3 Important Guidelines for Selecting a Publisher

Recently, a consumer asked a question on our Ask the Experts forum about a publishing offer. For aspiring writers, the question of how to publish their work can be a confusing ordeal. Business Consumer Alliance set out to gain information on the various types of publishing available to aspiring authors and found a wealth of information regarding traditional publishing and subsidy/vanity publishing. Here is some information we uncovered and tips for up-and-coming novelists.

Publishing Variations

When it comes to seeing a manuscript progress to a novel, there are various avenues one can take. With traditional publishing, the publisher invests their money and resources into an author in hopes that they will see a return on the investment. There are no costs for the author to pay and the publisher takes care of editing, book design, publishing, distribution, marketing, etc. The publisher typically decides on the book’s design, content, and selling price. The publisher owns the published book and receives their profit from book sales. A portion of the sales are provided to the author in the form of royalties. Substantial publishing houses and large independent publishers often provide authors with advances on their future royalties. Traditional publishers only make money if the book sells. For this reason, they tend to be very selective about what types of materials they publish and often do not take submissions unless they are presented through an agent.

Subsidy and vanity publishers charge authors a fee to produce a book, or require the author to make a purchase as a condition of publication, such as paying for finished copies of the book or various services such as editing or publicity. The author tends to have more input on how the book is produced and much more involvement with distribution and marketing, as opposed to traditional publishing. The fees for subsidy/vanity press can be costly, in many instances several thousands of dollars. These types of publishers are less interested in marketing and distributing the work because their money is typically made from the services provided to the author. Their acceptance criteria for written work are often less intensive than with traditional publishing and unlike traditional publishing, the risk lies with the author.

Selecting a Subsidy Publisher

With any decision, it is always best to explore all of your options and do thorough research before making a choice. Make a list of potential publishers and review their reputations. Try some of the following tips while researching the publisher:

• Get your hands on some of the publisher’s books. This way you can assess the quality of the books. Do they look professional? Does the cover attract attention? Are they well made? Are they easy to order?
   
• Seek out authors that have used the publisher’s services.  Ask the writer for their opinion of the process and how satisfied they are with the work provided by the publisher.
   
• Go over the contract and get a second (or third) opinion. Check for any hidden fees or objectionable clauses. Make sure you understand key provisions, including what services are being purchased, how services will be delivered, who owns the book, how royalties are paid or earned, and how much control you will have over the production. Have a knowledgeable attorney or professional review the contract.

Alternatives

Many authors are publishing their own works through digital and electronic self-publishing services. The process may be costly and difficult due to the various tasks that are required, such as finding an editor, obtaining registrations for ISBN numbers and copyrights, managing the production of the book, distribution and marketing. There are, however, some of advantages.  For example, the author owns all the rights, has creative control over the project, and receives 100% of the profits. Another alternative is to seek publishing from reputable small press outlets.

Additional Advice

Stephen Matthews, Vice President of Marketing for Page Publishing, a New York-based publisher, encourages writers to have realistic expectations of how many books they should expect to sell. He says,“Every author should keep in mind that while publishing a book is a simple process, selling large numbers of that book is very difficult. Most books struggle to sell even a modest volume. This does not mean that authors should abandon their dream—they should indeed publish their book and experience the satisfaction and pride that comes with that. However, they should do so not with the expectation of making money—that will be an added bonus if it does happen—but rather for the joy and pride that comes with being a published author."

Having a book published takes determination, research, effort, and, most important, money. The decision on how to publish the work should be well-thought-out. Doing so can potentially help a writer avoid being taken advantage of or being scammed.

Have you worked with publishers to get a novel or written piece published? Share your experience with us below or share a few of your own tips with your fellow authors.

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