Next Time, I'll Self-publish | The Passive Voice | Writers, Writing, Self ...

From author Amy Chavez on IndieReader:

I?d walked away from two book contracts because they were not in my best interest, financially, to sign. I?m a professional writer and I have to make a living. If I?m not going to make any money publishing a book, I?m not interested in a book contract. My time is better spent on other writing projects that pay. And believe me, writing a book takes a lot of time away from other money-making projects. Furthermore, I was happy with the sales of my self-published e-book.

But still in the back of my mind was that I should give a publisher a try. Many of my published writer friends scoffed at me saying I had to expect to ?give away? my first book in order to break into publishing. And a publisher can bring you prestige, get your book into bookstores and get the big reviews from Publisher?s Weekly and Library Journal.

So when a small press with over 40 years of publishing experience was interested in my latest manuscript, I decided it was time to see what a publisher could do for me.

. . . .

I?ve summed up my experience in the following 10 points, which I?ve put under the heading:

When to suspect you?re getting taken for a ride by your publisher

. . . .

1. They won?t negotiate any points in your contract. (All book contracts are designed to be advantageous to the publisher and disadvantageous to the author. It?s up to you to negotiate. I tried to negotiate the major points, they refused to budge. I signed anyway).

. . . .

3. They don?t answer emails asking basic questions you need to know so you can plan a marketing strategy (ie: Will the book be available in bookstores? Overseas? In e-book form?).

. . . .

8. They shun Amazon sales because they don?t make as much money as they do selling the book on their own website, where they are charging US$11.00 for domestic shipping on a 220-page, 10.4 oz book.

. . . .

Next time, I?ll self-publish.

Link to the rest at IndieReader

Contracts, Self-Publishing

Source: http://www.thepassivevoice.com/04/2013/next-time-ill-self-publish/

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