Self-Publishing Options
With any self-publishing or home publishing venture, you have a number of options, much of it depending on the amount of money you have available. Study books, talk to printers, talk to self-publishers, research possibilities via the Internet, get recommendations. Check out your options well before becoming committed to the production part of your venture.
Color
For instance, color adds to the cost. Black and white is least expensive. Then you have something in between with minimal colors. For my children’s anthology, there is black, white, gray and blue on the cover, since I couldn’t afford color but didn’t want simply black and white. Colored pictures inside also add to the cost, so I opted for black and white sketches there.
Paper Stock
The cost of paper varies depending on the quality. You usually don’t want the least expensive because it won’t print well and won’t hold up. Glossy covers usually are more appealing, but that type of paper stock tends to be more expensive. So you usually have to settle somewhere in between unless your budget is extensive.
Design & Formatting
If you can do much of this yourself, then send as an attachment to the printer, you cut the costs. However, if you’re not good at design and formatting, at least engage the assistance of someone who is an expert.
Cover
Here is where you decide whether you can afford color or not. Any color you do add will make the book more appealing and eye catching. Look at books on shelves, in displays, in racks and see which catch your attention first. Then find out what various types cost to produce.
Cost
Nowadays, with POD (print on demand) publishing, you usually don’t need a great deal of “up front” money, such as you do when you have a printer produce X number of books. With traditionally produced books, the more you have printed, the less the cost per book. But your initial outlay is more. Look into both types of publishing options. Also, with POD books, you may have better paper and color options at lower cost.
These are just a few of the items to consider when self-publishing.
If you’ve self-published, what have you found most satisfactory regarding the above options? Have you gone the POD route? Did you take your book to the traditional printer?
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
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1 opinion for Self-Publishing Options
Self-Publishing Options | businessuu
Jul 12, 2008 at 5:16 am
[…] on the cover, since I couldn’t afford color but didn’t want simply black and white. [Read original] Tags: Amount Of Money, Anthology, Black And White, Colors, Home Publishing, Options, Printers, […]
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