>
> --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <jstein@> wrote:
>
> >
> > That's the normal way it works, anyway. If the
> > book is being self-published, the schedule could
> > be shorter depending on how much of the work the
> > author is doing him/herself. Possibly this is being
> > self-published in digital format for download, in
> > which case there's no need for printing, obviously.
>
> I am working with an on demand self-publishing system at lulu.com.
You upload the final
> layout in Word along with JPGs for the cover. A trade paperback can
be ordered within
> minutes. I am currently going over the proofread version. As soon as
I am done and
> upload it, the paperback or PDF will be available. On demand
printing is more expensive
> but requires less upfront expense. If a book starts to sell well one
can alway change to
> traditional printing. Isn't technology amazing?
Self-puplishing has been around for a long time. I worked briefly for
one almost 30 years ago. Its a centuries old tradition. In prior eras,
while with self-publishing, editing and desgin could be handled
in-house without too much difficulty, distribution and marketing were
much larger hurdles.
Now with the advent of Amazon (plus e-books, and MP3 versions
distributed over the web), the huge wall of and distribution -- and to
some extent marketing -- has been reduced to scalable size. With this,
I have wondered why there is not a larger move to self-publishing.
I suspect in self-publishing the two major remaining issues are
marketing and financing. Simply having a well-designed, edited and
written "inventory" of books, and a global distributions system, with
some strong "passive" marketing (that is, it can be found by someone
searching the topic area), does not in itself produce strong sales.
Strong marketing is still needed -- and thats something publishers can
(at times) do well. And publishers can pay advances -- lack of
"salary" being a hurdle for full-time writers -- particularly those
that have a lot of research required to write their books.
Any thoughts other obstacles, and how technolgy, social nets, etc. may
reduce them as barriers? For example Bands and performers are making
huge strides using MySpace and other social networks to develop a core
of fans and listeners -- and generate word of mouth. I suppose MySpace
or similar social nets could create an author friendly venue like it
has done for bands. Amazon has done such to a degree, absent the
networking aspect of Myspace.
Such a new author-promoting venue could include: i)well laid out,
large excerpts of the authors work (unlike the klunky amazon
excerpts), ii) sophisticated search of mutli-dimensional
cross-indexing of the topic matter so new readers could find the
excerpts of interest, easily, iii) one-click sending of recommended
material to friends network, iv) regular venue-wide "best of category"
displays of works (lead-ins) on the venue's home page, v) video and
audio clip interviews with the author, vi) reader reviews and author
comments on such, vii) external reviews, viii) author bio, pics, ix)
links to the book at amazon and other distributor sites, x) to
increase social networking, strong search for friends capabilities
which includes preferences for general types of works, specific
authors, locations, etc.
As a quick aside, in its "anyone-with-talent-can-do-it spirit",
current self-publishing seems somewhat parallel to bloggers who use
Adsense for revenue, garage bands producing their own CDs and MP3s and
marketing/distributing them on the net, and more roughly applicable --
indie film making -- particualarly the you.tube pathway.
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