DennigerBolton.com - Article - The Rise of Indie Book Publishing

Article - The Rise of Indie Book Publishing

The Rise of Indie Book Publishing: Oaken Door vs. Garage Door

While a few of us put pen to paper solely for the pure pleasure of it, the vast majority of us want to see our works in print. We want to see and feel the book in our hands.

According to the Publishers Marketing Association, 78% of book titles last year were published by independents. One reason for the growth in this form of publishing is that traditional publishers are not handling the massive increase in manuscripts Writers who have banged their heads against the solid oak doors of unreceptive, traditional publishing, are staggering away saying, "there has got to be a better way."

Wife: I want to make one thing perfectly clear.

Husband: What is that, dear?

Wife: The garage.

Doing it yourself is not a perfect solution, but there are some good reasons to publish your own book. One is having editorial control of your content and title. A second motivation is money. By doing it yourself, you earn all the profits; you cut out the middle men. A third is saving time. Waiting to be picked up by a traditional publisher, and if they consent to publish your book, enduring the additional interval of up or two years to bring your book to market, are shortened considerably.

There are however some disadvantages to independent publishing:

1. Possible loss of investment

2. Less time to write (because you’re doing publishing tasks)

3. Cannot get your car in the garage

This is a shock if you haven’t heard, but the writer must do his or her own marketing. Only in rare cases will a publisher take on this task. Unless you are a celebrity or bestseller like Stephen King. And even he is heavily invested in the publishing biz.

Printing the book is only half of it. The other half if getting your books to the reader, by personal or internet sales, national book chains, independent book sellers, libraries and/or through non-bookstore markets. There is virtually no difference between the big guys and you, the indy – as long as you have the isbn #, Library of Congress number, someone like Baker and Taylor as a wholesaler, a web site, a willingness to market, and the ability to find expert help such as with SPAN, Small Publishers Association of North American or PMA, Publishers Marketing Association.

The indie route is not for every writer. It’s just one way to have more control in getting that book out of your head and heart and into your hand.

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The Rise of Indie Book Publishing