You Can Start Your Own Publishing Business

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In the meanwhile, other people and organizations approached me wanting to know how they too could start their own business, supplement incomes, or conduct a fundraising drive with my methods. I was pleased to assist these individuals and groups whenever I could ... and I was delighted when that assistance sometimes helped others to really "hit the jackpot". For instance, one lady that I talked to—a 72-year-old retired widow—thought a booklet about her own unique approach to being "up in years" would appeal not only to senior citizens, but many middle-aged folks as well. She self-published a 40-page manual and with her first inquiry found a profitable outlet with the largest mail-order company in the world.

This woman's way of breaking into print, by the way, should not be confused with vanity publishing. The vanity press in this country, in general, is notorious for producing books of questionable literary merit while, at the same time, skillfully duping authors out of thousands of dollars for the privilege of seeing their names in print. Many times—if not most times—vanity press books are not distributed, sold, or even produced in the quantity expected by the author.

By contrast, self—publishing is the process of writing, producing, promoting, distributing, and handling all other aspects of putting a book in the final buyers' hands. By eliminating in this way most or all of the middlemen who usually stand between an author and his or her readers, you can realize a greater financial return on and increased flexibility in your publishing, projects.

Self-publishing for a living is not exceedingly difficult, requires little investment, and calls for little or no special equipment. And the rewards—besides profit—can be many, depending upon your outlook. You'll work at home with little pressure (no nine-to-five routine), have no boss but yourself, and enjoy a certain prestige which goes with being an author and a publisher ... in addition to finding an expressive creative outlet. To me, this is all a joy, especially when I see that others enjoy my work too.

WILL IT SELL?

The most important question to consider before starting your venture is, "Do I have something of interest to say or offer to others?" If the answer is truly "yes", you've largely solved your distribution, and marketing problems. However, if you want to publish something in your field of interest and that field happens to be "How the Seventh Regiment Signal Corps of the Confederate Army Differed from the Eighth, 1863", you'd be well advised to think about where and to whom you could sell such a tract in a quantity that would cover your printing costs. New York publishers only accept manuscripts when they feel the costs of production can be matched by future sales. The same rule should apply to the self-publisher.

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