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Chase Enterprises Publishing, POD, Publishing, Self-publishing, The Contrary Canadian, Traditional Publishing
Everywhere you look these days you see debates about self-publishing versus traditional publishing. I’m here to give you the real scoop.
How can I say that? I’ve been self-publishing since 1993. These days I traditionally publish the works of others. From my perspective the two methods are virtually the same. The self-publisher is responsible for all costs: product development (writing the book or short story), start-up costs, material and book construction costs, paying for both cover design and editing (including proofing), printinng costs, marketing and sales costs and, perhaps most important of all, the development of a distribution system. The traditional publisher is responsible for everything mentioned above, except he or she buys the product rather than writing it.
But… is the difference mentioned above really what it appears to be? I say no. You see the time spent writing is a cost. Whether or not that time cost is greater than what the traditional publisher pays for it is a matter of how good you are in the arena of business.
So, what is all the hoopla about? It’s about the traditional publishers trying to maitain their control of their lines of business in the onslaught of self-publishers who can now have their books printed on demand (POD) and priced competatively with the traditional publishers. It’s also about the delution of quality. When everyone and their dog can print a book that looks exactly the same as a book printed by a traditional publisher, then quality of what goes in between those covers becomes an issue. And here we have a problem…
The traditional publisher used to have a ton of experience in comparison to the self-publisher. But with POD available, small, traditional publishers are poppin up like dandelions in the spring. If you can’t publish a book yourself, they’ll gladly do the job, and many don’t care about the quality of the end product. So now we have an onslaught of self-published authors and small traditional publishers. And they have flooded the market with books; some books are real gems, many are pure trash. The big traditional publishers are trying to maintain quality and pricing, but slowly, each of the big boys are opening POD branches, so they, too, can milk this sudden cash cow.
So, I ask you, with big publishers copying the strategies of the little publishers and self-publishers who have heartily embraced POD publishing, and the little guy tapping into the distribution systems of the big guy and also becoming astute enough to hire professionals to design and edit their books, is there really any difference?
No, there isn’t. Go with a traditional publisher you get royalties if you sell enough books (you thought the traditional publisher was going to market for you, eh?); go with the self-publishing option and you get a bigger slice of the pie and instantly, when a book is sold. You might just make more this way if you can build a distribution systm that will move your books. It’s a mighty big if, and it’s the big publishers not-so-secret weapon. They have huge distribution lines set up and managed with an iron fist. It may be the ony real difference between big publishing and small publishing.
Agree? Disagree? Let me know, I’m busy publishing other people in a horror anthology which can stand side to side with the best of them, and I’m working on publishing a book of my own, a Roger Ebert style collection of my 4 and 5 star book reviews from 2006 to 2012. Yes, I’m a professional book reviewer as well.
Copyright © Clayton Clifford Bye
Clayton, I agree completely. I have a traditional small publisher who pblished my first book. Once times got tough and she went POD, we got no perks at all. So I’m attempting on my next book to try to go it alone–now that should be a real fiasco! This was a realistic, truthful post on the publishing world–thanks for sharing. You also gave me something to think about. I wonder if some of my 50, 5 star reviews that I wrote over the past few years might fit in my short story anthology if I need more filling?
If you do this, make sure you note it prominently on the cover. You don’t want readers, who are expecting a book full of short stories, to stumble into a bunch of reviews. They’ll be angry and they’ll feel cheated.
Clayton
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Well said. The new self-published author has a learning curve with the editing proof reading chores, but as a reader, I am welcoming the fresh independent voice.
Clayton, I being self published have gone through all these hoops and wonder what time is worth. My next book will be another round of promotions and starting over with promotions is an exhausting thought. Yet giving up so much control and doing it the other way is an unsure path as well. Is there a clear cut answer? Is there a way to not become so exhausted while being in control?
You have offered much to think about.
If your publisher has a good distribution system, then market to his bookstore customers. If you don’t have that option or you are self-publishing, then be prepared to market each book you publish for a minimum of one year, at which time your book will become a “back list book,” and your selling becomes much more difficult. You have to be able to assure booksellers that your books 1) will remain in print after year and 2) that your back list books sell well.
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