self-publishing and print on demand (pod)
DESCRIPTION
A look at various self-publishing and print on demand (POD) options available. Prepared for the Fall 2012 Wisconsin Writers Association conference. Download for full presenter's notes.TRANSCRIPT
Self-Publishing21st Century
Options
Andy BarnettAssistant Director
McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids
Guidelines
Let me know if you are lost Ask questions If you meet Buddha….
Self-Publishing
Not the best of all possible worlds More work – setup, printing, selling Unlikely to lead to regular
publication Unlikely to see thousands of copies Unlikely to be reviewed Upfront costs to be recovered
later?
20th Century Options
Vanity press Printing service with range of
options Local National
Eventually – born digital Copy ready (including images) Ebook ready
21st Century Options
All books are born digital Printing service with even more
options and more control Remote printing service -
outsourcing POD – print on demand
Cost per book sold
Manufacturing cost (obvious) Returns/unsold Spoilage Carrying costs Only matters if money matters.
Print on Demand ≠ Self-Publishing
POD = Method of production, but self-publishing needs to include more.
Publishing involves Vetting / self-editing Marketing Distribution channels – brick and
clicks
Print on Demand (pro)
Public, internal or personal use Low initial cash investment,
<$10/copy No inventory, shipping or billing Retain rights and control Epublishing / Search Inside options AV on Demand too Never go OP or OSI
Print on Demand (con)
Learning curve on layout, captions, graphics, covers, rights, permissions
Marketing and visibility Copyright is your problem Sturgeon’s Law (90% of
everything…)
Range of Options
Free (on your own) CreateSpace & Lulu
Semi-Free (POD+) Local printing services Fee (hold your hand)
Author Services Print vs. Ebook vs. both
POD Option – Lulu.com
Range of fee-based pre-pub and marketing services
Wide range of product Real ISBN Will get an Amazon listing but… Create ebook at same time, but…
POD Option – CreateSpace
CreateSpace – Amazon Semireal-ISBN Will get an Amazon / Target listing Other channels fee based Cheaper
Grit, Grief and Gold176 p., B&W images
Createspace Sell for $25 Amazon royalty
$12.04 Other channel
royalty $7.04 Author copies
$2.96+shipping
Lulu List $25, sale
$17.50 Ebook $7.50 /
Nook $9.99 Royalty
$6.00/$4.00 Author copies
$9.90+shipping
Other Options
Lightning Source (Ingram) Author Services Blurb
Ebook Only On-line, web based setup Easy to update Lower prices but high royalty rate No inventory, shipping or billing Special challenges
Getting formats right Images and rights thereto Distribution
Direct to Ebook
Example: Emily Updates Very inexpensive to produce Genres popular
Ebook Options
Kindle Direct Publishing – Amazon only
PubIt (B&N) – B&N only Smashwords – B&N and Apple Vook – distributes to Amazon, B&N
and Apple for $99 Apple aggregators Royalties vary
Contact Andy Barnett
McMillan Memorial Library 490 E. Grand Ave. Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
(715) 422-5144 [email protected] http://www.slideshare.net/mcmillanlibrary