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Become A Book Publisher: Fabjob Guide To
Become A Book Publisher: Fabjob Guide To
FabJob Guide to
Become a
Book
Publisher
Jennifer Fishberg
Visit www.FabJob.com
FabJob Guide to Become a Book Publisher
Contents
About the Author..............................................................................8
Acknowledgements..........................................................................9
1. Introduction...........................................................................................10
1.1 The Book Publishing Business.....................................................12
1.1.1 What Is Independent Publishing?.....................................12
1.1.2 Industry Trends and Statistics...........................................15
1.2 Benefits of Being a Book Publisher.............................................17
1.3 Inside This Guide..........................................................................20
2. Getting Ready........................................................................................23
2.1 Skills and Knowledge You Will Need........................................23
2.1.1 Writing Skills........................................................................24
2.1.2 Computer and Technology Skills......................................25
2.1.3 Research Skills......................................................................28
2.1.4 Interpersonal Skills..............................................................29
2.1.5 Business Skills......................................................................31
2.2 Learning by Doing........................................................................34
2.2.1 Work in a Bookstore............................................................35
2.2.2 Publishing Internships........................................................36
2.3 Learn From Other Publishers......................................................40
2.3.1 Information Interviews.......................................................40
2.3.2 Join Associations..................................................................43
2.3.3 Work with a Book Shepherd or Publishing Coach.........47
2.4 Educational Programs .................................................................48
2.4.1 Publishing Degrees, Certificates, and Seminars..............49
2.4.2 Other Types of Degrees......................................................52
2.4.3 Business Degrees and Courses..........................................53
5.2 E-Commerce.................................................................................172
5.2.1 Accepting Credit Cards....................................................173
5.2.2 Accepting Payment Online..............................................174
5.2.3 Order Fulfillment...............................................................175
5.3 Getting Your Books Into Bookstores and Libraries................177
5.3.1 Working with Wholesalers and Distributors.................177
5.3.2 Amazon and Other Online Retailers..............................182
5.4 Financial Management...............................................................187
5.4.1 Bookkeeping.......................................................................187
5.4.2 Financial Statements and Reports...................................190
1. Introduction
Congratulations on taking the first step toward starting your own
book publishing company! Do you dream of seeing your own works in
print, or providing an outlet for other new or underrepresented voices?
Do you have a mission or cause to promote through your books, or
a personal experience to share with the world? Does the prospect of
collaborating with editors and designers, networking with literary
agents, and becoming an entrepreneur intrigue you? It’s all part of the
exciting world of book publishing.
Or maybe you discovered your passion for books later in life wandering
the dusty stacks of used bookstores seeking out of print titles. Perhaps
you’ve been called upon in your current job or in your personal life
to use your writing gift to provide information or entertainment to
others. Or maybe you just love reading dynamic books that teach you
something new or make you feel connected to the world in a way you
hadn’t before.
We’re aware that there are many books on the market about “self-
publishing”, each with a very definite point of view about just what
self-publishing means and exactly how it should and shouldn’t be
done. Many of them are excellent resources, and there is a wealth
of wonderful information to be gained from the experiences of their
authors. You’ll find a few of the best mentioned in this guide. However,
if you’ve already done some research on self-publishing, you’ve
probably also realized that there is a lot of contradictory advice out
there. Remember, none of these folks have your exact goals, needs,
budget, personal taste, skills, or knowledge base, and vice versa.
Self-Publishing
Highly respected publishing professional and President of the
Independent Book Publishers Association, the leading professional
organization for self-publishers and indie publishers, Florrie Binford
Kichler, offers the following definition of self-publishing:
This is one point on which the experts all largely agree – the key factor
here is creating your own company. While you needn’t handle every
aspect of the business yourself -- in fact, most experts advise against
attempting this -- you maintain ownership of the rights to your self-
created or acquired material, and ISBNs belong to you as the publisher
of record. ISBNs are explained in greater detail in chapter 4, but in
short, this is a unique and internationally recognized identifying
number assigned to all books.
Independent Publishing
Independent publishing shares many commonalities with self-
publishing, but Tina Jordan, Vice President of the Association of
American Publishers, the national trade association of the U.S. book
publishing industry, offers this distinction:
• HarperCollins
• Macmillan
• Penguin Group
• Random House
The ability to get your message out in book form, whether through your
own writing or working with authors who share your vision, allows
you to reach a large audience and make a difference in the quality of
their day to day lives through your books. Think about books you’ve
read that have made a real difference to you – whether it was teaching
you a computer skill that helped you land a new job, or just providing
a laugh after a tough day. Books contribute a great deal to people’s lives
and to the world, and being a publisher allows you to be a part of that.
moment that the ‘watch this space’ sign comes off the billboard, as it
were, and the book has entered the world,” Debus explains.
While there is a lot to learn along the way, author and publisher David
Hooper warns that new publishers shouldn’t let themselves become
overwhelmed by the challenges or let the perfect become the enemy of
the good:
“Do it. Get your stuff out there and make an impact on people. Don’t
worry about it being perfect. Write it, bring in a pro to edit it, and put
it out. It can be polished, but it’s never perfect.”
— David Hooper,
MusicMarketing.com
Income Potential
In addition to having more creative freedom than you would if you
published your work through a traditional publishing house, you’ll also
keep a greater percentage of the financial rewards as publisher. Authors
working with a traditional publisher might expect to receive royalties
of about 6 to 15%, depending on the type of book (hardcover, trade
paperback, etc.), with 7.5 to 8% being about average for a paperback.
Subsidy publishers will also take a significant chunk of your profits, in
addition to the upfront fees.
Chapter 2, Getting Ready, will help you discover the many opportunities,
both formal and informal, that exist for learning and practicing the
skills you’ll need to be a successful book publisher, from writing to
business skills. This chapter covers suggested areas of study for those
interested in pursuing a college or university degree or certificate
program in publishing, how to learn from other publishers, and lots of
free resources to help you learn at your own pace.
Once you understand the basic skills you’ll need to develop, Chapter 3,
Starting Your Publishing Business, explains the importance of choosing a
niche and how to choose the right one for you. You’ll also find practical
business plan resources and suggestions on how to find financing,
as well as information on the key legal points to consider as a new
publisher and business owner.
Starting a new business venture can be exciting, but the financial aspects
can also be intimidating, especially for the more creatively inclined.
Chapter 5, Business Operations and Finances, will provide you with
guidelines for pricing and selling your books, including selling online
through your own website, through online retailers like Amazon, and
how to get your books into brick-and-mortar bookstores. Once you’re
selling your books, you’ll need to know how to handle your finances, so
we’ll cover the basics of financial management as well, including basic
bookkeeping and Title P & Ls.
Each chapter also contains relevant practical advice from the many
publishing experts, who generously shared their time and insights with
us, including small press owners, successful self-publishers, heads of
professional publishing associations, literary agents, and experienced
book marketing pros. You will learn what challenges and rewards you
can expect to face as you grow your business, and what steps you can
start taking today toward becoming a book publisher with the thriving
business of your dreams.
You have reached the end of the free sample of the FabJob Guide to
Become a Book Publisher. To order and download the complete guide
go to https://fabjob.com/program/become-book-publisher/.