Publishing

What is Publishing?

Publishing is a popular trend, craze, an entrepreneurship endeavor, or whatever you choose to call it. Different types of publishing have sprung up in the 21st century. But, exactly what is publishing? According to www.dictionary.com there are several definitions. The most common one people are benefiting from is the one with the verb definition, “to issue (printed or otherwise reproduced textual or graphic material, computer software, etc.) for sale or distribution to the public.’’

Types of Publishing

Now, let’s review some common types of publishing. There is traditional publishing, which everyone hopes to accomplish. From my understanding, this is when there is no upfront cost and you may receive an advance for your work. Unless you are a well know public figure such as Stephen King or Michelle Obama, I think being traditionally published would not be impossible, but difficult to achieve. A fast-growing method is self-publishing, where the author does all of the work and has sole rights and ownership of his/her work. In hybrid publishing, the publishing or printing company does some of the work, and the author does some of it. This can include anything from formatting, illustrating, editing, marketing or whatever is set-forth in the contract. They own some of the rights to your work. There is vanity publishing, where a large sum of money is paid by the author and the publishing company does the work like providing illustrations, formatting, editing, etc. These are the ones I am familiar with, but there might be others.

Your Purpose for Publishing

Choosing one to use depends on your purpose for publishing, your expertise, and your financial capabilities. If your purpose is to publish for specific people like family members or for personal satisfaction, then you can probably find some how-to, do-it-yourself information, and publish with minimum expenses. You can also do self-publishing for financial reasons, if you are confident with your writing and technical skills. But, I would think there are many pros and cons when-self publishing as a business. If you are not as confident, then hybrid publishing just might be for you. But, do your research first to find one that meets your needs. Now, with vanity publishing or subsidy publishing, the author pays an agreed upon fee to publish your book. The fees can be higher than other methods and there may be some restriction when publishing. Make sure you pay attention to all of the information written in the contract. This just might be the way to go, if you can manage the fees and if you don’t have the skills or time to do the required work.

Beware of Scammers

With all the hoopla about publishing, I want you to be aware of scammers. They are out there in the publishing world, too. One thing they do is rush you to publish or make it seems there is an urgency to get your work out there. I personally need time to perfect my work, or at least be satisfied before I am ready to submit it. One other thing I think you need to note is their website. Does it look professional and legitimate? Do your research. If and when you decide to send money, use a credit card with limited funds or a prepaid one. Happy publishing, and BEWARE!