On Demand Publishing

 

 

On demand publishing, also known as print on demand, allows details of your book to be stored electronically for later printing on a one-off basis. The book is not entirely the same animal, but costs are much lower and you don't have unsold copies filling attic and garage.

On demand publishing has not received a favourable press, but some of the criticisms come from the vested interests of the conventional publishing trade. Much, if not all, of the promotion falls on your shoulders, but that is commonly the case even with conventional publishing.

First the on demand publishing advantages:

1. Costs start somewhere around $300, compared to the $1000+ for conventional printing.

2. Turnaround is a few weeks rather than the customary 18 months.

3. The process is simple. You send the company the text by email, ftp or on a floppy through the post, and they do the rest.

4. Your book can be listed on Amazon and other online bookshops.

5. On demand publishing can turn out books of a specialist or limited appeal that would otherwise never see the light of day.

Now the on demand publishing disadvantages:

1. Some of the cheaper versions don't look so good: simple covers and pages that won't lie flat.

2. No quality controls unless you ask and pay for them. The limited editing, proofing, typesetting, illustration, warehousing, marketing and reviewing can show in poor quality and sales.

3. Conventional bookshops don't like stocking these products because they are not easily returned. Books are distributed with hefty discounts (55% at Amazon) on a sale-or-return basis, which on demand publishing does not generally permit.

4. The books themselves can be more expensive than their conventional counterpart, sometimes 50% more.

All that said, on demand publishing will be the only avenue open to many poets who haven't the time or inclination to climb the slippery pole of the conventional publishing route. Only the smallest fraction of the poetry written today finds its way into books, and these often come out under university presses: limited editions bought by libraries but not the general public.

The essential need is to visit the many Internet sites offering advice on this publishing approach, compare the contracts carefully, and purchase a book or two from likely candidates before stumping up the cash.

 

You'll find more information, and Internet references on poetrymagic.co.uk.

 

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