Online Community for Authors

One of the first decisions an author needs to make is how to publish his or her book.

Once you're a registered associate, you can read articles on the three main ways to publish: Mainstream, POD or Subsidy Book Publishing and Self-Publishing to self publish a book. We'll introduce you to several services to help you find a traditional publisher if that is the road you choose. If self-publishing is best for your book, we have partners who can help you. We'll also walk you through how to register your book, including ISBN book registration and SAN (Standard Address Number) registration, how to price your book and how to get it distributed. To find this information, go to the "Publish Your Book" section. To find specific information on book registration and to receive book registration assistance, go to Publish Your Book/Registrations.

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What's the best way for an author to publish a book? Here are the three main ways to publish: Mainstream Book Publishing Companies, POD (also referred to as vanity or subsidy book publishing) publishing, and self-publishing. To help simplify this decision, ask yourself if you have a Cultural book or a Commercial book. The Cultural author seeks to preserve his or her heritage, or that of a community or club in the form of a professionally printed book.  A Commercial Book, on the other hand, is written with the intent to sell as many copies as possible. 

If you define your book as a Cultural book your goal will most likely be to print a small number of books for your family and friends and maybe for some local community centers and libraries. For most Cultural authors, creating an extensive promotional plan is not necessary. However, depending on the type of book you have, you may still want to put your book on Amazon and you may want to create a blog and maybe give your book some exposure without spending a lot of money.

If you define your book as a Commercial book, then earning income from your book is your primary goal and you might want to find a  Mainstream Book Publisher (Mainstream Book Publishing Company) or you might Self-publish your book or find a reputable POD publisher. What type of publishing you choose depends on many factors, but the number one factor is the goals you have outlined for your book.

Not all authors have the same goal and only you — an independent author — can decide the best goal for you. Deciding on your goal will define the best approach to take to achieve your goal. For example, if your goal is to be a New York Times best selling mystery novelist, then the best strategy is selling your book to a mainstream publisher who specializes in publishing mystery novels. Your tactical plan will focus on how to get your manuscript sold.

While each author needs to define his or her own goals, when it comes down to a hard number of sold books, I suggest authors focus on the magic 5,000 number. 5,000 is the average number of books sold in bookstores. In addition, publishers begin taking notice of a book when it  sells 5,000 copies. This 5,000 number serves several purposes:

1. By focusing on selling 5,000 copies, you will see the value in printing in short-runs until your volumes begin to increase.

2. Book self publishing is generally not the best method if you want to sell your book to a mainstream publisher , but self-publishing (book self publish) can be beneficial if you can demonstrate to a publisher that you have sold 5,000 copies through self-promoting efforts.

3. If you can sell 5,000 copies then you will make a profit from your book. You won’t be financially independent for the rest of your life, but you will not have lost money either.

The key for most authors is finding cost-effective ways to self-promote their books. So if you are an author publishing your own book, the tools on this site will help and associating with other authors can be a great source of new ideas and encouragement.