| Author | Message | ||
     904diva Regular Poster Username: 904diva Post Number: 42 Registered: 06-2008 Rating: |
If I'm paying them to pubish my book and they're splitting the profits 50/50, what's wrong with that? I'm guessing I'm missing more of the equation? Help! | ||
| Ferociouskitty Veteran Poster Username: Ferociouskitty Post Number: 774 Registered: 02-2008 Rating: N/A |
904diva, can you be more specific? What specific objection to vanity publishing are you referring to? | ||
| 904diva Regular Poster Username: 904diva Post Number: 43 Registered: 06-2008 Rating: N/A |
Well, it seems everywhere I read, it's like "oh no, they're a vanity publisher". So, I've always shied away from them until I got an offer. Once I read over it, I wondered how much of a scam they are pulling or is it what they say... they publish, cover design, ISBN number, list in online stores for sale, etc. and they charge me a fee plus split the profits 50/50. That actually works out for me because I can't afford to self publish. But... just wondering where the "ewww vanity publisher" was coming from. | ||
| Urban_scribe AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Urban_scribe Post Number: 740 Registered: 05-2006 Rating: |
Vanity pubishers have packages that range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, which you pay them to publish your book. Are you POSITIVE self-publishing isn't a more economical alternative? | ||
| Ferociouskitty Veteran Poster Username: Ferociouskitty Post Number: 775 Registered: 02-2008 Rating: N/A |
Not related to vanity publishing, but 904diva, have you checked out shewrites.com? I just joined yesterday. | ||
| Carey AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Carey Post Number: 2029 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: N/A |
Plus, I've heard it said that marketing does NOT come with that deal. PLUS, some vanity publishers skim the top in an arrangement that allows them to keep several of the book. Lets see, you pay me for WHAT! Another question is, what profits are you spliting? You're in a deep hole from the jump with no gaurantee of profits. | ||
| 904diva Regular Poster Username: 904diva Post Number: 44 Registered: 06-2008 Rating: N/A |
I guess I'm thinking if they will publish my book, which will cost me anywhere from $1000-$3000 to do myself, and include ISBN, cover, online bookstores, etc, and I'm only paying $500 and we split the book sales 50/50, that works! I haven't found any self publishing for less than $1000. I'm a marketer so I can market my own book, what I need is someone to publish it. | ||
| Urban_scribe AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Urban_scribe Post Number: 745 Registered: 05-2006 Rating: N/A |
Diva, if you've got marketing savvy, I don't see any reason to go the vanity publishing route. You can self-pub your book for $500 and retain full control of your work. But let me ask you this: Have you submitted your work to every trade publisher that accepts your genre? Are you considering self-pubbing or vanity pubbing out of impatience? Self-pubbing or vanity pubbing generally isn't an author's first choice. | ||
| Emanuel Veteran Poster Username: Emanuel Post Number: 701 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: N/A |
What's wrong with a vanity publisher? It's been a while since I've approached the subject, so some things may have changed. Here are a few things to think about: 1. It is damn near impossible to get your book on the shelves at brick and mortar stores. This means that if customers don't buy your book online, you will have to buy your own books to resell (which involves risk on your part). This also makes it tougher to do a book signing if you expect the bookstore manager to order your book from a distributor. 2. If you do the math, you can easily do all of the work of self publishing and then reap 100% of the benefits instead of letting them. You can be your own POD publisher by having your books printed by Lightning Source (a partner of Ingram). 3. Vanity publisher are less respected in the industry than traditional publishers. Though I admit that self publishing has its challenges as well, and is frowned upon by some in the industry. 4. Many vanity publishers have you give up your rights as a publisher on your own. 5. Vanity publishers tend to overprice their books. So typically your book will be more expensive than one of a similar genre and page count by a more well-known author. 6. Many vanity publishers are just glorified printers. There goal is to sell as many books and services to the author as possible. It's not a big deal to them if your book does well or not on the market. 904Diva, regardless of marketing savvy, you will still need marketing DOLLARS to get the word out about your book. That doesn't matter if you go traditional or not. Are all vanity presses bad? Of course not. Some of them offer distribution that a self publisher might find difficult getting on her own. Also, they do a lot of the work for you and can create a very professional look for your book. Like UB said, what is your rush? Submit the traditional way to all of the publishers that accept your genre. Give yourself a timeframe to decide if you want to continue going the traditional route or seek non-traditional means. And be sure to get feedback about your writing from someone who is not afraid to hurt your feelings and might know a little something about good writing. I hope this helps. | ||
| Chrishayden "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Chrishayden Post Number: 8051 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: N/A |
Everybody tends to assume up front that you went to a Vanity publisher because your book is no good. It is an added hurdle to have to overcome. | ||
| Emanuel Veteran Poster Username: Emanuel Post Number: 703 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: N/A |
If you're going to pay someone to publish your book, make sure they have the type of distribution that can get your books on the shelves of Barnes and Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million, etc. Check out companies like Green Leaf Book Group that will do that for you. It will be more expensive than a company like IUniverse though. Either way, you're going to have to come out of some money to promote yourself. At least traditional publishing allows you to save some money on paying to print your own books. I think if you can afford to pay for marketing (which is a must) you should be able to afford to have your own books printed. If your goal is to one day become a traditionally-published author, you will have to sell thousands of your self-pubbed or vanity-pubbed book to get their attention. We're talking 5000 to 10,000 books (last I heard). That won't happen with just word-of-mouth advertising. If you don't, you could end up becoming a habitual self publisher (not that there is anything wrong with that if it suits you). Self publishing is habit forming! Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. You have to do what's right for you and your personal writing goals. Nowadays, I believe more new writers believe the norm is to pay someone to print books rather than going the long route of sending out query letters and waiting months or years for a publisher to come around. The old way is harder and longer but more rewarding. | ||
| 904diva Regular Poster Username: 904diva Post Number: 45 Registered: 06-2008 Rating: N/A |
It has been almost a year since I first started querying. Most blame it on the economy... not taking new clients, etc. I didn't just write a book and decide to go through vanity publishing. I've tried the traditional way. I haven't seen any self publishing for $500 and would love to know more about that. But will self publishing get my book on the shelves of B&N, etc? I'm not really concerned about the marketing aspect because I have ties through television and radio. I'll be able to get a discount in advertising as well as giveaways onair in 5 different markets. I've also visited several bookstores regarding book signings in my surrounding area. I've laid the groundwork... now I just want to get my book published. Regarding self publishing, I know there's LuLu and Wordclay... any others I should check out? I value you all's opinion because this is just my first novel and many of you are established authors, so I appreciate all the feedback! | ||
| Emanuel Veteran Poster Username: Emanuel Post Number: 704 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: N/A |
904Diva, Wow, I've never heard of a publisher or a literary agency rejecting a manuscript because of the economy but in a recession, I guess we shouldn't be shocked. There are too many subsidy publishers and printers to name here. My personal experience hiring a graphic designer to do my cover and then going to print-on-demand printer Lightning Source (www.lightningsource.com) to have my books printed and made automatically available on online stores have been positive. If I ever self published again, I would go to a company like Greenleaf Book Group (www.greenleafbookgroup.com). They have established relationships with distributors that will get your book on the shelves of brick and mortar stores. You pay for printing, and you split the profits. (I have reviewed two of their titles, and they were very professional-looking.) Most other subsidy publishers do not have a relationship that will get your book on shelves, which means you have to rely on online sales and buying your copies to hustle. You will have more up-front costs using this method but the rewards are greater. Here is a list of subsidy publishers: 1stBook Publishing.com Amazon.com/CreateSpace AnAuthors Dream.com Authorhouse.com ActionTales.com AdvBooks.com Americanbook.com AuthorsOnline.com AuthorsDen/CraigsPress.com AventinePress.com Bibliobooks.com BlackForestPress Blitzprint.com Bookbooters.com Booklocker.com BookMark SelfPublishing.com Bookpublisher.com BookSurge.com Cafepress.com CCBPublishing.com CorkHillPress.com CreativeJuicesPublishing.com CreateSpace.com DiggoryPress.com DogEarPublishing.net Ebookstand.com CreativeJuicesPublishing.com DiggoryPress.com DogEar Publishing.net Ebookstand.com e-BookTime.com E-Libri.com Enovel.com ElderberryPress.com EquilibriumBooks FirstChoiceBook Publishing.com FirstPublish.com ForemostPress.com Fultus.com GoldenPillar Publishing.com GomPublishing.com GlobalAuthors Publications.com Heliographica.com HoneybeeBooks.com IndyPublish.com InfinityPublishing.com InkWaterPress.com Instapublishing.com iUniverse.com JacobyteBooks.com JadaPress.com Kisolbook.com LipstickPublishing.com Llumina.com Lulu.com LunaBrilliante Mathewsbooks.net Magellan Books.com MAPubCo.com MillCityPress.net MyLifeMyWords.com MyPublishinghouse Netcitypress.com Nighthag.com OpenReignPublishing.com OreMountainPH OutskirtsPress.com PageFreePublishing.com Papertigers.cc Planetree.com PleasantWord.com PoseidonBooks.com PrairieviewPublishing.com PressForward.com Printondemand.cjb.net Protea publishing.com Pabd.com QOOP.com RonJon Publishing.com RoseDog.com SpirePublishing.com Spiderwize.com StylewriterPublications.com StarPublish.com Studio3Graphics .com Trafford.com Unibook.com UnlimitedPublishing.com UniversalPublishers.com Virtualbookworm.com Wastelandpress.com We-Publish.com WidethinkerBooks.com WingSpanPress.com WordClay.com Writersworld.co.uk Writetoprint.com Xlibris.com XulonPress.com YourBookPublisher.com YowBooks.com Before choosing any company, check out Preditors and Editors (www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/) and www.absolutewrite.com to read about other authors' experiences with subsidy publishers. Try to get a lawyer to look over any contract before you sign it. Good Luck! |
