An brief overview of the different types of publishing

1) A traditional publisher is usually what every writer aspires to. You will usually be offered a book contract giving them the exclusive right to publish your book. In return, they will pay for everything, from production through to marketing. Money is invested by the publisher, not by the author. A site with information and sample book contracts is www.sfwa.org

2) Self-publishing is just that, the author invests their own money in their book. The author will pay for printing, storage, distribution, marketing etc., with all the financial risk as well. But if the book does well, you also keep all of the profits.

3) POD or print-on-demand is like a combination of traditional and self-publishing. Some companies are selective and don't charge the author, like traditional publishing. Some charge a fee and are not selective, so more akin to self-publishing, but usually cheaper than having a thousand book print run from a printer. POD's store books electronically and can print one book at a time, as and when they are ordered, so no surplus stock cluttering up your garage. Some POD companies are www.greatunpublished.com
www.bookbooters.com
www.1stbooks.com

4) E-publishing is where your book is an e-book or electronic book, not paper. Some e-publishers are selective and don't charge authors, some charge a fee. A few now offer the option of print-on-demand as well. There are two main types of e-book formats, the adobe PDF (portable digital file) and the Microsoft reader. The adobe acrobat reader is needed for PDF files and the Microsoft reader for the Microsoft reader files, both are available free from the Barnes and Noble website, www.bn.com There are thousands of free e-books available on the web, quite a few of them from www.ebookdirectory.com

The benefits from traditional publishing are that it is easier to get your book stocked in brick and mortar bookstores. Disadvantages are that it is very difficult to get published this way.

Self-publishing and POD have the same disadvantage that it is very difficult, but not impossible, for bookstores to carry these books on their shelves, especially if they are not offered the same terms such as discounts and returns if the books aren't sold. The advantages are that you have control over how your work looks from the cover design to the inside layout.

It is really up to the individual to decide what would suit them best.

Annette Gisby copyright 2001