At various times and places in these fora we’ve discussed the pros and cons of publishing one’s books by print-on-demand (POD).
Well, as some of you will know, because I’ve told you repeatedly, I’m touting for comments on my bonkbustin’ SF trilogy The Sigil, before I spiffy it up and send it to my agent.
The problem that even willing readers will face is that reading a 280,000-word document on screen would probably turn you into a teletubby, and printing it all out would use up a lot of paper and print cartridges.
So, after a discussion offline with Dr Rohn of this parish, I decided to publish all three volumes care of Lulu – you can buy them all through this page. Each volume will cost less than £5, which is probably a lot less than printing it out yourself (I am taking no profit as I wanted to keep the costs as low as possible, and soliciting comments is the important thing for me right now). What’s more, you’ll get a properly bound, US-trade-paperback sized book, yours to recycle as hamster bedding cut out and keep treasure forever.
I have to say that using Lulu was simplicity itself. Even I didn’t screw up. I managed to load all three books, write blurbs, format covers and so on in around three hours.
I might even pass the link to my agent…
Hmm, will publishing it in this way cause any trouble with the actual publishers? I could see them being unwilling to take it on if they know they’re sort of in competition with a £5 version on Lulu.
You’re right about your comment there, Henry: I was willing, but then life stepped in. Reading a 280,000-word document on screen would probably turn you into a teletubby – printing was not an option, and I can’t book that much face-time in front of my computer. Books, like so much else, are better held in the hand.
However, am having problems getting their system to either convert into euros or retain more than one item in their cart. I suppose it has something to do with cookies but I’ve no time to resolve that now.
Cunning plan, Henry (though I’m too tight even to splash out on £5 a throw). I think Peter has a point – fine for the moment, but I would take it down before your agent does something with it. My agent, certainly, emphasizes that many publishers don’t like over-formatted submissions, because formatting is part of ‘their job’, so I suspect a Lulu’d one would send them into a spin.
I presume, also, since you are soliciting (?! should I stop here?) opinions, that you’ll be editing it before it goes to your agent, so this won’t be the final version anyway…
Is Lulu French? I always thought of her as German…
_Hmm, will publishing it in this way cause any trouble with the actual publishers? _
From what I’ve seen of other books like this, if you can show you’ve sold some, that’s a good thing – so long as you withdraw it from sale once they publish it.
@ Peter: Hmm, will publishing it in this way cause any trouble with the actual publishers?
No. Or at least it shouldn’t do. Lulu is incredibly easy to use, and the user has the right to withdraw the book at any time. Just click ‘delete’.
@ Heather: However, am having problems getting their system to either convert into euros or retain more than one item in their cart. Oh dear…. I am sorry. I guess no system is perfect.
@ Brian: Peter has a point – fine for the moment, but I would take it down before your agent does something with it. My agent, certainly, emphasizes that many publishers don’t like over-formatted submissions, because formatting is part of ‘their job’, so I suspect a Lulu’d one would send them into a spin.
My agent has had no trouble at all with my posting stuff online for comments. I have emailed her with the link, too, suggesting that she buys the books from Lulu and bills me in her next statement, just as if I sent her files and she’d printed them out, and charged me for photocopying. I haven’t had her reply yet. I know it’s cheeky, but, hey, this is the 21st century.
@ Scott: if you can show you’ve sold some, that’s a good thing – so long as you withdraw it from sale once they publish it. That’s my agent’s view. This sort of exercise is good for market testing.
What struck me most about lulu is how increadibly simple it is to use, and how versatile. People use it for all sorts of things, not just The Great Novel — compiling cookbooks of family recipes, organizing photos and family memorabilia, creating technical manuals and so on. I’d imagine that POD could be incredibly useful in science. Without the expense of photocopying and distributing, you could (for example) organize lab protocols and notebooks (you can keep projects private, or limit their distribution), or produce lecture notes and other materials for students.
Prior self-publication doesn’t really harm your chances with a publisher, from what authors have told me. If you can show evidence you’ve sold, and you’re happy to take it down and let the publisher get a new ISBN for it, they’ve nothing to lose. Similar things have happened with authors having a hardcover run with an academic press then getting a mainstream publisher interested in the paperback rights when it was clear it was a big seller.
Yes, Jennifer’s right, I think. I know several examples of books both here and in the US being self-published, or published by small presses, and they’ve taken off for some reason, sold lots and then a big publisher has taken them on. There’s been no problem at all. Just going over to say hello to Lulu now…
Just going over to say hello to Lulu now…
Make sure you don’t visit this site by mistake, as I did.
Just clarify, I’m not saying the Lulu think is a bad idea – as everyone says, some books have done well through self publishing and have then been picked up by a publisher and gone big. (I think A Year in the Merde is an example.)
What I’m saying is that if you take this route and then submit to a publisher, it’s best to submit a traditionally formatted manuscript rather than (or supported by) the Lulu bound edition.
What I’m saying is that if you take this route and then submit to a publisher, it’s best to submit a traditionally formatted manuscript rather than (or supported by) the Lulu bound edition.
But of course! Publishers are addicted to enormous piles of unbound paper, printed sextuple-spaced and with margins three miles wide. And we have to feed their addictions, don’t we?
Too late Henry. Looks like I’m going to end up reading Siege of Stars accompanied by Puppet on a String.
And I agree with Brian about the manuscript business.
I mean boom bang a bang, of course. Sorry Lulu.
Thank you Clare! I look forward to your comments. As for me, I am completely immune to the charms of Ms Lulu, though I always like it when she consents to be sent up by French and Saunders.
You know you make me wanna sh……..
Any creative suggestions other then the bleeding obvious?
I’ll start with
‘shave’
You make me wanna sh…. release calcium from intracellular stores?
I’ve just heard from my agent … to say that she’s ordered all three volumes from Lulu. So presumably she thinks this is a handy way of presenting interim versions of the book, for ease of handling and comment.
“Without the expense of photocopying and distributing, you could (for example) organize lab protocols and notebooks (you can keep projects private, or limit their distribution), or produce lecture notes and other materials for students.”
I’ve seen that on Lulu:
here and here and here for example.
Fantastic news, well done! Great that Jill is happy with this, let’s hope it’s the start of something big in the publishing world. We’re all so proud of you…..Mrs Gee (aha I’ve infiltrated the Nature Network), the junior Gees, Heidi and the “zoo”.
I’ve heard about families who only ever seem to communicate through email, but is this the first sighting of one communicating through a blog?
Not to mention
http://www.lulu.com/content/631016
and
http://www.lulu.com/content/1869828
;-)
Hi Penny! And the rest of the Gee family and the zoo!
I have just ordered the trilogy….
Hi Bora, we miss you! Hoping that you and your wonderful family are all well. Hi Brian, I guess it’s probably not a first. I read Henry’s blogs often and thought this one was worth a comment from the power behind the great man but must stop now before his ego is too big to get through the door later.
My Mom comments on my blog – she knows I’ll respond to that even when I am too busy and ignore her e-mails, Skype calls, etc.
@ Bora – Thanks for that. I’d been meaning to ask you for that link… and thanks for ordering the trilogy.
@ Penny – your dinner is in the dog.
ROTFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve ordered Open Science ’07. Been meaning to do that for ages.
So, Henry: a little contribution for “Futures”, then?? About time, I’d say…!
I was once reading a blog post reviewing a book (not on N Network). In the comments was an irate post from the blogger’s wife, who wrote that she and her husband had been discussing this book over dinner, and that her husband had pinched her analysis of it and passed it off as his own in his review.
I’ve been so impressed with Lulu that I’ve
bought the companypublished By the Sea on it, a mystery thriller I wrote for LabLit last year. As with my other books you can buy it hereThe trilogy has arrived at Maison de Coturnix!
That’s great to know, Bora. I’m sorry if the print is rather small. I still have a few things to learn about formatting.
It’s a little small, but that’s OK. I am not that old! And I will read it in broad daylight at the poolside, so I should be OK….
I’ve since enlarged the print…
Open Lab ‘07 arrived at the M des Gs a couple of days ago. Now _that’s_ a handsome volume.
And the next one, edited by one Jennifer Rohn, will be even more handsome!
Bora – thanks for plugging the Sigil chez Coturnix – very kind of you.
I hope my endorsement means anything, perhaps a book sold or even all three!