Self Publishing Companies

[soundofmusic]

Has anyone had any success...or bad experiences...publishing with self publishing companies? Please tell of your experience.

[JBI]

If you self publish, have the people ready to buy your book before you publish. It's good if you just want a few friends to read something, but don't expect anybody you haven't told to buy the book to ever see it. And never expect it to be on any shelves anywhere.

[Dinkleberry2010]

In 2000 I self-published a volume of poetry and actually sold a few copies over the internet, but most of the sales came from having the volume available in two bookstores, a printery and a newspaper office, and through a lot of free advertising which I was able to obtain. I had five hundred copies made and I sold about four hundred. I actually ended up making over $3000 because the total cost to me of producing the volume was less than $50. I had free access to a printery and its facilities and supplies and I only had to pay for some materials which amounted to about $45. I did all the work myself--everything from printing, arranging, layout, design, copying, actually putting the volume together and binding it, publicising and advertising and distributing it.

[soundofmusic]

If you self publish, have the people ready to buy your book before you publish. It's good if you just want a few friends to read something, but don't expect anybody you haven't told to buy the book to ever see it. And never expect it to be on any shelves anywhere.

I appreciate your information, JBI. My daughter is currently under contract with a company which has promised to promote the book. They have a "flashy address", an old name and charge a good deal. She is very talented; but was distressed by letters from companies saying, "Great book; but not our thing...
I would appreciate any information and advice; you can also pm...


In 2000 I self-published a volume of poetry and actually sold a few copies over the internet, but most of the sales came from having the volume available in two bookstores, a printery and a newspaper office, and through a lot of free advertising which I was able to obtain. I had five hundred copies made and I sold about four hundred. I actually ended up making over $3000 because the total cost to me of producing the volume was less than $50. I had free access to a printery and its facilities and supplies and I only had to pay for some materials which amounted to about $45. I did all the work myself--everything from printing, arranging, layout, design, copying, actually putting the volume together and binding it, publicising and advertising and distributing it.

I think that is wonderfully successful for an first effort! How did you go about selling your books on the internet? How did you get the books placed in bookstores?

[Dinkleberry2010]

I created my own blog on the net and advertised my volume of poetry on the blog, giving a few examples of the poems and providing the reader the means of ordering my volume. I also advertised my volume on the internet on numerous other sites. As for the two bookstores, I happened to be friends with the owners and they allowed my volume to be displayed and shelved at no cost to me.

[soundofmusic]

I created my own blog on the net and advertised my volume of poetry on the blog, giving a few examples of the poems and providing the reader the means of ordering my volume. I also advertised my volume on the internet on numerous other sites. As for the two bookstores, I happened to be friends with the owners and they allowed my volume to be displayed and shelved at no cost to me.

How did you feel about your experience. I think it is a great first effort and also will be helpful when submitting other works; that is, the ability to say that you have been published. Have you found this helpful.

[Virgil]

In 2000 I self-published a volume of poetry and actually sold a few copies over the internet, but most of the sales came from having the volume available in two bookstores, a printery and a newspaper office, and through a lot of free advertising which I was able to obtain. I had five hundred copies made and I sold about four hundred. I actually ended up making over $3000 because the total cost to me of producing the volume was less than $50. I had free access to a printery and its facilities and supplies and I only had to pay for some materials which amounted to about $45. I did all the work myself--everything from printing, arranging, layout, design, copying, actually putting the volume together and binding it, publicising and advertising and distributing it.

That is outstanding Jermac. It goes to prove that in today's world, there is nothing preventing people from getting published if they really make up their minds to do so.

[Dinkleberry2010]

If you make up your mind to get published, you will get published--it's as simple as that. You may have to work your butt off, and you may have to publish yourself, but you will get published.

How did I feel about the experience of self-publishing? I felt a great deal of accomplishment, and the actual experience I gained was invaluable. But at the same time, I had to do an enormous amount of work. It was a tremendous labor, and quite time-consuming. The fact that I made some $3000 was nice, but considering all the work and time I put into it, that $3000 probably equals about twenty-five cents an hour. Of course I didn't do it for the money anyway.

[soundofmusic]

That is outstanding Jermac. It goes to prove that in today's world, there is nothing preventing people from getting published if they really make up their minds to do so.

You're right, Virgil:nod:

If you make up your mind to get published, you will get published--it's as simple as that. You may have to work your butt off, and you may have to publish yourself, but you will get published.

How did I feel about the experience of self-publishing? I felt a great deal of accomplishment, and the actual experience I gained was invaluable. But at the same time, I had to do an enormous amount of work. It was a tremendous labor, and quite time-consuming. The fact that I made some $3000 was nice, but considering all the work and time I put into it, that $3000 probably equals about twenty-five cents an hour. Of course I didn't do it for the money anyway.

Most of the millionaires I've read about started out doing something that was so labor intensive, the resulting cash flow seemed barely worth the effort. Perhaps in the future you will open your own publishing house, perhaps in years to come (when you have quite forgotten about your book of poems) someone will offer you a contract because they picked up a copy of your book in a library...

[Dinkleberry2010]

Well, I don't know about that, because you see, I'm 62--and I'm being realistic, not pessimistic, when I say that I have a limited number of years left in which to write. But even if I never get another thing published, I take pride in what I did, and I look upon it as a real accomplishment.

[Maryd.]

Wow Jermac, I am glad you take pride in your accomplishment. I have always thought about self publishing. But I wouldn't know where to start and I guess the fear of entering the unknown, stops me from doing so. But I think I will spend some time trying the normal way first, by sending out my manuscript to publishes here in Australia... If all else fails. Then might just consider self publishing.

[Dinkleberry2010]

Mary, I don't know how much experience you have with submitting your writing--for all I know you may have a lot more experience than me, but something I learned about submitting my work for publication which has saved me a lot of work not to mention money for postage etc. is to check out the publishing places as much as possible before you send and submit your work. Just to use Reader's Digest as an example; it publishes a lot of work and it pays, but--and here's the rub--it only publishes a certain kind and type of work. There are two monthly publications--both are magazines and are reasonably priced--that for me are invaluable. They are Writer's Digest and The Writer. Besides containing a lot of articles about writing, and stories and poems, they contain literally hundreds of addresses of publishing places which are accepting submissions, information about what type or kind of work the publication is looking for and accepting, and if the publication pays the writer.

[Maryd.]

No dear, I don't have much experience... Just the rejection letter.:mad: I wish they would just tell you why they didn't like it. Then one would know where they are going wrong... If they are going wrong at all. You're right about doing some research on publishers. Thanks for the tip.

[mtpspur]

My oldest guttersnipe had some poetry published by a send us money and we'll collate it for you. The conversation we had over it did not go well and he has NEVER offered me a copy OR let me see one. I definitely dropped the ball on that one. That was one of the few times I should have kept my opinions to myself. The list grows.

[soundofmusic]

Jermac: You write like a young man and I hear 62 is the new 42 (as long as you don't date 22:sick: ) I have meant several people of 92 to 102...so I figure you still have 40 years to write and publish. Meanwhile, you are a wonderful source of information for us here at litnet.

Maryd: I really loved the idea of your book; I am sure that tenacity will pay off and I look forward to seeing it in print.

Has anyone heard if it is better to look for an agent instead of approaching a publisher directly?

[Maryd.]

Maryd: I really loved the idea of your book; I am sure that tenacity will pay off and I look forward to seeing it in print.

Has anyone heard if it is better to look for an agent instead of approaching a publisher directly?

Yes dear. A lot of friends of mine have suggested going to an agent. As it is a little harder to publish work these days, unless it is reputable. And most agents are very reliable. But I might hold out a little before approaching one.

[Dinkleberry2010]

A literary agent will cost you money--in some cases a goodly sum, whereas approaching a publisher won't cost you anything, if you can accomplish it. The problem is getting access to the publisher.

[Maryd.]

A literary agent will cost you money--in some cases a goodly sum, whereas approaching a publisher won't cost you anything, if you can accomplish it. The problem is getting access to the publisher.

Yes I know. I was told it goes through many channels before it even gets to the publisher. If the assistant of the assistant doesn't like it, then it never gets to the publisher. It just gets sent back.

Anyway I will be sending out my manuscript out, in Feb. And only time will tell. If they don't like it, then I will let it do the rounds of Australia. Wish me luck.

[soundofmusic]

My daughter reminded me how expensive it was to mail query letters to agents who seldom stated their preferences in the writers digest. She also mentioned the cost of sending partial manuscripts to the agents; I had forgotten.
I am also curious about the writing contests that offer substantial prizes?

[Maryd.]

...curious about the writing contests that offer substantial prizes?

Yes, I have entered such contests here in Melbourne. I have entered probably over 15 or so over the years and one a small prize from two competitions. One was a Merit Award for a poem. And years later for another poem. Both award prizes were books. (That I could have bought at any book store) However I guess it was the fact that I had won something that made the prize substantial.

[Dinkleberry2010]

I mentioned before about Writer's Digest and The Writer magazines, but I didn't mention that they also contain literally hundreds of literary contests that are currently running, the addresses of the contests, and the requirements of them and the amount of the awards, if any. Some literary contests pay only in contributor copies, but there are quite a few literary contests that offer cash awards for the winners--and sometimes the second and third place finishers.

The way I look at it is this: Why submit your work to a place that doesn't pay you anything, when there are literally hundreds of places that will pay you upon acceptance or publication of your work. I submit a lot of work, albeit most of it is not accepted; most of it is either rejected or ignored, but that doesn't stop me from submitting work. But I only submit work to places that pay money for either accepting or publishing my work.

[Maryd.]

Good point Jer, but the both competitions, that I won the books for, were monetary prizes. The books were only given to me because, I got close to third, but not close enough. But I do the same, I only enter competitions with monetary value.

[soundofmusic]

I think that "almost third" is incredible, Mary, when you think of the thousands of people who probably submitted work.

I think I'll check out the new Writers Digest; I used to always pick them up at the library, so I was usually getting old stuff.

[Maryd.]

I think that "almost third" is incredible, Mary, when you think of the thousands of people who probably submitted work.

I think I'll check out the new Writers Digest; I used to always pick them up at the library, so I was usually getting old stuff.

I don't think we have the "Writers Digest" here in Australia... Not sure may have to do some research on that.