Product Description

Book publishing is changing. The Self-Publishing Manual, Volume 2, the sequel to the best selling Self Publishing Manual describes how to use new techniques to write your book even faster, use new technology to publish it for less, and how to use social media for promotion.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #63936 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781568601465
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

Don't Waste Your Money
I bought this book, along with the original "Self-Publishing Manual", because of Dan Poynter's reputation. But Poynter wrote his original book in 1979, and his expertise is in the old-style techniques of 30 years ago.

I have quite a few books on self-publishing and book marketing, and it is painfully clear that Poynter has no clue about the electronic age. Reading this book I had the feeling that his publishers thought the original book was dated (which it is), so they suggested he write a Volume II on the new ways of doing things. But he doesn't know the new ways of doing things. The book reads as though it were written by someone with no direct experience who did some brief internet searches - or had someone else do it for him. Most of it is links and lists. I found no useful insights, and I returned the book.

There are many other much better books on self-publishing with POD technology. For modern, electronic-age book promotion methods, check out "Plug Your Book" by Steve Weber.

Poynter's still great, but a little outdated
Okay, let me begin by saying that Dan Poynter is one of my heroes. Everyone that wants to self-publish should buy this book. Now, that being said, there are some issues with the book. As one of the other reviewers pointed out, Poynter has been in the business a LONG time.

He still carries inventory, and does a lot of the order fulfillment himself. Many authors HATE doing this (myself included). My goal was always to eliminate inventory and all the problems that come along with it. Who wants to deal with returns? Who wants to deal with bookstores that don't pay their bills? This is a bygone era. When I started out self-publishing, I carried inventory, dealt with customers, and packed books up late at night after my toddler went to sleep. I HATED it! Now, POD technology has made inventory obsolete. I don't know why any young author-publishers using the traditional route anymore. I know a few older die-hards that still use offset printers, but I think that this is just because it is compfortable for them. In fact, many authors are giving up their inventories and only selling through online channels. This is the wave of the future, and in that respect, Aaron Shepard's "Aiming at Amazon" does a better job at explaining how to set up your book to sell in the digital age. Patricia Fry's self-publishing book is also very good.

One more thing, it's small but significant. Poynter also says that authors should run their businesses as a sole-proprietorship. Since Poynter is not an accountant, I think this is very poor advice. A sole-proprietorship might be okay at the beginning, when you are just starting out, but I firmly believe that incorporation is a necessity once your book sales get above $50,000-$80,000.

Incorporation costs money-- but it generally helps owners manage their cash, and it shows a modicum of professionalism that a sole-proprietorship does not. Also, and maybe Poynter doesn't know this, but Sole Proprietorships are targeted for IRS audit 400% more than corporations (a sole proprietor with $100,000 in revenues will be audited at a rate of 3.9%, while a corporation with the same revenues will be audited only 0.70%-- a huge difference!) And if your business shows a LOSS (rather than a profit), all bets are off--your chances of being audited as a sole-proprietor skyrocket. For anyone who has suffered through the horror of an IRS audit, this may be reason enough to incorporate. Those issues aside, Poynter's Self-Publishing Bible is one of the first (and BEST) books on the market on the subject of self-publishing. Still worth picking up, and still a great price.


Christy Pinheiro, Author of:
The Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Publishing for Profit! and
How to Start a Successful Home-Based Freelance Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation Business

Extraordinarily Helpful
With the current economic meltdown deciding on a publishing strategy is more difficult than ever. I have written seven books and have just completed number eight. In my career as an author, I have published with a major NY publisher, a mid-sized NY publishing house; I have worked with a major NY agent, and published several specialty books with specialty publishers. I have also self-published three books.



I want to make the best decision possible in publishing book number eight. At this time, I am still gathering and analyzing information to help me make the best decision possible. Dan Poynter's latest book, The Self-Publishing Manual, Volume II, has provided me, and it will provide you with an extraordinary amount of up-to-date information that will help you make the best decision possible on how to publish your book, no matter what publishing format you choose, pBook (printed), eBook, or aBook (audio), or some combination of all three. This book covers critical information in four crucial areas: book publishing challenges and technological solutions, writing and producing your book, distributing your book and promoting your book.

Dr.Brad McRae, CSP, Author of "The Seven Stategies of Master Negotiators,"
"The Seven Strategies of Master Presenters" and "Become a Master Leader:
Featuring Key Insights from Canada's Top Leaders."