Self-Publishing isn’t new. The Bronte sisters Emily, Charlotte, and Anne self-published their first book, a collection of poetry, in 1846.

Advances in technology and the internet have made self-publishing faster, easier, and cheaper than ever before. Many new authors are choosing self-publishing instead of traditional publishing.

Traditional versus self-publishing can be a divisive topic in author groups but neither answer is right for every author. Sometimes one author may choose to traditionally publish one book while self-publishing the next.

What is Traditional Publishing?

In traditional publishing, an author submits their work to a publishing house. If their work is accepted, and only a small percentage are, the author signs a contract giving the publishing house permission to print, distribute, and sell their books. In return, the author gets a small percentage of profits from the book sales.

Authors typically have no say in the number of books printed, cover art, book size, and other important decisions about their book. In essence, the author hands over their book and entrusts the publishing house to do what they do best.

What is Self-publishing?

In self-publishing, the author takes the reigns in book production. They choose every aspect of how their book will be printed including size, binding, and cover art. The author makes choices about distribution, pricing, and print size. The author finances the production of the book and earns all the profits from book sales.

Which Should I Choose?

Choosing whether or not to self-publish is a choice that depends on the author and the book. Often, publishers will only choose to publish books they believe have wide commercial appeal.
Publishers are in business to make money. An author might have an amazing book that publishers don’t pick up because they don’t believe it will have the sales numbers they require. They may base this decision on the subject matter, author name recognition, and market research about genre popularity cycles.

If your book doesn’t look to publishers like the next big thing, they might choose to pass it up. Publishers can only publish a limited number of books so they choose those they believe will sell best.

Even if your book has commercial appeal, that doesn’t mean traditional publishing is the right choice for you. Many authors like having control over all the aspects of their book. No publisher will ever be as invested in the outcomes of a book as the author is.

Additionally, some authors choose to self-publish because the money is better. They don’t have to share profits from sales with the publishing company and agents.

Every author should weigh the pros and cons of self-publishing versus traditional publishing for each book and in each circumstance to decide what the best choice is for their needs.

Ready to Self-Publish?

Instant Publisher can help you self-publish your book. Contact us today for more information. You can reach us by phone at 1-800-259-2592.

Short-run book printing, also called low volume book printing, is when you print under one thousand copies of a book at a time. There are many reasons one might wish to print fewer copies of a book, including the investment costs of a large print run and the storage requirements for the final products.

Is Short-Run Book Printing New?

While short-run printing isn’t exactly new, it has never been cheaper and easier to do than right now with today’s available technology.

Historically, printing was done using metal plates that were covered in ink and pressed to paper. This process is still used by some in the publishing industry today.

The large amount of time involved in setting up those plates meant that, once they were ready, printers often created large quantities of pages at a time. If another printing was needed, the plates would be set up again. To save took time and money, publishers try to print just the right number of books though estimating demand is difficult even today.

When companies save book templates digitally instead of using metal plates, they can access the templates quickly and easily. This allows the printing of smaller numbers of books without the added costs.

Saves Storage Space

The size and thickness of books vary but storing large quantities of them is something few people have space for.

In traditional print runs, the books would be sent off to a warehouse to await distribution to different stores which would each hold only a few copies apiece.

If the person ordering books is storing them in a garage or spare bedroom, instead of a warehouse, space can quickly become an issue.

Short-run book printing allows the individual the option to only order the books they can easily store and then to reorder a manageable number when their stock dwindles.

Smaller Initial Investment

Predicting book sales is tricky. Even companies that have been in the book industry for years can’t always accurately predict how well or poorly a book will sell.

Printing too many books may result in an inability to turn a profit because the initial print order, and its associated costs, is larger than the demand for printed books.

Short-run book printing allows for production in alignment with demand. More books can be printed cheaply and easily as needed without the risk of unsold copies tying up funds and taking up space.

Short-run book printing has become the solution for many smaller presses and independent authors. It makes short-run book printing more affordable and allows printing in line with demand for the book.

Get Help with Your Short-Run Book Printing Needs

InstantPublisher is available to help you with your short-run printing needs. Connect with our knowledgeable and experienced staff by calling 1-800-259-2592 or complete our simple online contact form today.