Comments on: Printing up your book for submission purposes

By: lynnpricewrites

lynnpricewrites — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 05:38:32 +0000

Rosemary, I would suggest that if an author wants a desk copy, simply printing it out would make the most sense, rather than spending a lot of money to print up actual books. This is different from self-publishing.

My post isn’t a commentary on self-publishing because that’s a very personal decision. What I tried to convey is that it’s unwise to self publish a book with the intent of trying to capture a mainstream publishing contract. From what I can discern from your post, we are talking about two different issues.

By: Rosemary O'Grady

Rosemary O'Grady — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 04:39:51 +0000

The key words are – ‘for submission purposes…’
IF, however, a writer simply needs to clear a desk-see a book in print (for any number of reasoons)- self-publishing is a way to make it happen – and it has a long and illustrious history. Many great writers were or began as self-published.
A recent edition of The Times Literary Supplement actually commends writers who go to such lengths – thereby preserving to posterity work which would be lost in the commercial race to the bottom of most contemporary book-marketting.
Sorry, it’s not ‘epic stupidity’ at all.
Rosemary O’Grady

By: Dan Holloway

Dan Holloway — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 19:49:08 +0000

It’s extraordinary that people would do this. Assuming you aren’t fully self-publishing, the one time it can make sense to use a print on demand service is when you’re approaching your final draft, for editing purposes – you do see more, or rather different, things, as well as it being convenient for orderly notes. If you do this, keep your book private on the service, and don’t add an ISBN

By: Vanessa Russell

Vanessa Russell — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:26:58 +0000

Wow, a printed book and galley submissions … I can feel their desperation from here. Reminds me of a cancer victim investing in vitamins; it’s going to take something a lot stronger to help. But to know now that editors throw away such gallant efforts somehow is sad enough for me to reply … And now I’m at a loss for words.