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Your Path to a Successful Book

Our $uccess blog will feature writing, marketing, and publishing tips we continue to learn since writing our 2009 INDIE Finalist workbook $uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book keeping our readers abreast of the everchanging skills required to write, publish and sell a successful book. We will also have guest commentators. Achieving your goals as a writer is what matters. Anything we can do to help you get there is our goal. We welcome your comments and hope you will sign up for our bi-monthly (or whenever we have enough material) newsletter.

Posts Tagged ‘print on demand’

Success – Print-on-Demand (POD) 5

Thursday, August 27th, 2009



Pros of POD

Cons of POD

Quick publishing–usually 60-120 days.

Minimal marketing & distribution.

POD publishers generally let you have more control over your manuscript–title, layout, formatting, etc.

Discounts are usually 30 to 40% and bookstores expect at least 40%.

No query letters.

Most do not accept returns (but some do).

No search for agent.

Higher retail prices.

Low start up costs from $300 to $1,000 (We budget $1,500 to allow for extras).

In general, book stores do not like dealing with POD’s. It is difficult to get shelf placement.

No rejection letters, and both agents and traditional publishers may pick up successful POD books.

Must work hard to find someone reputable to review your book.

Ideal if you are giving seminars as you make the 40% plus royalty.

You need to be a great editor or hire one.

Allows you to publish reasonably even if for a limited audience.

You need to take care in formatting–you get what you submit.

Many POD publishers have marketing packages for purchase.

You need to proofread the proof copy–switching from your program to a digital program can cause changes.

You book will not go out of print.

Be willing to market your book and make a plan. You book will not sell without marketing.

Good for specialized markets.

POD Stigma (slowly diminishing).

You can be published. You can be an author.

Maralyn D. Hill & Brenda C. Hill
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
Books By Hills Success Log Global Log

Success – Print-On-Demand (POD) 4

Monday, August 24th, 2009

This excerpt is from INDIE Finalist, “Success, Your Path to a Successful Book,” by Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill.

Most who publish with traditional publishers, large or small, will say that is the only way to go. However, we’ve met many who were published traditionally and when their sales dropped to 1,000 to 5,000 annually, they were dropped. In a few cases, these individuals started their own publishing company, went with a small publisher, or POD.

Even though POD is not as cost effective as a press where you purchase 2,000 to 5,000 books at a time (and store and ship them), we feel the services POD provides outweigh the cons.

Maralyn D. Hill & Brenda C. Hill
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
Books By Hills Success Log Global Log

Success – Print-On-Demand (POD) 3

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

This excerpt is from INDIE Finalist, “Success, Your Path to a Successful Book,” by Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill.

Most authors want the basic package to include internal layout, ISBN number, and distribution through online stores including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. In the near future, a listing with Amazon will be more difficult. They want authors to use one of its publishing companies. They have also insisted on deep price cutting so your royalty is less. The publisher we use is listed with Amazon, but not all POD publishers are.

Read the contract and be careful not to give away your rights. Compare royalties and how they are determined and paid. Be sure your listing is available through Ingram or Baker and Taylor if you want any chance of being placed in local bookstores. Also, a return program is a plus. Finally, the publisher’s reputation matters.

More to come on POD

Maralyn D. Hill & Brenda C. Hill
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
Books By Hills Success Log Global Log