Publishing is a $3 trillion worldwide business. This is not to say that you can’t compete – but it’s simply not going to happen if you think that you can do this with no money down or with “free” services. I’m not saying you have to pay a mint, but it costs money to start any business.

Publishing books is a *business*.

Being small means you have to think leaner/meaner/sharper than the big guys. But to be smart, you have to educate yourself so you know what the industry expects, what the rules are (so if you break them, you do so knowingly and not stupidly) and how little ol’ you can succeed where the big guys are drowning like dinos in a tar pit.

If you can’t/won’t/don’t want to learn the skillsets required to publish your book, do not expect those who have spent years acquiring same to do those things for free. Be absolutely suspicious of those who say they can typeset, convert a manuscript to Kindle or any other service for free or
cheap. You get *exactly* what you pay for.

If you don’t have the money to market, print, get decent editing, or any of the other things that go into making a book the right way (and don’t plan to acquire the skills yourself), then stop what you are doing and save for that launch. Don’t rush to put “something out.” Very little that is excellent in the world is the result of slap-dash production. Most “overnight successes” are the result of ten-or-more years of hard work and investment. Respect that what you’ve created is a precious thing – the product of your mind and hard work. It deserves to be put in the best package possible, with the most careful planning you can focus on it.

While you’re accumulating the needed funds, study up on how to make that hard-earned money you’re going to spend work most effectively so that you succeed. There is nothing that makes me sadder or more frustrated than reading posts by people who are just shocked that their clip-art-cover-not-edited-formatted-in-Word-POD-printed-with-no hope-of-any-distribution-no-marketing-at-all book is not selling. Because I know how hard that person worked to create that piece of work, and by rushing to “get it out,” they destroyed any value it might have had.

It’s not a bad gall bladder; it’s your mind-child!

Scrimp and save if you have to, take 3 years to get it published RIGHT if you must, but plan for success, not failure!

Jacqueline Church Simonds
Beagle Bay, Inc., Books That Enlighten and Inform
http://www.beaglebay.com
Self-Publisher’s FAQ – http://www.creativemindspress.com/newbiefaq.htm
Small Press World blog – http://smallpressworld.com/blog
Book Shepherding, production and design

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1. Is There a Cost?

Is there any cost involved at all? While most authors probably think this information would be obviously disclosed on a company’s website, it doesn’t always work that way.

Case in point: A company I considered partnering with promotes itself essentially as a traditional publisher. Their website even states there’s no cost to publish your work.

However, I found out a little further into the process that there is a cost involved. If accepted, an author must agree to buy X number copies of their books over the term of their contract. That’s not a huge deal for some people and it didn’t completely turn me off either.

The problem arose however, when I was told about the requirement of a five-thousand dollar deposit against those purchases. It truly caught me off guard. I thought I’d done my homework, but now I know to ask directly, “Do I have to pay anything to work with you?” no matter what I have or haven’t discovered on my own.

2. How Long is Your Commitment and What if You Want Out?

If a publisher finally says “yes” to you, one of the last things you’d probably think about is the length of the contract term or how you’d get out of it if need be. However, you definitely want to give yourself some time for the initial excitement to wear off so you can consider the seriousness of the commitment you’re about to make.

It is imperative to know what happens if things don’t work as anticipated from your perspective. What does it take to get out and move on?

This information is vital, especially if you intend to write more than one book. You don’t want to be stuck in a nightmarish situation without choices should your life or work take you in another direction. You never want to make a decision today without knowing how it will impact tomorrow.

3. What About Other Editions of Your Work?

This is a critical concern if you intend to capitalize on your content by releasing it in as many formats as possible. For example, if the publisher doesn’t produce e-books, are you allowed to do so? What about audio or condensed versions like booklets? As you delve into or negotiate these details, you absolutely want to make sure there aren’t any illogical or unfair limitations. You worked hard to create your product, but you also need to work hard to help it become a success. Be reasonable as you consider the issues we’ve discussed, but also be ready to walk away from a company that isn’t on your side.

I now invite you to learn more about how you can publish successfully at http://publishinganswers.com Sign up for my free newsletter or check out the blog today! You can publish with less stress and more success.

Cheryl Pickett has been a freelance writer for nearly a decade. Her new business focuses on educating other writers and helping them achieve their publishing goals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cheryl_Pickett
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