Self Publishing With Print On Demand. Why I'm Returning To Print Publishing
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
- www.TheCreativePenn.com
For more up to date info on Print On Demand, go to:
www.thecreativepenn.com/how-to...
You might also find my free ebook useful: Successful Self-Publishing:
www.thecreativepenn.com/succes...
I also rebranded and retitled Pentecost as Stone of Fire in 2014. You can find all the details, including links to a free ebook at:
jfpenn.com/book/stone-of-fire/
Last year, I decided to give up on print publishing, but I have just received a new copy of Pentecost in print and I wanted to share with you why I have returned to printing books through print-on-demand and when you should consider using print as a publishing option.
Book groups, fans, family and friends all want a print copy (plus my ego likes it!)
Price comparison on Amazon means the ebook looks like a great deal
I'm not pursuing traditional publication of the ARKANE series anymore (although I am pursuing a deal with another series through my literary agent), so I now want to exploit all rights. I will also be doing audio this year.
The books are "stable" meaning the ebooks have been through a few iterations and rewrites, typo fixing etc. Plus my own fiction platform and brand is now established at JFPenn.com and I wasn't clear on that when I first published in Feb 2011.
When I started with print, when I just had one book out, I ended up selling 95% ebooks and very few print anyway. I didn't have a big enough audience and it didn't justify the design costs back then. BUT/ now I have 3 ebooks and the print design is paid for by the ebook sales.
My recommendation
Go ebook first and then do print once your book and brand have 'settled down'. Give it at least 6 months so you can see whether you are making enough in sales.
Use print-on-demand through Createspace.com or LightningSource.com. This is when books are printed and shipped to the customer when they are ordered, and you don't need to buy a huge batch upfront. Printing thousands of books upfront is one of the top mistakes of indie authors. Don't do it unless you are a speaker or have an existing distribution method.
Use professionals for interior and cover design. I recommend Joel at TheBookDesigner.com, Derek Murphy of CreativeIndie and JDSmith Design.
I do love print, the smell of the book, the feel of your work, it is all excellent!
It is an amazing feeling holding your first book in your hands. It was for me!
Thank you for your honesty about what you learned from the early mistakes. That was wonderful
Thank you for sharing your experience with us Joanna. I really appreciate learning from those who have paved the way.
I really like the idea that you are using your ebook edition as a beta test. It does really give you time to get the kinks worked out in the book before you commit the resources to print.
Thank you for all of the great info and insight! I wish you all the best!
This was a really infomative video, and the links were very helpful! I would love to hear more about how your marketed your ebooks when you first started out.
Also look forward to hearing more about how your print books go. Wishing you all the best!
Glowing reviews, I quite look forwards to reading your work. I think I might fall in love if I watch a few more of your videos :) I stumbled upon this, as once I can find a way to get my arse into gear and write more often I wish to self publish. I have little faith that the bigger publishing houses would look at me as my latest project is low fantasy.
This is GREAT advice! Thank you! It was exactly where I was stuck!
I was going to print with a printing company but the Better Business Bureau cases scared me away. Thank you for your video.
Thanks Jo! Great information. I have several books in the works. After 16 months of non-responses from query letters motivated me into independent publishing research; I am leaning toward an initial eBook release, adding printed copies later on.
Great advice, Joanna, especially on having a print book by the ebook so buyers compare prices.
Very well done. Extremely, informative.
LOVE your show, Joanna!
We would love to see A.J. Mittendorf interviewed.
Thank you so much for the great info and great shows!!
J
Thank you for the insight, I am a new Author always looking to new things and advice, you did a great video, I think that we should always print books with of course the other formats being the top ones, thanks again, have a great week, best wishes for the future.
Thank you for your great advice.
Thank you for the very interesting tips. I totally agree that e-books are great for making the necessary edits before creating a hard copy of the book. While e-books are convenient, they will never totally replace the tactile warmth of a hard-copy. My book "Letters to My Daughters" is currently on Kindle Select, and someday, God willing, may be a part of the Create Space process. Again, many thanks!
love your advice
Author's "must" have a print book as well as an e-book.
Emil I agree!
Sounds like it's official! :)
As a publisher of creative writing guides in our how to become an author series, I can tell you that this is quality advice, well worth looking at her website
I personally prefer print books, but since I am looking to publish my first book and do not have working capital to put into print, I see ebooks as my only option at the moment. I absolutely love walking into a room full of bookshelves, love the heft of a good book in my hand, and don't see the appeal of ereaders, but one can't deny their popularity and space-saving ability. I hope to find my own audience this way!
Great insight fro new authors
about the publish my first ebook. The idea of the higher priced print book was a very good point.
Delightful and educational -- who could ask for more?
Yes, we should still do printed versions of our books. Thank you for your comparisons and for speaking about Derek Murphy as I have been considering using him. Your comparisons helped me a lot. Julie Griffin
Print over E-Books any day of the week. The written word, bound into a book is the height of our ability to create lasting works. digital made that easier, but every attempt to make a digital only medium has ultimately been less successful than the good old fashion book.
Oh sure E-books are a nice option, but they are a much inferior option to good old fashion books. Your real books will never be redacted by publishers, don't require batteries, are cheaper to replace if you lose it & wont ruin your eyes quite as fast.
Ha. You just said it's best to wait to do the print (due to corrections found on the ebook). Also good advice. Thanks.
The most difficult thing about self publishing is marketing your book and yourself to others.
Well at least you had thousands to spend and learned about the difference between the cost of both types of books. You've touched on all the mistakes I made and had to learn from too. I cut my old publisher loose. Writing is something that you really have to already have a substantial amount of money to get started in. I have three gothic sci-fi novels out with a third to be out in a month or so and video commercials running on youtube-30 second spots advertising all three books.. The American audience is the hardest to sell to because unless they're buying a game or their 15th iPhone, throwing it out on liquor, its hard or impossible for them to actually sit still for two seconds and concentrate on anything. I'm glad you're making money and I hope you go to the top. Congratulations.
Thanks for this. As an illustrator who is just finishing his first self written childrens book, POD is very exciting. I'm keen to see how good the print quality will be though as this is a full colour illustrated book. In my mind, while i will embrace digital/e books and publish in that format also, i would hate to see the end of physical printed books. They are lovely to have, hold, pass on and that will hopefully always be the case.
1. You're adorable. Both your passion and your smile are contagious!
2. This is very helpful. I'm considering POD for my ebook, "Decoding the Pendulum: Become A Psychic In Seconds" because a few people have asked for it in print. So, we'll see!
Thanks for posting this! Much love!
Good stuff. Thanks for the post. I agree with Jepst41. It is amazing to hold your book in your hands. I've had two.
Very helpful thank you
Print is a good idea, for all the reasons you already mentioned. If you are publishing through createspace, make sure you get your own ISBN number and not the one provided by createspace, so that you have the option to sell your print books elsewhere. I personally publish in both createspace and LSI (lightning source). Another thing I would recommend is have the book cover designer put the price code at the back of your book cover instead of the standard 90000 , this is required for bookstores.
Thanks for sharing.
This was extremely enlightening, just about to publish my first children's adventure novel and POD sounds the way to go. I am not sure how many kids have kindles etc. Print is GFG (good for grandparents) who are seriously into encouraging children to read. Best wishes and thank you.
Thanks for the great information. I'm in the process of editing my second novel and will be self-publishing for the first time. I will be using Createspace. I'm a bit nervous, but I'm going to do it anyway.
Great video! If you look at the statistics, most people still prefer to buy print books. I put out my first English ebook called "From Ebook to Paperback" to explain the KDP process. I think a lot of self-publishers struggle with this.
Joanna, I am myself a newly author & publisher of my first e-book which is coming out very soon on Amazon. I think print increases authority with your readers and is a good idea, for me I thought it was much easier and cost effective to start off online with an e-book first before printing on demand. A project I plan on doing for myself in the near future, thanks for sharing your advice, and or tips.
Hello, Stacey. Can you let me know now that goes, E-Book. My book will be done in 4- 6 mos. My e-mail is in my website www.moblifeproductions.com.
great video
Thanks, Joanna. I'll be really interested to see how your sales go. I've often wondered if the surge into ebooks was a temporary spike as people tried out the new technology, rather than the sign that print was doomed. There may be an enduring place for both formats. I guess we'll find out over the next few years.
thank you so much~!!
Digital ebooks are increasing in sales drastically.
mannie's Art And Fitness Channel please read my Book titled THE god good to figure out on Amazon Kinde self published. A christian apologetic Book.
I've found there are def a lot of readers out there that will only read hardcover or paperback. So, I've been doing things like a traditional author. What's nice now (2016) as opposed to then (2013) is that it doesn't cost much to produce a physical book. (I think...not sure what it was in 2013.)
Steven King got rejected numerous times before he was published and became famous. Sometimes, you have to do things yourself to get your writing seen.
I have used several, but in the end I am using Blurb. ebooks are easy to format and are pure profit. their printed books are very good. no cost to the author.
This was a very helpful interview. I have often wondered about the question of book sizes and how to stage release of different editions. I am curious, however, how did you get into the library and bookstore channel?
Selling Used Books on Amazon:
In my opinion one thing that hurts Self published authors more than Traditional authors is Amazon and Barnes and Noble sell used books that self published authors do not receive royalties for.
Kindles are not affected as Amazon does not sell used Kindles.
I would like to see Amazon and Barnes and Noble add a fee to their used books they sell so
the self published author would receive royalties on a resold book.
If people could not buy a used book on Amazon they would have to buy a new book and the author would get a royalty. If amazon added a fee to give the author a royalty on the sales of used books amazon would not lose a thing
I would like to see someone get behind this and help self published authors get the royalties they deserve. Self Published authors cannot get their books into book stores like traditional published authors can so the selling of used books on Amazon really hurts a Self Published author.
I love her. Lovely lady.
I just found my way to this video, and really enjoyed the ideas you mentioned. In particular, I have been thinking about launching in an ebook format for the same reasons you mentioned, and as my book includes artwork, looking into a limited edition handmade print. Do you have any updates on these two tips since you created this video?
This is an OLD video! For limited edition, hand made books, you will need to find a specialist printer so you'll just need to google a lot.
I use print on demand for my books, and use KDP Print and Ingram Spark.
More here - www.thecreativepenn.com/successfulselfpublishing/
Great video Joanna the strategies that you explains on how to create value has really helped me to self publish and sell more books ( when you get some free time go and check it out on Amazon ) the title is Every known situation this book will change your 5 star reviews
Good video. Just had a question on how long did it take you to develop the audience to buy your print book? Why did you print the books and did not have buyers or knew before hand your readers would buy your book? Was this something your publisher or agent suggested in the beginning?
So, how was the sales after you did the Print version?
Thank you,
The Reality Writer
I'm curious, are you able to set up the same self publishing deal with more than one place, and what is the royalty rate?
Thanks Joanna. Really enjoyed a number of your interviews. It certainly seems that having a print edition of your books needs to be on the roadmap. eBooks are a great way to introduce a book, let it evolve naturally before moving towards something like a printed version.
K.G. Heath is a horror / fantasy writer. Song of the Universe is available now exclusively for Kindle. www.amazon.co.uk/Song-Universe-Spire-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00N6UFUGU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409926974&sr=8-1&keywords=song+of+the+universe
I must be old fashioned. I still want my books printed upfront. I am just about to print a short run of hardbacks and a few hundred paperbacks. Then I will put it on Kindle.
Nice comment.
Beside print on demand or those large print runs you can also do smaller runs with specialized bookmakers like Booksfactory.co.uk . They have a very little minimal order amount and ship 10, 20, 300 or 2000 books to you. As you wish.
Disclaimer: I am involved in their *.at and *.ch site.
You can do both. Amazon Kindle ebooks and Amazon Create Space for print books. largest book selling platforms in the world.
I want to publish a ebook who would you suggest I use to convert it into an ebook?
Just wondering if there was a reason for printing Pentecost in a smaller size...
Do you use your own ISBNs? Can you use your own ISBN with BookBaby?
Joanna, which printing service makes your books on demand? Are your books assembled in InDesign? Can you elaborate.....
I think you might have found other options since you asked this two years ago but she talks about it in the description.
Very informative, thanks! Print on Demand sounds like a great thing. The idea of having boxes full of your own books sitting around at home sounds both sad and unpractical.
I fully agree.
For those who commented below about not having the money to publish their book. I went to Lulu.com and published my book "Reflections of a Christian Kungfu Master' for free. The even list your book on Amazon.com in over 6 countries as well as Barnes and Noble, Ingrams. They have forums there and live chat from other authors who are willing to help out with any questions. Again it's free to publish there and you can also make epud versions as well. Lulu.com
Createspace is free to publish on as well.
Hi Joanna, I agree with having a POD Print book for a "justification" of your eBook pricing, However. a better justification of a POD Print book is the elder people, some of whom cannot read regular font sizes and a LARGE Print version will open a whole new group of readers for you! You are still young enough that this might not have come to mind for you but ask any eye Doctor about the age most people start to lose visual acuity.
This is actually the biggest growth market for ereaders as you can change the font size :)
Thanks for the information. I am looking at Crowd Funding to assist with raising money. I will check out the websites you referred. I do however like companies that do it all for you. Now vanity publishing is so much cheaper.
kaloshilo, which companies do it all for you? Because some of us newbies may not know what all needs to be done and having someone that does know all the steps would really be helpful.
www.lulu.com is a great site to work with if interested in self-publishing!
My book is complete. I did it through Amazon.com and Createspace. Look up Neshenti, A power source Gods call the FURY
So is ita good idea to launch an ebook and then bring a print version of it.
Yes, use print on demand to do a print edition in an affordable way - www.thecreativepenn.com/how-to-self-publish-a-print-book/
I'm wanting to know how I can get more then 10, print books for advertising, promoting sales, giveaways.
+Jeffery Williams In the video, Joanna mentioned that you can take your print ready file of the book to a local printer to get a larger run done.
Never mind..... I wrote the question half way through the video....
what is the print-on -demand . how much it cost and how many copies you have to order.?
She mentions Createspace and Lightningsource in the description along with other info.
Hi Joanna! I have come across your name several times recently and decided to look you up on UA-cam. Great video and quite informative.
Sincerely,
Diana Loera
Author of What I Did to Sell More Kindle Books on Amazon book series and a lot more cool books
Joanna never replies unfortunately. She has said that in other videos. I wish she would! But apparently she is on twitter a lot. I don't really like twitter but then again she might not even reply there, not sure! =/
Can you have print versions of your book and E-book versions of your novel?
D_Lambily Yep, though you will need an IBSN for each format.
VS Holmes
Thanks
Dollars? Are you in the USA?
No, I'm in the UK but the biggest part of my audience is in the USA and also, it's an internationally understood currency in terms of exchange rates.
@@thecreativepenn ahh at least mention the pound first? Always feels a bit icky when the English try and 'Americanize' their lives. X
If you are sitting in front of a computer screen most of the day, then reading a physical book gives your eyes a rest. I think that might be why our smart-phone-obsessed children tend to like printed versions. Maybe not though?
I think that kids like print books because they can OWN them, and they often don't own many other things. They also have all the physical space they like. I think it changes when kids leave home because suddenly there is no space anymore. The switch to digital then happens.
each to their own. but give me an actual book any day of the week.
Print on demand IS an actual book. If you order any of my print books (hardback, large print, paperback), one is printed and sent to you, using print on demand technology.
The real tragedy is the ART medium of the novel is disappearing.. Getting lost in a Thomas Mann novel - with tactile words that seem soaked into paper - is being replaced with digital-electronic-pings that hit you ... even if the author still is Mann.
Not true. There are in fact many MORE people of all diverse voices writing books now the gatekeepers have less power. But you have to seek them out!
@@thecreativepenn Thank you. I repent. Just today, for first time, I read a part of a novel-ebook. It did have a different aesthetic feel, but it was a good, more animated, difference. And a literary voice from the author did come through. (It inspired me to keep going on my own ebook projects.)
I do not recommend publishing with lulu .NOT HONEST, money thirsty company. It is against my principles to write bad things but in this case it is my civic duty. For the first time self-published authors, there is no end to pitfalls, scams, and abusers who prey on the inexperienced. I am just sharing my experiences with you.
The only good thing I can say about them is that the paper they use for book covers is of a bit better quality than Amazon KDP’s, but that’s it.
Lulu ABUSES WRITERS and withholds their royalties
I do not recommend publishing with lulu. Contrary to their publicly announced royalty rates (the rates on lulus web page) they DO NOT PAY the amount they promise. Always less. It would be wise to be away from lulu. They say it will take them 5 to 6 weeks should you take your book down . This is NOTHING but A LIE. They can do it in a click or so.
All these books must be crap since no publisher wanted them.
Amanda Hugandkiss
You’re clearly ignorant. I’m publishing my first novel soon, without even trying to go through a traditional publisher.
I will have the novel professionally edited and will pay a book cover designer for a professional and attractive cover.
I will also pay someone to handle the interior design.
They’re are strong reasons why somebody would not even bother with traditional publishing.
But no doubt you don’t care about true analysis.