Writing your book represents only part of the work to be done in getting a book into print. Some say it's the “easy” part. Since finding a publisher or agent can be disheartening, more and more writers are opting to self-publish, but many fail to take into account all of the hidden, and some not so hidden, costs in doing so.
ISBN, PCN and Copyright Fees
If you want to sell your book to bookstores, it must have an ISBN. These cannot be shared, unfortunately, for the ISBN clearly identifies who the publisher is. These are sold singly for $125 or in bundles of ten for $240.00. If a third party is publishing your book, they will take care of this, but beware that if you are using a vanity press, subsidy press or someone similar, you will be charged for any fees they incur in the process of producing your book.
While obtaining a PCN from the Library of Congress is free, sending a postage paid copy of your finished product is required. Now add $45.00 to your budget if you choose to officially register your copyright.
Printing and Preparation Fees
People do anticipate having to pay for the book to be printed, but many are surprised that the book must be formatted and layed out. Some people have the skills and time to do this themselves, but many do not, and if this is the case, the printer will charge accordingly for doing these tasks.
Another fee that is often overlooked is the cost of having the book professionally edited. This is absolutely not something to skimp on or to rely on your best friend to do for you.
Remembering that covers sell books, who is going to design your cover? Potentially you can do your own or get a friend to help, but if you use a graphic artist, you will pay between $200 and $1,000 for a professionally designed cover.
Marketing and related Fees
These costs can be prodigious and most new writers fail to give these items much thought beforehand. This is where a well-written marketing plan will be indispensible.
Word of mouth and grass roots efforts only extend so far, so some type of marketing (advertising)budget is essential. Marketing may include items such as business cards, stationary, posters, flyers, brochures, even websites. Some writers have bookmarks and postcards printed. Don’t forget postage for sending mailers and samples of your work.
Some writers prepare press packets for distribution. This is a nice touch to your marketing campaign, but one that is very expensive if done correctly since you will need to include a copy of your book in the packet along with photos, news clippings, and various sheets of paper, each with different information.
Distribution
Will you be paying a distributor to handle your books? You will be charged for their services, along with book storage and insurance.
Summary
There are many costs to be taken into consideration when publishing a book. Knowledge of these is essential in order to formulate a budget that corresponds to your great ideas for book promotion. Dan Poynter's The Self-Publishing Manual is an excellent resource for self-publishing projects.
