An overview and cost comparison of the ways to publish your book
If you’ve written a manuscript or if you’re in the process of writing one, there are many things you have already learned. In addition, there are even more things you may need to know. If you’re a first time author, there are details that may not have even occurred to you that will definitely make or break the success of your hard work.
In the history of writing, people who write have never had the benefit of the opportunities that are now available to help them see their dream come true.
In the past, it didn’t matter how passionate a writer was about the story they had to tell, the question of whether their book would become published was a matter that was mostly beyond their control.
In truth, less than 1% of authors who hope to be accepted through traditional publishing methods will actually reach the contract stage with their manuscript. At the end of only one day, thousands of potential authors have been rejected and may be left wondering if there is any hope of ever seeing their words in print.
If traditional publishing has been your dream, don’t be discouraged by the facts. Let’s take a moment to define the principal ways books can now be published.
Traditional Publishing – The business of producing books to sell to the public. A book publisher buys the rights to an author’s manuscript. The publisher then has control the writer’s work and makes all of the final decisions about the content and how it will be presented. Often, the writer is expected to share costs of promoting the book and may receive very little financial return, if any.
Subsidy Publishing – A partnership between a publisher and an author. Both parties provide an investment in moving a manuscript through the stages of development all the way to becoming a book in print. The profits are shared.
Self-publishing – To publish a book using the author’s own resources and finances without the help of an established publisher. The author has complete control over every aspect of the process and retains 100% of the rights and profits.
Assisted self-publishing – To publish a book using the author’s own resources and finances and the services of an experienced professional. Some authors may pick and choose which parts of the publishing process they will pay to have help with. Others may agree to contract the services of a company or an individual who will basically do everything for them, yet the author will retain 100% of their own rights and profits.
If you’re writing a book and need help with the publishing process, please let I Am Published! know how we can help you. We offer a wide range of services and several affordable packages depending on your needs.
Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth & Babies, Second Edition
Author, Stephanie Fritz, LM, CPM, also known as The Essential Midwife, contracted I Am Published! for the first and second editions of her excellent book, Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth & Babies.
I Am Published! provided the cover design, interior formatting, printing, e-book formatting, registrations, and distribution for this book.
We are highly pleased with the delicate beauty of this publication, inside and out. The thoughtful use of subtle color and flourishes on the cover, along with a luxurious silky texture, bestows Stephanie’s book with an irresistible attraction to those seeking wisdom in the art of using essential oils during the childbearing years and beyond. Every page is packed with information and each spread is elegantly displayed.
We hear nothing be great things about the success of this book among pregnant moms and others who have already given birth.
Stephanie Fritz is a Licensed Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife. She has a very successful midwifery practice in Southeast Arizona, covering a 2.5 hour radius around her, from the desert to the mountains. Many of her out-of-hospital births are in very rural areas.
Stephanie believes knowledge is power and that with comfort, support, trust and privacy, birth can be simple and beautiful.
In 2008, Stephanie was introduced to a quality of therapeutic essential oils that she felt confident in using with her clients and their babies as a natural health solution. She has watched her clients’ health and comfort increase dramatically both physically as well as emotionally, with these gifts of the earth.
Contact I Am Published! so we can help you achieve the professional publication of your book.
For more on Stephanie Fritz, visit her website at TheEssentialMidwife.com
Ten Ways to Write a Book
1. Make a resolution
Determine a number of days that you will set aside time to write in order to complete your manuscript. Spend a reasonable amount of time each day developing the material that you write. Write “on assignment” each and every day until your resolution has been completed and you have a manuscript.
2. Questions and answers
Create a list of ten or twelve questions about a topic you are passionate about, then set about systematically answering the questions and writing ten or twelve pages about each question. Each “answer” becomes a chapter in your book.
3. Chapter of the month
Make a list of twelve topics that relate to a subject you want to write about, then make the time to write a chapter each month of one year to complete your book.
4. Interview style
It’s easier for some people to talk to someone about their passion than it is to write about it. Get a good friend to agree to spend ten to twelve sessions with you as you record what you have to say about one topic for each session. Transcribe what you said and then fine tune.
5. Go on your own writer’s retreat
Book a stay at a place where you will not be distracted, hold yourself hostage, and then write your brains out until your manuscript is completed.
6. Write another person’s story
Meet with a person whose story you want to write about and record what they have to say regarding ten or twelve topics that are pre-determined. Transcribe and develop the material later.
7. By an outline
Sit down and name your book, based on the subject. Break what you want to communicate about your subject into ten or twelve topics. Spend some time creating ten or twelve focus sentences that are all related to each topic. Develop more material about each of the focus sentences until you have said all you want to say.
8. Collaborate
Get a writing partner and set aside time to meet. Create a basic outline for your book and then take turns writing paragraphs.
9. Blog
Set up a blog site and write three posts a week about a topic or random subjects until you have compiled enough of your thoughts to publish a book. Categorize your posts as you write and organize the material into chapters later.
10. Let others inspire you
If you know of published books on a topic you are passionate about, have a look at some of them—don’t read them—just look at them. Without copying their words or the details of their material, use their table of contents as a model to gain your own inspiration. Re-name the chapters your own way and then put the book away and write your own thoughts and do your own research.
Contact I Am Published! so we can help you achieve the professional publication of your book.
In the comment section below, tell us why you want to write a book!
Writer’s Workshop
Recently, our I Am Published! Director, Joe Eckstein, had the opportunity to speak to a group of writers at Joanne Derstine Curphey’s 6th Annual Writer’s Workshop in Bradenton, Florida.
His topic was, “The Quest to Getting Your Book Published and Why You Need Help!”. Joe’s talk was an honest look at the details of publishing a book and the many areas that require expertise for a book to be respected in the marketplace.
Joe’s talk was recorded and if you’re interested in hearing what he had to say, contact us and we will let you know how you can obtain it.
Joe was able to attend the entire conference and met some seasoned and aspiring authors who showed their appreciation for his talk and came by his table between sessions to speak with him and ask questions about publishing their books.
Joe is always impressed at the creativity and passion of people who want to put their vision in print. He met many of them at this conference and looks forward to staying connected.
If you’d like more information about Joanne Derstine Curphey’s Writer’s Workshop, she has a Facebook Page where she shares information about the event and speakers.
If you’re writing a book and need help with the publishing process, please let us know how we can help you. We offer a wide range of services and several affordable packages depending on your needs.
Teach Like a PIRATE
I Am Published! worked with author Dave Burgess to publish his phenomenally successful book, Teach Like a PIRATE: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator.
We were able to provide Dave with a custom, professional, and eye-catching design for both the cover and the interior of the book that helped it garner widespread attention in education circles. We also took care of certain details, allowing him to stay focused on other parts of his career.
The work we did on Teach Like a PIRATE allowed it to be marketed effectively and successfully, so much so that it has repeatedly made the New York Times Best Seller List in Education books. Additionally, it has been reviewed by and featured in many educational publications.
As an award-winning U.S. History teacher at West Hills High School in San Diego, California, for more than sixteen years, Dave Burgess specializes in teaching hard-to-reach, hard-to-motivate students with techniques that incorporate showmanship and creativity.
Based on Dave’s popular seminars, Teach Like a PIRATE, his book by the same title offers inspiration, practical techniques, and innovative ideas designed to help teachers boost their creativity, transform their life as an educator, and increase student engagement.
Contact I Am Published! so we can help you achieve the professional publication of your book.
For more on Dave Burgess, visit his website at DaveBurgess.com.
12 Reasons You Should Write a Book
The fact that you are on this blog site shows you are curious and that it has entered your mind to write a book before this moment in time.
Even though it may not be a brand new idea, you’ve taken an important step by browsing and seeing what you can learn.
No doubt, you’re looking for some kind of encouragement that would lead you toward making some kind of commitment or at least moving ahead from where you are now.
Read these 12 Reasons Why You Should Write a Book and if you are feeling even more adventurous, look around our website. Be sure to contact us if we can help!
1. To share your expertise
2. A book is the best possible image development tool to help you build your business
3. A book is a great product to sell through a blog, seminar or speaking engagement
4. As the basis for other creative works, such as a movie, play, speech, etc.
5. To set yourself apart from your competition
6. To create a legacy
7. Because you have a story to tell
8. To help others do something better
9. If anyone has ever told you that you should
10. For the purpose of documenting an experience
11. To memorialize a person
12. To fulfill a dream…because it’s an awesome feeling to publish your vision
In the comment section below, tell us why you want to write a book!
21 Reasons to Use I Am Published to Publish Your Book
- Personal one-on-one coaching
- Your own on-demand printer account
- Worldwide distribution
- Meet bookstore requirements
- Professional, custom book cover design
- Branded, professional custom book layout
- eBook conversion: Kindle, iPad, Nook
- Dozens of book sizes
- Professional copyediting
- Timelines that fit your schedule (in as little as 45 days)
- Retail Distribution:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Ingram, Baker & Taylor and more - 100% Royalties
- No minimum orders
- Print cost based on specs (not retail price)
- Direct distributor access to track sales
- Free ISBN barcode
- Easy, worldwide drop ship ordering
- Everything done for you
- All rights retained (including distribution repurpose)
- Personal one-on-one account training
- Useful marketing materials
Traditional Books That Were Originally Self-Published
The Elements of Style by Strunk and White
All time best-selling writing/reference guide in the US.
The Enormous Room by E.E. Cummings
Now considered a “masterpiece;” dedicated to the 15 publishers who rejected it.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Now a movie with three sequel books in the works all bought by a traditional publisher.
What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles
Six million copies are in print in 11 languages. It spent 288 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Picked up by Ten Speed Press (owned by Random House).
The One-Minute Manager by Spencer Johnson and Ken Blanchard
Spencer Johnson then was traditionally published with Who Moved My Cheese?
The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
The largest advance ever paid for a self published book—$4.125 million.
Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun by Wess Roberts
Sold 486,000 copies before selling out to Warner Books.
In Search of Excellence by Tom Peters
Over 25,000 copies sold directly to consumers in its first year, sold to Warner and the publisher sold 10 million more
The Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer
Still a “classic” available in bookstores worldwide.
The Beanie Baby Handbook by Lee and Sue Fox
Sold three million copies in two years and made #2 on the New York Time Bestseller list.
A Time to Kill by John Grisham
This title was sold out of the trunk of his car.
Feed Me, I’m Yours by Vicky Lansky
Rejected by 49 publishers, self-published and sold 300,000 copies. Bantam purchased it and sold eight million more. Since then, she’s written 23 more titles.
Twelve Golden Threads by Aliske Webb
Rejected 150 times. After she sold 25,000 copies, HarperCollins asked her to sign a four-book contract.
Life’s Little Instruction Book by H. Jackson Brown
Purchased by Rutledge Hill Press (owned by Thomas Nelson) and sold more than five million copies.
Satin Doll by Karen E. Quinones-Miller
She sold 24,000 copies of this novel before it was sold in an auction to Simon & Schuster—less than one year after its release.
Some Publishing Facts
As you’re contemplating how to publish your manuscript, you will find several schools of thought on the topic. If you are a first time author, it can be especially confusing to know the difference between traditional and self-publishing.
The information in this post will give you a concise comparison of these two methods and some of the facts you should know before you make your decision.
Eight Things Should You Expect From Your Book Cover Designer
Readers do judge a book by its cover, so it’s important to make your book or e-book stand out. A good book cover designer will create a custom cover for your paperback or hardcover book that will attract readers’ attention and give your book professional credibility.
- Your book cover designer should be able to provide you with a fully custom, professional book cover design that includes the front cover, back cover, and spine for either a paperback or hardcover format of your book.
- If you are planning to publish an e-book, only a front cover design is needed, so you can expect to pay less than you’d pay for a full book cover design.
- For paperback, hardcover or e-books, the design you receive should include multiple concepts and incorporate stock imagery, custom graphics, or feature photos or artwork you provide.
- Chances are good that you may want to fine-tune your cover during the design process. You should be allowed the opportunity to make changes to the color, text, layout or images on your cover, with no hard feelings.
- In case you want to create multiple books or e-books in a series, your book cover designer can create your cover as a template that can be saved and later applied to subsequent books for a discounted price.
- Your book designer should either insert the ISBN and EAN barcode or allow the space for the barcode according to required specifications for book printing.
- The designer should provide the final files for the printer according to the printer’s specifications.
- Images of your cover should be made available to you for an e-book format and for the purpose of promoting your book.
Click here to find a book cover designer who will meet or exceed all of the above.