Logical alternatives

[cethklein]

We've all seen the reasons people go with PA. Let's list said reasons as well as the more sensible alternatives.

Reason: "I just wanted to see my book in print, to hold it in my hands."

Alternative: Lulu.com You will be able to hold you own book, and will pay FAR less for it. (A PA book will cost you around $20 whereas a Lulu book, often of higher quality, will cost you around $7. You're still not "paying to be published" you're simply paying for copies of your book just like you do with PA.

Reason: "I'm not in this for money, I just want people to read my book."

Alternative: The internet, seriously. You can post your story online on any number of websites and message boards for free. You will have FAR mroe potential readers given the fact it will be free. And you'll never have to touch any of that icky money.

Reason: "I don't want to pay to be published."

Alternative: Again, Lulu. You're paying for books, but much less. You'll save money compared to PA.

[Captain Morgan]

There is IUniverse. But from what I have seen, their books are just as over-priced as PA's. I also ordered one last month, and it still hasn't even shipped yet!

[Captain Morgan]

Actually, I just took a look at LuLu. Their books come in all sorts of breeds, and prices.

e.g. http://www.lulu.com/content/2442623

I think this even tops PA's most expensive? The thing is only 50 pages for %%@# sakes!

[JulieB]

That author seems to think he's got a niche market that will pay the price. More power to him. If they don't move, he can always reduce the price.

[BenPanced]

And he won't be mocked. Or jeered. Or beaten down. Or forced to apologize. Or made to feel like crap. Or...wished to the cornfield.

[Gillhoughly]

I think this even tops PA's most expensive? The thing is only 50 pages for %%@# sakes!

Agreement on the niche market thing, but charging so much for that book leads me to think his gambling angle doesn't work at all, else he'd be in Vegas winning 100K a night instead of flogging an overpriced bit of what looks to be snake oil.

PA lurkers--just so you know, you set your own price on Lulu. I tried for a 300 page trade paperback, and their base price for one copy was 10.50.

A writer who doesn't want to make money can sell it from the Lulu website at cost.

But if you want to get paid--I sure do!--price it at 13.95 and make a 3.45 profit.

So--what's PA's cover price for a comparably sized book? I'm thinking it will cost more than most hardcovers!

[Captain Morgan]

Gill, do they give you an isbn on a book even if it only sells ONE copy? I was thinking, LuLu could be interesting for a moral booster. Lets say you are done a very rough draft of a manuscript. But just can't get into the feel of polishing it. It would be worth it for some to simply order one copy of their own draft, just to have a physical representation of their stuff to lay on the desk and brief through. It could also give a rough idea of how it will look when fully completed.

The problem is, I wouldn't want something like that to be indexed at Amazon and have people order my work-in-progress rough draft! Maybe if there is a way to set it as private. I should look into that in the near future.

[Stacia Kane]

Gill, do they give you an isbn on a book even if it only sells ONE copy? I was thinking, LuLu could be interesting for a moral booster. Lets say you are done a very rough draft of a manuscript. But just can't get into the feel of polishing it. It would be worth it for some to simply order one copy of their own draft, just to have a physical representation of their stuff to lay on the desk and brief through. It could also give a rough idea of how it will look when fully completed.

The problem is, I wouldn't want something like that to be indexed at Amazon and have people order my work-in-progress rough draft! Maybe if there is a way to set it as private. I should look into that in the near future.

I'm pretty sure there is indeed a way to keep it private. :)

[JulieB]

Yes, there is. The ISBN is also a separate item at extra cost.

If you're curious about the specifics of publishing with Lulu, check out some of the threads in the self-publishing forum (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=47).

[James D. Macdonald]

As long as you're looking for free self-publishing, don't forget cafepress.com (http://www.cafepress.com/)

[Dave.C.Robinson]

If it's just an alternative to PA - go buy an old hand-cranked Gestetner machine.

[Gillhoughly]

Gill, do they give you an isbn on a book even if it only sells ONE copy? I was thinking, LuLu could be interesting for a moral booster.

Take it to Kinko's. It's faster.

But I make my own with my desktop printer, should I feel the need.

When I'm ready to do an advance reading copy to pass to beta readers I put it in "magazine format" 8.5x11, double columns, 11 point font, reducing 425 pages to less than 90 pages. (I've an Ibico binding machine, but many print shops have 'em, too.)

My agent likes reading these smaller bound copies that I put in with a final manuscript; she can read it while waiting to pick up her kid from school.

For boosting morale? Not so much. Build morale in whatever way works for you, but I'll give that particular one a pass.

My morale builder is that buzz I get when I figure out how to make a difficult scene work, or some new character point smacks me between the eyes.

I print a hard copy in magazine format a chapter at a time when they're finished and tape the pages up on a "writing wall" --the only blank wall in my house.

This allows me to keep track of progress. I can scribble on and highlight and instantly check for continuity. It's just another tool.

For myself, I absolutely would NOT want a Lulu copy around as encouragement.

Early drafts mortify me. I'll flip through and think "OMG--I can't let anyone read THIS crap!"

Sending such stuff to Lulu--or the local Kinko's is--for me--wasting money and time. I would eventually shred the thing to keep people from mistaking it for a final product!

By the time such a book got back to me I'll have done 3-5 rewrites, and the older version would be a forlorn corpse in need of a swift burial.