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Publishing
Running your OWN publishing (self-publishing).
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Publishing (selfpublishing.shtml) | Updated: 15-Aug-2008 - 16:02
I've been asked many times about writing and getting a book or books published. My reccommendation is to be your own publisher and self-publish. The profit margins are much, much higher and you can retain control of all aspects of getting YOUR book or books out. Unless you goals are to run a large corporation with sales in the millions and all the headaches that come with that then be your own publisher. You can still grow but on your own terms and time schedule.
In traditional publishing the author gets a small precentage of sales (after freebies and returns). They even get to buy their OWN books at an author discount.
Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin (Poor Richard's Almanack ) where first self-publishers. As a self-publisher (publisher) you take on the production costs, you are responsibile for design, marketing and sales, as well as the associated risks. But - with these risks come the rewards and profits when your are successful. All the profits are yours instead of author royalities. You are also leaving your heirs a tangible asset.
(From the US copyright office web site ) A work that was created (fixed in tangible form for the first time) on or after January 1, 1978, is automatically protected from the moment of its creation and is ordinarily given a term enduring for the author’s life plus an additional 70 years after the author’s death.
Curt Sheller Publications is a Apple, Mac based company and only uses Mac software. So the reccommendations are going to be mainly Mac based. I have used and do use a Windows to check my web sites but it ain't fun!
The box said Windows 95 or better. So I go a Mac.
Curt Sheller Publications can also assist you in all phases of getting your book going. From getting started all the way to marketing, sales, design, production and promotion.
Curt Sheller Publications Services
- Publishing Services
- Book Design
- Book Printing
- Book Publishing
- Book Publicity
- Printing on Demand for very small runs.
Getting Started
- Books
No need to get a lot of books. Just start and end with this one: How To Publish And Sell Your Own How-To-Book by John T. Reed
- Music Publishing NEW
- Home Office - Equipment and Supplies
- eCommerce - Third- Party Credit Card Processing
- Getting Your Web Site Up & Running
- Creating Web Pages Your self
- Amazon.com and Wholesale Distributons
Commercial Printers
- IMAGERS
- Kalil's Printing, Inc. my preferred local printer
- Partner Printing
Your Own Publishing Company
It's a lot easier than you think...
Self-Publishing aka PUBLISHNG is a lot easier in the Internet age. It tends to level the playing field a bit.
Self-Publishing allows you to control all phases of YOUR book. Writing, design, printing, advertising and promotion and distribution. And, with the added level of control you get 100% of the profits – NOT 10% or so.
Remember it is YOUR book and who is going to care, feed and take care of it better then you.
Self-Publishing IS Publishing
For now run my business as a Sole Proprietorship in PA as it is only me. Here is some information on Sole Proprietorship.
Sole Proprietorship
A sole proprietorship, by definition, means “one owner”. Most small businesses operate as sole proprietorships. This is the simplest form of organization and allows the single owner to have sole control and responsibility. The business may use a fictitious name, but the business does not have a separate legal existence apart from its owner under state law. Fictitious names must be registered with the Department of State if the sole proprietor is a for-profit business. (See the “Registration of a Fictitious Name” section).
Some advantages of the sole proprietorship are less paperwork, a minimum of legal restrictions, owner retention of all the profits, and ease in discontinuing the business. The other good news is that in most cases, a sole proprietorship is not required to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service unless it has employees.
There is no need to file a separate income tax return for the proprietorship because the activity is reported on the owner’s federal and Pennsylvania individual income tax returns. Since a self-employed person is not an employee, there is no provision to withhold payroll taxes to cover federal, state, local and Social Security tax obligations. If you are a self-employed sole proprietor, you must make quarterly estimated payments to provide for these tax liabilities.
Disadvantages include unlimited personal liability for all debts and liabilities of the business, limited ability to raise capital, and termination of the business upon the owner's death.
You should note that a small business owner might very well select the sole proprietorship to begin. Later, he or she may decide to form a partnership or corporation.
A Pennsylvania Enterprise Registration Form (PA-100) must be completed to register for certain taxes and services administered by the PA Department of Revenue and the PA Department of Labor & Industry. The most common reasons an enterprise would be required to complete a PA-100 are when it is conducting retail sales or has employees.
If you are not certain whether you must file an Enterprise Registration form (PA-100) and would like some help, please review our Frequently Asked Question about the PA-100.
Music Publishing
Here are the many possible licenses for getting you music out. This list is from the Music Services web site
Common Commercial Licenses
- Commercial Mechanical License
- Commercial Print License
- Accompaniment Track License
- TV Synchronization License (Syndicated Broadcasts)
- Commercial Videogram Synchronization License
- Commercial Master Use License
- Motion Picture Synchronization License
- Commercial Digital Phonorecord Delivery (DPD) License
- Commercial Digital Online Print License
Common Non-Commercial Licenses
- Custom Digital Phonorecord Delivery (DPD) License
- Custom Mechanical License
- One Time Bulletin Print License
- One Year Bulletin License
- Congregational Songbook Print License
- Photocopy License
- Slide Projection/Overhead Transparency/PowerPoint Lyric Display
- Non-commercial Videogram Synchronization License
- TV Synchronization License (Local Cable Broadcast & Nationwide Broadcast)
- Non-commercial Master Recording License
Other Licenses
- MIDI License
- Electrical Transcription License
- Live Stage Performance License
- Online Lyric Display License
- CD-ROM Synchronization License
- Internet Performance License
Miscellaneous Licenses
- Performance License
- CCLI License (Church Copyright License)
Links
Info
( from listing's site ) - We administer the licensing and administration for over 100,000 music compositions and master recordings. The majority of songs we represent are Christian music and we represent five of the largest Christian music publishers: EMI CMG Publishing, Mercy Vineyard Publishing, Word Music, Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, and Maranatha Music.
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Links
Info
( from listing's site ) - The Music Bridge LLC is an independent music corporation based in Los Angeles, specializing in music clearance & licensing, music supervision & music consultation services.
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Publishing Books
Reference books to get you started
How To Publish and Sell Your Own How-To-Book
by John T. Reed
John T. Reed
342 Bryan Drive
Alamo, CA 94597
925 820 7262
Links
Info
Thisis a great book. I bought this book after having self published 20+ plus books and found a lot of valuable information regarding publishing.
Of all the self-publishing books I have bought over the years. This is by far the best. No BS. This is the book that I recommend to anyone that asks me for advice on getting into publishing.
After reading this book I realized that I am a publisher and a member of the press. Thanks John.
John's comments on why he does not sell book on Amazon.com. I agree, and have never even contemplated selling on Amazon.com, known what cut they want and the cut-throat prices they sell for.
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Publishing Basics: A Guide for the Small Press and Independent Self Publisher
by Robert Bowie Johnson, JR
RJ Communications
51 East 42nd Street
Suite 1202
New York, NY 10017
phone: 800-621-2556
fax: 212-681-8002
Links
Info
(from their site)
Publishing Basics takes all the mystery out of self-publishing and steers you in the right direction. Answers are provided for all the most frequently asked editorial, design, and marketing questions, and more. The Book itself is produced in five 16-page segments, or signatures, using five different kinds of paper and four different printing processes. The same photographs and artwork are printed in each of these five signatures so that the reader can compare the quality of the reproduction of the various printing methods. It also includes an invaluable list of resources.
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Book Printers
Establish a good relationship with a few printers nationally and locally for your books.
If you are selling more than 200 books a year than getting a two year supply is cost effective.
ADR Book Print
2012 E. Northern Avenu
Wichita, KS 67216-2341
Toll Free: 1 800 767 6066
Fax: 316 522 5445
Links
Info
(from their site) Fidlar Doubleday, Inc. is a leading provider of print related services. From our vigorous beginnings in 1898 as a county courthouse printer in Kalamazoo, Michigan, we have evolved into a dynamic organization that utilizes the latest in digital technology to serve customers nationwide.
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RPI Printing Services
507 Westlake Avenue N.
Seattle, WA
Phone: 206-443-1515
Toll Free: 1.800.443.1875
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Signature Book Printing
8041 Cessna Avenue #132
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
Phone: 301-258-8353
Fax: 301-670-4147
Links
Info
Clean simple site with good information
I had my Ukulele Chords book printed with Signature Book Printing and they did a nice job.
More information available on listings's web site.
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Ukulele Chords - “C” Tuning
Mini ukulele chord book of basic open position and movable form chords. Great for your uke case.
$9.95 - Buy Now
Links
Info
(from their site) Ned Thomson and Harry Shore founded this company in 1972 on the theory that the only real asset the company has in the long run is the people who make up the organization. They were adamant in the belief that the employees are the sales department because they can assume the responsibility for efficient and effective performance. This became the basis for meeting our customer's needs and the emphasis on quality and service.
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Van Volumes, Ltd.
2 Springfield Street
P.O. Box 314t
Three Rivers, MA 01080
Phone: (413) 283-8556
Toll free: 1-800-290-0462
Fax: 413-283-7884
Links
Info
Short Run Book Printer for Self-Publishing Authors
(from their site)
Van Volumes is a short run book printer for both books and booklets & helps those who want to self-publish. Our clients range from small publishing houses to self-publishing authors, family and local historians to poets, fiction and non-fiction writers, fundraising groups to technical writers. The success of Van Volumes is our commitment and flexibility that gets your work into print.
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Commercial Printers
Establish a good relationship with a few printers nationally and locally for your business.
IMAGERS
1575 Northside Drive
Building 400, Suite 490
Atlanta, GA 30318-5411
404) 351-5800
(800) 398-5821
Fax (404) 351-9020
Links
Info
IMAGERS
Print on demand short run printing service - affordable 4 color printing is now a reality.
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Kalil's Printing, Inc.
21 South Limerick Road
Royersford, PA 19468
Phone: 610-948-9330
Fax: 610-948-9310
Steve Saul: Estimator / Planner ssaul@kalilsprinting.com
Links
Info
(from their site )Kalil's Printing was founded in 1977 by Walter and Pat Kalil. It continues to run and operate today as a family run business with the original values upon which it was founded.
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Links
Info
(from their site) - Wholesale resource designed for Trade Customers Only! Trade customers consist of Printing Companies, Print Brokers and Advertising Agencies. Partner Printing was built and designed to be re-labeled to use as your own site. See Business Services and click on "Become a Dealer" for more information. We have added more enhanced features offering more products, paper stock options, quantities and even lower prices to choose from, in addition the most advanced design studio on the web.
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PSPrint
2861 Mandela Parkway
Oakland, CA 94608
Phone: 510/444.3933
Toll Free: 800/511.2009
Fax: 510/444.5369
177 Mikron Road
Bethlehem, PA 18020
Links
Info
(from their site) - PSPrint operates a 28,000 sq. ft. print facility in Oakland, CA, and a new 25,000 sq. ft. facility in Bethlehem, PA. Both facilities feature state-of-the-art Komori Lithrone S40 presses
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Home Office
Computers, Software, Postage, a Printer and Binding machine is about all you need to get started.
Adobe Systems Incorporated
345 Park Avenue
San Jose, CA 95110-2704
Tel: 408-536-6000
Fax: 408-537-6000
Links
Info
Adobe PhotoShop, Acrobat, InDesign and Illustrator
Started on Aldus PageMaker and a Mac II, then QuarkXpress and now I use InDesign®, Photoshop®, Illustrator®, Acrobat® software exclusively.
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Links
Info
Released with much fanfare in January of 1984, the Macintosh was the first affordable computer to include a Graphical User Interface. It was built around the new Motorola 68000 chip, which was significantly faster than previous processors, running at 8 MHz. The Mac came in a small beige case with a black and white monitor built in. It came with a keyboard and mouse, and had a floppy drive that took 400k 3.5" disks--the first personal computer to do so. It originally sold for $2,495.
Text courtesy www.apple-history.com
Everything done on a Macintosh computers.
Site is even hosted on mac by
MacHighway.
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Links
I use Comcast for my high speed Internet access. I also have a cheap dial-up access service (isp.com) for those times Comcast has been down (very, very, very rare) to check orders.
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Endicia Internet Postage
Envelope Manager Software
247 High Street
Palo Alto CA 94301-1041
Phone: (650) 321-2640
Tech Support: (800) 576-3279 x130
Fax: (650) 321-0356
Links
Info
(from their site) Endicia Internet Postage is a service from Envelope Manager Software, a leader in desktop mail software, with over 15 years of experience in the postal industry. Our team received the prestigious Quality Supplier Award from the U.S. Postal Service in 1989, and our Envelope Manager product has been a corporate standard for address hygiene and bar-coding at the U.S. Postal Service since 1993.
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Links
FileMaker, Inc. is the worldwide leader in easy-to-use database software for business professionals. Millions of customers—individuals, small businesses, teams in education and government, workgroups in Fortune 100 companies—manage projects, people, and assets with FileMaker.
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Hog Bay Software
Jesse Grosjean
Bangor, Maine
jesse@hogbaysoftware.com
Links
Info
TaskPaper
Get things done
For Mac users who want a simpler way to stay organized and get things done.
TaskPaper is a simple to-do list that's surprisingly adept. Unlike the competition, TaskPaper's text based interface is focused on paper-like simplicity. Requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later Learn More...
I've tried a bunch of task managers, note takers and such but have always gone back to old school and paper and pen. But, FINALLY an easy to use, no learning curve, fast and actually fun to use way to bag the paper route and do this on a computer.
I especially like the tagging ability. Looking forward to what is coming in future versions.
Jan 2008 Update: Back to paper. Just so much easier and convient for getting things done.
For people who enjoy the simplicity of a typewriter, but live in the digital world. WriteRoom is a full-screen writing environment. Unlike the cluttered word processors you're used to, WriteRoom is just about you and your text. Requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later ♣
Links
Info
(from their site) -
Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of more than $2 billion in its fiscal year 2005. The company has nearly 7,000 employees with major offices in 13 states across the U.S., and offices in Canada and the United Kingdom.
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Performance Design, Inc. (PDI)
2350 E. Braniff St.
Boise, ID 83716
Tel: (208) 384-8551 or 800-390-5782 (English speakers only)
FAX: (208) 384-8583 or 800-390-5783 (All languages)
1-800-390-5782
Links
Be sure to sign up for your Staples Rewards card. It can mean a few hundred dollars a year.
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Third- Party Credit Card Processing
CCNow Incorporated
9625 West 76th Street, Suite 150
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Toll Free: 1-877-CCNOW-77
Links
Info
This is the eCommerce site that I use and have been very happy with them. They are owned by Digital River.
CCNow is an online retailer that provides a merchant account alternative, credit card processing, shopping cart, fraud prevention, and secure checkout services. CCNow never shares credit card information with suppliers.
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Web Resources
I will ONLY reccommend products and services that I use in my publishing effort
A web page and a book is all you need to get started.
For web resources and links on creating and programming a web page visit the sites mentioned here. They have a load of information that is valuable for creating your site.
Links
- www.BareBones.com
- WidipediA: BBEdit
Info
BBEdit is a text editor originally developed for Macintosh System Software 6 and now for Mac OS X. It is made by Bare Bones Software. BBEdit is not a word processor, meaning it does not have text formatting or page layout features. BBEdit's audience includes programmers and web designers.
Bare Bones Software also made a free and less-featured version of BBEdit called BBEdit Lite. Bare Bones Software discontinued BBEdit Lite at version 6.1 and replaced it with TextWrangler, which initially cost money (though significantly less than BBEdit), but several years later was released for free. BBEdit itself was available at no charge from its initial release in 1991, but went commercial in May 1993 with the release of version 2.5.
BBEdit
BBEdit
Bare Bones software. My entire site is "hand coded" using BBEdit. I've been using this software since version 3 (1994)
I don't reccommend that you had code you web site like I did. I started hand coding html around 1995 before there where programs like DreamWeaver, GoLive and Flash. But, I do reccommend you keep your site simple, fast loading and easy to find stuff. The last part, find stuff, can be hard as a site grows.
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Links
- Developer Olav Bjørkøy's Site
- BluepringCSS Group
- BluepringCSS Code site
- Online Help Sheet Version 0.2 by Alex Winfield
- StarterKit, A (X)HTML, css, JS Starter Kit using BlueprintCSS and JQuery
- Three Column Css Layout With Blueprint Framework by Fahad Ibnay Heylaal
- Links to Blueprint Resources by Lee Honeycutt
Info
Blueprint is a CSS framework, which aims to cut down on your CSS development time. It gives you a solid CSS foundation to build your project on top of, with an easy-to-use grid, sensible typography, and even a stylesheet for printing.
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MacHighway.com
(formerly)Itsamac.com
Category 99, Inc
240 S Broadway STE 206
Denver, CO 80209
1-303-722-9381
Toll Free 1-800-604-9960 (USA Only)
Links
Info
Info
MacHighway • Mac Powered Web Hosting, Email and eCommerce
MacHighway is a web hosting service designed by Mac users for Mac users. MacHighway understands that there is a significant number of Mac users who need quality web hosting. Too many web hosting companies believe that the Mac platform is not worthy of support and altogether disregard the Macintosh enthusiast. That's where MacHighway comes in.
More information available on listings's web site.
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Mint
Shaun Inman
Links
Info
(from their site) - Mint is an extensible, self-hosted web site analytics program. Its interface is an exercise in simplicity. Visits, referrers, popular pages and searches can all be taken in at a glance on Mint's flexible dashboard. Learn more!
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Links
Info
(from their site)
MooTools is a compact, modular, Object-Oriented JavaScript framework designed for the intermediate to advanced JavaScript developer. It allows you to write powerful, flexible, and cross-browser code with its elegant, well documented, and coherent API.
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Creating Web Pages
Here are some resources and recommended books on HTML and css for creating your publishing web site.
Here are a few of the books that I have had. The Elizabeth Castro book I've have 3 or 4 editions of.
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SitePoint
Australian Office
424 Smith St Collingwood
VIC , 3084 AU
+61 3 9419 5200
+61 3 9419 3900
US Office
2763 West Avenue L #277
Lancaster, CA , 93536 USA
604 716 4638
Links
Info
(from their site) - SitePoint is a fast growing online media company and information provider targeting the Web professional market, specifically Web Developers and Designers. The company has five major revenue streams: advertising and sponsorship, content-based products both online and in retail, software, and more recently streaming video subscriptions and classified listings.
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Desktop Publishing Information
Links
Info
(from their site) - Adobe InDesign is taking the publishing world by storm. But if you try to find reliable information about InDesign on the Web you’ll find yourself scouring Adobe’s site or muddling through dozens of other sites for a tip or two. Now that you’ve found InDesign Secrets, it’s time to stop all that muddling. Developed by page-layout guru David Blatner and “DesignGeek” Anne-Marie Concepcion, InDesign Secrets is your one-stop shop for all things InDesign.
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Why No Amazon or Distributors?
Why No Amazon?
With Amazon.com Advantage, payment to you is quick and easy. At the end of each month, Amazon.com automatically pays you 45% of list price via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)* for products you've sold during the previous month. You don't even need to send us an invoice. At any time, you can check your sales and inventory with our online reports. Twenty-four hours a day you can track how much you have sold, how much we have in stock, and how much we owe you.
See the BOLD 45% - That is why. Unless you are going to be writing a best seller - and, even then you will do better going with a big time publisher and getting a few million dollar advance for you work. Then they can put it on Amazon or anywhere else they want for that kind of money.
Why No Distributors?
- Typically want over 50% or more off retail
- Returns
- Take forever to pay
Those three are enough for me. So if you see my books available on Amazon.com. THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE THERE. All Amazon does to get the listings is to grab you catalog entry from Books In Print or say it is available.
Now don't get me wrong - I like Amazon.com for