Write Now Editing

Evaluating Subsidy Publishers by Linda Harris

by 2 Comments

When you’re looking to publish a book without a traditional publisher, what’s the best way to go? The answer is that it depends. Are you looking for the least expensive alternative, or are you willing to pay more to get services you would rather not handle yourself?

In the true sense of the word, self-publishing means that the author does all the work. However, not all authors want to go that route. Some need the guidance of a subsidy or hybrid publisher.

Not all subsidy and hybrid publishers are the same, just as not all traditional publishers are the same. Both types of publishers often have different packages authors can purchase. The higher the price, the more you will get. Subsidy publishers usually require a substantial outlay of money at the beginning of the process. Basically, you’re paying them to publish your book for you.

Hybrid publishers often have a combination of services and royalty payments (thus the label “hybrid”). In my experience, subsidy publishers are more expensive than hybrid publishers.

How can you determine which publishers are best? Here are some questions I ask:

  1. How much support do they supply to their authors? How much work do they expect you to do, such as all your own marketing?
  2. Are they selective about what books they accept? Or will they publish anything? Do they require professional editing, either through their company or an independent editor? Those who will publish anything are often called vanity publishers and are happy to take your money without supplying any guidance or support. Avoid these publishers.
  3. Are they listed in The Christian Writer’s Market Guide? While the market guide cautions authors to be careful, I’m sure they avoid listing any publisher that has a bad reputation. The introduction to that section says that, for every author who has a bad experience with a particular publisher, there are others who are satisfied.
  4. Are the books they publish available on Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, and other online book sellers?
  5. Do their books look professional? Telltale signs of unprofessional books are larger type than usual, odd spacing and formatting, and unattractive covers.
  6. Are the costs in line with what other subsidy and hybrid publishers charge? I don’t look at the price as much as the other things. But it can be a factor.

Evaluating these questions can help you choose the right avenue of publishing for you and your book. When you find some publishers that look like they might work for you, contact them and start a conversation about what they can do for you.

Owner of Perfect Word Editing, Linda Harris has been a freelance editor and writer for over 35 years:

  • Gold member of The Christian PEN (Proofreaders and Editors Network).
  • Member of The Christian Editor Connection, which requires rigorous testing to qualify.
  • Instructor for Editing Children’s Books 101 for The PEN Institute.
  • Certificates in several courses from The PEN Institute, including editing fiction.
  • Published in Moody Monthly, Guideposts, Psychology for Living, Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse and other publications.
  • An article published in Home Life, a Southern Baptist magazine, was included in the book How to Write for Christian Magazines, published by Broadman Press (now B&H).
  • Placed twice in the top 100 of the Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition.
  • Editor for ten years of The Helping Hand, a Seventh Day Baptist publication, writing and editing over 500 church-school lessons. As part of that position, she worked with the Committee on Uniform Series, both as a member and as a consultant; CUS is the organization that develops the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching, used by various denominations and church-school publishers (such as David C. Cook).
  • Assistant editor for two years at The Kansas Christian newspaper in Topeka, Kansas.
  • Editorial Director for two years for Springs Writers, a ministry designed to reach writers of all levels in the Colorado Springs area.

Self-Publisher Beware! by Susan K. Stewart

by Leave a Comment

Publishing scams have been around as long as publishing. Before the advent of print-on-demand (POD) publishing and electronic publishing, vanity publishers abounded. The term comes from the idea that these companies play on the vanity of the writer who is willing to do anything to “publish” a book. Most vanity presses don’t consider quality and rarely do more than print a large number of books to sell to the author.

Unlike hybrid publishers, which offer services such as design and editing, vanity publishers require a large investment up front but no quality control. In the end, the author has boxes of books in the garage and no place to sell them.

Vanity presses aren’t the only scam self-publishers need to be on the watch for.

The Editor Scam

Editors, and I use this term loosely here, advertise a new method to get your book on Amazon or bookstores quickly. No upfront fee is charged. A couple days after you send you manuscript, your book is published on Amazon under the scammers name. It’s up to you to prove it’s your manuscript.

Agents

Fake agents prey on the desire to have our books on the front shelves of a bookstore. If you’ve self-published and an agent contacts you, proceed with caution—if you proceed at all. Beware of upfront fees: reading fees, editing fees, paper clip fees. These agents are getting paid without providing representation for you. Reputable agents will rarely contact you. They work on commission and get paid when you get paid.

Fees for Services

In addition to editor and agent scams, novice self-publishers fall victim to a provider who claims to handle some of the pesky details for hefty fees. Sometimes these fees can be in the thousands of dollars. ISBN, copyright registration, Library of Congress catalog number, upload to specific platforms can all be easily handled by the author. One ISBN is $125, copyright registration is $35, Library of Congress catalog number is free, upload to most platforms is free. If you are asked to pay a large fee, shove your wallet in your pocket, and move on.

The Everyone Wins Writing Contest

All writers want to be recognized for our effort. Writing awards not only give us a boost we need to continue, but also lets the public know our book is worth buying. With this in mind, some organizations offer awards for a price.

The unscrupulous contests are often monthly awards in which all entries get a trophy, in some cases a literal trophy. These contests require large entry fees and, when the winners are announced, the chosen are asked to pay for the certificate, plaque, or trophy, in addition to the initial contest fee. In other words, the unsuspecting author is buying a writing award.

Many reputable award programs require a small fee, often less than $50 to cover expenses. Most recognized awards are given annually, not monthly. Many are connected with an award ceremony at a conference or other event. For more information about dubious contest http://bit.ly/2wrejnL

How to Avoid A Scam

Can it be said too often, “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is”? A little research and thought will help you avoid losing money and possibly your book.

  • Internet Search. This may be the first line of defense. Look for the company or individual’s website. Is it well-maintained and up-to-date? Are the details of services and cost listed clearly?
  • Bookstore Search. Look for books published by the company in question. A vanity press will rarely have anything on the market, even Amazon.
  • Unsolicited Offer. You’re scanning your email and in bold letters it opens with “We love your writing and want to publish your book.” Delete, delete as fast as you can. If you haven’t queried a publishing company, agent, or editor, this is probably a scheme to sell you thousands of your own book.
  • Track Record. What is the track record of the company? If you’re working with a hybrid company, buy a couple of the books they have published. Look at the details as mentioned in in part two of this series.
  • Ask the Authors. Contact authors who have worked with the service provider you are considering. If none are listed on the company’s website, ask for referrals.
  • Check with Fellow Writers. Through Facebook and other forums ask about the company you are considering. Writers Beware, sponsored by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SWFA), is one of the oldest websites with information about publishing scams. https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/.

Buyer Beware

It’s a trite but true saying. We all love to hear from someone in the publishing business tell us our manuscript is wonderful, what great writers we are. It’s all too easy, even for a more experienced writer to succumb to the praise. Most scams can be avoided by taking time to consider the offer (remember, “If it’s too good to be true …) and do even a little research. Don’t let someone take your dream or your money.

Susan K. Stewart is a teacher, writer, and speaker known for practical solutions to real-world situations. Her books include Harried Homeschooler’s Handbook: Finding Hope in the Havoc, Preschool: At What Cost?, Science in the Kitchen: Fearless Science at Home for All Ages, the award-winning Formatting e-Books for Writers. She brings her inspiring and encouraging messages to online and in-person conferences about families, writing, and editing. The Stewarts live in Central Texas with their three dogs, three cats, nine chickens, and a couple of donkeys. They have three children and six grandchildren. You can read more of Susan’s practical solutions at www.practicalinspirations.com.

Telltale Signs of a Novice Self-Publisher by Susan K. Stewart

by Leave a Comment

One reason some writers won’t consider self-publication is the number of poor-quality books produced. It can be seen in everything from no editing to unprofessional formatting. Knowing what makes a book look amateurish will help avoid this obstacle.

Formatting
It is possible to format a book or e-book without the help of a professional. Simple e-books without a lot of images can be formatted in Word. Print books can also be formatted with Word, but it’s trickier with page numbers, headers and footers, blank pages, and so on. A professional designer will have tools to make your book look great. Like professional editing, a professional designer goes a long way to ensuring a quality book readers will want and recommend.

The use of unusual fonts goes on the formatting list. Generally, one serif style for content (Georgia, Century Book, Times New Roman) and one sans serif for headings (Arial, Calibri, Helvetica). Some designers think Times New Roman and Arial are over-used.

It’s the Details
The little details mean the difference between a professional-looking book and a D-I-Y-look.

Print books

  • Take a look at books in your genre to get an idea of the correct interior design. Here are some of the elements missed by self-publishers.
  • Numbers on blank pages. Blank pages should be just that—blank.
  • Headers on blank pages. Ditto above.
  • All chapters start on the left-hand page. Some self-publishers try to cut cost by removing all blank pages. This screams amateur.
  • Not enough white space. A page with a lot of print is hard to read even with the best of eyesight. A little larger space between lines and wider margins help the reader enjoy your book.

E-books

  • Large sections of blank space. Incorrectly formatted files for an e-book can cause large empty spaces in the middle of a chapter. I’ve even seen it happen in the middle of paragraph.
  • No clickable links. E-book readers have come to expect clickable links to move around the book and access websites. Many programs that convert documents to e-book files automatically convert URLs to links to the internet. Word and other programs automatically create clickable table of contents, when formatted correctly. Links within the manuscript may need to be inserted manually.
  • Attempting to make the e-book like the print book. This certainly can be done. For most general audiences, though, a standard e-book format is desirable. One of the drawbacks of a duplicate of the print design is the lack of ability to change the font size.

And What Else

  • Front Matter Errors

Far too many self-published books have no copyright page and table of contents. Some of these also have warning labels about duplication in the footer of every page. Speaking of warning labels, often new writer/publisher insert a page with huge warnings about not violating copyright.

In the print editions, a half title page is often missing. A half title page isn’t used in an e-book, so a novice self-publisher may not know to add one to the print edition.

Other little details in the front matter are the use of “by” before the author’s name, “forward” instead of “foreword,” no publisher information, no ISBN. (I know Amazon doesn’t require it, but it screams “self-published by a newbie.”)

  • Poor Images

It’s important for images to be the correct size and resolution. Small images can’t always be seen. If an attempt is made to enlarge it, the image will be blurry or pixelated (look like it’s straight out of Minecraft or Legoland). Poor resolution sometimes has the same effect. What works on a website may not work in a print or e-book. (For a discussion of image resolution, read this article https://snapshop.cam/dpi/.)

While we’re speaking of images, an author photo that is not a professional headshot also screams amateur. I’ve seen author photos cropped out of a family reunion picture or with a kid sticking out a tongue in the background.

  • No or Poor Editing

Many of us have cringed at editing errors, even in traditionally published books. Like design, editing should be left to the professionals. It may not be necessary for a new writer to pay cash for editing (I know; I can hear the gasping). I have traded editing services for other professional services. It is possible. Mark Wayne Adams has a good editing list. https://mwa.company/2016/08/17/30-telltale-signs-of-a-self-published-book/

  • Bad Cover

This is usually the number one item on a list of self-publishers’ mistakes. Whether an e-book or print book, if the cover doesn’t immediately attract the browsers attention the book will not sell. Cover design is another area best left to professionals.

Here are some cover design mistakes https://www.rockingbookcovers.com/book-cover-design/book-cover-design-mistakes/

The Book Designer has a list of articles about good cover design. https://www.thebookdesigner.com/book-design/

  • Review. Review. Review.

Be sure to thoroughly review a proof of your book, whether print or electronic. Give it to someone else to look for the little details that mark it as self-published.

Self-publishing shouldn’t mean poor-publishing. Well crafted, both in design and content, self-published books can win major awards, such as the Christy Award. With the attention to detail, the reader may never know the difference between self-published and traditionally published.

Susan K. Stewart is a teacher, writer, and speaker known for practical solutions to real-world situations. Her books include Harried Homeschooler’s Handbook: Finding Hope in the Havoc, Preschool: At What Cost?, Science in the Kitchen: Fearless Science at Home for All Ages, the award-winning Formatting e-Books for Writers. She brings her inspiring and encouraging messages to online and in-person conferences about families, writing, and editing. The Stewarts live in Central Texas with their three dogs, three cats, nine chickens, and a couple of donkeys. They have three children and six grandchildren. You can read more of Susan’s practical solutions at www.practicalinspirations.com.

Why Consider Self-Publishing by Susan K. Stewart

by Leave a Comment

It’s not been long ago self-publishing was equated with loser writers. When someone said, “My book has been accepted by {add subsidy publisher of your choice},” and a traditionally-published writers nods condescendingly. Maybe mumbles, “Congratulations,” while thinking “You’re not a real writer.” Self-publishing meant “loser-publishing.”

Although the self-publishing image has changed in recent years, some writers and editors still look at it as less than professional. If that’s the case, why would a writer opt for self-publishing? Each writer has a personal reason, but a few rise to the top.

Market size

Have you heard memoirs don’t sell? When you read editorial needs of many publishers, memoirs are just one example of manuscripts dismissed immediately. Hmm, then one must ask, “Why are there so many memoirs in bookstores?”

Memoir writers aren’t the only ones who have viable products, but the market is perceived as too small or over-crowded for traditional publishers. Poetry and essays are among other genres not considered by most traditional publishers.

Niche markets can be quite profitable. Good books within a specialize niche are candidates for self-publishing.

Time

Let’s face it, the publishing industry is slow. It can take up to two years for a book to go from contract to bookstores. Most writers want their book published sooner rather than later. Especially for timely manuscripts, the potential market may be gone before publication. While the writing and editing process may not be faster, the time from finished manuscript to publication through self-publishing is.

Never Out-Of-Print

The self-published author decides when to remove their book from publication. It’s possible for a book to never go out of print. The book can be in publication as long as the writer desires.

Lower Prices to Consumer

Without the overhead of a large publishing company, it’s possible for a self-published book to be sold at a lower price. As long as quality is maintained, many buyers will buy the lower price product.

Author Earns More

Often in today’s publishing world, advances are low. Jane Friedman says 70% of authors don’t earn out their advance. Meaning after the initial check, there will be no more paychecks from the book. Once an author has paid for the expenses of self-publishing, all the profit is theirs.

Control

Once a traditional publishing contract is signed, the author has little say about the book. The publisher decided everything from title to the number of copies printed. Self-publishing allows the writer the opportunity to these decisions.

Locality

A book geared to a specific location also won’t attract the attention of the traditional houses. Some regional publishers will pick up these books. Often, though, it requires self-publishing to get it in the market. Here’s a list of regional publishers to consider https://spawn.org/resources/research-resources-regional-publishing-organizations/

Legacy

Some of our books aren’t really meant for wide-distribution. These may be family histories, an organization cookbook, memories or wisdom we want to leave for future generations. While some of them may be sold as fund-raisers, others only need to cover costs. Self-publishing is the only option for these books.

Traditional publication may be seen as giving legitimacy to our efforts. Self-publishing may be seen as way to get a message to the readers. The reasons for choosing one publishing option over another vary. Individual writers must look at their own situation to choose what is best for them and their book.

Susan K. Stewart is a teacher, writer, and speaker known for practical solutions to real-world situations. Her books include Harried Homeschooler’s Handbook: Finding Hope in the Havoc, Preschool: At What Cost?, Science in the Kitchen: Fearless Science at Home for All Ages, the award-winning Formatting e-Books for Writers. She brings her inspiring and encouraging messages to online and in-person conferences about families, writing, and editing. The Stewarts live in Central Texas with their three dogs, three cats, nine chickens, and a couple of donkeys. They have three children and six grandchildren. You can read more of Susan’s practical solutions at www.practicalinspirations.com.

Coping with Deadlines by Annette Irby

by Leave a Comment

I’m on a few deadlines. In addition to editing work, the first book in my series will release this September 1st, and the second book is due this summer as well. I’ve had to prioritize and strictly enforce my schedule lately and I’ve spent hours and hours at my computer, writing and rewriting for my summer deadline. I have other projects in the works, so the sooner I hand this project off, the sooner I can work on the others that have been on the back burner.

Prioritizing

So, how do I decide what to set aside during crunch seasons? How do you decide? For me, I set aside social media, even marketing, until I can focus on it. I ask myself: what’s due soonest? Timing helps me in many ways—it both motivates and dictates my schedule. I set aside reflexively checking my e-mail, and I close all unnecessary tabs and apps/programs on my computer in order to stay focused on the necessary ones. My family needs my attention, so they are a priority. Sometimes you have to say no to extra tasks. That’s a hard one for some of us. I sometimes struggle with that. Even when I say no, I sometimes feel guilty later, which doesn’t help me focus on work. But our jobs as writers is important. If we honor our writing time, others will begin to respect it too.

Permission to Take a Break

Summertime is an especially challenging time to have to work 8-12 hours a day, so I do take breaks, which are so necessary. I recommend finding a peaceful setting to decompress. When the sun moves around the house to my flower garden, I love to go out and tend my plants. (Here’s a photo from one of my hanging baskets on a rainy day last spring.) The warm sun, so different from my cool home office in the basement corner, feels good. And tending my flowers makes me happy. I catch myself walking around, smiling from the joy of a simple hobby. Breaks are also helpful for working out plot points and overcoming writer’s block. And they’re probably good for our health. We must take care of ourselves, even on deadline.

Back to Work

The thing about breaks is, you have to set a time limit and discipline yourself to get back to work. Your book won’t write itself. So, I’ll take time away for family get-togethers, and meals, and even a trip to the pool so my youngest gets a chance to swim, but then it’s back to work. 

Best Advice for Deadline Crunch Time

My writing sessions involve a lot of prayer. Prayers for grace, help, words, wisdom, insights, for the story to come together, for my readers, and for God’s glory and message to come through. He honors our prayers as we write for Him. Sometimes when I know I only have, say, a half hour left before I’ll be away from my computer for a while, panic will set in, thinking about all I have to do. Then I ask the Lord to help, and He does. Pretty soon, my fingers are flying over the keyboard and enjoying the thrill of a scene coming together in a profound way with word counts piling up.

How about you? What are your tricks for meeting deadlines and surviving the deadline crunch? I’d love to hear.

Write on, friends!

(Original post found on Seriously Write)

Annette M. Irby has been writing since her teen years. She has several books and short stories published. She has served as an acquisitions editor, and she currently works as a freelance editor. In her off hours, she enjoys gardening, photography, and music. Her family lives in the Pacific Northwest. Learn more at www.AnnetteIrby.com

Links:

Website: www.AnnetteIrby.com
Facebook reader friend group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/252272708574760/
Twitter: @AnnetteMIrby
Amazon author page: www.amazon.com/author/annette_m_irby.com
Writing blog: www.seriouslywrite.blogspot.com

ABOUT ME

Editor. Teacher. Novelist.
A passionate lover of fiction, Karin doesn't just write novels, she helps others write their best stories! A certified substantive editor with the Christian Editor Connection, her goal is to help authors to put her out of business by equipping them with the tools they need to become better writers.

Connect

Copywriting

Karin understood my advertising and marketing writing needs and accomplished the project in record time. She asked all the right questions up front to equip herself with enough … [more]

Editing

Substantive Fiction Editing: A substantive edit looks at the big picture. Start here to tackle the big issues before moving on to the nit-picky details. Substantive edits not only point out … [more]

Author Page

Lover of all things fiction, I also love University of Michigan football, the Detroit Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings, kayaking, gluten-free cupcakes, and my husband.

Resources

Press Release Tool Kit Stop waiting and hoping for people to notice you and your organization! With this Press Release Tool Kit, you’ll learn to apply the step-by-step process I use to … [more]