I have been doing a large amount of market research into self-publishing some modern philosophy I have been working on for the past decade. I have worked online with various self-publishing firms such as ASP and have received various returns.
My question is: Does it make more sense to spend countelss hours researching online for self-publishing firms or does it expedite the process by spending bigbucks on bound proposals to Prentice-Hall and Random House. Should I continue spending 150 bucks a pop on bound proposals to these big pubs or should I go the online route. Anyone have experience with either one that has paid off.
** Recently got a good response from a bound proposal I sent out, bu they were reluctant to put the manuscript in their weekly editorial meeting. Good comments but a marked reluctence to pick it up…
What sort of book is this? A textbook on modern philosophers, or just your opinions on modern philosophy?
If it’s the former, then of course you go to an established publisher. No one’s going to buy self-published textbooks. However, you’d be best off contacting university presses, rather than the major textbook publishers – they’re more likely to be interested in something like that.
And why $150 a pop? Binding the proposals isn’t going to make the slightest difference in your chances. And most proposals for nonfiction are generally expected to be a one or two-page letter, with an outline of chapters (1-3 pages), and perhaps, about 50-60 pages of writing sample. (Nonfiction publishers also should be able to give you a decision on a letter alone.) Assuming a nickle a page of copying costs, you’re talking only around $3.50 plus another couple of dollars for postage. If you’re paying more, you’re wasting money.
Now, if you’re just talking about a book about your philosophy, then you pretty much will have to self-publish. To be blunt, it’s hardly likely your philosophy has any audience. You can self-publish and promote the book every chance you get, but there’s zero chance of getting any return from a self-published book as you describe.
Its not a text book for sure, it is more of opinions on contemporary philosophy. See Simon Blackburn Author of Think wrote about compelling issues in modern western thought. This book is very similar. It delves into the various pathways, scapes, and predictions of western philosophy and puts a few twists and turns in the mix from my own personal chronicles. I recenlty spent some time at Pembroke, Oxford where Blackburn was Fellow. (in history past)
University presses are admitedly not something I know a lot about, I will look into that. Thank you Reality. I have spent just under $1000 on proposals. I am quite new to this. I am getting ready to retire and my wife and I are thinking about co-authoring a series soon. I am having a go first before we venture too far into monetary hades.
Thank you, if you have any other tid-bits I am very open…
Best bet, then, is to not spend the $150 and just send the usual query letter, outline of chapter, and sample. Get a book explaining the format expected. There’s no need to spend a lot of money – the words on the paper are what will sell your book, not the way the words were presented (and something fancy like that marks you as an amateur and makes a bad impression)
How indeed? I went the self-pub route myself after spending $15 a pop on manuscripts (for photocopying charges), figuring it would be cheaper, and cooler, to just send out a finished book to publishers. But $150? I think I would have given up and become a plumber.
This is interesting. You know, big publishing houses always have these little ofshoots that seem topic-specific (for fiction I’ve noticed, I only read philosophy and political commentary in non-fiction). If I had a novel written (or partially written) and generated a sample, should I send it to the mommies or to all the kiddies? Or, hell, everyone?
Soon, someone will link to a general writer’s FAQ. [and there was much rejoicing]
Yessir! Actually, stupid me, after reading this thread I went and found quite a few different ones (though most from the SF/F category, strangely). I shoul dhave saved the links for this thread.