Vanity Publishing, Self-Publishing What's the Story?
Self-Publishing was almost unheard of in the mid 1990s. Now, it is everywhere.
Readers tend to come in two groups. Those who cling to a physical book, complete with that old book smell and dog-eared pages. The second group is good to go
with an e-reader and all of an e-book’s convenience.
There are of course, outliers, opportunists who will read a cereal box if that is the only thing available.
Authors used to come in two camps.
Traditionally published and Vanity Published. The latter was an especially good idea if it was an Ancestry type book. Maybe a cook-book for gifting during a
holiday.
Then during the great transition to all things internet, self-published books became an option. Many people having been stung by the Vanity Press heyday or those
who had submitted a book to publishers time after time only to end up with enough Rejection Letters to paper their walls, saw the option of self-publishing as something acceptable.
We began the Month of February looking at Contracts, we tuned them inside out and attempted to de-mystify their contents. We learned a little about how to get into
a contract and how to get out of them.
For the rest of February I want us to look at Self-Publishing as a viable alternative to Traditional Publishing. With any kind of Writerly Topic, the more you
know, the better able to make decisions you will be.
This Sunday, 16 February, we are going to look at the difference between Self Publishing and Vanity Presses.
A vanity publishing company is a business that an author can pay to essentially be their book
publisher.
A self-publishing company is a business that gives authors the ability to publish their books themselves and pick and choose the needed services to
do so.
If you are seriously ready to try and break your contract with a traditional publisher, there are several things you have to consider before taking action. Keep in mind that publishers are in the business of making money from author’s works. This means they are in it to protect their own interests
and in most cases, consider the needs of their company before that of the author.
Many authors embark on this mission to break their contract in an effort to take more control and see more success through self-publishing or through new opportunities.
HERE’S WHAT WE COVER FOR HOW TO BREAK A PUBLISHING CONTRACT:
I hope you will come to Wednesday’s Chat and explore the reasons an author breaks a contract. There are many links included in this post. Take your time.
Disclaimer: We, at the Writers Chatroom, are Not lawyers. We are not giving legal advice. Please don’t let anything in this post or Wednesday’s Chat be any more than an idea.. You get it..
Visit Us On Wednesday at 8PM ET at the Chatroom
Welcome to Contracts Part Two
On Wednesday, we talked about Contracts. The topic chat was an effort to get participants on the same page with vocabulary. On Sunday, February 9th we will talk about Things to Avoid in a Contract.
Sunday, 9 February at 7PM ET at the Writers Chatroom
Part Two of this Chat will happen on Sunday February 9th and will include –
Congratulations on Your First Contract. You are probably so excited over the offer you are willing to sign just about anything.
Contracts are as big a mystery as Marketing. So, let’s talk about it.
Some of the things we will touch on are –
DESCRIPTION OF THE “WORK”
RIGHTS
SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS
ROYALTIES
ADVANCES
COPYRIGHT
Part Two of this Chat will happen on Sunday February 9th and will include –
Ten Book Contract Traps We Can Help You Avoid
Trap 1. Giving up total control of your work.
Trap 2. Putting your book in limbo forever.
Trap 3. Giving up the benefits of your copyright.
Trap 4. Restricting your ability to write what you want.
Trap 5. Letting your publisher change your words without your approval.
Trap 6. Getting cheated on payments.
Trap 7. Accepting unlimited liability for libel and other lawsuits.
Trap 8. Having to pay back your advance if the publisher rejects your manuscript.
Trap 9. Letting your publisher do important things without even telling you.
Trap 10. Allowing your publisher to maintain control of your book forever.
On Wednesday, February 12th We will talk about What to Expect after You Sign the Contract.
Open Chat Sunday
Two things happened at the end of this week.
First, I had a brilliant idea for a Sunday Chat Topic. But, I didn’t write it down.
Second, the only thing I know about the Superbowl is that the 49rs have nice shiny pants and they bear two of my initials. But, I did not know the game was this
weekend.
I declare an audible, Sunday’s Chat as an Open Topic. Bring your best game face and we will talk about any Writerly thing you have buzzing around your
mind.
Sunday, February 2nd
Happy Imbolc
Imbolc is strongly associated with Saint Brigid (Old Irish: Brigit, modern Irish: Bríd, modern Scottish Gaelic: Brìghde or Brìd, anglicised Bridget). Saint Brigid is thought to have been based on Brigid, a Gaelic goddess. The festival, which celebrates the onset of spring, is
thought to be linked with Brigid in her role as a fertility goddess.
