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I "self-published" in 2003. I created a business that fulfilled all the criteria to be a bona fide publisher; namely, I bought a block of ISBNs. The rest was me
by auxbuss 16y ago
I "self-published" in 2003. I created a business that fulfilled all the criteria to be a bona fide publisher; namely, I bought a block of ISBNs. The rest was mechanical. Having ISBNs meant that book listings propagated to the places you'd expect.
Print runs were in lots of 1,000. It really wasn't very expensive, and the printers I dealt with were terrific and great fun. The tedious part was shipping a hundred or so books every week.
Once sales tailed-off I sold the book as a pdf download. I really didn't expect to make much from these sales; it was a bit of an afterthought.
In the end the long-tail download sales produced significantly more profit than the dead tree sales, and, of course, required close to zero effort.
I also sold the book for publication on a magazine CD, which was a nice lump sum.
I wish I had more time to write, as just writing this has stirred feelings to get back in the game. I would definitely self-publish.
[Note: Before self-publishing, I had been published by a "proper" publisher, the returns from which convinced me that I could do better myself.]
- deleted 16y ago[deleted]
- alimoeeny 16y agoWhat did you publish? I mean can you give your book title? or tell us was it a tech book? fiction? kids? ...
- ThomPete 16y agoI would imagine something about Cubase http://www.auxbuss.com/ http://www.auxbuss.com/
- auxbuss 16y agoThat's the site I used for publishing, yes. I moved on to video tutorials, and that site remains for a few folk who still access tutorials online. I wrote this one on Nuendo for PC Publishing: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Music-Steinberg-Nuendo-Cooper/dp/1870775791/ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Music-Steinberg-Nuendo-Cooper... and self-published this one on Cubase: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cubase-SX-Complete-Musicians-Reference/dp/0954479505/ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cubase-SX-Complete-Musicians-Referen... Both are tech books. I've been writing a novel for a few years. Trashed it twice after twenty-odd thousand words both times. I think that's a good thing, as novel writing is a new skill for me. I'm learning. But I do love tech writing. It's pedantic as hell, but very rewarding when you get it right.
- ThomPete 16y agoInteresting I am a logic and appleton user myself but of course knows Cubase. I am currently writing a book about design for developers and self-publishing it too. With regards to novels I have to say I don't think I am cut out for that. But I do wish to write a book called "Without God, But not without Belief" one day when I get older and wiser.
- amackera 16y agoI'd love a link to your work, if you don't mind!