Traditionally, the role of the book publisher was to do 5 things:
1) Be the gatekeeper - reviewing and separating the good from the bad books
2) Be the reviewer - checking writing, cleaning up style issues and working with the author to tighten up and improve their work so it had the best chance of success with the readers,
3) Be the printer - printing the book, designing the cover, and making the hard cover or paper back type of the book
4) Be the distributor - packing, shipping and placing your book to their countrywide network of book shop shelves
5) Be the marketing specialist - putting out press releases, making in-store displays, getting other writers to study your book and any quantity of other common techniques to push your book and give readers an opportunity to find it.
But all of this work came at a cost: They want often 90% ownership of your work, in all its assorted forms (e.g. Book, motion picture, TV show, world versions, etc...). Yes, you created it, but have to give away 90% possession so as to get it read.
Today, the real question is: What roles are you able to play yourself that a Publisher used to be needed to play?
The answer? Every one of them - particularly if you are a new author.
The reality is that Publishing deals for new authors of western novels today are getting worse and worse. The Publisher sees you as a risk with a tiny chance (something similar to 1/1000) of clearing for them. their reply to mitigate this risk is to relegate you to a streamlined process they have developed for new authors - one that includes only the basics in marketing, and not quite enough to get you spotted by the mass reading public. They reserve their enormous efforts and money for the established writers.
But marketing is the key. You may have the greatest novel ever, well edited and superbly written, but without the ability to effectively get the word out no one will ever read it (well, your pals and family will).
1) Be the gatekeeper - reviewing and separating the good from the bad books
2) Be the reviewer - checking writing, cleaning up style issues and working with the author to tighten up and improve their work so it had the best chance of success with the readers,
3) Be the printer - printing the book, designing the cover, and making the hard cover or paper back type of the book
4) Be the distributor - packing, shipping and placing your book to their countrywide network of book shop shelves
5) Be the marketing specialist - putting out press releases, making in-store displays, getting other writers to study your book and any quantity of other common techniques to push your book and give readers an opportunity to find it.
But all of this work came at a cost: They want often 90% ownership of your work, in all its assorted forms (e.g. Book, motion picture, TV show, world versions, etc...). Yes, you created it, but have to give away 90% possession so as to get it read.
Today, the real question is: What roles are you able to play yourself that a Publisher used to be needed to play?
The answer? Every one of them - particularly if you are a new author.
The reality is that Publishing deals for new authors of western novels today are getting worse and worse. The Publisher sees you as a risk with a tiny chance (something similar to 1/1000) of clearing for them. their reply to mitigate this risk is to relegate you to a streamlined process they have developed for new authors - one that includes only the basics in marketing, and not quite enough to get you spotted by the mass reading public. They reserve their enormous efforts and money for the established writers.
But marketing is the key. You may have the greatest novel ever, well edited and superbly written, but without the ability to effectively get the word out no one will ever read it (well, your pals and family will).
About the Author:
Wayland Myers has been a writer and successful online businessman for over 20 years. He has lent his net-based promoting experience to Fortune 500 corporations and smaller enterprises alike. He has a private and pro interest in Western eBooks and self-publishing for Western authors. You'll be able to find more information on publishing Western stories here.
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