Dan Poynter's Self-publishing Manual

by Poynter, Dan

• ISBN13: 9781568601342
• ISBN10: 1568601344
• Edition: 15th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-05-28
• Publisher: Para Pub

Summary

The Self-Publishing Manual, more effectively and successfully than any other book, has turned writers with an idea into successful authors with books by providing solid, usable information in clear, concise, readable lanugage. This is not the stuff of theory, it is the product of hard-earned experience.

Table of Contents

About the Author	xv
Preface—Note to the Reader	xvi
Acknowledgments	xvii
Warning—Disclaimer	xviii
1 YOUR PUBLISHING OPTIONS: WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER SELF-PUBLISHING	19	(26)
Becoming a Celebrity Author	21	(2)
A Book Lasts Forever	23	(1)
Your Own Publishing Business	24	(1)
The Book Publishing Industry	25	(1)
Your Publishing Choices	26	(13)
Eight Good Reasons to Self-Publish	39	(3)
Should You Self-Publish?	42	(1)
The Future of Publishing	43	(2)
2 WRITING YOUR BOOK: GENERATING SALABLE MATERIAL	45	(36)
Picking a Subject	46	(1)
Fiction vs. Nonfiction	47	(1)
Writing It Yourself	48	(2)
Choosing a Title	50	(1)
Developing the Book's Covers	50	(1)
Drafting Your Back-Cover Sales Copy	51	(5)
Research: Finding Material for Your Book	56	(1)
Copyright: What You Can Legally Use	57	(2)
Organize Your Material with the "Pilot System"	59	(2)
Input: Getting It into the Computer	61	(1)
Where to Start: Non-Linear Writing	62	(1)
Concentrated Writing	63	(2)
Using Stories	65	(1)
Lay Out the Binder	65	(2)
The Order Blank	67	(1)
Writing Style	67	(2)
Other Ways to Generate a Manuscript	69	(6)
Negotiating and Contracting with Authors	75	(1)
Advances, Royalties and Fees	76	(5)
3 STARTING YOUR OWN PUBLISHING COMPANY: BASICS FOR TAKING THE PLUNGE	81	(28)
Business Structures	82	(2)
Where to Look for Help	84	(1)
Setting Up Your Business	85	(5)
Licenses and Taxes	90	(3)
The Laws You Must Know	93	(2)
Keeping Records and Paying Taxes	95	(4)
Financing Your Business	99	(6)
How Much Does It Cost to Publish?	105	(2)
Equipment You'll Need	107	(2)
4 PRODUCING YOUR BOOK: DESIGNING BOOKS, TYPESETTING, LAYOUT, BOOK PRINTING MATERIALS,THE PRINTING PROCESS	109	(52)
Information Packaging	110	(1)
Production and Printing Time	110	(1)
Book Design	111	(1)
Book Format	112	(11)
Color Printing	123	(1)
Printing Materials	123	(7)
Hardcover or Softcover	130	(2)
The Book Cover	132	(3)
The Binding	135	(4)
Printing Books	139	(5)
How Many Books to Print?	144	(2)
Estimating Sales	146	(1)
Reprints	147	(1)
Size of Inventory	148	(1)
Selecting a Book Printer	148	(9)
Other Editions	157	(4)
5 ANNOUNCING YOUR BOOK: TELLING THE BOOK WORLD YOU'RE A PUBLISHER AND AN AUTHOR	161	(14)
International Standard Book Number (ISBN)	162	(1)
Bar Codes	163	(1)
Other Important Filings	164	(6)
Directories to List Your Book In	170	(5)
6 WHAT IS YOUR BOOK WORTH?: PRICES, DISCOUNTS, TERMS, COLLECTIONS AND RETURNS	175	(26)
The List Price	175	(2)
The Pricing Formula	177	(4)
Other Pricing Considerations	181	(1)
Discounts	182	(7)
Terms of Sale	189	(4)
Collections	193	(2)
Accounts Receivable	195	(1)
Returns	196	(5)
7 PROMOTING YOUR BOOK: MAKING THE PUBLIC AWARE OF YOUR BOOK WITHOUT SPENDING FOR ADVERTISING	201	(78)
The Cost of Advertising	202	(1)
Advertising vs. Publicity	203	(1)
Editorial Copy vs. Advertising Copy	203	(3)
Beginning the Promotion	206	(3)
Keep Track of Corrections	209	(1)
Pattern of Sales	209	(1)
Best-sellers	210	(1)
Promotion Is Up to the Author	211	(1)
Key Media Contacts	212	(1)
Promotional Materials	213	(5)
Publication Date	218	(2)
Book Reviews	220	(18)
Selecting Review Periodicals	238	(4)
Review Package	242	(6)
More on Reviews	248	(7)
News Releases	255	(9)
Press Kits	264	(1)
Radio and Television Talk Shows	265	(6)
Author Promotion	271	(5)
Book Awards	276	(3)
8 WHO WILL BUY YOUR BOOK?: MARKETS, DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS	279	(62)
Wholesale vs. Retail Sales	280	(1)
Distributors and Wholesalers	281	(6)
Selecting a Distributor	287	(4)
Bookstore Chains	291	(5)
The Library Trade	296	(10)
School Market	306	(3)
Prepublication Sales	309	(1)
Nontraditional Markets	310	(4)
Target Your Markets	314	(2)
Seasons Affect Your Sales	316	(1)
Selling to the Government and Military	317	(1)
Premiums and Incentives	318	(3)
Fund-Raisers	321	(2)
Catalogs	323	(1)
Subsidiary Rights	323	(9)
Opportunities with Other Publishers	332	(3)
Book Exhibits	335	(6)
9 ADVERTISING YOUR BOOK: USING ADS SMARTER & THINKING BEYOND THEM	341	(12)
Your Web Site	341	(1)
Direct Marketing	342	(7)
Co-op Advertising	349	(1)
Point-of-Purchase Sales Aids	349	(1)
Online Advertising	350	(3)
10 FULFILLMENT: MOVING YOUR BOOK OUT THE DOOR	353	(46)
Mail-Order Selling	353	(2)
Order Taking	355	(3)
Credit-Card Orders	358	(1)
Order Processing	359	(7)
Credit and Invoicing	366	(1)
Delayed Orders	367	(3)
Quality Control	370	(1)
Inventory and Storage	371	(3)
Picking and Packing	374	(7)
The Packing Process	381	(3)
Shipping Rates	384	(5)
Posting	389	(2)
Alternatives to Licking and Sticking	391	(2)
Returned Books	393	(2)
Order Fulfillment Alternatives	395	(1)
Remainders	396	(3)
11 COPING WITH BEING PUBLISHED: OR WHAT DO I DO NOW?	399	(10)
Your New Status	399	(1)
How to Autograph Books	400	(1)
Writing Articles	401	(2)
Consulting	403	(1)
Speaking Engagements	403	(1)
Author Promotion	404	(1)
Your Will	405	(1)
Stay in Your Field of Expertise	405	(1)
Local Stores	406	(1)
The Honor of Being Copied	407	(2)
AFTERWORD	409	(2)
APPENDIX 1: YOUR BOOK'S CALENDAR	411	(6)
APPENDIX 2: RESOURCES FOR PUBLISHERS	417	(24)
Recommended Reading/Bibliography	418	(8)
Book Production & Promotion Resources	426	(15)
GLOSSARY	441	(16)
INDEX	457	(8)
COLOPHON	465