The Big Bad Book Blog

Publishing is not a one-size fits all endeavor. Which option is best for you depends on your skills, genre, goals, project, and budget.  The questionnaire below will help you identify which publishing option to pursue:

Would you rather:

1. Not spend your own money and get paid up front
2. Pay just to print in exchange for a moderate return
3. Make a reasonable up-front investment for a higher return

Would you prefer to:

1. Let someone else handle the entire process
2. Manage the process yourself
3. Retain creative control while working with an experienced team

In terms of marketing and sales, are you more comfortable:

1. Handling your marketing, but knowing the publisher’s credibility will carry you through the distribution chain
2. Handling all of your marketing and forgoing retail distribution
3. Coordinating your marketing efforts with an organized and strategic campaign through retail and specialty distribution channels while having the option to sell directly

In terms of creating content, are you more comfortable:

1. Writing it yourself, but working with an editor to finalize it
2. Writing and editing it all yourself—I’ll hire an editor if I need one
3. Writing it yourself, but using the help of a ghost writer or an editor to organize your thoughts and save time

When it comes to design, would you rather:

1. Leave it to the pros
2. Do it yourself
3. Have creative control, but work with a skilled designer

When it comes to distribution, do you want:

1. Access to a traditional distribution chain
2. To sell them all yourself
3. A combination of traditional distribution and the ability to sell books on your own in return for the full cover price

Answer Key:

Mostly 1’s: Traditional publishing is probably the best option for you.

Mostly 2’s: Vanity, new technology, or self-publishing may be best for you.

Mostly 3’s: An independent/hybrid publisher is likely the best fit.

Regardless of which option you choose to pursue, it is vital that you protect yourself by doing your homework, taking the time to weigh the pros and cons, and analyzing  the option’s ability to help you meet your short and long-term goals. Publishing a book is a smart and crucial step toward building your brand. Take the time to do it right.

Calling all indie authors and publishers–including small and mid-size independent publishers, university presses, e-book publishers, and self-published authors. Enter the Next Generation Indie Book Awards now to have your book considered for cash prizes of $1,500, awards, exposure, and recognition as one of the top independently published books of the year! The deadline is March 10, 2010, so get your submissions in today!

The top 60 books will be reviewed by New York literary agent Marilyn Allen or her co-agents for possible representation in areas such as distribution, foreign rights, and film rights. Ms. Allen has served as Senior Vice President of HarperCollins, directed sales and marketing teams for Simon & Schuster and Penguin Books, and worked with authors such as Stephen King, Ken Follett, and Barbara Kingsolver.

Visit www.IndieBookAwards.com for more information or to enter.

With the bulk of publishing industry news of late centering around layoffs, declining retail sales, and holds on acquisitions, it’s easy to get pulled into the downward spiral of doom and gloom. While none of us want to see our colleagues out of work or industry decline, the bad news hardly comes as a surprise: inefficient and outdated practices have been pushing us in this direction for years. The current economic bust was (or will be) the last nail in the coffin for many publishing operations struggling to say afloat.

But, to quote Albert Einstein, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” The constant but quiet call for change that has been building for years is now more like an air raid siren. The shakedown coming in 2009 may bring an about-face in our general acceptance of wasteful practices while also bolstering the lines of smart, lean independent publishers and distributors: continue reading