You finished the task of writing a book. You did a good job. And now you are ready to have your book published. But before you rush to the nearest publisher, consider the following things in publishing your book.
The best way to publish your book. The writers of today’s generation are blessed with so many options to have their books published, unlike before when the only way was to find a publisher who would publish it for you. Now you can choose from the following self-publishing options like digital or e-publishing, print on demand or POD, vanity presses and subsidy presses. If you are lucky enough, traditional publishing is also an option. You may want to study the cons and pros of each option before you decide which is best for you.
The cost of publishing. The answer to this depends on the kind of publishing that you will choose. For traditional publishing, the publisher would pay all the expenses. The downside though is that they have complete rights to your book. In e-publishing, you can have your book published without spending a cent, although it is highly recommended that you use the professional services that they offer to make your book more salable, like letting the professionals edit, design the cover, do the photography, to name a few. The estimated amount for all these is between $1000-2000. In vanity presses, you will pay for all your expenses and in subsidy presses, the publisher and you will share on the expenses you have agreed upon. The print on demand publishing would charge you minimally for a print copy of your book and you can order per piece.
The security of the copyright to your book. The worst nightmare of any writer is to see their book being copied, used, distributed, sold under a different cover or name. The best thing to do is secure the rights. In traditional publishing, the publisher is the one in charge of securing the rights. After all, it’s technically their book. In self-publishing, tools that would protect your rights are also available. All you need to do is enable them, such as if you would like it to be public domain or not. Also, provide ISBNs for your books. Some offer to give you them for free. Otherwise, you can buy them. This is an internally recognized system where a specific coded number is assigned to your book.
The potential market of your book. One of the primary reasons why you want your book published is monetary gain. You are aware that marketing strategies are very vital for your books to be noticed and sold. Your utmost concern therefore is the accessibility and visibility of your books to potential clients. In traditional publishing, the publisher promotes and markets your book as best as they can. After all, they would be the first to benefit financially from the book’s sales. In self-publishing, you are in charge of marketing your book. You can do this through social networks, word of mouth referral, book signing events, advertisements, and the list goes on. Be creative. Be consistent. After all, every book sold is money in your pocket.
