Sunday, November 9, 2014

When To Approach Self Publishing Companies

By Mayra Pierce


Failure to get your book to the world after an intense writing engagement is very frustrating. Meager earnings from your work are a motivation to publish on your own. The decision to approach self publishing companies could also be driven by the desire to maintain control over the edited content and final look. These considerations will give you joy as a writer and a feeling of fulfillment.

Bypassing traditional publishers helps you to get a feel of the market before contracting an agent. It gives you a feel of what to expect when you hit the market. You will have a first hand feel of their reception. Traditional publishers will see your work and pay serious attention to it.

Hybrid authors engage traditional publishers and at the same time publish on their own. In case you wish to pursue this route, it is important to clear the terms with the publisher. This will keep you out of conflict since you are likely to be operating in the same market.

Self publishing offers writer several options each with its advantages and disadvantages. The main idea is to maintain as much control as possible over your work and most especially the returns. Doing everything without assistance gives you control over creating the manuscript, distributing it and marketing. To be successful in this regard, you will need to know a lot of systems used by publishers as well as industry interfaces. This option requires dedication and time.

There are self publishing platforms that take up part of the technical work. You will have more time in your hands without having to spend a fortune. They have the technical clout to produce the book faster. Their systems are automated and may therefore not produce the best quality of work. This will affect market reception and consequently the returns.

There are publishing houses that offer such a platform at a reduced rate. They take over most of the technical work while you are left with producing the manuscript. Their standards are very decent and professional. The disadvantages you will have to contend with include payments of undisclosed and irrelevant services whose providers are not known to you.

The choice to go alone does not hinder future engagements with publishers. This calls for an open mind such that you build your profile in anticipation of getting the attention of quality publishers. Working alone helps you to identify if there is a market for your type of writing. A self published writer is taken more seriously and will have a business case approaching established publishers.

There is a group of vanity publishers that hype your writing in order to get your signature to publish and the money that follows. They deceive you on the quality only for you to get a rude shock once you hit the market. It leads to losses and frustrations. Be cautious when someone claims that your work is good.

Vetting by friends, family members, writing communities and online platforms helps to improve your quality of work. It also is prudent to enlist the help of a professional designer and editor if you choose to work alone. Emphasis should not be on reducing cost at the expense of producing quality work.




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