Introduction
Self-publication has become more popular in recent years as the digital revolution has made it easier for authors to publish their work. Experts from the Self-publishing Advice Center shared that “the self-publishing landscape of 2022 is light-years from 2012.” New developments, such as print-on-demand services and e-books, have made it possible for authors to publish their work without having to go through traditional means.
Professionals from this author outreach service even emphasized that “what’s most notable as we look back over the decade is the incredible shift in author confidence and empowerment.” This directly correlates to why people want to self-publish since one of the most common reasons is that writers wish to have complete creative control over their work and how it is presented to the public. Some also don’t want much editorial input on their novels, poems, or essays because they believe that their words perfectly express the vision they had in mind.
At Omnibook Co., we can help you with book publishing in the USA. We provide integrated solutions for every writer. From editorial to sales and marketing services, our team of professionals can be your guide to ensure that your work reaches numerous bookshelves across the globe.
How Book Publishing in the USA Started
The concept of printing has long existed before the invention of the printing press. Scribes used to copy different works by hand so they could distribute them for other people to read. However, since this was a long and painstaking process, people eventually developed machines to assist them.
Printing took off in 1450, which was also when Johannes Gutenberg invented his own movable printing press. The first major book was also printed five years later using this machine. However, it wasn’t until the early 1800s that the first-ever publishing models emerged. During this time, authors could sell the copyright of their works and receive a one-time payment from the publisher for the rights of the book.
Writers could also be published on commission. This method requires the publisher to advance the cost of printing the book and keep all profits until the expenses have been earned back. Afterward, they would also get to keep 10% of the total earnings, while the original creator would get the rest. However, if sales couldn’t cover the cost of publishing, authors wouldn’t be responsible for anything.
Publishing a Book Then vs. Now
The book publishing industry has been changing at a rapid pace over the years. New companies have entered the scene and taken on new approaches to publishing. Here is how book publishing in the USA has transformed:
Traditional Book Publishing
The traditional book publishing process has many steps. An author first submits their manuscript to an editor, who then decides whether or not it’s worth pursuing. A contract is negotiated with the writer if they have a favorable response after reading the book. Afterward, edits may be done to the novel, poem, or essay initially submitted before it finally goes to typesetting, printing, and distribution.
Although it can take authors quite a while to be selected by an editor, this method is still one of the cheapest ways to publish a book. It’s also still one of the most common ways for authors to get their books out into the world since organizations in this industry have numerous connections. However, it has its downsides, such as long waiting periods for authors, limited creative control, and lower royalty rates.
Modernized Book Publishing
This new model allows authors to publish their books on their own. The most significant difference in this new approach is that the writer now has more control over their work’s creative process and marketing strategy. If you’re going for this route, your options are as follows:
- Subsidy – This option requires the author to pay for the book’s printing and binding process. However, a publisher will cover a portion of the funds to edit, distribute, and market the written work.
- Vanity – Ideal for hobbyists and those whose personal goal is to see their work in print, this option requires you to pay for all your services. This may sound intimidating but worry not since you’ll also get to own the entirety of your profits.
- Self-Publishing – If you already have an established fan base and have a time-sensitive manuscript on your hands, then you should go for self-publishing. Remember, though, that you’ll have to pay for your book’s production, marketing, and distribution.
- Print on Demand – Those that have a limited audience for their work should go for this choice. You’ll need to use your own funds to produce your books one at a time through a company.
Types of Book Publishing Companies in the USA
Here are some of the most common types of book publishing companies in America:
Academic Publishers
Also known as textbook publishers, these organizations create reading materials for school and university classrooms. They often do so with a specific course syllabus in mind to ensure that students can use their books as a guide while their teachers or professors go through each lesson. Furthermore, they offer a range of other services, such as printing and binding, indexing, distribution and logistics, subscriptions, and access control management.
Self-Publishers
Companies that offer self-publishing services allow authors to see their books in print or online. One may wonder: how does this differ from traditional publishing houses? Well, these organizations allow for easy book publishing since they offer different levels of support depending on the author’s preference. Keep in mind, however, that the writer will have to pay for all the assistance they have received.
Hybrid Publishers
As referenced in their name, hybrid publishers offer services that fall somewhere between what a self-publishing company and a traditional publisher would provide. If you opt for this choice, you’ll have to carry the cost and financial risk of putting out your book. This means you need to provide your own capital. However, you’ll have some assistance with carrying out the different tasks, such as editing and printing, to transform a soft copy of your book into a physical one that can be found on shelves.
Trade Book Publishers
These publishers often acquire, edit, publish, and sell the works found in most bookstores. They can also be defined as traditional publishers creating books for a consumer readership. Although it may depend on the organization, they often publish in various formats, including hardcover, paperback, e-books, and audiobooks. Currently, there are many trade publishers in the United States, but the major entities are often referred to as the “Big Five.”
Book Packagers
Lastly, book packagers are companies that specialize in creating books that will be under the imprint of a trade publisher. They can also be categorized as the “outsourced help” some organizations hire to develop written works. Packaged books often involve a lot of photography or illustration since it is more cost-effective for publishers to buy the books already published rather than doing everything themselves. Additionally, book packagers can develop an idea for a book (or series) and sell the concept to a publisher.
How Much Does It Cost To Publish a Book?
Publishing a book is not as easy as it may seem. Nowadays, the cost of publishing a book varies depending on your route. You don’t have to pay anything upfront if you decide to publish your piece traditionally. It is important to remember, though, that it can take one to three years for your work to be released.
On the other hand, self-publishing is known as one of the cheapest ways to publish a book. Authors can spend anywhere from $100 to $2500 on the following:
- Cover Design – A good cover design should be eye-catching but not too flashy. The main idea of the cover should be clear at a glance, but there should also be some details for those who want to take a closer look. You can expect to pay a professional $100 to $600 for their services.
- Editing – This is a crucial part of publishing as it ensures the book’s content is error-free. It is also about double-checking that the author’s voice remains consistent throughout the work. Most editors charge anywhere from $300 to $1500 for their service, depending on their skills and experience.
- Formatting – Overall, formatting can be broken down into two categories: structural and aesthetic. The former includes margins, fonts, line spacing, and alignment, while the latter covers elements like bolding, italics, underlining, and font size. Designers charge their clients $50 to $300 for this service.
- Promotion – In order to make your book be successful, it is essential to advertise it. Promotion of the book can increase its sales and eventually create a profit for the author. Many methods, such as social media, advertising, and public relations, can be used. If you’re familiar with these industries, you can do everything yourself. However, you can also hire professionals for up to $500, so they can handle everything for you.
- Other Author Tools – Although this is optional, you can also utilize tools to help make things easier. This includes courses, automated email services, writing software, and more. If added up, these can cost you up to $175.
Things To Do Before Self-Publishing a Book
If you’re determined to pursue your dream of publishing a book in the USA all on your own, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Make Sure Your Manuscript Is Ready
A manuscript is a document that contains the content and structure of a book. It should be written in an appropriate style for the target audience. For example, if it’s for children, it should have a more whimsical tone and contain pictures. However, if it’s for adults, it should be written in a more formal manner with fewer illustrations.
One can say that an ideal manuscript has the perfect balance of plot, characters, and theme. It must also be compelling enough to keep the reader engaged because of its exciting storyline. However, it is not easy for writers to create a written piece that has all of these checkboxes ticked off. You can go about this task in many ways, but all require hard work and dedication.
Though it may take you months or years, you must ensure that your manuscript is ready before self-publishing a book. It is not enough to just have the best idea for a book and the most interesting story. Before self-publishing your work, you must also have an excellent writing style and impeccable grammar.
Connect With Editors or Proofreaders
If you want another set of eyes to go through your work before proceeding with book publishing in the USA, consider hiring an editor or a proofreader. There are many reasons why people turn to these professionals.
Editors ensure that the copy is clear, well-written, and conforms to editorial standards. On top of taking care of grammar and spelling errors, they provide feedback on how to improve a piece of writing so that it will be more striking when published. They are responsible for ensuring that all relevant information is included in your work. Depending on your agreement, they can also be responsible for double-checking the formatting, layout and design, and other aspects of the publication process.
In contrast, proofreaders only conduct a surface-level check of your work. However, you shouldn’t belittle their efforts since they will still provide you with the feedback you need to correct any misspellings, missed punctuation, textual and numerical inconsistency, and other common mistakes. The only thing that they can’t offer you criticism for is sentence construction, language clarity, and plot coherence. The extent of their services may differ from one expert to another, though, so make sure to consult with them first.
Create Your Website
Websites are an excellent way for authors to showcase their work and connect with readers in ways that print books cannot. These online pages are also more flexible in terms of what content they can contain and how they can be updated over time. If you’re planning to create one, make sure everything is finalized before publishing your novel, essay, or poem.
Remember that a good website is user-friendly and easy to navigate. It should be visually appealing, too. More than this, however, it should have an intuitive design consistent throughout its pages. Lastly, it should also have a clear call to action that is easy to find and navigate on the homepage, with a strong purpose for what it wants the visitor to do.
Various sites can help you create your own online platform. However, if you want to have one that is perfectly customized according to your needs, you can approach a web designer and developer. These professionals will use various tools to create a website that can provide visitors with more information about you and your works.
Align Your Social Media Platforms
One of the most essential steps to self-publishing a book is to align your social media platforms. This way, you can create a seamless experience for your readers and make sure that they will be able to find you on all the platforms they are using. Remember that it is not just about the number of followers and likes you have but also about the quality of content and engagement.
The first thing you need to do is make sure that all your social media accounts are linked together. You can do this by connecting your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages to your website.
Afterward, it’s time to think about how you want each profile to look. You should consider what kind of content you want to share and how often you should post. If you aren’t sure how to grow your following, you can even tap social media experts and hire them to manage your accounts.
Conclusion
Many people assume that the only way to release your written work is by approaching a book publishing company. However, this is definitely not the case since authors can now opt for other methods.
Self-publishing is a great way for writers to get their work out there and make money. It doesn’t cost much so long as you know how to budget your funds, and it’s much more convenient than going through a publishing house. You’ll even have complete control over your book’s content, design, and marketing!
At Omnibook Co., our team of professionals can help you have your book published in the USA. We have produced different kinds of high-quality products for our clients over the years, including children’s books, novels, memoirs, and more. To learn more about our services, feel free to get in touch with us today!
