Starting here, starting now: the basics of getting your book into print

Black Issues Book Review, Nov-Dec, 2004 by Wayne Dawkins

How to Publish, Promote and Sell Your Own Book: The Insider's Guide to Everything You Need to Know About Self-Publishing, From Pasteup to Publicity

by Robert Laurence Holt, St. Martin's Press July 1986 $13.95, ISBN 0-312-39619-8

Holt's book lives up to its billing as "the insider's guide to everything you need to know."

The Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print and Self Your Own Book (14th edition)

by Dan Poynter Pard Publishing, August 2003 $19.95, ISBN 1-568-60088-7

The standard and popular book about self-publishing. Poynter is a tireless self-promoter, and he does workshops around the country.

1001 Ways to Market Your Books

by John Kremer Open Horizons, May 2000 $27.95, ISBN 0-912-41148-1

This is an encyclopedia-like reference with numerous tips on how to get access to whole salers, bookstores, book reviewers and other important markets, such as libraries and schools.

We Didn't Come Here ... to Play: How to Win the Publishing Game

by Avalon Betts-Gaston, Naleighna Kai Dr. Trevy A. McDonald and J.L. Woodson Biblio Distribution, March 2003 $14.95, ISBN 0-970-26999-4

Four Chicago-area black authors take turns explaining the rules for the road in publishing. Betts-Gaston tells how to avoid costly mistakes, Woodson explains writing made easy, McDonald speaks on marketing, public relations and collections, and Kai takes readers inside the mind of a traditional publishing house. --W.D.

Just the FAQs

In October 1992, August Press was established in order to write my book Black Journalists: The NABJ Story. Since then, I have published five other authors and I wrote my second book last year. Other authors often ask me for information on haw they can self-publish.

Frequently Asked Questions About Self-Publishing

How much will it cost to print the book?

Get a handful of estimates from different printers, and then choose one that meets your needs and price tag. Printing fewer books drive up the cost per book; printing more books is cheaper, but are you sure you're going to move the books or have adequate storage space if you need more time? As an example, my printer in Michigan will charge about $6,000 to print 3,000 copies of a 200-page soft-cover book. Other printers have quoted $8,000 to $10,000 on the same volume.

Will I need an editor?

Why of course. Everyone needs an editor-even accomplished, gifted writers. There are people who are reluctant to work with editors because they are people "who are going change what I write." Editors are not there to change your ideas, they are essential to help you write clean, clear text. At least one editor should edit the manuscript and make sure the content is grammatically correct and words and chapters are well organized. After that, the same editor or another editor should proofread the manuscript and correct typos, grammatical errors and misspelled words.

A suggestion: When a manuscript is about to go to press, invite a handful of colleagues to proofread your manuscript. Additional, fresh eyes will catch mistakes.

Do I need a lawyer to copyright my book?