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Self-Publishing Manual : How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book
The Self-Publishing Manual explains the publishing process step-by-step, from idea through manuscript, printing, promotion, and sales. Dan Poynter, a leading authority on self-publishing, shows readers how to use innovative techniques to write books faster, produce books for less, and promote books more effectively. This revised edition covers all of the latest publishing technology such as downloadable books, print on demand, CD publishing, and electronic books. A 52-page appendix of valuable resources is included.
432 pages, Paperback
First published July 28, 1979
14 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
About the author
Dan Poynter
110 books18 followersSince 1969, Dan Poynter has written and published more than 100 books including Writing Nonfiction, The Self-Publishing Manual, and The Skydiver's Handbook.
Dan Poynter's seminars have been featured on CNN, his books have been pictured in The Wall Street Journal, and his story has been told in U.S. News & World Report. The media comes to Dan because he is the leading authority on book publishing.
Dan shows people how to make a difference and a living by coaching them on their book."
Dan Poynter's seminars have been featured on CNN, his books have been pictured in The Wall Street Journal, and his story has been told in U.S. News & World Report. The media comes to Dan because he is the leading authority on book publishing.
Dan shows people how to make a difference and a living by coaching them on their book."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 26, 2010
Publishing is a tough game. Little money, overwhelming competition, and no control. For an author who wants to take back control of her own destiny, the Self-Publishing Manual is the bible.
I used Dan Poynter’s 12th Edition as my guide in 2000 when I published Death by Zamboni , and it helped me to achieve a reasonable degree of success. Cult success, perhaps, but success that gives me pride. At the time, I even neglected to follow his recommendations for landing reviews (a mistake I won’t make with my second book), and yet I’ve still sold over 1200 copies with about 50 left. The publishing process paid for itself many times over, although—obviously—not enough to support my lavish lifestyle.
Yes, the quality of your writing matters…that simply goes without saying…but if your world-changing book sits in a drawer for your entire life, then the world will never have the privilege of being changed.
This book is empowering. Don’t get me wrong, self-publishing isn’t easy, but it does take the power away from literary agents and publishing companies and puts it in authors’ hands. As I’ve mentioned in my blog, if you are published by an established company, and your book doesn’t sell strongly off the bat, then it will likely disappear and never be available again. The Self-Publishing Manual helped me get my novel out into the world, and I can keep it in print for as long as I desire. Until death do us part, dear book.
Making people aware that your book exists is the biggest challenge, but, with Poynter’s tips, a self-publisher can promote a book as well as any small- to mid-sized press can. And, depending on the audience for your book, possibly even better than a large publisher can. Don’t forget that authors published by established companies still have to do a tremendous amount of their own publicity. Just look at all the authors here on Goodreads trying to accrue massive friend lists.
Caveat: As Poynter and most writers on self-publishing note, a significant portion of their advice is relevant only to non-fiction authors. The audience for fiction is much more diffuse and not as easy to pinpoint as readers who would be interested in a specific non-fiction topic. For example, Poynter is also an expert parachutist and has self-published numerous books on parachuting. As you can imagine, it’s much easier to publicize books directly to avid parachutists than it is to find readers interested in, say, a family of circus freaks.
However, even as a fiction author, if you don’t set your sights too aggressively, then you won’t be disappointed by the Self-Publishing Manual. Poynter provides a thorough step-by-step guide that includes establishing your publishing company, designing your book, printing, distribution, tracking expenses and profits, and the “marketing” of your book. I put marketing in quotes, because it’s not about advertising, it’s about spreading the word primarily through reviews. Publicity and awareness.
At times, this book will feel like a guide to running your own business. Which it is. If you become a self-publisher, you will have to be an author and a business person to do it well. But the rewards can be great.
If I have to level any criticism at the Self-Publishing Manual, it’s the whiff of pyramid scheme. After all, it’s a self-published book about how to self-publish books. Kind of like how Amway tells you to sign up other people to sell Amway so you can get a percentage of everything they sell. And Poynter takes his own advice to non-fiction authors by listing numerous extra documents (spin-offs) available on his website for a fee. I will grant that it is helpful to have the most current contacts for reviewer’s lists, printing press lists and so on. And he offers specialized information beyond the scope of this book such as how to promote books in certain genres. But it did leave a mildly bad taste in my mouth having to pay extra for more detail. On the other hand, this book is a solid 439 pages, and it provides almost everything you need to know to do it yourself. Too much information can be overwhelming. So I suppose it’s up to the reader to decide if they want to invest more for a particular report. Overall, these misgivings are minor. His advice works, and this is a great book. DIY, baby.
For more on the pursuit of publishing, follow my trip in my Goodreads Blog of Doom.
I used Dan Poynter’s 12th Edition as my guide in 2000 when I published Death by Zamboni , and it helped me to achieve a reasonable degree of success. Cult success, perhaps, but success that gives me pride. At the time, I even neglected to follow his recommendations for landing reviews (a mistake I won’t make with my second book), and yet I’ve still sold over 1200 copies with about 50 left. The publishing process paid for itself many times over, although—obviously—not enough to support my lavish lifestyle.
Yes, the quality of your writing matters…that simply goes without saying…but if your world-changing book sits in a drawer for your entire life, then the world will never have the privilege of being changed.
This book is empowering. Don’t get me wrong, self-publishing isn’t easy, but it does take the power away from literary agents and publishing companies and puts it in authors’ hands. As I’ve mentioned in my blog, if you are published by an established company, and your book doesn’t sell strongly off the bat, then it will likely disappear and never be available again. The Self-Publishing Manual helped me get my novel out into the world, and I can keep it in print for as long as I desire. Until death do us part, dear book.
Making people aware that your book exists is the biggest challenge, but, with Poynter’s tips, a self-publisher can promote a book as well as any small- to mid-sized press can. And, depending on the audience for your book, possibly even better than a large publisher can. Don’t forget that authors published by established companies still have to do a tremendous amount of their own publicity. Just look at all the authors here on Goodreads trying to accrue massive friend lists.
Caveat: As Poynter and most writers on self-publishing note, a significant portion of their advice is relevant only to non-fiction authors. The audience for fiction is much more diffuse and not as easy to pinpoint as readers who would be interested in a specific non-fiction topic. For example, Poynter is also an expert parachutist and has self-published numerous books on parachuting. As you can imagine, it’s much easier to publicize books directly to avid parachutists than it is to find readers interested in, say, a family of circus freaks.
However, even as a fiction author, if you don’t set your sights too aggressively, then you won’t be disappointed by the Self-Publishing Manual. Poynter provides a thorough step-by-step guide that includes establishing your publishing company, designing your book, printing, distribution, tracking expenses and profits, and the “marketing” of your book. I put marketing in quotes, because it’s not about advertising, it’s about spreading the word primarily through reviews. Publicity and awareness.
At times, this book will feel like a guide to running your own business. Which it is. If you become a self-publisher, you will have to be an author and a business person to do it well. But the rewards can be great.
If I have to level any criticism at the Self-Publishing Manual, it’s the whiff of pyramid scheme. After all, it’s a self-published book about how to self-publish books. Kind of like how Amway tells you to sign up other people to sell Amway so you can get a percentage of everything they sell. And Poynter takes his own advice to non-fiction authors by listing numerous extra documents (spin-offs) available on his website for a fee. I will grant that it is helpful to have the most current contacts for reviewer’s lists, printing press lists and so on. And he offers specialized information beyond the scope of this book such as how to promote books in certain genres. But it did leave a mildly bad taste in my mouth having to pay extra for more detail. On the other hand, this book is a solid 439 pages, and it provides almost everything you need to know to do it yourself. Too much information can be overwhelming. So I suppose it’s up to the reader to decide if they want to invest more for a particular report. Overall, these misgivings are minor. His advice works, and this is a great book. DIY, baby.
For more on the pursuit of publishing, follow my trip in my Goodreads Blog of Doom.
Read
October 21, 2009I like the book very much, but really liked the movie much better. Of course, the movie wouldn't be made without this novel, and there was some backstory that wasn't in the movie that I enjoyed. But I thought the movie was more interesting, tighter, and more exciting. It wasn't that I saw the movie before reading the book that pushed me to like the book better. It's just that it was more fun to have Grigg being an unassuming wealthy man, making it big in hi tech, setting up his home as a haunted house for Northanger Abbey, and putting donut grease in his car. Prudie's almost affair with her high school hottie was more intense in the movie, as well as her mother as a pothead, and her more fractious marriage with Dean. And I like Bernadette's character more as the svelte, wiggy actress who played her. The book was helpful in having the plots of each book handy, as well as all those interesting critiques through the ages that were listed in the back. And, of course, anything about Jane Austen is okay by me.
June 27, 2009
Okay, I didn't read the whole book. I read eight chapters of a total of eleven. I skimmed the rest because I just wasn't as interested in the topics covered in those chapters. The topics I read about was everything from the idea for a book to actually creating a book and up to promoting said book.
There is so much detail in Dan Poynter's guide that I believe it is a must-have resource for writers that want options to sending in query after query to established publishers who just don't see the value of their work.
Although I will probably never self-publish, I was fascinated by the process as well as reading Poynter's portrayal of how the publishing industry works. It has really helped my understanding of the entire life cycle of a book. As a fledgling copyeditor, I need that perspective so that I can communicate effectively with authors who live and breathe their manuscripts and books for much longer periods than I experience with those same works.
All in all, I highly recommend this resource to writers who want to know more about the options that they have in publishing.
There is so much detail in Dan Poynter's guide that I believe it is a must-have resource for writers that want options to sending in query after query to established publishers who just don't see the value of their work.
Although I will probably never self-publish, I was fascinated by the process as well as reading Poynter's portrayal of how the publishing industry works. It has really helped my understanding of the entire life cycle of a book. As a fledgling copyeditor, I need that perspective so that I can communicate effectively with authors who live and breathe their manuscripts and books for much longer periods than I experience with those same works.
All in all, I highly recommend this resource to writers who want to know more about the options that they have in publishing.
May 2, 2008
This book is the best book I've found on the ins and outs of self-publishing, and it's in it's 19 or 20th edition, which says something! Dan Poynter, who wrote it, stays on top of the industry and sends out a regular newsletter that comes to your inbox. It's one of the most valuable newsletters I get. That's one I always open.
January 29, 2016
This book is what most people call the "bible" of the self-publishing industry. It provides everything(some material is outdated) you need to get started in self-publishing. I have been recommending it for years to anyone remotely interested in self-publishing a book. Along with this book I would recommend Steve Scott's book 61 Ways to sell more kindle books.
December 1, 2010
I read this book to learn more about how to publish my own book. I went to a seminar at Dans home in Santa Barbara and obtained some wonderful tools that proved to be helpful in publishing my book All Systems Go. This book is one of the best in the business.
December 13, 2010
This became my bible as I began marketing and publishing Diaries of an Emotional Prostitue. Anyone looking for a quick guide to learning the craft of publishing should read this book before seeking others.
July 14, 2013
This is the one book to have if you are interested in writing a book. Dan is the publishing guru. Whether you hope to self-publish, go Print on Demand, or go with a traditional publisher, you need to read what Dan has to say. The section on marketing is a must-read for all authors.
June 26, 2008
This book is very informative and reader friendly. It really gave me a good look at what I must do to self-publish. I would reccommend it to anyone hoping to self=publish
October 7, 2009
Simply amazing books. It probably helps if you are writing a book. I read an earlier edition 3 years ago and recently finished this nwe edition. Jam packed with vital information.
May 24, 2011
If you haven't read Dan Poynter's books then you're not a self-publisher.
April 16, 2012
This book is responsible for lunching my publishing career. Dan is a veteran in the industry and so it vitally important that we have him as a reference. Good book on the topic.
July 21, 2019
I bought a copy of an older edition of this guide back in 1998, before Print-On-Demand became simple, and followed its more analog to-dos. Mailing lists, advance review copies, promotional ideas, etc. All of it worked for my debut novel, PINS.
Updated versions include the usual suggestions for social media, ebooks, websites, etc. Forget blogs and online listicles. This book has it all, step by step before, during, and after you publish your own books.
Updated versions include the usual suggestions for social media, ebooks, websites, etc. Forget blogs and online listicles. This book has it all, step by step before, during, and after you publish your own books.
September 10, 2019
The edition of this book that I read was published in 2006, so I suspect a fair amount has changed, but this book has a LOT of information. My immediate reaction is "I can't do this!" but the point is that it's a reference book. You don't do it ALL today. It's another of the books that I am going to have to get at some point for my reference shelves. I'm completely overwhelmed, but I have lots of notes that I can go back to and more ideas of what I need to do.
March 29, 2021
This book provides valuable advice for budding authors who are considering self publishing. It shares vital information on how-to write, print, publish, market and distribute your book. For authors planning to go down this road, it's a handy resource.
June 23, 2021
I've read multiple editions of this book. It's important to remember that the copyright is 2007. So, references to specific technology is dated. That said, the principles for writing, publishing, and selling your own book are still sound. Dan was way ahead of his time.
Want to read
August 11, 2015The copy I'm reading is from 2003, so it's a blast from the past. Still a lot of good info in here, but a lot of stuff is out of date. Reading this makes me super grateful to be publishing now, not then, though!
This book is very dense with good information. From what I've seen so far, a current edition would be well worth reading.
…
So many details, this book eventually wore me down to the point where I didn't want to read any more. Left off p. 217.
Notes:
p. 62 Get Literary Market Place (UAH library has)
p. 129
List book in directories:
ABA Book Buyer's Handbook, The Book Buyer's Manual, Book Dealers Drop Ship Directory, Book Trade in Canada, Canadian Books in Print, Contemporary Authors, International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses, Literary Market Place, Publishers Directory, Small Press Record of Books in Print, many others.
p. 140
Figure 10% of your print run for review copies. 3000 makes a good initial print run.
p. 142
"For comparative sales figures, call Ingram's automated stock sales system (known as FREDDIE) at 615-213-6803. Just punch in the ISBN to check the rate of sale for the various books you have located on your subject."
p. 147
Book stores usually get a 40% discount.
Discounts outside the book trade:
1-2: No discount
3-199: 40%
200-499: 50%
500+: 55%
p. 154
When people are late paying bills, send another copy of the invoice with handwritten note such as:
"- Is there any reason why this past due bill has not been paid?
- If you are unable to pay the whole bill, won't you evidence your good faith by sending us a partial payment?
- We subscribe to Dun & Bradstreet's Commercial Collection service.
- If payment is not received within 10 days, we will be forced to turn this matter over to our attorney for collection."
"SKO-Brenner-American is a collection agency specializing in the book trade. They publish a monthly confidential list of delinquent bookstores and wholesalers." skobrenner.com
p. 188 big list of places to seek reviews
p. 193 with review copy, send sheet with all info about the book: Title, author, edition, number in print, CIP/LC, ISBN, pages, price, publication date, request for a copy of the review, sample review in the form of a news release (short and long version). Also quote other reviews if you have them.
p. 213
To get on a tv show, find out who the producer is (you can call the station where it's produced and ask, or look in directories at the library)
This book is very dense with good information. From what I've seen so far, a current edition would be well worth reading.
…
So many details, this book eventually wore me down to the point where I didn't want to read any more. Left off p. 217.
Notes:
p. 62 Get Literary Market Place (UAH library has)
p. 129
List book in directories:
ABA Book Buyer's Handbook, The Book Buyer's Manual, Book Dealers Drop Ship Directory, Book Trade in Canada, Canadian Books in Print, Contemporary Authors, International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses, Literary Market Place, Publishers Directory, Small Press Record of Books in Print, many others.
p. 140
Figure 10% of your print run for review copies. 3000 makes a good initial print run.
p. 142
"For comparative sales figures, call Ingram's automated stock sales system (known as FREDDIE) at 615-213-6803. Just punch in the ISBN to check the rate of sale for the various books you have located on your subject."
p. 147
Book stores usually get a 40% discount.
Discounts outside the book trade:
1-2: No discount
3-199: 40%
200-499: 50%
500+: 55%
p. 154
When people are late paying bills, send another copy of the invoice with handwritten note such as:
"- Is there any reason why this past due bill has not been paid?
- If you are unable to pay the whole bill, won't you evidence your good faith by sending us a partial payment?
- We subscribe to Dun & Bradstreet's Commercial Collection service.
- If payment is not received within 10 days, we will be forced to turn this matter over to our attorney for collection."
"SKO-Brenner-American is a collection agency specializing in the book trade. They publish a monthly confidential list of delinquent bookstores and wholesalers." skobrenner.com
p. 188 big list of places to seek reviews
p. 193 with review copy, send sheet with all info about the book: Title, author, edition, number in print, CIP/LC, ISBN, pages, price, publication date, request for a copy of the review, sample review in the form of a news release (short and long version). Also quote other reviews if you have them.
p. 213
To get on a tv show, find out who the producer is (you can call the station where it's produced and ask, or look in directories at the library)
July 9, 2013
The beauty of books is realizing all the things you don’t know. Today I learned that I didn’t know anything about self-publishing. Actually, I never even thought to search for books on self-publishing because I assumed the technological world moved so fast, I would be best served by websites. My hunch is that this is still mostly true, but Dan Poynter’s Self Publishing Manual was published in 2006 and is still insanely useful. For one, it’s a history lesson in publishing—not intentionally, but when I read about distribution centers and brick and mortar bookstores, I got a clear glimpse of how much the landscape has changed in 7 years. Plus, the book was first published in 1979 so I also got a look into what it was like to self-publish before the extreme wave of self-publishing although his list of self-publishing authors goes all the way back to Mark Twain. Second, Poynter makes the point over and over that you should enact all the self-publishing steps before you outsource so you can learn them. No matter how much technology changes, it is important to know a business inside and out—not that I’m going to do all the steps, but I read about them and feel like that’s sufficient. Third, promotional principles really don’t change. Even thought it’s easier to create a spreadsheet than buy a three-ring binder, his suggestions put a creative minded writer into marketing mode. I totally appreciate that. If you’re considering self-publishing, it’s a must read. I have a ton of notes, but I’m still deciding if I want to buy it though. Guy Kawasaki’s APE (copyright 2012) is up next. We’ll see which one I like best.
January 10, 2008
Good information!
Since there isn't much information about the book, here's the table of contents:
1. Your publishing options:Why you should consider self-publishing
2. Writing your book: Generating salable material
3. Starting your own publishing company: Basics for taking the plunge
4. Producing your book: Designing books, typesetting, layout, book printing materials, the printing process
5. Announcing your book: Telling the book world you're a publisher and an author
6. What is your book worth? Prices, discounts, terms, collections and returns
7. Promoting your book: Making the public aware of your book without spending for advertising
8. Who will buy your book?: Markets, Distribution Channels
9. Advertising your book: Using ads smarter and thinking beyond them
10. Fulfillment: Moving your book out the door
11. Coping with being published: Or what do I do now?
Appendix 1: Your book's calendar
Appendix 2: Resources for publishers
Since there isn't much information about the book, here's the table of contents:
1. Your publishing options:Why you should consider self-publishing
2. Writing your book: Generating salable material
3. Starting your own publishing company: Basics for taking the plunge
4. Producing your book: Designing books, typesetting, layout, book printing materials, the printing process
5. Announcing your book: Telling the book world you're a publisher and an author
6. What is your book worth? Prices, discounts, terms, collections and returns
7. Promoting your book: Making the public aware of your book without spending for advertising
8. Who will buy your book?: Markets, Distribution Channels
9. Advertising your book: Using ads smarter and thinking beyond them
10. Fulfillment: Moving your book out the door
11. Coping with being published: Or what do I do now?
Appendix 1: Your book's calendar
Appendix 2: Resources for publishers
October 25, 2008
Dan Poynter’s Self Publishing Manual is what the title implies – and a whole lot more. The book is also a marketing guide and goes a long way in the public relations area.
During the course of reading the book I jotted down a dozen or more subject notes and I’ll share some of them with you.
Poynter talks about reviews, testimonials and how your web site is at the heart of your promotional campaign. The section on news releases gives you an example of their format and how to tailor the release to your material.
The chapter titled “Advertising Your Book,” not only gives mail and print information you are told how to obtain radio interviews, which gives you free airtime to promote your book.
Those are just a few of the great ideas. Anyone with a book in the works or one that’s ready for the market will benefit from this manual.
May 6, 2008
I can't say enough great things about this book. It is simply the best guide for getting into the book publishing business. Though the book touts "self-publishing", the techniques it offers really work for all kinds of small publishers, whether you publish your own material or someone else's. It is easy to read, well organized, and thoughtful.
In a step-by-step way, author Dan Poynter shows new publishers everything from forming a publishing business to printing and binding to marketing and distribution. It doesn't focus too much on the writing itself; it is assumed that you already have material that you wish to publish. Most of the information is about sales and marketing; which is what really separates a manuscript from a published book.
In a step-by-step way, author Dan Poynter shows new publishers everything from forming a publishing business to printing and binding to marketing and distribution. It doesn't focus too much on the writing itself; it is assumed that you already have material that you wish to publish. Most of the information is about sales and marketing; which is what really separates a manuscript from a published book.
April 7, 2013
This book has been the true bible of the self-publishing industry through its many editions. I've read several of them myself at five or six year intervals. I still recommend it frequently and fervently but have begun to add this caveat: that before you do anything by way of self-publishing, you need to read something more current. The world changed with the birth of the Kindle, linking an e-reader to the world's biggest bookstore (Amazon) in 2009, and its been changing at an accelerated rate ever since. So read this and any of several other great books focused on eBook publishing, marketing via social media, etc. In combination with other more recent books, this is still the best there is and deserves to be read and understood.
July 6, 2012
A great how-to manual. With all self-publishing books, you MUST have a clear idea of what your end product will be, how you want to market your book, where you want you book to appear, etc. before you begin your journey. If you only need some books for your immediate family, thats one way. Want to see your book in bookstores all over Europe? Completely different path. Dan as usual does well to communicate all the options, and its overwhelming.
My best advice? Know where you're going and concentrate on whats relevant to YOU, not the entire industry.
My best advice? Know where you're going and concentrate on whats relevant to YOU, not the entire industry.
October 14, 2007
Quite literally, the bible of self-publishing. Dan covers everything in solid detail except writing the manuscript (which is up to you!). I used this book to publish my first novel I Hated Heaven and have continued using it in the decade since as I continue to self-publish. I speak to dozens of writers' groups a year and always encourage them to read Poynter's book. Even if you're being published by someone else, you need to know what's in this book!
July 14, 2012
One of the first books I recommend that my publishing clients buy for their publishing resource library. It's a great step-by-step guide to the process and business of publishing. If you're serious about publishing the right way, check it out, then BUY it! You'll want to keep it handy so you can refer to it often. Dan updates this classic regularly.
Susan Sylvia – Book Designer/Publishing Mentor
http://www.StaircasePressDesign.com
Susan Sylvia – Book Designer/Publishing Mentor
http://www.StaircasePressDesign.com
July 29, 2013
I wish there was a publishing book that was geared towards fiction writers. Not that I expect that to happen because they are non-fiction books so they should be written by non-fiction writers.
Anyway this book had some interesting information in at but it kind of drags things out to take longer then needed, and it repeats some things. It also focuses more on marketing then the actual publishing process.
Anyway this book had some interesting information in at but it kind of drags things out to take longer then needed, and it repeats some things. It also focuses more on marketing then the actual publishing process.
June 13, 2007
Useful for getting started with self-publishing, but really, actually doing all the emailing, calling, inquiring, and figuring of quotes is what one needs to understand the process. This provides some basics so you don't feel like a total novice and have a reference from which to start, like sample quote requests, basic advice, lists of different book printers, etc.
August 22, 2008
It's a pretty good introduction to the subject. I don't think it is very well designed, and Poynter keeps telling me to look at his book for great examples. I just don't think they are that great. But I bought the book, so I guess it worked well enough... Plus, some of his ideas seem a little sketchy to me.
October 25, 2015
This book will probably never reach my "read" shelf because it lives in my top desk drawer as a constant reference.
Dan explains a multitude of detail in presenting your book in its best possible light. For an INDIE publisher, this book is a must.
This and The Chicago Manual of Style , are 'go to' books for authors.
Dan explains a multitude of detail in presenting your book in its best possible light. For an INDIE publisher, this book is a must.
This and The Chicago Manual of Style , are 'go to' books for authors.
October 11, 2010
I probably would have appreciated this book more if I hadn't spent the last 2+ years working as a publisher. The information is good for anyone just getting into self-publishing, but it was a little to cheesy and evangelical for my taste.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews