want to offer the ebook option for their customers.
\n\u2022\tThose with the willingness to promote their ebooks.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022\tWhy am I writing it?<\/p>\n