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November 17, 2009 06:09 AM EST
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August 11, 2009 01:54 AM EDT
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December 02, 2009 02:55 PM EST
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rating: 10
Hello all, If you’ve just finished a book or are in the process of writing a book-we applaud you! Writing a book is never easy, nor is the decision on what to do with the book once it’s done. While trying to figure out whether or not self-publishing or traditional publishing is the best option, one thing to consider is printing. Most people forget that printing is one of the most important aspects of the publishing process. The printing is what people see. It is what brings your book into actually life and places it into a book formation. I think part of the confusion lies in the fact that most people forget or don’t know the difference in printing. There are two types: digital printing and offset printing. Learning what these two are and how they affect your books delivery, will help you determine what publishing route to take.
Let’s begin….
Offset printing-Is done by using printing plates that go through a three step process to transfer images to paper. Offset printing requires more set-up, and therefore is of much better use and more cost effective on large orders.
Digital printing, other wise known as print-on-demand (POD) printing- Is done by transfereing a digital image to paper. Digital printing is best used for small orders and short printing runs. There is less set-up so the cost is less, therefore making it the most cost effective for small orders.
Now that you know the difference between the two printing options, this should help you along in your publishing decision. Do you want to spend very little money in set-up costs and more money in marketing? If yes, then the POD route is the best route for you. Can you afford the high set up costs AND believe that you’ll sell over 1,000 copies? If yes, the offset printing route is the route for you?
As you can see, your marketing habit will play a part in which option you choose. It all balls down to marketing. Where and how can you sell your book? If you choose to sell your book online, the buyer is going to demand a substantial discount. If you buy the bulk of books and put them in your trunk, yes, you can keep all your money, but will you get your upfront cost back? Will you sell your books on your website only?
All of these are things to think about. Digital printing is best for short or on demand runs. Larger orders, though, require lower print costs, but then you’re stuck with trying to get rid of all those books. As a writer, you have to determine what costs fit into your marketing plans. Know your marketing goals before deciding which publishing route to take and which type of printer to use for your book. Knowing your marketing goals will make this decision a whole lot easier.
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December 02, 2009 02:44 PM EST
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rating: 10
Yesterday, we discussed the difference between digital printing and off-set printing. Today, we will go into further discussion regarding the actual difference in cost.
Option 1: Let’s say you’ve been asked to be a guest speaker with the guest list of 150 people. You’ve made the smart decision to sell your book. The retail price of your book is $14.95. The print cost using the digital print run is $7.50. Your profit is $7.50 per book because you sold your book directly to the customer.
Option 2: After much hard work and searching, you’ve found a buyer who’ll buy your book in volume. They’ve just purchased 200 copies of your book to test how well it’ll do in their stores. They’ve promised to buy 5000 books if the test is successful. The buyer requires a 70% discount, which makes the selling price $4.49. The retail cost of your book is $14.95. Your print cost is $7.50 using the digital model. Your loss per book is-$7.50-$4.49=$3.01.
Option 3: You’ve got a distributor who sells your book to bookstores. The bookstore requires a 40% discount, so their purchase price is $8.97. But wait-the distributor’s commission is 15%, making the discount 55%. The retail price of your book is $14.95. The print cost on a digital run is $7.50. Your loss is $7.50-6.73=$0.77.
So as you can see, digital printing isn’t always the best option in every senario. If you had printed 5000 copies on off set press, the print cost would likely have been $3.00 or less, and if you have colored photos or illustrations, then add another $1.00 to that, making the cost $4.00 per book. Even if you print only 2500 copies, the print cost would be substantially less than the digital print cost.
Some of you reading this, don’t mind eating the loss. If so, that’s great! For those of you who are economically cautious, now you have the tools to make the right printing decision. Let’s not forget that your marketing plan is vital here: knowing your marketing goals and having your plan layed out before decising upon the type of printer to use for your book.
Hopefully, this will have helped you in your decision making process.
Until tomorrow!
The Publishing Watchdog
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December 02, 2009 02:39 PM EST
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rating: 10
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comments: 1
Good afternoon: Welcome to another edition of The Publishing Watchdog. If you are unfamiliar with what we do, please take a moment and look through our blog. With that said, today’s topic: The Death of Urban Fiction… It should be obvious to everyone that the publishing industry is changing. Monopolies are becoming non-existent (Amazons book war with Walmart and Barnes and Nobles Book Reader War with Amazon), publishers are laying off, self-publishers are getting richer by the minute, and now-Caucasians, yes-Caucasians, white people, whatever you want to call them are looking to publish Urban Fiction. Yes, you heard me correctly-Urban Fiction a.k.a. Black people’s book trash. White folks are not only looking to publish Urban Fiction but are looking to get investors to help fund the money to traditionally publish their books and open up publishing companies. They are looking to monopolize on what K’wan, Wahida Clark, J.M. Benjamin, Treasure Blue, Tracy Brown, just to name a few, have done: write urban fiction and start publishing companies. The difference: Their version of urban fiction given the same editing that traditional publishing gets and every book deserves. Now someone correct me, but if my history is correct, there was a time when no one would touch this fiction for various reasons, such as: there was no market for it, black people wrote it, it was ghetto trash writing. It has been said for a long time that Urban Fiction books are saturated with terrible grammar, bad spelling, and obvious to a duck that most of the books in this genre aren’t edited. The Caucasians are looking to change this and do as I recently heard it, “do urban fiction the right way, decent editing and something people want to read.” Wow! I believe I have truly heard it all. For those of you out there who believe or are even hoping that Urban Fiction is a lost art or a genre that will fade away, this shows you that it won’t. It may be reinvented but it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere. All it takes is one Caucasian Trailblazer. Eminem did it in the rap game, who knows who will do it in the Urban Fiction game. Whether or not this genre needs changing is like beauty, it’s up to the holder. Some find nothing wrong with the way urban fiction is done because they feel the way it’s written is what makes it unique. Some find it’s bad grammar and lack of editing, terrible for the eyes as well as for all books. It use to be that white people wouldn’t pick it up. It was something that only “black people read.” It seems the tides are changing and now everyone wants to read, write, and publish this genre. Whoever that trailblazer is will truly be making history, especially if they do it the way it is being said it should be done: pleasing to the eyes. If they do it, the game will truly change! We do feel as publishing watchdogs that it is our duty and responsibility to inform the writers and lovers of this genre. How we feel about it, is besides the point. We go to the publishing seminars, talk to the bankers, walk through the book stores and we inform. If you’re curious and think we’re bashing, being racist, and just picking on white people, do yourselves a favor and go look up the history of urban fiction and why and how it got to be so popular. Do that and then tell us what you think. Just know, that this isn’t the last time we will discuss this topic, especially when the Trailblazer makes his or her mark on the Urban Fiction genre as we currently know it. You heard it from us first-May it rest in peace! Until the next time! The Publishing Watchdogs!
December 01, 2009 02:44 PM EST
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rating: 10
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comments: 3
Why is it that we writers get all our good news all at the same time? I got a great review on<a href="http://www.redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/product_info.php?products_id=555"> Love Waltzes In </a>, got super cover art for the next Shannon Wallace mystery, entitled <a href="http://www.redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/product_info.php?products_id=640"> Buried Angel </a>, received the name of my contest winner over at <a href="http://www.coffeetimeromances.com"> Coffeetime Romances </a> and have a bunch of great guests coming to<a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/kims"> Introducing WRITERS! radio show </a>. I feel special!
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2:55PM ESTZlS Publishing shared a post Hello all,
If you’ve just finished a book or are in the process of writing a book-we applaud you! Writing a book is never easy, nor is the decision on what to do with the book once it’s . . . more
2:44PM ESTZlS Publishing shared a post Yesterday, we discussed the difference between digital printing and off-set printing. Today, we will go into further discussion regarding the actual difference in cost.
Option 1: Let’s say . . . more
2:39PM ESTZlS Publishing shared a post
Good afternoon:
Welcome to another edition of The Publishing Watchdog. If you are unfamiliar with what we do, please take a moment and look through our blog. With that said, today’s topic: . . . more
Dec 01, 2009 2:44PM ESTKim S. shared a post Why is it that we writers get all our good news all at the same time?
I got a great review on<a href=" http://www.redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/product_info.php?products_id=555 "> Love . . . more
Dec 01, 2009 10:09AM ESTTim Nelson shared a post Click on link.
http://www.jumpthecurve.net/index.php/recent_posts/jack_uldrichs_2010_technology_forecast_predictions/
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Nov 23, 2009 6:41PM ESTSam Carana shared a post
Below are Sam Carana 's 20 most viewed posts at Gather, as at 23 November 2009.
Global Warming - Red Alert!
views: 10024 | rating: 8.6 | comments: 139
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Nov 22, 2009 9:13AM ESTKim S. shared a post Active and Passive
I don’t know about you, but one of the most often talked about parts of writing that new authors flub is active versus passive voice. Well, let me correct that, the . . . more
Nov 17, 2009 6:09AM ESTSam Carana shared a post 
1. High Speed Rail
High speed rail can move large amounts of people and freight fast, conveniently and economically. High speed rail systems have been operating successfully in Europe and Japan . . . more
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