Resources
Self Publishing
As you can tell from my home page, I was on Oprah in 1990. I was on with
Pat Evans who wrote a book called "Verbally Abusive Relationships". In
the past years Pat has sold 220,000 of her series of books. She has made
less than I have with my 4,800 books that I have sold solely through speaking
engagements.
In the past it was desirable to have a big name publisher. However, with
the advent of ebooks and nearly everyone having a book, most publishers
won't talk with you unless you have 3 to 5 titles that are on the best
sellers list. So why give up the bulk of the sales dollars to a publisher
that doesn't do anything but put their name on the cover (it is nice have
a big name publisher) and they pay for the printing.
Book
Publishers have created a mysterious aura around the practices of publishing.
This is for one reason. The more complicated it seems, the fewer authors
will attempt self publishing.
Fortunately,
I have a background that includes about 20 years in the printing industry,
so publishing is a cake walk for me. Id like to help you take the steps
to overcome your apprehension concerning publishing, so you too will realize
how easy this truly is.
I have outlined the step-by-step
process and how you can publishing your own book:
1. ISBN
The ISBN numbers takes about 6 weeks to receive and are purchased at $20
each in lots of 10 and must appear in the interior title page and on the
outside back cover page for scanning. They are purchased from:
International Standard Book Number - US Agency
121 Chanlon Road
New Providence, NY 07974
www.isbn.org
877 310-7333
Another
resources is this website: http://www.bowker.com/
Converting ISBN
to Bar Codes: http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/index.asp
Get ABI form for registering book:
http://www.bowkerlink.com/corrections/Common/LearnMore.asp
http://www.bowkerlink.com/corrections/bip/registercompany.asp
2. Cover Design
I
use local artists for my book covers - they are very creative! Ask small
local printers who they would recommend, interview two or three and look
through their portfolio to determine their style. You'll find someone compatible
with your preferences.
This could take anywhere from two weeks to a month depending on how many
times you have to request changes. Do not settle for something you're not
going to be happy with!
If you're on a low budget, visit a Junior or College Art Department and
ask the instructor who they might recommend.
3. Layout
The
pagination is the hardest part - left to right - if the book is (divisible
by 4's) 96 pages including the index, table of contents, etc., then take
24 sheets of paper, fold them in half, like a booklet, and start numbering
- don't forget the mandatory book title , forward, introduction, acknowledgments,
table of contents, references, etc. (these pages are typically roman numerals).
Find a book you have that you like the layout and to see what's typically
included.
So page 1 - on the right hand side, backs up page 2 and page 96 on the
left hand side, backs up page 95 and so on.
Select a type face and a finished book size. Typically 5 x 7 is the ideal
as most book stores arrange their shelves to this size.
Chapter titles and headings should be in a San Serif (clean characteristics)
and body type is usually in a Serif (accentuated by feet characteristics).
It's much easier to read and identify word groupings.
You should allow 1" inside margin and 3/4" to 1" top bottom and outside
margins. This allows for the trimming process. Again, look to books that
appeal you. But whatever you do, decide before you get writing. It's a
whole lot of trouble to go back and repaginate.
4. Writing
The
discipline of writing your book has to come from your desire to have a
finished product and a belief in what knowledge you have that you want
the general public to be aware.
At first, I forced myself to write 20 pages a week. I could only write
two pages an hour with the first book. It was a painstaking ordeal. Then
two months from my "drop dead" (no more excuses) date, I writing 20 pages
a day on the weekends and five pages a day during the week. I literally
did not come up for air the last two months.
I find I can accomplish much more with a deadline. You might find otherwise.
Regardless, find your comfort zone and embrace it. If you find that it's
easier for you to complete your research before you start writing,
fine! If it's easier to write on a legal pad and then type it, fine! Maybe
you're like I am and find the easiest process is to simply apply myself
the chair and begin to type! It doesn't matter, as long as you continually
make progress.
My second book took three weeks start to finish. Then three more weeks
to edit it. Not bad, but it takes a major commitment and more hours than
most are willing to dedicate. My third book will soon be released and it
has taken me about two months.
5. Editing
The
editing is a tricky aspect. Do not edit the book or read it until you have
finished the very last page. It's one of the easiest pitfalls in being
an author. You could spend all of your time editing and never complete
your book.
Print the book one side for editing purposes. If possible, don't attempt
to paginate (lay the book at page numbers and top and bottom align pages)
until after you're comfortable with the book being a completed project.
Have several friends read
through it and have them make suggestion in the margins, everyone has their
own perception of what sounds right. Follow your own style, but be sure
to absorb their suggestions.
One editor, the copy editor reads for typo's, wrong words (their instead
of there), proper capitalization, hyphenation, etc. Carol Levy would be
a good person for that and she is at 510 655-9494.
Then the next editor is the content editor. They read for consistencies.
Do you refer to a group in the same manner. Is a concept easy to follow.
Rebecca Salome 510 435-8726 is who I used. She charges $200 for the first
read and $65 an hour afterwards.
I think I paid a total of $1,800 for all the editing, but the bulk of the
nitty gritty (how it was perceived) came from my closest friends.
6. Materials
Get the book's inside paper at Kelly's Paper - about $35 for 8 reams
8 1/2 x 11 70# test (it's heavier than 20# bond that you normally use).
Also choose a cover (I pay $14 for 250 sheets of 10 point Kromecote
that's made by Xerox so that it will copy in a copy machine without streaking)
stock at Kelly's and have Kinko's print the cover in color tell them that
"normally" it's 75 cents per copy when you bring your own paper). Always
run about 25 extra for bindery errors and to use in your press kits for
speaking engagements.
7. Printing
It is worth your while to get a laser printer -they're about $200
at Fry's or most computer stores. You can also look on ebay. to find great
deals. The main criteria for book printing is a straight pass through the
printer. You'll have much fewer paper jams if the paper doesn't have to
travel up and around.
Run a test of odd pages first, then put those back in the printer paper
tray and run the even pages. Some printers the pages are blank side up,
others will be blank side down.
Leave the finished version flat and separate with a color sheet so the
bindery can easily spot the groupings.
8. Bindery
For bindery, there are several choices, but the most professional
is called perfect binding. I use Trade Bindery in Oakland.
They typically charge $100 for 100 books to bind and trim (that's what
makes it look so clean) the book on all three sides.
9. Cost Analysis
For your first book, you'll want to print about 100 books. The materials
are as follows:
$ 100.00 600 cover design
11.42 for inside sheets
7.00 for the cover
75.00 for printing the cover
100.00 for bindery
$ 293.42 for 100 books or $2.93 per book
$
1500.00 for editing
$ 1793.42 or $17.93 per book
If you choose to sell your book for $19.95 and you have found other books
in your topic that are similarly priced, then you can justify $19.95. You
will be able to recover the cost of the editing and up to $300 for the
cover design, on your first 100 books.
Thereafter, you will have a cost of $1.93 per book or $18.03 profit. Not
bad even after considering it will take you about 30 hours to print the
100 copies on your laser printer at 6 pm!
A friend of mine is working with a large Chicago publisher. Her book
sells for $17.95 and she takes home $ .36 per book. Granted she doesn't
have to pay the printer for 5,000 copies and the publisher will help get
her book in some bookstores, but imagine, she has to sell 200,000
books to make what you will by selling 4,000.
Quality Book Printers has a great prices for printing both small and large
quantities. For a 200 page book they begin at $4.77 per book including
perfect binding and for 300 the price drops to $3.09, less than you can
print them yourself.
10. Recouping Expenses
Once you've sold your first 100, and you recoup the cost of your cover
design and editing, the second hundred will generate a tidy profit. As
a rule, I keep 50% of the income generated by book sells in a separate
account. That will be put towards my first large run at a commercial printer.
I've printed about 1000 copies
and am almost satisfied enough to take it to a larger print run. 1,000
books range from $3.25 to $4.25 and 10,000 are about $2.35. Quality Book
Printers out of Chicago (800) 332-5355, charge $2.85 per book for 100 and
as little as $1.95 per book at a 600 run.
Larger commercial printers who have web presses are the most ideal. They
will run the whole book on one websheet, fold cut and trim by the time
it's ends up at the finish. You should visit a printer so you can appreciate
and allow for the requirements of the process. I have found several who
have even agreed to store the books and drop ship them to bookstores and
my speaking engagements.
11. Distribution
You are your best sales person. You know the material and the heart of
the matter better than anyone else.
You will need to develop a speaking venue. You can be the guest speaker
at Rotary, Lions and Kiwaniis groups. There are Soroptomists and an amazing
list of associations on the internet that will have an interest in having
you speak to their. Try to stay within your sphere of interests.
You can search for speaker's organizations like the National Speaker's
Association to find groups in your area and find out where the members
have been speaking.
Ask everyone you know who other authors are and set up a speaker's help
group to share information.
You will also find a comprehensive list of speaking engagements and speakers
to network with on my website as well as a list of media sources for interviews.
Advanced Self Publishing a very large marketing program available for authors.
Prices start at $2,500.
Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Borders will entertain authors to increase
their foot traffic. It is best to stage a newspaper interview prior to
the event so that you can command higher attendance.
I'm still working on developing the contacts for other distribution lines,
and will update you as they're discovered.
This is the results of 18 months of research, trial and (mostly error)
and sweat equity!
There are also email lists though Fili Mondragon http://newera2000.com/instanttraffic/index.htm,
Direct Marketing out of Florida and a slough of others that are very affordable.
You can promote your book through an ezine (electronic magazine) or an
ebook..
The
latest and most effective method to promote your book is through bookyourguest.com.
They are a local company who will video interview you, then send the email
to the radio personalities that will interview because they like the way
your video sounds.
All in all, it is much easier to promote your book today than it ever has
been. Enjoy the adventure . . . you will never be the same!
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