Services for Writers

Other Ways to Publish

There are many ways to publish a book. The more you understand the different publishing options, the better the decision you can make for yourself. A visit to your local library to check out some of the resources below can be beneficial if you are new to the book business.

Typically, a writer works with a commercial publisher or its agent to publish their works. The publisher funds the production and marketing of the book, and pays the author advances and/or royalties for the sales of the book. To get a sense of how it works, consider reading this book:

• Shortest Distance Between You and a Published Book by Susan Page

If you want to understand how to find a literary agent, this book may be good for you:

• The Publishing Game: Find an Agent in 30 Days by Fern Reiss.

For directories and listings of publishers and literary agents, check out these resources:

• Writer’s Market at www.writersmarket.com. They provide inexpensive subscription to their comprehensive directory and free book marketing resources.
• The Literary MarketPlace at www.literarymarketplace.com. It is available as a reference book at many libraries. Online subscription can be free or not, depending on the level of information you require.
• The International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses by Dustbooks.

Examples of other available resources - Magazines and Journals:

• Publishers Weekly
• Library Journal
• School Library Journal
• Quill & Quire

There are also subsidy publishing service providers who charge authors for a fee to publish their books. A search on the Internet under “publish”, “publishers” or alike, will lead you to many. If you wish to see your work in print and are not majorly concerned about the financial success of the book, you may find these subsidy publishing services convenient. If you choose to use a subsidy publishing service provider, ensure that the one you select DOES produce professional, good quality books. How? Checking out their products yourself and talking to people who have used them, and finding out whether their books are sold at brick-and-mortar stores are some of the ways. A good manuscript does not guarantee a good book. In fact, many bookstores do not welcome subsidy titles, and some reviewers in the media do not review these publications.

More and more, there are also people who choose to self-publish. This can be a good option for those who can devote the requisite time, effort and money. Self-published books, or any books for that matter, do not sell well if they do not look professional or are marketed poorly. Considerable research must be done to learn the ropes if you plan to self-publish. If you are interested to learn more, here are a few resources:

• The Self-Publishing Manual by Dan Poynter.
• Complete Guide to Self Publishing by Tom & Marilyn Ross.

Whatever way you choose to publish, educate yourself, work hard and have fun along the way!