Courting a
Publisher
Back
to Chart |
FIRST
Search out
ones that publish your type of writing.
Make a list of names, their companies, and addresses to solicit.
(HOW TO Publisher INFO.)
CAUTION: Any
publisher who asks you to pay part of the preparation
or production costs is NOT a true publisher. They're a
VANITY press!
(See
Vanity Press below)
SECOND
Create Query Letter
(HOW TO Publisher INFO.)
Make it your best writing ever.
Send to specific person
at Publisher's
Start a file to keep track of correspondences.
RESPONSES
Some
will not respond
Some
will send "No Thank
You" rejection letters
Maybe
you'll get a -" Let
us see a chapter (or portion)"
(MORE Publisher
INFO.) |
Pros
• Many
decisions will be made for you.
(MORE Publisher INFO.)
• You
get great bragging rights!
• Listings
and distribution is handled by publisher.
Cons
• You
might not like the decisions!
• About
10% of book sales go to author.
• 90%
taken by Publisher.
• You
are expected to work at marketing.
(MARKETING
INFO.) |
Courting an
Agent
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to Chart |
FIRST
Search out ones who work with your
type of writing.
Make a list of names, agencies and addresses to send.
(HOW TO Agent INFO.)
CAUTION: The only expenses a legitimate Agent should
charge you is copying and postage. If they want a fee
to read, or force you to pay an editor to look at your
book - don't use them.
SECOND
Create Query Letter
(HOW TO Agent INFO.)
Make it your best writing ever.
Send to specific person at Agent's offices.
Start a file to keep track of correspondences.
RESPONSES
Some will not respond
Some will send "No Thank You" rejection
Maybe you'll get a - "Let us see a chapter (or portion)"
(MORE Agent INFO.) |
Pros
• Agents
solicit Publishers for you, using their expertise and
connections.
• May suggest changes.
(MORE
Agent INFO.)
Cons
• A
% (10-20%) of author's commissions taken.
• Agent
may still not manage to find a publisher.
• You
are expected to work at marketing.
(MARKETING
INFO.) |
Deciding on a
Vanity
Press
Call themselves:
"Self Publishers,
Subsidy Publishers, etc. a
Self-publishing
Package
Back
to Chart |
FIRST
Most
all will accept any work, you won't have to persuade
. . . only pay!
Just search the internet.
(HOW TO Vanity INFO.)
CAUTION: They become the publisher
of your work if they supply the ISBN number! This
is significant - two ways.
1. Companies interested
in working with the book will contact the publisher, not you,
the author.
2. Book
distributors know the names of these "self-publishers" and
have a different attitude toward their books.
SECOND
• Make
careful comparisons (COMPARISON CHART INFO.)
• Review
carefully the contract - read all the parts
• Don't sign away subsidiary rights.
• We
suggest you make sure you can can speak with someone
you feel comfortable with in the company, who will
help you through the process. Too many decisions
may disappoint you without a personal contact to
help with problems as they crop up.
RESPONSES
Responses are no problem.
In fact you may want to establish a disposable separate
email address for just these companies correspondences,
as they'll keep sending solicitng emails to you - even
long after you've decided and moved on.
(INFORMATION on
VANITY PRESSES) |
Pros
• Some
decisions will be made for you.
• Packages
have set prices. (Keep in mind that ANY extra services
or products you decide on will increase the cost.)
• Some
marketing information may be included in the package.
• Some
listings and distribution services are often included
- check the package descriptions.
(MORE Vanity
INFO.)
Cons
• $
paid up front for setup preparation.
• You
will also have to buy any books you want for yourself.
• Majority
% (Abt 55%) of retail book sales taken.
• POD
(Print on Demand) presses create one book at a time.
Therefore the cost of each book remains high.
• Listings
only.
(MORE Listings INFO.)
• You
must work at marketing.
(MARKETING INFO.)
|
Managing the project yourself
-
May actually be your best option:
True Self-Publishing
the Do-it-Yourself path
Back
to Chart |
FIRST
CONGRATULATIONS!
You've accepted yourself for
publication! You don't need to solicit anyone to
publsh for you, saving much time and frustration!
(MORE Self-Publishing INFO.)
Make
a plan, a schedule of jobs to
do and when you'd like them done. Begin working
out how you will market your book.
(MARKETING INFO.)
Planning on
writing about your FAMILY HISTORY?
This is a wonderful pursuit, requiring some different
support and direction. We are creating special guides
just for you; available. . . soon. Do
check back.
(FAMILY HISTORY INFO.)
coming soon!
SECOND
NO MATTER WHAT ROUTE YOU CHOOSE,
CONSIDER:
• Joining
a writers' group for critique and inspiration.
• READ
books in your field (so you understand what has sold in the past, and
what might be missing that you could write.)
• AND
read about the TRUE self-publishing process.
(SEE
our HELPFUL
LINKS web page for sources.)
• GIve yourself
plenty of time, for editing, revisions, cover and
inside layout and design, a Table of Contents and
perhaps an index. Don't rush the finish - your work
deserves the best treatment possible.
(TOUCHSTONE HELPS WITH LAYOUT & DESIGN)
You may need an ISBN number, and Bar Code puchased through R.R. Bowker.
(TOUCHSTONE CAN ORDER FOR YOU.)
(ISBN & BAR CODE INFO.)
RESPONSES - no waiting!
Direct
efforts toward contacting your public, utilizing the hours saved because you
don't have to solicit an agent or publisher!
(MORE MARKETING INFO.)
Consider creating a mailing list: friends, family,
your professional colleagues, and organizations.
They will welcome information about your accomplishment.
(TOUCHSTONE CAN HELP YOU CREATE
cards and/or brochures to send out.)
Consider a web page or site. Will you sell
on Amazon?, Would you like to be listed with the major distributors?
(TOUCHSTONE CAN HELP with all
thoses tasks.)
Curious about
E-BOOK sales? After you offer your book in print form, it's
another way to sell without the expense of printing.
(E-BOOK
INFO. Coming. . .)
|
Pros
• Hours
and hours saved now that you're not soliciting a publisher.
• Maintain
total control.
• Largest % of return on your investment.
• You
decide quantity to reproduce . . allowing for significant
savings on larger runs of the book.
• This more "hands
on" path allows
you to interact with your readers, and create your
own network of possible purchasers for future sales,
or your next project.
• If you use TOUCHSTONE
COMMUNCIATIONS to help you with parts of your book
project - you pay for our time or service . . .*
NOTE:
* We NEVER CHARGE A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR BOOK REVENUE.
So when you work at selling, the highest possible
$ return is yours to keep!
Cons
• $
to print books up front. (MONEY INFO.)
• You
will either need to learn all aspects of the preparation,
production and marketing, or get help from sources
such as TOUCHSTONE COMMUNICATIONS.*
• You must work at
marketing. But notice - ON ALL "Cons" - listed
ABOVE - you need to work at marketing anyway. This way
you're return on investment is higher than any of the
others.
(MARKETING INFO.)
• TOUCHSTONE's
GUIDANCE COSTS.
But *. . .
NOTE: * We NEVER CHARGE
A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR BOOK REVENUE. So when you work at
selling, the highest possible $ return is yours to keep!
(TOUCHSTONE
PRICES)
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