* * *
title : Publishing a Book : How to Publish Your Own Work and Make a Profit Successful Writing
author : Spicer, Robert.
publisher : How To Books, Ltd.
isbn10 | asin : 1857032624
print isbn13 : 9781857032628
ebook isbn13 : 9780585242866
language : English
subject Self-publishing--Great Britain, Authorship--Marketing, Publishers and publishing--Great Britain.
publication date : 1998
lcc : Z285.5.S65 1998eb
ddc : 808.02
subject : Self-publishing--Great Britain, Authorship--Marketing, Publishers and publishing--Great Britain.
Page 1
Publishing a Book
Page 2
A selection of other titles published by How To Books
Buying a Personal Computer
Use the Internet
Cash from Your Computer
Work from Home
Coping with Self-Assessment
Write a Press Release
Copyright & Law for Writers
Write for Television
Creating a Twist in the Tale
Writing & Publishing Poetry
Creative Writing
Writing & Selling a Novel
Dealing with Your Bank
Writing a Non-fiction Book
Do Your Own Advertising
Writing a Textbook
Do Your Own PR
Writing for Publication
Doing Business on the Internet
Writing a Textbook
Improving Your Written English
Writing for Publication
Keep Business Accounts
Writing Reviews
Publish a Newsletter
Writing Romantic Fiction
Start a Business from Home
Writing Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror
Start Word Processing
Writing Short Stories & Articles
Start Your Own Business
Writing Your Dissertation
Starting to Write
Successful Mail Order Marketing
Other titles in preparation
The How To series now contains more than 200 titles in the following categories:
Business & Management
Personal Finance
Computer Basics
Self-Development
General Reference
Small Business
Jobs & Careers
Student Handbooks
Living & Working Abroad
Successful Writing
Please send for a free copy of the latest catalogue for full details (see back cover for address).
Page 3
Publishing a Book
How to Publish Your Own Work and Make a Profit
Robert Spicer
3rd edition
How to Books
Page 4
Cartoons by Mike Flanagan
British Library Cataloguing-in-publication data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Copyright © 1998 by Robert Spicer
Published by How To Books, 3 Newtec Place, Magdalen Road,
Oxford OX4 1RE, United Kingdom. Tel: (01865) 793806.
Fax: (01865) 248780.
First edition 1993
Second edition 1995
Third edition (revised) 1998
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or stored in an
information retrieval system (other than short extracts for purposes of
review) without the express permission of the Publishers given in writing.
Robert Spicer has asserted his right under the Copyright, Design and Patents
Act 1988 to be identified as author of this work.
Note: The material contained in this book is set out in good faith for
general guidance and no liability can be accepted for loss or expense
incurred as a result of relying in particular circumstances on statements
made in the book. The laws and regulations are complex and liable to
change, and readers should check the current position with the relevant
authorities before making personal arrangements.
Produced for How To Books by Deer Park Productions.
Typeset by Concept Communications Ltd, Crayford, Kent.
Printed and bound by The Cromwell Press, Trowbridge, Wiltshire.
Page 5
Preface
to Third Edition
It has never been easier to publish your own book. If you have some cash, and access to a computer, you can produce attractively designed and competitively priced books with comparative ease. This, the creative part of publishing, is well within the reach of most people who can read and write. There is nothing magical or secret about the publishing industry. Many of its techniques are explained in the first part of this book.
But the difficult parts of publishing distribution, marketing and sales are not so easily learned. It is not easy to sell books. To put the problem at its most basic: why should anyone buy your book instead of five or six pints of beer? If you can answer this question positively, and have the drive and determination to carry your marketing plans through, then you can become, in financial terms, a successful publisher.
For those who have received many rejection slips from publishers, take heart! In fairness, your work may have been turned down because it is simply unpublishable or of very poor quality, but remember that many successful and well-respected literary figures have found it extremely difficult to get their work into print.
Two prominent examples of this are Jack London and Samuel Beckett. Beckett sent books to publishers for twenty years, with very limited success. It was only when his play Waiting for Godot was staged successfully in France that publishers fought to handle his work. He is now recognised as one of the leading authors of the twentieth century.
If you really believe in the value of your work, and you cannot persuade the big publishing corporations to take it on, then hopefully this book will help you to do it yourself without risking large amounts of money.
Readers are advised to seek expert professional advice before making important business, legal or financial decisions, and this book must not be considered a substitute for such advice.
This third edition has been revised and updated to take account of
Page 6
developments in the publishing industry in recent years. Legal developments have also been included.
Many people have helped during the preparation of this book. I would like to thank How To Books for their invaluable advice, encouragement and assistance. I would also like to acknowledge permission to reproduce copyright material, given by the Public Lending Right Office, Mr A. T. Smail, J. Whitaker & Sons Ltd. and the Publishing Training Centre at Book House.
ROBERT SPICER
Page 7
Contents
Preface to third edition
5
List of Illustrations
9
1
Getting Started
11
A Tale of Two Publishers
11
Aims of This Book
13
Clarifying Your Aims
13
The Practical Requirements of Independent Publishing
15
The Advantage of Specialising
17
Getting Expert Help
17
Checklist
18
Final Comment
18
2
19
Preparing a Script for Publication
19
The Limits to Freedom of Expression
23
Checklist
27
3
Preparing to do Business
28
What Sort of Records Should I Keep?
28
Naming Your Business
29
Preparing Business Stationery
29
Deciding the Title of the Book
32
Legal Deposit of New Books
32
Obtaining an International Standard Book Number
33
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
33
Keeping Accounts
43
Getting Further Help
44
Checklist
44
4
Designing and Producing Your Book
45
Countdown to Publication
45
Making Contracts
46
Designing Your Book
49
Typesetting
57
Page 8
Printing and binding the book
68
Two Key Publishing Decisions: Price and Print Run
68
Some Questions and Answers
70
Checklist
74
5
Promoting Your Book
75
Effective Marketing
75
Producing a Sales Leaflet/Order Form
78
Identifying Individual Prospective Buyers
81
Contacting Organisations and Associations
82
Local Public Libraries
82
Using the Media
84
Approaching Celebrities
90
90
Applying for Awards and Prizes
91
Paying for Advertising Space
92
The Press Launch
93
Checklist
93
6
Handling Book Sales and Distribution
94
Dealing with Booksellers
94
Direct Mail Bookselling
97
Selling to Library Suppliers
100
Selling to Book Clubs
102
Income from Public Lending Rights
102
Employing Sales Representatives
105
Warehousing and Distribution
105
Checklist
106
7
Sales Records and Follow up
112
Keeping a Sales Ledger
112
Filing
114
Coping with Bankruptcies
115
Collecting Debts
116
Checklist
118
Postscript: After Effects
118
Glossary
120
Further Reading
125
Useful Addresses
127
Appendix 1: UK Colleges, Universities and Other Institutions Offering Publishing Courses
134
Appendix 2: Checklists of Tasks
137
Index
142
Page 9
List of Illustrations
1. A Simple Flowchart of the Publishing Process
16
2. Enquiring About the Cost of Typing or Word-Processing
20
3. Asking for Permission to Reproduce Copyright Material
25
4. A Simple Business Letter Head
30
5. Sample Trade Invoice