A novice, i self-published three poetry books with Authorhouse in the past 18 months - about 850 poems. It was expensive; incredibly frustrating dealing with a new person from AH at every step of the process, and speaking with people who barely spoke English and were robotic, not interactive. I was excited when I heard about Amazon's "Create Space" until i found out that they don't publish hard bound books, only paperback. i'm thinking maybe a boutique publisher - or one located in the United States (not International) focused just on writers in the United States but i've not found that publisher. I have my next book of poetry ready to go, and i would welcome any recommendations as to publishers to speak with. Much appreciation, in advance, for your thoughts and recommendations.
Where to go now?
- Thread starter Mark Decker
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As you've seen, Authorhouse is not your friend. It's also not a self-publishing tool. Check the Bewares section of Absolute Write and consider doing what you can to completely divorce yourself from them.
CreateSpace is a self-publishing platform. However, they don't offer what you need.
Lulu.com and ingramspark.com are self-publishing sites similar to CreateSpace that offer hardcovers.
CreateSpace is a self-publishing platform. However, they don't offer what you need.
Lulu.com and ingramspark.com are self-publishing sites similar to CreateSpace that offer hardcovers.
It looks like they're run by Author Solutions, who also run AuthorHouse. The issue here is understanding the difference between vanity publishing and self-publishing, as you appear to be going from one vanity to the next. These are the sites that want you to pay a lot of money and promise you everything. They come up high in search results and pay for a lot of adverts, but being everywhere doesn't make them good.
J. Tanner's given you a couple of self-publishing sites that will let you make a hardback. I'd suggest looking at those and seeing which works best for you. Also, don't discount doing paperbacks and ebooks, as having lower cost options will help sales.
Avoid any publishers which ask you to pay for your own publication, whether they ask for money upfront, like AuthorHouse and the rest, or for money after publication, by charging for marketing services and so on. They make money out of the authors who pay them, not out of selling books.
Places like CreateSpace, Lulu are different because you're only buying printed books from them.
Specialist poetry presses are not going to be interested in previously-published works, so that's out.
If you want to have a book published by a legitimate poetry publisher you have to start getting published in legitimate journals. Once you've established yourself, you might be able to get a collection published but it is a difficult path to take.
Places like CreateSpace, Lulu are different because you're only buying printed books from them.
Specialist poetry presses are not going to be interested in previously-published works, so that's out.
If you want to have a book published by a legitimate poetry publisher you have to start getting published in legitimate journals. Once you've established yourself, you might be able to get a collection published but it is a difficult path to take.
It sounds like you went to a vanity press. Not through self-publishing.
Poetry is one area that doesn't do too well in self-publishing, usually. Oldhack's got the right of it, you're probably best off trying to track down a legit publishing house.
Poetry is one area that doesn't do too well in self-publishing, usually. Oldhack's got the right of it, you're probably best off trying to track down a legit publishing house.
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Over 850 poems? You are a machine, sir. Keep up the great work!
As far as hardbound, I'm not sure how to go about that, but I'm sure it can be done and by that I mean, for a price.
As far as hardbound, I'm not sure how to go about that, but I'm sure it can be done and by that I mean, for a price.
Yeah, Old Hack is very right. You should never pay to be published. That's the first big wrong step there.
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I'm curious what your goal is for your books, and why you are focused on a hardcover edition. Even most poetry books from well-regarded presses like Graywolf and Copper Canyon are published in paperback only. Very few poets aside from those with major historical or commercial appeal sell in hardcover.
Like others have said, the best way to get your foot in the door in the world of published poetry is to submit to legitimate literary/poetry journals.
Like others have said, the best way to get your foot in the door in the world of published poetry is to submit to legitimate literary/poetry journals.
Mark, I think you'd want to be careful not to get into the same situation again. Here's a quickie rundown on the options, in case you don't know (or for anyone else who may read this and not know):
Vanity Press: This is what you got into before. They often try to present themselves as something other than vanity presses. Yet, when the smoke clears, you've paid them a lot of money and gotten little in return that you couldn't have done yourself for a lot less money. This category gets fuzzy with different degrees of what you pay and what you get for it. It is generally considered a bad deal for writers.
Trade Press: You submit your work to these, through an agent or directly. They can be huge or tiny but usually only accept a certain small percentage of what's offered. This includes the big names we all recognize (Macmillan, Penguin, Random House, etc.) down to many small ones we don't recognize. You pay them nothing. They pay you in royalties and, possibly an advance (against royalties). This category gets fuzzy because some "micro-presses" are really just self-publishing authors who then decide to take on a coupla other authors, too. The smallest trade publishers might offer you a very small percentage while really not offering anything that you couldn't do yourself, no marketing, no distribution, etc. Poetry by unknown authors is not a big selling category so getting a decent-sized trade press or an agent might have slim chances.
Self-Publishing: I'd think that for a book of poetry by an unknown (if that's correct), this might be your best bet. You will not be charged for just listing your book on Amazon etc., whether print, ebook, or both. For the jobs you don't want to do yourself to get it ready for publication, you find and pay for whatever you want piecemeal, such as editing, covers, and formatting, or you do it yourself. Then all royalties go to you. The big advantage over the vanity press is cost savings. However, then you do have to do those assorted tasks yourself or research people to do them for you. If hardback is on your list of "musts," then I'd advise going with one of the printers that offer it.
Make sense? Please be sure to research whatever you are considering, by googling, checking them out here, etc., to help ensure you'll get what you pay for and such.
Vanity Press: This is what you got into before. They often try to present themselves as something other than vanity presses. Yet, when the smoke clears, you've paid them a lot of money and gotten little in return that you couldn't have done yourself for a lot less money. This category gets fuzzy with different degrees of what you pay and what you get for it. It is generally considered a bad deal for writers.
Trade Press: You submit your work to these, through an agent or directly. They can be huge or tiny but usually only accept a certain small percentage of what's offered. This includes the big names we all recognize (Macmillan, Penguin, Random House, etc.) down to many small ones we don't recognize. You pay them nothing. They pay you in royalties and, possibly an advance (against royalties). This category gets fuzzy because some "micro-presses" are really just self-publishing authors who then decide to take on a coupla other authors, too. The smallest trade publishers might offer you a very small percentage while really not offering anything that you couldn't do yourself, no marketing, no distribution, etc. Poetry by unknown authors is not a big selling category so getting a decent-sized trade press or an agent might have slim chances.
Self-Publishing: I'd think that for a book of poetry by an unknown (if that's correct), this might be your best bet. You will not be charged for just listing your book on Amazon etc., whether print, ebook, or both. For the jobs you don't want to do yourself to get it ready for publication, you find and pay for whatever you want piecemeal, such as editing, covers, and formatting, or you do it yourself. Then all royalties go to you. The big advantage over the vanity press is cost savings. However, then you do have to do those assorted tasks yourself or research people to do them for you. If hardback is on your list of "musts," then I'd advise going with one of the printers that offer it.
Make sense? Please be sure to research whatever you are considering, by googling, checking them out here, etc., to help ensure you'll get what you pay for and such.
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The gist I'm getting here, and please correct me if I'm wrong, is that you mainly want this for your own satisfaction (but would, of course, not be hurt if others bought it, too). Also, that perhaps you do not want to mess with learning the non-writing stuff needed to get it ready for publication (formatting, a cover, etc.)?
Is that right? Like some others, I had originally questioned why hard back mattered but of course if it matters to you, that's that.
What your personal goals/desires are has a lot to do with what route would be best for you so if you can clarify that a bit, we could probably offer better help.
Is that right? Like some others, I had originally questioned why hard back mattered but of course if it matters to you, that's that.
What your personal goals/desires are has a lot to do with what route would be best for you so if you can clarify that a bit, we could probably offer better help.
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