Publishing Articles

Ten Basic Steps to Self-Publishing

1. Select or write a manuscript which has strong interest for you; but consider publishing it only if you feel - and your research has indicated - that there really is a market for it.
2. Organize your project: generate working capital; decide on your business entity and image. Read some of the books listed on the back and acquire a working knowledge of the fundamentals of publishing. Learn the many posibilities of the Internet: online services, online bookstores and Web sites/home pages.
3. Make design decisions by finding a book you really like the look of and then copying size, layout, typeface, paper and binding styles. Show it to several printers for estimates. Have the book typeset or think about desktop publishing the manuscript yourself.
4. Select your printer and, with prices in hand, estimate your costs, schedule, pricing and discount information. Unless certain you have a best- seller on your hands, a modest print-run for your first book is advised.
5. Send out your manuscript to publications likely to review your book. Note that many publications want to review the manuscript before the book is published.
6. Start planning your marketing strategy. Begin an advertising and promotion campaign by designing sales letters, brochures and order forms. Plan a publicity campaign for the book. Remember any editorial mention is far more effective than an ad. Develop or investigate renting mailing lists that are appropriate for your market.
7. Learn about bookstores (retail) and about libraries, schools and colleges (wholesale). Consider foreign rights, subsidiary rights, book clubs and the possibility of using a publisher for distribution.
8. Plan warehousing and shipping procedures, and order processing. Set up a simple accounting system, determining monthly expenses and cash flow.
9. Decide on distribution mechanism: wholesalers, distributors, commissioned sales reps, direct mail order, or a combination.
10. Publish, promote and market your book. If you have done your research thoroughly and found a niche for your publication, hopefully you will be planning a reprint soon. Think about your next book!

These books can be located in the SPC Reference Collection by the numbers in type. The SPC has 400 reference books on Writing and Publishing, and a Bibliography, "Books on Writing and Publishing" which lists over 1700 books on these subjects.

SPC 31-6 The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing: Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish, Promote and Sell Your Own Book, Tom and Marilyn Ross, 3rd ed., 1994, Writer's Digest Books.

SPC 31-20 How to Publish a Book and Sell a Million Copies, Ted Nicholas, rev. ed., 1993, Dearborn Finantial Publishing.

SPC 31-36 The Prepublishing Handbook: What You Should Know Before You Publish Your First Book, Patricia J. Bell, 1992, Cat's-Paw Press.

SPC 31-57 The Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book, Dan Poynter, 10th ed., 1997, Para Publishing.

SPC 31-64 A Simple Guide to Self-Publishing: A Time and Money-Saving Handbook to Printing, Distributing and Promoting Your Own Book, Mark Ortman, 2nd ed., 1996, Wise Owl Books.

SPC 31-65 Smart Self-Publishing: An Author's Guide to Producing a Marketable Book, Linda and Jim Salisbury, 2nd ed., 1997, Tabby House.

SPC 31-72 Working Solo Sourcebook: Essential Resources for Independent Entrepreneurs, Terri Lonier, 1995, Portico Press.

SPC 32-12 Book Publishing: The Basic Introduction. New Expanded Edition, John P. Dessauer, 3rd ed., 1993, Continuum Publishing Company.

SPC 35-6 Book Design & Production For The Small Publisher: A Do-It-Yourself Guide, Malcolm E. Barker, 1990, Londonborn Publications.

SPC 35-28 Directory of Printers: 1994-1995 Edition, Marie Kiefer, 1995, Open Horizons.

SPC 42-1 1001 Ways to Market Your Books: For Authors and Publishers, John Kremer, 5th ed., 1997, Open Horizons Publishing Co.

SPC 42-11 Book Publishing Resource Guide, Marie Kiefer, 5th ed., 1996, Open Horizons.

SPC 42-12 Book Selling 101: A Marketing Primer for Authors and Publishers, Art and Jean Heine, 1995, J-Mart Press.

SPC 49-3 Business & Legal Forms For Authors & Self-Publishers, Tad Crawford, 2nd ed., 1990, Allworth Press.

SPC 49-15 The Copyright Permission and Libel Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide For Writers, Editors, and Publishers, Lloyd J. Jassin & Steven C. Schechter, 1998, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [Excerpt available on-line]