New Publishing Realities
The fact is that most authors today, even ones who have published, are no longer accommodated by traditional publishers. Due to the collapse of the current traditional publishing model and the cartel-like power of the book chains – traditional publishers are no longer in a position to publish any work that cannot guarantee sales from the beginning. Simply translated this model has made it almost impossible for a new writer or mid-list writer to be published today by a traditional print publisher, even a writer with a track record.
The traditional publishing model has imploded and is reverting back to independent book outlets and small publishers. Cooperative publishing often a solution to writers faced with the foregoing predicament, allowing their books to see the light of day and reach their markets using the same means as traditional publishers but with a different marketing route and POD (Print-on-Demand) digital technologies producing books with no visible print difference from offset printed publications.
| While cooperative publishing and being an established author are often thought of as different routes to publication, there are many successful authors who choose to publish their book with a cooperative publisher. Many authors contracting with conventional publishing houses, large or small, are subsequently unhappy with the deal. They lose all control over what their book looks like, and how it’s distributed. They discover that the royalty percentage that they earn on each book sold is very small. Sometimes, once they’ve signed a contract, they have assigned the copyright in their life’s work over to someone else for as long as that work is in print. Producing a successful book requires a lot of work from the author. If the book is successful, then the financial rewards from a conventionally published book go into the publisher’s pockets, not the author’s. Cooperative publishing levels the playing field and puts the author in control of their work, with a higher return on sales. |
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Drawbacks of major and traditional publishers:
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Drawbacks of self-publishing are:
Today’s Bridge To Author/Publishing Control Cooperative publishing serves as an effective bridge between traditional publishing and self-publishing. Authors pay to have their book published with a cooperative publisher; however they still go through a professional publisher, with that publisher involved with every aspect of the publishing process. They are also able to profit by realizing a much higher percentage on their book sales than they would with a traditional publisher. Cooperative publishing puts books and their authors through the same process as traditional publishers. Not every manuscript is chosen. The editing process is rigorous. Design of text and cover are done by third-party experts. Cooperative publishing helps authors avoid the mistakes that happen when they try to be chief cook and bottle washer – not only writing but also publishing their book. Cooperative publishing retains the important author-publisher relationship that makes for great books. MAIN ADVANTAGES OF COOPERATIVE PUBLISHING 1. Realizing Publication. Most authors cannot be accommodated by traditional publishers. Cooperative publishing allows such books to see the light of day and reach their market. |