Book Review: The Self-Publishing Manual
Self-Publishing, Start to Finish with Publishing Guru Dan Poynter
Sep 6, 2008
Dan Poynter's Self-Publishing Manual, 16th Edition: How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book
- Paperback: 463 pages
- Publisher: Para Publishing; 16 Revised edition (March 25, 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1568601425
- ISBN-13: 978-1568601427
Self-Publishing
There comes a time in an author/writer's career when she or he considers whether or not to self-publish their book. This may be at the very beginning or maybe after many rejection slips from publishers. Maybe the author wants to have control and reap the profits for herself. This book starts out by walking the author through the considerations necessary to make this decision.
The Book: The Self-Publishing Manual
The book is presented as a linear, step-by-step guide to the procedure of self-publishing a book.
Table of Contents
1. YOUR PUBLISHING OPTIONS
- Why You Should Consider Self-Publishing
2. WRITING YOUR BOOK
- Generating Salable Material
3. STARTING YOUR OWN PUBLISHING COMPANY
4. PRODUCING YOUR BOOK
- Designing Books
- Typesetting
- Layout
- Book Materials
- The Printing Process
5. ANNOUNCING YOUR BOOK
- Telling the World You Are an Author and a Publisher
- Getting Listed
6. WHAT IS YOUR BOOK WORTH?
- Price
- Discounts
- Terms
- Collections and Returns
7. PROMOTING YOUR BOOK
- Making the Public Aware of Your Book Without Spending for Advertising
8. WHO WILL BUY YOUR BOOK?
- Markets
- Distribution Channels
9. ADVERTISING YOUR BOOK
- Direct Mail
- Broadcast
10. FULFILLMENT
- Moving Your Book Out the Door
11. ELECTRONIC BOOK PUBLISHING AND PROMOTION
- Electronic Books
- Downloadable Books
- Automated Printing
- Print on Demand
- Online Promotion
12. COPING WITH BEING PUBLISHED
- Or What Do I Do Now?
- Appendix
- Your Book's Calendar
- Resources for Publishers
- Glossary
- Index
Book Marketing
Even with a New York publisher author-marketing is often necessary. As stated recenly by one of these authors, "My publisher's publicity person isn't doing anything for my book." This is not unusual as money becomes tighter in the publishing market. Poynter's book offers sage marketing advice for these authors as well as for the self-publisher.
Summary
Poynter takes the author/writer through every step of self-publishng, from the initial decision whether or not to self-publish to "Coping with Being Published." This book provides a complete education in publishing (self ot other). Delving into this book it bcomes obvious why Dan Poynter is considered THE self-publishing guru.
"Today there is a New “Book” Model. With this approach and new technology you can break into print even faster, easier and for less money." Dan Poynter
About The Book's Author
Dan Poynter fell into publishing. He spent eight years researching a labor of love. Realizing that no publisher would be interested in a technical treatise on the parachute, he went directly to a printer. The orders poured in, and the author was suddenly a publisher.
In 1973, he became interested in a new aviation sport but couldn’t find a book on the subject, so the skydiver and pilot sat down and wrote one. So far, Hang Gliding has sold over 130,000 copies—a best seller!
Continuing to write, Dan has produced over 80 books and revisions, some of which have been translated into Spanish, Japanese, British English, Russian and German. His books are loaded with facts and figures and detailed inside information. They are always up to date because he revises them before going back to press. Dan thinks out of the box. He published a circular book on Frisbee play, a gift book for writers, the first book on hang gliding, the first book on word processors and most of the books on parachutes and skydiving.
Dan is an early adopter. He believes in buying machinery and has always been on the leading edge of technology. He published the first laser-typeset book in 1981. He was the first to send a galley to Publishers Weekly electronically in 1983. He embraced the fax in the mid-80s and pioneered fax-on-demand to sell reports. He has been selling downloadable reports from his Web site since 1996.
His seminars have been featured on CNN, his books have been pictured in The Wall Street Journal, and his story has been told in US News & World Report. The media comes to Dan because he is the leading authority on book marketing. Often described as "Mr. Publishing," Dan Poynter shows publishers how to sell more books using some surprisingly simple marketing concepts.
Dan is a frequent speaker, successful publisher and renowned book publishing consultant, who has a unique, pioneering approach to marketing books—which he so generously shares. No one gives away more help, advice and expertise than Dan Poynter. He is a caring, sharing publisher who is dedicated to putting more than just something back into the system.
He has always accurately predicted the future of publishing. Now the required technologies he describes have converged. Dan is spreading the word on the New "Book" Model. Now you can break into print faster, easier and for less money. Dan was prompted to write this book because so many authors and publishers wanted to know his secrets to writing and selling books.
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How to Get Your Book Published
