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YOU can have your own book publishing company
Writers are often unable or unwilling to have their books published by “traditional” publishing companies—the big guys like Simon & Schuster. Many of these writers use the services of a self-publishing company.
These companies are publishing more and more books each year. One giant, Author Solutions, Inc. (“ASI”), has grown by buying and combining former competitors such as Xlibris, iUniverse and Wordclay.
Some large traditional publishers such as Harlequin and Thomas Nelson have set up self-publishing operations in partnership with ASI. In 2012, ASI was bought by traditional publishing giant Penguin at about the same time that Penguin was merging with competitor Random House.
The big attraction of self-publishing companies is that anyone who can type can become a “published author” quickly, and compete for the attention of the reading public. There is no longer a need to go through the years-long process of finding an agent and publisher.
The downside is that these companies publish a lot of badly written books, sometimes do a bad job of publishing and promoting them, and may charge authors up to $50,000—or even more!
A lot of that money is wasted and many customers of self-publishing companies are very disappointed with the quality of their books, and the limited sales and few reviews. Some companies “low ball” authors with low-low prices, and then add hundreds or thousands of dollars in additional fees.
Writers may give up a lot (money, quality, time, choices, respect) by becoming customers of self-publishing companies. Their websites are mainly designed to convince writers to buy services—not to convince readers to buy books. They often sell more books to their own authors than to ‘real’ readers.
While there can be legitimate reasons to use these companies, the writers who use them will often wait longer for books to be sold, have less control over the appearance and quality of the books, spend more money, make less money, wait longer to get their money, sell fewer books and have lower-quality books—than independent self-publishers.
The theory behind this book is that it’s possible to get a better book, publish it faster, probably make more money, and probably have more fun if you become an independent self publisher, rather than buy a publishing package from a self-publishing company.
Bestselling author Michael N. Marcus has been writing professionally for over 40 years. He had books published by big-name traditional publishers and small specialty publishers. One thing all these companies had in common was that they greatly disappointed him.
Marcus didn’t like the books and I didn’t like the earnings.
In 2008, he decided to form his own publishing company and planned to publish exactly one book. He has since published twenty-something, and more are on the way. This book will share what Marcus learned, and his enthusiasm.
Independent self-publishing is not for everyone (neither are sky diving or broccoli), but it’s not difficult, and the potential rewards, advantages and enjoyment can be enormous.
This book will help you sort out the misstatements and misunderstandings about self-publishing. It will guide you from your first word to your first sale—and beyond. It can help you make a painless transition from frustrated writer to less frustrated writer and publisher.
These companies are publishing more and more books each year. One giant, Author Solutions, Inc. (“ASI”), has grown by buying and combining former competitors such as Xlibris, iUniverse and Wordclay.
Some large traditional publishers such as Harlequin and Thomas Nelson have set up self-publishing operations in partnership with ASI. In 2012, ASI was bought by traditional publishing giant Penguin at about the same time that Penguin was merging with competitor Random House.
The big attraction of self-publishing companies is that anyone who can type can become a “published author” quickly, and compete for the attention of the reading public. There is no longer a need to go through the years-long process of finding an agent and publisher.
The downside is that these companies publish a lot of badly written books, sometimes do a bad job of publishing and promoting them, and may charge authors up to $50,000—or even more!
A lot of that money is wasted and many customers of self-publishing companies are very disappointed with the quality of their books, and the limited sales and few reviews. Some companies “low ball” authors with low-low prices, and then add hundreds or thousands of dollars in additional fees.
Writers may give up a lot (money, quality, time, choices, respect) by becoming customers of self-publishing companies. Their websites are mainly designed to convince writers to buy services—not to convince readers to buy books. They often sell more books to their own authors than to ‘real’ readers.
While there can be legitimate reasons to use these companies, the writers who use them will often wait longer for books to be sold, have less control over the appearance and quality of the books, spend more money, make less money, wait longer to get their money, sell fewer books and have lower-quality books—than independent self-publishers.
The theory behind this book is that it’s possible to get a better book, publish it faster, probably make more money, and probably have more fun if you become an independent self publisher, rather than buy a publishing package from a self-publishing company.
Bestselling author Michael N. Marcus has been writing professionally for over 40 years. He had books published by big-name traditional publishers and small specialty publishers. One thing all these companies had in common was that they greatly disappointed him.
Marcus didn’t like the books and I didn’t like the earnings.
In 2008, he decided to form his own publishing company and planned to publish exactly one book. He has since published twenty-something, and more are on the way. This book will share what Marcus learned, and his enthusiasm.
Independent self-publishing is not for everyone (neither are sky diving or broccoli), but it’s not difficult, and the potential rewards, advantages and enjoyment can be enormous.
This book will help you sort out the misstatements and misunderstandings about self-publishing. It will guide you from your first word to your first sale—and beyond. It can help you make a painless transition from frustrated writer to less frustrated writer and publisher.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2012
3 people are currently reading
About the author
Michael N. Marcus
47 books3 followersMichael N. Marcus is the author of more than 40 books—including many bestsellers. He has been an editor at Rolling Stone magazine and has written for many science, music, business, electronics, automotive and general interest magazines, as well as newspapers.
He's also an award-winning advertising copywriter who has worked on such brands as Pioneer, Acoustic Research, Columbia Records, Maxell, Volvo, Castrol, and Perdue chicken. Active on Facebook, Michael founded and administers over a dozen popular groups, and a few unpopular ones.
Michael has long been a successful and popular explainer. Before the Internet, he was an online adviser on CompuServe, and later on MSN. He is a contributor to many online groups and publications. He has provided the words for more than 50 websites and blogs.
At the urging of a misguided guidance counselor, he went to Lehigh University to become an electrical engineer, and was disappointed to learn that engineering was mostly math—and slide rules were not as much fun as soldering irons. He quickly switched to journalism.
Michael has written professionally for over 40 years. He was one of the first writers to humanize electronic hardware, describing equipment with emotion, not math. At Rolling Stone, his popular reviews of hi-fi equipment departed from the traditional laboratory tedium, and used humor and slices-of-life to describe the components. His novel approach came from necessity—because he didn't have a testing laboratory.
Michael lives in Connecticut with his wife Marilyn, the ghost of Hunter the Golden Retriever, indoor and outdoor telephone booths, a "Lily Tomlin" switchboard, lots of books, CDs and DVDs, and many black boxes with flashing lights. Marilyn is very tolerant.
1948
Michael N. Marcus.
He's also an award-winning advertising copywriter who has worked on such brands as Pioneer, Acoustic Research, Columbia Records, Maxell, Volvo, Castrol, and Perdue chicken. Active on Facebook, Michael founded and administers over a dozen popular groups, and a few unpopular ones.
Michael has long been a successful and popular explainer. Before the Internet, he was an online adviser on CompuServe, and later on MSN. He is a contributor to many online groups and publications. He has provided the words for more than 50 websites and blogs.
At the urging of a misguided guidance counselor, he went to Lehigh University to become an electrical engineer, and was disappointed to learn that engineering was mostly math—and slide rules were not as much fun as soldering irons. He quickly switched to journalism.
Michael has written professionally for over 40 years. He was one of the first writers to humanize electronic hardware, describing equipment with emotion, not math. At Rolling Stone, his popular reviews of hi-fi equipment departed from the traditional laboratory tedium, and used humor and slices-of-life to describe the components. His novel approach came from necessity—because he didn't have a testing laboratory.
Michael lives in Connecticut with his wife Marilyn, the ghost of Hunter the Golden Retriever, indoor and outdoor telephone booths, a "Lily Tomlin" switchboard, lots of books, CDs and DVDs, and many black boxes with flashing lights. Marilyn is very tolerant.
1948
Michael N. Marcus.
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