To Publish, or Not to Publish…
Making Smart Publishing Decisions
Traditional Publishing
Author w/ Manuscript + Publisher w/ Funding =
Published Book
What You Will Do…
• Provide the completed manuscript• Work with editors and design teams• Help promote the completed work
What they will do…
• Design the cover• Typeset the book • Determine the title • Pay for printing, distribution and marketing
Self Publishing
Author w/ Manuscript + Funding =
Published Book
What You Will Do…
• Everything
Pros for Traditional
• Much less risk for the author• Much less cost for the author • Ready team of professionals already
assembled• No startup costs • Greater prestige
Cons for Traditional
• Much lower profit margin • Far less creative control over cover, title, etc
Pros for Self Publishing
• Much higher potential for profit• Greater creative control
Cons for Self Publishing
• Much greater financial risk • Higher startup costs• More effort on the part of the author• Some people will not take you seriously
Traditional
5000 books @ $10 $50,000 10% $5,000= x =
Print Run Total Revenue Royalty Author Profit
Author Profit
-$5,000
Expenses
$0 =
Total Author Profit
$5,000
If your book does not sell, you do not lose any money.
Self
5000 books @ $10 $50,000 100% $50,000= x =
Print Run Total Revenue Royalty Author Profit
Author Profit
-$50,000
Expenses
$25,000 =
Total Author Profit
$25,000
If your book does not sell, you stand to lose a lot of money.