Publishing: Introduction for Beginners

There are many options available for the writer who wishes to have their novels, short stories, poetry, non-fiction and more read by the public. This week we will explore the basics of several types of publishing, including traditional publishing, electronic publishing, Indie publishing, and other avenues.

There are practical considerations when choosing a publishing venue. Do you want to earn money? How hard are you willing to work before and after publication? Does the traditional title of author and the feather in your cap mean much to you? Do you have the means to market your work? Do you want feedback and comments? Once you have resolved such questions, you’ll be ready to look at the various options.

The publishing industry is changing. It should come as a surprise to no one, having watched similar sweeping changes first in the movie industry and then in music. Movies sequed into both big screen and VHS/DVD releases with success. Although the music industry has not settled into its new paradigm, shifts have and continue to occur in favor of electronic media. Books will be no different.

Some major publishing houses are already including electronic formats in their releases. Indie authors are finding critical and monetary success. E-Publishers are thriving. The internet has opened many doors, giving writers a chance to show their work via fiction sites, Blooks (blogged books) and individual web sites.

While there will always be a place for physical books, today’s consumers are embracing the E-Book as never before. There has been media coverage regarding the decline of book sales and talk of even large chains such as Borders going under. Gone are the days publishers could take a chance on a project simply because it had merit. Publishers are focused on buying manuscripts that will sell. Traditional publishing is tougher, but good books are still being acquired.

What does this mean for the hopefuls of today? The industry is in flux and no one is quite sure where it will settle. If it is your hope to pursue a career as a fiction author, New York is still the way to go. The instant clout and backing of both agent and editor can help you build a name and fan base. There is much work for the traditional author, however, both after the sale and before the release.

Should you be fortunate enough to have an established platform or be an expert in your field, you’d have an easier time selling to the publishers, but you also have other options, including EBook web sales or combination publishing using a Print on Demand (PoD) service.

For those who fully embrace the electronic age, E-Publishers take submissions the same way traditional publishers do, even following the electronic format with a tree book at a later date. E-Publishers are also making serious inroads with the fiction market.

If your goal is simply to share your words with the world, there are internet options, including fiction sites and setting up your own website where readers can view your work on line or download it in a variety of formats.

When it comes to the paycheck, traditional publishing is not as lucrative as you might think unless you hit the best seller lists or your publisher is backing you with solid marketing. For the expert with established platform, an E-Book is likely to earn you more in the long run than a one time advance.

One thing of which you must be aware as we explore publishing this week: Posting your work to the internet is to publish it and use the First Rights. If you hope to pursue traditional avenues, be very cautious about making that piece available to the public. Many publishers want First Rights.

Some of the terms you will see this week:

Advance: Money paid at the time a book contract is signed, sometimes split between signing and final delivery.
Agent: An author representative who pitches a manuscript to a publisher.
Author: A writer who has been paid by an outside publisher for a manuscript and subsequently published.
EBook: A book in electronic format.
Editor: The person at the publishing house responsible for preparing your manuscript for publishing.
EPub: An electronic publisher, focusing primarily or exclusively on EBooks.
First Rights: These rights are used when your work becomes available to the public, whether on paper or on the internet.
Imprint: Large publishing houses often have several different lines, called imprints, such as Harlequin Steeple Hill or Harlequin Blaze.
Indie Author: A recent term to describe someone who has self published a quality product.
Indie Publisher: Usage varies, from mom & pop presses to independent publishers of all types.
New York: Shorthand for the large publishing houses primarily based in New York City.
PoD: Print on Demand, provided by a company who prints books in very small runs or individually as they are ordered.
Royalties: Money paid to the author on sales after the advance is earned out.
Small Press: A press or publisher operating independent of the large publishing houses.
Specialty Press: Organizations, associations, and universities may operate a publishing entity.
TPub: Shorthand for Traditional Publishing House, usually large with multiple imprints.

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