What do you look for in an online publisher?

Justin Nemo · 03-13-2012, 03:39 AM

There are many new online publishing websites springing up now. You can upload your book, sell it, buyers can review it etc. Apart from the obvious – lots of readers and buyers - what do you think is a must have feature on any e-publishing website?

teh603 · 03-13-2012, 08:57 AM

I look at their fine print and make sure that they only want a non-exclusive license for ebook publication.

Justin Nemo · 03-13-2012, 09:09 AM

Hi

Thanks for your response.

Isn't that pretty standard these days?

What about things like help with formatting that sort of thing?

Sorry for my ignorance, but as my old friend Albert Einstein used to say “Learning all the time”

teh603 · 03-13-2012, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Nemo

Hi

Thanks for your response.

Isn't that pretty standard these days?

What about things like help with formatting that sort of thing?

Sorry for my ignorance, but as my old friend Albert Einstein used to say “Learning all the time”

Not really; one of Amazon's programs and Apple's special ebook software both require exclusivity for that work. I'm pretty sure Penguin Book Country does as well, on top of its being a vanity self- publisher trap.

Justin Nemo · 03-13-2012, 09:29 AM

I hate it when people ask for exclusivity, but don't guarantee sales. I've been using a new website which is really user friendly and easy to navigate around etc. But it's a trade off, they're new so don't have the coverage just yet.

orlok · 03-13-2012, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Nemo

I hate it when people ask for exclusivity, but don't guarantee sales. I've been using a new website which is really user friendly and easy to navigate around etc. But it's a trade off, they're new so don't have the coverage just yet.

Would appreciate if you could share their details if and when you feel happy to do so.

Justin Nemo · 03-13-2012, 10:07 AM

Hi Orlok

Yes I'd be pleased to give you their details, but I don't want to be accused of spamming, so I'll pm you if that's OK?

orlok · 03-13-2012, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Nemo

Hi Orlok

Yes I'd be pleased to give you their details, but I don't want to be accused of spamming, so I'll pm you if that's OK?

Yes that's great, thanks.

HarryT · 03-13-2012, 12:25 PM

Amazon are the "elephant in the room" of independent publishing. You can't afford not to publish on Amazon, and most authors seem to find that the overwhelming majority of their sales come from Amazon (95% or so in many cases, it seems).

Shack70 · 03-13-2012, 12:37 PM

I think what you really need when you find a publisher is an editor of sorts. Anyone can publish a book online, make sure the simple things like grammer and spelling are correct.

altworld · 03-13-2012, 12:44 PM

I look at cost and then I look at what ownership they publishing site takes of your work.

Justin Nemo · 03-13-2012, 01:25 PM

Oops, sorry Orlok, I'll pm you right now.

Justin Nemo · 03-13-2012, 01:28 PM

Shack, shouldn't you be doing that sort of thing yourself? I've seen many post here where people say even the best e-publishers can miss things or mess up your MS.

HarryT · 03-13-2012, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Nemo

Shack, shouldn't you be doing that sort of thing yourself? I've seen many post here where people say even the best e-publishers can miss things or mess up your MS.

It's very difficult indeed to spot errors in your own work. There's a tendency for your brain to "see" what should be there, rather than what actually is there. Plus of course, not everyone is sufficiently familiar with formal grammar to be able to get it right themselves.

I'd always recommend (as you may have noticed

) the use of a professional editor, even if it's just to give your work a "once over" after you've gone through your own editing process.

Justin Nemo · 03-13-2012, 01:34 PM

Hi Harry

We've had this conversation before. lol. When I say yourself I mean getting an editor, friend, your mother, next door's dog to edit it for you.

03-13-2012, 03:39 AM	#1
Justin Nemo Stercus accidit Posts: 330 Karma: 513878 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: Nookpadle 6	What do you look for in an online publisher? There are many new online publishing websites springing up now. You can upload your book, sell it, buyers can review it etc. Apart from the obvious – lots of readers and buyers - what do you think is a must have feature on any e-publishing website?

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03-13-2012, 08:57 AM	#2
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	I look at their fine print and make sure that they only want a non-exclusive license for ebook publication.

03-13-2012, 09:09 AM	#3
Justin Nemo Stercus accidit Posts: 330 Karma: 513878 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: Nookpadle 6	Hi Thanks for your response. Isn't that pretty standard these days? What about things like help with formatting that sort of thing? Sorry for my ignorance, but as my old friend Albert Einstein used to say “Learning all the time”

03-13-2012, 09:29 AM	#5
Justin Nemo Stercus accidit Posts: 330 Karma: 513878 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: Nookpadle 6	I hate it when people ask for exclusivity, but don't guarantee sales. I've been using a new website which is really user friendly and easy to navigate around etc. But it's a trade off, they're new so don't have the coverage just yet.

03-13-2012, 10:07 AM	#7
Justin Nemo Stercus accidit Posts: 330 Karma: 513878 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: Nookpadle 6	Hi Orlok Yes I'd be pleased to give you their details, but I don't want to be accused of spamming, so I'll pm you if that's OK?

03-13-2012, 12:25 PM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Amazon are the "elephant in the room" of independent publishing. You can't afford not to publish on Amazon, and most authors seem to find that the overwhelming majority of their sales come from Amazon (95% or so in many cases, it seems).

03-13-2012, 12:37 PM	#10
Shack70 Guru Posts: 777 Karma: 1043626 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: York, Pa Device: Kindle Paperwhite 11th Generation	I think what you really need when you find a publisher is an editor of sorts. Anyone can publish a book online, make sure the simple things like grammer and spelling are correct.

03-13-2012, 12:44 PM	#11
altworld Evangelist Posts: 495 Karma: 746472 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Deep in Maryland Device: Android G1	I look at cost and then I look at what ownership they publishing site takes of your work.

03-13-2012, 01:25 PM	#12
Justin Nemo Stercus accidit Posts: 330 Karma: 513878 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: Nookpadle 6	Oops, sorry Orlok, I'll pm you right now.

03-13-2012, 01:28 PM	#13
Justin Nemo Stercus accidit Posts: 330 Karma: 513878 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: Nookpadle 6	Shack, shouldn't you be doing that sort of thing yourself? I've seen many post here where people say even the best e-publishers can miss things or mess up your MS.

03-13-2012, 01:34 PM	#15
Justin Nemo Stercus accidit Posts: 330 Karma: 513878 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: Nookpadle 6	Hi Harry We've had this conversation before. lol. When I say yourself I mean getting an editor, friend, your mother, next door's dog to edit it for you.

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