Economical self-publishing
Why should someone self-publish?
You're probably aware that there are fewer and fewer publishers contracting fewer and fewer titles by fewer
and fewer authors. (Nearly 99 percent of submitted manuscripts are turned down by royalty publishers.) But if you
have a message or a story you feel compelled to publish, self-publishing is a popular—and now, economical—
way to do just that.
Can self-publishing be successful?
Successfully self-published books include The Living Bible, T. D. Jakes Woman Thou Art Loosed,
and Joseph Girzone's Joshua. Other famous
authors who began with self-publishing include Mark Twain, Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan), Frank Baum
(The Wizard of Oz series) and Zane Gray. For a lengthy list of
successful self-published books click here.
ACW Press has had a number of successful books
including a Christy Award finalist J. Scott
Featherstone's Hallelujah
and another featured in December 2005 on Regis and Kelly—John Kappe's
Silence. Many
authors have had to go back for second, third and even fourth printings to
keep up with the demand.
What exactly is "self-publishing"?
This means that you underwrite the costs of the production of your book, but you also reap all the profits.
A royalty book may sell for $14.95, but the author will often make less than $1.00 per sale. The same book self-published through ACW Press could bring home an
income of nearly $8.00 per book! (Profits will vary with the quantity of
books printed.)
What does ACW Press offer?
All of our packages includes full-color, custom-designed cover by designers who work for major publishing houses,
editing for spelling, grammar and style, as well as an ISBN number and bar code so you can sell your books to
book stores and other retailers, and a free Web site for your book.
Other services include fulfillment and international distribution through STL Distributors (free the first
year for orders of 2,500 or more) and well as economically priced publicity such as press releases,
radio and TV interviews, and blog tours through the Willis Agency. And if you need help writing your book, editorial services are
available through JamesWatkins.Communicator
What does it cost to publish a book?
If you've been exploring various companies' offers, you know the prices are all over the board. But here are some
important questions to ask:
1. Does price include editing? Some companies charge from $2-5 per page extra to edit your book. At ACW, professional
editing is included in all our packages.
2. Does price include a full-color, custom-designed cover? Many companies offer a choice of several standard covers or
charge extra for custom designs.
At ACW, all our books covers are custom-designed by artists working for some of the major Christian publishing houses.
3. Does price include custom typesetting? Again, many self-publishers offer one or two inside designs, but at ACW Press,
each book is custom-designed.
4. Does price include ISBN number and Bookland/EAN bar code? These are esssential for selling your book commercially—and
expensive.
Many self-publishers charge extra for this service, but at ACW Press, it's also included in every book we publish.
5. Does price include distribution? It's important to remember that you, the author, are responsible for marketing
your self-published book, but ACW Press can offer distribution through FaithWorks
to the major book distributors such as Ingrams,
amazon.com, and the Christian booksellers association for print runs of 2,500 or more. There is no charge for the
first year of this service.
6. Are prices clearly posted? Many self-publishers offer complicated discount programs or refuse to post their
prices. At ACW, all packages, as well as prices for unique sizes, art, etc. are clearly posted. Click here.
7. Have you done a "background check" on the publisher? There are many self-publishing scams! Please
check out these links before signing with any self-publisher:
• Better Business Bureau
• Editors and Preditors
• Six Red Flags
• Writer Beware
ACW Press is a service of American Christian Writers and is a member of the
Evangelical Press Association,
Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and the
Global Network of Christian Ministries
All books must conform to ACW Press' Statement of
Faith
Our staff is made up of professionals in their respective areas who have
worked in the business
for over 100 combined years.
What if I edit the book and design the cover myself? Can I get a cheaper price?
You can at many other self-publishers. However, ACW Press is committed to the highest quality possible. Scripture
requires us to produce only those things that are "excellent and praiseworthy." No matter how
good editors may be, they would never consider doing the final edit on their own books. Authors have a tendancy to
overlook their own mistakes—no matter how expert they are in editing. The same is true in cover design. There
is a whole science and psychology to the art of cover design. Self-designed covers rarely match up to the professionally
designed covers you see in book stores. So, ACW Press is willing to publish fewer books to
publish better books.
How many books do I need to order?
With Print on Demand (POD) you can order as
few as 15 books and can break even with as little as 200 copies. With traditional printing, the per book cost
drops the more you print, so traditional is more economical for runs of 600 or more.
If you're a public speaker, here's a good rule of thumb. You will sell to about 10 percent of your audience. So,
if you're speaking to 10,000 people each year, you can reasonable expect to sell at least 1,000 copies in a year.
Can I go from POD to traditional printing?
Yes, you may want to print a few hundred PODs to test the market. If it's successful, you can easily go traditional printing
with the cost of editing and design deducted from the price since everything electronically transfers from print on demand to
offset printing.
How do I get started?
First, explore our site. Hopefully, you'll find answers to all your questions.
Then, our own editorial advisor will guide you through every step of the process.
Jim Watkins has thirteen
published books from Harper-collins,
Tyndale House, Zondervan and two successfully self-published books, plus
he has served as an editor, then editorial director at Wesleyan Publishing House, and is currently serving as a
freelance
editor for several publishing houses. Email Jim for a free,
no-obligation consultation and quote.
Fulfill your dream of publication starting today!
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Thanks for all the info. I've already done a lot of comparing (about two years' worth!) and believe that yours is
the best offer for the money.
Jo Ann Sherbine
ACW press provides quality service, quick response to your questions, and genuine Christian respect for those
they serve. You will be blessed by the creative eye of the graphic designer, the humor and care of the editor,
and the encouragement and prayers of the entire team. ACW press is committed to the ministry of serving God by
serving you. Be blessed by their talents and friendships!
Donna D. Kincheloe, RN, BSN, CCRN
Author of I Never Walk the Halls Alone
It has been and is still a joy to work with everyone associated with ACW and our book project.
Without you and your
staff our dream would not be fulfilled. Blessings! Thanks again.
Tom Meaglia
Author of The Economy of God
Working with ACW has been a refreshing experience. You guys are unbelievable in your straightforwardness.
No surprises waiting around the bend for your authors. Your response time is impressive and keeps us energized about
our passion for writing. You actually have our best interests—rather than your profit—at heart!
Joyce S. Oglesby
Author of Keeping His Pants On ... Until He Gets Home
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