Three major items that any writer wants to be certain to complete prior to releasing a book are editing, copyright and locating proper distribution.
One of the first things a writer wants to do prior to publishing is get his or her book edited – read the article Don’t Think You Need An Editor? Think Again. Editing is a very important part of the publishing process. Some authors can do this all on their own, but others really need to hire someone else to give the book a run down. Editing covers grammatical errors to copy editing and more, and the price varies from person to person. Some starting rates are very expensive, but page by page edits can run anywhere from 2-5 dollars a page with a book fee up front. Can’t get this done? Hire someone around the corner with great English skills…that is if you book is in English.
Next, after copyrighting your work, print it up with a great printer. Self publishing is one of the greatest things that someone could do, but if not persistent, it could be the worst thing ever, therefore, after selecting the printer, view their marketing materials that they can print up for you as well. Author need this as this is how they market…no one else will do it but you!
One wants to also find out about ISBN numbers which are a must to sell retail. Click here for more information on getting your number.
Finally, distribute your book. Read To Bookstore Or Not To Bookstore…. Also read about pricing by clicking here. This process takes much thinking, and that is about it. Distributing and pricing a book go together like hand in glove or more like money in wallet. Without properly pricing your book, well, it could hurt your wallet or purse when it comes to distribution. Distribution companies can take from 30 to 70 percent of the cost of your book depending on the contract, therefore, it is very important to know what you are getting into ahead of time. Read the contract. Now, don’t be too afraid as it is fairly easy to get out of these contracts, however, be prepared to pay money if the distribution center you choose has warehousing and storage fees, etc. Another way to distribute is through festivals, independent bookstores – highly easy to get into and simple word of mouth which is actually the best.
