“In this time of Twitter feeds and self-designed Snapfish albums and personal YouTube channels, it’s hard to remember the stigma that once attached to self-publishing. But it was very real. By contrast, to have a book legitimately produced by a publishing house in the 20th century was not just to have copies of your work … Continue reading “How The Internet Has Changed Self-Publishing”
“The self-published novels won’t be sold under the Harlequin brand, but Harlequin, which sells about 1,500 romances every year, is hoping it could become a grooming ground for future authors.” That’s in keeping with tradition: Over the last decade, Harlequin says, “at least 50 of its authors have come from the ranks of its readers.”
“Self-publishing was once a consolation prize for a pipe-dreamer. But today it’s possible for writers to bypass publishers, then score lucrative contracts with them once their books are proved.”
“Self-publishing enables anyone to upload a book in digital form to a website, which then formats it complete with a cover. It costs anything from £4.50 (single proof of one book) to more than £500 for full personalised involvement of the publishing house at all stages, from starting up to getting a link to Amazon.”
“The technology to self-publish, using print-on-demand facilities, has been around for years but is now getting cheaper and easier with the publisher doing everything from the ISBN number to placing your tome on Amazon. Judging by the number of self-publishing websites, it may not be long before we reach the tipping point of mass adoption.”
“For the first time, print-on-demand companies are successfully positioning themselves as respectable alternatives to mainstream publishing and erasing the stigma of the old-fashioned vanity press. Some even make a case that they give authors an advantage — from total control over the design, editing and publicity to a bigger share of the profits.”
Andy Kessler was wary. “I had been warned against self-publishing. You can’t get reviews, you can’t get shelf space, and you can’t get respect. One hundred thousand books are published every year, so you need an imprint to stand out from the noise. Being naive, and used to being treated like Rodney Dangerfield, I decided … Continue reading “Adventures In Self-Publishing”
Self-publishing in the field of philosophy is tempting. “One problem is perceived to be that the system makes it virtually impossible for non-academics to get published, no matter what the quality of their work is.” But to the establishment, self-publishing is the kiss of death – no one of standing will take a self-published work seriously. – The Philosopher’s … Continue reading “PHILOSOPHY OF SELF-PUBLISHING”
The cost of publishing a book yourself has dropped with the internet and more and more authors are taking advantage of it. “My goal is to see the book read by and understood by a few thousand people. Obviously when you are young you dream of an advance, hardcover sale, foreign rights, movie sales, TV … Continue reading “SELF-PUBLISHING FOR $99”
A consumerist vision of reading . . . presented as a form of anti-elitism” is emanating from the centers of publishing and media power, and that it is embodied by some of these trends. But I also found myself wondering: What fiction about music did they recommend? – The Baffler
