The nature of the book self publishing

The nature of book self-publishing is an easy one. Professional book publishing houses can operate in a few different ways. If they have seen a sample or treatment of your work and have offered you a payment to proceed, then it goes without saying that they are backing you in that endeavor. That Book Publishing Company will type-set, distribute and sell your book and keep a percentage of payment. In that scenario, the Book Publishing House, having paid the author up-front, assumes the risk, and so it stands to reason that they would only take on projects that they believe are going to sell so that can make a profit.

So why then would a Professional Book Publishing Company offer you a sales package where they charge you to type-set your own book and then they also assume to take the sales commission? In this scenario, the Book Publishing Company has no faith in your book's ability to sell, but they still need to draw an income. In that scenario, where they are over-charging you to professionally type-set your own book, and still assume a sales commission, you're probably better off sourcing your own self-publishing, professional book type-setter, which will cost you less for type-setting, and where you'll keep more, if not 100% of your profits.

 

DESIGN vs TYPE-SETTING. What's the difference, and how does that affect self publishing book printing

Typesetting was the artistic trade-skill of assembling and arranging the removable wood, and then metal, lettering for the printing process / press. Ironically, the rise in technology, readable formats, new fonts and education & readership levels, has increased the need for typesetting from what was once a very specific trade skill and audience to something that is now just outside of common knowledge. That means while a book's outer cover would be designed by a book printing graphic designer, the book's internal black & white text pages are type-set.
And while there are many soft rules and industry terms used in type-setting, it always comes back to one thing... readership of the books content. The subtle art and purpose of type-setting is to be so well-mannered that it looks professional whilst to still be so well-mannered that it doesn't detract from the readability of the book. That equally means as the content becomes less or more bold, it might be more appropriate that a books type-setting, font or style do so too.
Now this differs from a book design in that a book's cover is trying to sell you on a book using visuals.
Why would this all be important to a self-publishing writer looking at book printing? While the cover is going to sell the first books, the readability and experience of the book will affect the book's reviews and future sales.

Self Publishing Book Printing Quotes Include Treatments & Styles

When you quote your self-published book printing job to be type-set and printed with Barboosa and Goliath Print, how do you know that you are going to be happy with your finished book's internally type-set pages? That's a fair question considering we don't read your manuscript. We take the first three chapters from your self publishing book printing manuscript and create three different styles (treatments) to gauge your response on different typesetting elements and book characters. You might come back and say you like the font from treatment chapter two, but don't like the spacing, the chapter starts or any number of any other type-setting features. We will then go back and re-work the three-chapter treatments until we have a complete self published book chapter that you approve; any only then will we type-set the balance of the book. 

Oh No! A Typo... is your content right?

One of the biggest causes of customer frustration in self-published book printing is unfortunately self-inflicted. While Authors are accustomed to being able to edit their manuscript at any position without having a negative consequence on the balance of the manuscript, the same is not true for type-setting. While a Word document will naturally cascade the remaining words onto the next page, type-setting does involve manually setting each page to strike a functional and aesthetic balance, and that means any text alteration over a few lines can alter ever subsequntial page for the remained of the book, off it's type-set balance. That means it's in the customer best interest to ensure the manustraipt is complete and checked before type-setting.

 

 

Creating your own self published book printing file

If you're wanting to create your own self-published book printing file using a Microsoft Word saved PDF, we suggest you reading our Soft Cover, PUR Bound Book Printing FAQ Page. In addition to having downloadable fonts, a book binding glossary and instructions on how to send through your self published book printing files, it also shows how to set up your internal pages and book cover for self publishing books. That means you can now quote your self published book printing and read instructions on how to create the file all in the one place.

request your free, no obligation self-publishing book printing quote today

That's right. If you're in the market for professional and affordable book type-setting, or want to learn more about self publishing your own book, then request your free call back today and we'll give you a call to walk you through the process.