Anyone ever self-published?

[sempei13]

I'm in the middle of writing "Podcasting Church" for NaNoWriMo (National Nonfiction Writing Month, which happens to also be National Novel Writing Month). Anyone ever self-published a book before? It seems to me that the the second CMN convention there was someone there who had. Is he still around?

Paul

btw, you can read it all on my blog http://trinitydigitalmedia.com/podcasting-church/ I'd love feedback and there's a thread for that in the podcasting forum here.

As always Dan and Phil, if I've done something not kosher, feel free to edit or pull with my blessing.

[petereit]

I've never self-published, but I have worked with printing companies that printed books for people who did. It's pretty easy. Just find a local printer that can print and bind paperbacks, schedule a meeting with them and work out the details.

Depending on your desired finish, you may even get away with using a local copy shop. Some of the newer Xerox systems are pretty savvy with their printing and binding.

If you're looking for top quality, I can refer you to one of the best full-digital printing companies on the planet. I use them to custom-print full-color total compensation statements for my company's 5,000 employees each year. Madison Avenue quality at Main Street prices. (Ooh, I may have to trade them that slogan for my next print job!)

[[Admin] skstarkiller]

Have you checked www.lulu.com?

[LaneLester]

I have self-published several textbooks, and I had a partially-captive market for them. Marketing is the big thing you lose with self-publishing, so you need to have an alternative for that.

Amazon.com has a print-on-demand service a friend of mine uses, and that would be worth considering.

If you or someone can do it, a WordPress site with posts about the same topic could be used to publicize the book. But you need to know what you're doing and be willing to provide content. You can see what I did for my friend at Flu Facts for You. It hasn't done him much good for several reasons, but it illustrates the concept.

Lane

[sempei13]

I looked at LuLu, but right now I'm leaning toward Amazon's CreateSpace. It is on a wordpress blog. I thought I might post some here in the tutorials section, too, if that's okay with Phil and Dan.

Any more tips?

Paul

[[Admin] skstarkiller]

Originally Posted by sempei13

I thought I might post some here in the tutorials section, too, if that's okay with Phil and Dan.

Feel free.

[petereit]

You could also create an iBook.

[cmchamp]

I just downloaded a free 350+pg .pdf textbook for music theory. One of my former students, now a home-schooling mom, posted a link to it on Facebook.
I emailed the author to obtain permission to use the book in my classroom, and an on-line version of my classroom, as long as the participants had to go to his web-site to download the .pdf version of the text.
I wasn't asking to use actual portions of his text in my Moodle™ course (on-line), but he said as long as I give credit and a link to his book, I can.
Facebook has been a great place for me to get resources and ideas for my classroom.
C.

[[Director] Joseph B]

there's a link to outskirtspress at the bottom of my page right now.
write.publish.market.
http://outskirtspress.com/selfpublishing.html

[petereit]

Gmail, ever eavesdropping on my conversations, suggested CreateSpace.com.

[sempei13]

So far CreateSpace is where I'm leaning. For anyone who's a photographer, I'm looking for a cover picture.

I'm loving that I'm getting back into this community. I've missed you all.

Paul

[[Director] Joseph B]

What do you need Paul? I'll see what I can do.