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.