Lois W. Stern Simplifies Publishing Choices for New Authors

Four Ways to Publish - Which One’s For Me:

Independent Press, Small Press, Traditional Publisher, Hybrid Publisher

by Lois W. Stern

Traditional publishing was once the only reputable way to go, and Vanity Press was a dirty word, but the times they are a changin’. We now have four ways to publish: traditional publisher, independent press, small press and hybrid, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let’s look at each in turn.

Traditional Publisher

The traditional publishing company buys the rights to your manuscript. Usually an agent represents the author, negotiates the deal with the publisher and in return gets a percentage of any monies earned from the sale of the author's book. Part of the arrangement includes author royalties, based on a mutually agreed upon percentage of sales, and payment of an advance to the author.

Advantages:

You, the author, work with a professional staff to assist you with every aspect from production (i.e. graphic artist, editors, PR and marketing, distribution personnel and more.) The publisher also assists with marketing by distributing advance review copies and assisting with the set up of author events and media coverage. Normally traditional publishers also supply the author with PR and display materials such as posters, display kits, author stickers and bookmarks. All of the above can add up to less stress for the author with more exposure for their book. And let’s not forget prestige. The halo effect of being traditionally published is huge.

Disadvantages

Each day, agents and book publishers receive a staggering number of inquiries and manuscripts. Ultimately, less than 1% of authors seeking to be traditionally published are successful. Secondly, although royalties sound like the best of all worlds, they are not without caveats. Yes, the author does earn a royalty on the sale of each book, but it doesn’t go into the author’s pocket quite yet. The publisher normally deducts those royalties from the advance the author has received, until the advance is paid back in full.

What you need to know

The traditional publisher has the final say on every aspect of your book, from editorial content to cover design to the number of books in the first printing, and when to allow a book to go out of print. Since they are the experts, it can be comforting and cost effective to have these decisions taken off your hands . . .  until such time as you adamantly disagree with one of their decisions. The book publisher budgets funds to promote and market the book, which can be a good thing for the author, but since the amount can vary widely, this is a point that you should see written into your contract. Another point to consider, are you expected to hire a book publicist? What expectations does the publisher have of you to promote your book?

Independent Press

The independent publisher is in the business of publishing books  . . . period. Many have in-house services to help you in the process at add-on costs, but you, the author, have total control. You can select the independent publisher of your choice, have input on the cover design, or for that matter, design it yourself. Is this control a positive or negative feature of independent publishing? Based on your writing, artistic and marketing talents and experience, it could work for or against you.

Advantages:

You, the author, have total control as to which independent press publishes your book. There is a great deal of self-satisfaction in bringing your baby into the world. Also, you will earn more per book sale, so if you have a ready audience for your book, this could spell more money in your pocket.

Disadvantages:

The final product, your book, can appear less that professional if not designed and edited properly. There are upfront expenses to publishing with an independent press that can become costly. We are talking not only of possible printing costs (although companies as Amazon/CreateSpace and others are now handling those tasks without charge), but also the services of a book doctor or editor and graphic artist. Marketing and distribution are totally in your hands.although some independent publishers offer some of these services at additional fees.

What you need to know:

A quality product is a good start, but don’t expect buyers to come knocking at your door. There is too much competition out there. Learn all you can about smart marketing in the days of the internet and be ready to invest consistent energy and funds to this effort.

Small Press

The small press functions somewhat like the Traditional Publisher in that the author submits their work for publication consideration. A team within the company decides on the suitability of your manuscript, based both on the quality of your work, its genre and compatibility with their publishing goals. 

Advantages:

The small press publisher typically has fewer clients, which can result in more time devoted to you and your book. Although there are professionals on staff to make editing and cover design decisions, you as author, are more likely to be consulted and have input into these decisions. There are no upfront costs for the author and you garner more prestige in many circles by having your book published by a company that has vetted your work. 

Disadvantages:

The Small Press Publisher provides some marketing and promotion guidance, but these services vary widely from one company to the next. Sales will be more limited than with a Traditional Publisher as the range of distribution is smaller. Unlike the Traditional Publisher, the author normally does not receives an advance for their work. Small publishers are limited in their publicity budget for individual books.

What you need to know:

Ask specific questions about the type and amount of promotional and marketing guidance and support you can expect. Be prepared to do most of the marketing yourself. Find out how well some of their other authors are selling by checking sales of their books on Amazon, Kindle, etc. Find out what price they would set for your book. (If the price is too high, you will know they are mainly interested in non-print sales or e-books, which provide far less in author royalties.) Visit their Facebook page and listen in on the conversation to see how active the prospective publisher is and what their clients are saying about them. And of course, beware of hidden fees. 

Hybrid Publishing

Similar to traditional and small press publishers, the hybrid publisher normally has a team in place to make a careful and critical examination of your work before accepting it for publication. According to David Vinjamuri of Forbes Magazine in his article How Hybrid Publishers Innovate To Succeed, though models vary, three features distinguish some of the most successful hybrid publishers from traditional publishing and self-publishing.

1) While some hybrid publishers offer small advances (in the hundreds of dollars), they don’t pay advances in the manner of a Big 5 publishers. 2) Many of the hybrids operate with few salaried employees. Instead the employees bid for the projects they want to work with. 3) Hybrids have agility on their side - the ability to mimic self-publishers in their speed to publish and market your work.

Advantages:

Unlike self-publishers, hybrid publishers normally do not charge authors to publish. On the flip side, they can price their books more aggressively than the Traditional Publisher to gain market share without losing money. In return, authors earn higher royalties (though less than with self-publishing), which are paid monthly and are reportedly more transparent than standard big 5 publishing contracts. The hybrid team members often are not salaried, but bid for the projects they want to work on and are paid if/when the book sells. This is an enormous incentive for them to succeed with the sale of a book, and if it is not working, to go back to the drawing board to analyze and fix the problems.

Disadvantages:

When employees are paid based on sales rather than salary, there could be rapid turnover in staff, leading to inconsistency in marketing and promotion of your work.

Again, some of the disadvantages listed under Small Press Publishing above, apply here as well:Visit their Facebook page and listen in on the conversation to see how active the prospective publisher is and what their clients are saying about them. And of course, beware of hidden fees. 

What you need to know:

In Jane Friedman’s informative article titled Not All Hybrid Publishers Are Created Equal), (Publishers Weekly, May, 2015), she offers some excellent advice on evaluating hybrids effectively. Here are some questions she suggests you ask:

Will there be a traditional print run—and who’s paying for it?

Will the book be pitched to retailers or distributors by a sales team?

How will my book be distributed?

What’s the editing process like?

What marketing and promotion support do my titles receive?

For further details, read her full article at:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/pw-select/article/66658-not-all-hybrid-publishers-are-created-equal.html

Preditors & Editors is an excellent source to properly vet any publisher for contract violations or any other issues they might want to look out for. http://pred-ed.com/peba.ht

MORE ABOUT THE GUEST BLOGGER
AND HER TALES2INSPIRE PROJECT

Lois W. Stern's Tales2Inspire was a kernel of an idea that started in 2012 and has grown to proportions even she didn’t dare to envision. Her innate curiosity about potentially fascinating human interest stories was the spark that ignited this idea. But it was the confused state of traditional

publishing that propelled her forward. Tales2Inspire delivers exactly what it promises as both an ‘Authors Helping Authors’ project and a contest. Winners get their stories published in print, e-book and some even in video formats, with their names, headshot photos, and mini-autobiographies included. Then she spreads the word about the winners and their stories on her blogs, social media and monthly newsletter. FREE to enter, this is a great competition for talented newbies and seasoned authors alike.  Learn more here:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tales2inspire2

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/tales2inspire

LinkedIn profile: http://tinyurl.com/odtw2wt

Get a FREE Tales2Inspire Sampler book at: www.tales2inspire.com/gift

Tales2Inspire trailer: https://youtu.be/FuDgXkYMHvo

Blog: www.tales2inspire/blog

Get a free sample of 6 inspiring stories written by winners of the Tales2Inspire contests:

      www.tales2inspire/gift. 

Learn more about the Tales2Inspire contest at: www.tales2inspire/contest.

MORE ABOUT THE SHARING WITH WRITERS BLOGGER
 Howard-Johnson is the author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the award-winning second editions of The Frugal Book Promoter and The Frugal Editor. Her latest is in the series is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. Learn more on her Amazon profile page, http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and, another booklet, The Great First Impression Book Proposal helps writers who want to be traditionally published. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. In addition to this blog, she helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com)

Book Help for Children's Lit Authors

Did you  have  a Children’s Book Ghostwritten? 

Or One You've Written Yourself?  

Now What?

By Karen Cioffi-Ventrice

With a steady stream of ghosting clients, I am often asked what comes after the manuscript is written and edited.

Well, this depends on which publishing road you’ll be taking: self-publishing or traditional publishing.

Since the majority of my clients go the self-pubbing route, I’ll start there.

Self-Publishing a Children’s Picture Book

Some basic pages and copy in addition to the story.

1. You’ll need back cover copy. This is a brief synopsis of the story, usually 100-200 words. It needs to be ‘grabbing’ and ‘clear.’

2. It’s a good idea to have an About the Author or Author’s Note page at the end of the story. It’s definitely optional though.

3. A Copyright page – you can include acknowledgements on this page.

4. A Dedication / Acknowledgment page is a thought.

5. Some authors want a Preface page, but in most cases this isn’t necessary.

6. If you have words that may need to be defined for the young reader, you might include a Glossary right after the story. Most authors don’t bother with this.

7. Then there’s the Activity Page and Reading Comprehension Page. If you’re hoping to get your book into the classroom, this is a must.

Unless you’re creating your own pages, these items will usually be an additional fee.

Illustrations

Interior:

If you have a children’s picture book you’ll need to get illustrations done. It’s usual to have one illustration per spread. So, if you have a 15 spread manuscript, you’ll need 15 interior illustrations.

Keep in mind that a full spread (two pages) will be more money than a one page illustration.

Exterior:

The book cover is a BIGGIE. The cover is one of the most influential elements to motivate someone to pick up your book. You want it done right. Covers are more money than interior spreads.

You might also want to go for a small back cover illustration. This isn’t really necessary though. You can simply have a colored back cover with your synopsis on it. Possibly include an image of yourself (the author).

Pricing for illustrations vary. I recommend two illustrators to my clients: one charges $50-$60 per interior illustration and the other charges around $75-$100. There are others who charge $150 and up per interior illustration.

On the flip side, you can probably get illustrations cheaper through various services / illustrators. Just be sure the one you choose is capable of creating quality illustrations.

Again, cover illustrations are more.

Here are a three places you can look for illustrators:

https://www.upwork.com

https://fiverr.com

http://blueberryillustrations.com/childrens-book-illustrations/

You can also do a Google search.

So, you can see that self-publishing a children’s picture book can get pretty expensive.

Hot Tip: Unless you’re a professional illustrator, or really, really, really good, don’t attempt to do your own illustrations.

Checking the Illustrations and Illustrations to text.

Unless you hire someone to oversee this process, you will need to make sure there are no errors in the illustrations.

For the first part, you need to carefully review each illustration, including the cover and back cover (if you have an image on the back cover).

It can be something as simple as part of a foot missing, or a picture described in the story conveyed wrong in the illustration. These, among many others, were mistakes I found for one of my clients who hired me to oversee this process for him.

It can even be consistency, maybe how the characters look throughout the story or even the background scenery. In one project, the illustrator had molding in some illustrations and none in others where is should have been.

You’ll have to have a keen eye for this stuff, but getting it right is the difference between a good quality product and a poor quality product.

For the illustrations to text review, it’s the same. You want to make sure the illustration fits the text per spread. Most illustrators get this right, but I’ve come across a few who do make mistakes.

This is your book. You want it to be the best it can be. This means getting all the details right.

Time Frame

Having the book ghostwritten and illustrated can take around 3 months, possibly longer.

The Story

Using myself as an example, I usually take two-four weeks to write a children’s picture book manuscript of 800 – 3000 words (depends on what my clients want). I do mention in my freelance agreement that it can take up to six weeks.

It’s important to know that if you’re self-publishing your word count can be around 1000 words. If you’re going the traditional route, it’s a good idea to stay under 800 words.

Another factor in the time it takes to write the story is the time it takes the client to respond to questions and approvals of content. If a client takes more than a couple of days to respond to emails, the time frame will be thrown off.

The Illustrations

Getting the interior and exterior illustrations done can take one-two months, sometimes more. It will depend on the illustrator you use and his/her workload.

Getting the Book Published (ready for distribution / sale)

Depending on your budget, you can hire someone from a site like Fiverr.com to format and upload your book onto Kindle and/or other publishing venues.

Or, you can hire a service, like CreateSpace, Dog Ear Publishing, Golden Box Books, and Publishing Push to do it for you. This route will cost more money, but you’ll have all your “Is” dotted and “Ts” crossed.

For a great resource on publishing ebooks, check out:

https://janefriedman.com/how-to-publish-an-ebook/

Self-Publishing a Chapter or Simple Middle Grade Book

If you have a chapter or simple middle grade book ghosted, you’ll only need illustrations for each chapter. And, they can be simple grey tone sketches.

While it’s not an absolute must to have illustrations for these books, it does help with engagement for the young reader.

The Traditional Road

The traditional route will cost much less. All you’ll be paying for is the ghostwriter. You won’t need illustrations.

While it will cost less, it will certainly take a lot longer.

You’ll have to submit your manuscript to publishers and/or literary agents to hopefully get a contract. You’ll need a query letter for this. And, having a synopsis of the story is another must.

When and if a contract happens, it takes an average of two years before your book is actually published. So, patience will be needed.

And, be prepared for the publisher’s editor to go over your story and possibly request changes. This is just part of the process. Be open to suggestions.

I recommend you get the most recent edition of “Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market” by Writer’s Digest Books. This book provides information on publishers and agents in the children’s writing arena. These are the people you’ll be submitting your manuscript to.

I also recommend you read this article from my blog:

Children's Writing and Publishing - The Traditional Path

The Author Website

Before you publish your book, you absolutely need an author website. Publishers and agents will expect this. And, if you’re self-publishing it’s even more important.

According to Chuck Sambuchino of Writer’s Digest, in his book “Create Your Writer Platform,” an author’s platform (its visibility, connections, and reach) is a key factor when looking for a publisher or agent.

Take note that this is not after a book is published; it’s when the author is looking for a contract. Your platform begins with a website.

Summing it Up

So, there you have it, a basic run-down of what to expect and what you’ll need to do to get your manuscript published.

About the Author

Karen Cioffi is an award-winning author, children’s ghostwriter, and author/writer online platform marketing instructor. She is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Writers on the Move (a promotional group of authors/writers utilizing cross-promotion – http://writersonthemove.com). And, her site, Karen Cioffi Writing and Marketing, was named Writer’s Digest Website of the Week, June 25, 2012. Brian A. Klems, Online Editor for Writer’s Digest commented: “This site from Karen Cioffi should stand as a model for other freelance writers.”

http://karencioffiwritingforchildren.com

You can also connect with Karen at:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/writingforchildrenwithkarecioffi

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/KarenCioffi/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karencioffiventrice

Find Karen’s middle-grade fantasy adventure:

Walking Through Walls. Or, check it out atAmazon (if you buy, please be sure to buy from Amazon – not a 3^rd party seller.

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER


Howard-Johnson is the author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the award-winning second editions of The Frugal Book Promoter (where she talks more about choosing and the advantages of winning contests and how to use those honors)  and The Frugal Editor. Her latest is in the series is  How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. Learn more on her Amazon profile page, http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and, another booklet, The Great First Impression Book Proposal helps writers who want to be traditionally published. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. In addition to this blog, she helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com )

Mini Rant on Paper vs. Digital Debate

Traditional or Digital: Who Wins?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A reporter contacted me for input on traditional books vs digital. I couldn’t let my reply get seen only by his readers, because I think my retail experience adds something “to the conversation” (as everyone seems to be saying these days), though I think I prefer the phrase “to the debate.” The letter also serves as an example of a casual query—one in which there may have already been contact between reporter and author. Notice that even with contact already made, it is important for people to reintroduce themselves. Reporters are busy people. We want to make it easy on them.

Erik, I am the author of the HowToDoItFrugally series of books--one series for writers and one for retailers. I have nearly 30 years experience as founder and owner of my own retail chain and nearly two decades as a journalist and writer (Good Housekeeping Magazine, The Salt Lake Tribune, my own books and more.)

Those who see e-books and traditionally published books as a competition are way off base. Any retailer (see above) knows you give the customer what they want, when they want it and in the form they want it. You don't see the smart ones refusing to let people pay for things the way the want to pay for them, either.” Will you take a check?” they ask. The answer is always: “Any way our good customer wants to pay for something is good for us.” 

Traditional publishers are starting to see this and some e-book publishers are avid about digital production because they see the possibilities (and perhaps because they like the possible profit margin), but I know of no publisher that wouldn’t benefit by getting both streams of income. One of these book iterations is not going to win a contest as best (or better than!) any more than TV won over radio. Different readers find different formats for different needs, different preferences. Some like to have the same book in both iterations and, obviously Amazon realized this when they started their new Matchbook program.* 

It's time publishers just get over it and give their customers what they want, when they want it, and get profitable in the process.

*Note: Almost all my books on Amazon—from how-to books to poetry—are now available as e-books to those who buy the paper book. They get them--either free or at a greatly reduced price--with Amazon’s MatchBook. I see Amazon's new program as a way to thank my readers for their loyalty and—as an extra stream of income when I don’t mark the add-on digital copy as totally free.

 

CHJ

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor .  Retailers will find my retail blog at http://frugalretailing.blogspot.com.