NEW 

Get Published [29 Oct 2004]

Bills itself as "Guerilla Guidance for your Writing Adventure" and seems to make good on that promise.
Run by working writers. Offers 'mentorship', articles, and tele-courses. ( I've seen the job requirements for the course leaders and th standards are pretty high (including, preferably, contacts in the publishing industry). Also offers evaluation services, one-on-one coaching and more.

The site seeks to encourage all authors who want to be published, whether traditionally or self-published. Serious and upbeat. 

Dog Ear Publishing [27 Oct 2004]

Started up Oct 2004 by three guys from the publishing industry (one in graphic design, one in acquisitions, one on the marketing end. Services look good, if similar to older companies. Founders are stressing customer service, their risk-free guarantee, their experience in publishing and book marketing as differentiators. Non-exclusive contract, publishing packages (as of 10/2004) start at $699.

Melanie Rigney [28 Oct 2004]

Former executive editor of Writer's Digest during the late 90s (a VERY interesting period in the writing and publishing world), Melanie is now offering her considerable editing skills to you, the author. 

Books

General

From Pitch to Publication : Everything You Need to Know to Get Your Novel Published by Carol Blake

A how-to guide to writing proposals from a UK-based agent. (may ship faster if ordered from amazon.co.uk)

How To Write A Book Proposal by Michael Larsen

A how-to guide from a successful US-based agent and author. A proposal is your foot-in-the-door with agents and publishers, so you might as well take some insider advice, and get it right...

Writers' and Artists' Yearbook

A directory of magazine listings and editors, book publishers and contests, for the UK and Canada, mainly.

The Writer's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers and Literary Agents by Jeff Herman

A huge book with a self-explanatory title. Herman is an agent so knows whereof he speaks. A directory.

Writer's International Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents by Jeff Herman

An international version of Herman's book - for the English-speaking world.

Writer's Market from Writer's Digest

The definitive source for markets (mainly North American). Now available as an online, often-updated edition. A directory with helpful articles from authors, editors, etc

for Self-Publishers

in the order you might need them

A Simple Guide to Self-Publishing by Mark Ortman

A  small (96 pages) intro to self-publishing. Good for the absolute beginner, but not the only research you'll need to do. And oh, look, I'm in the acknowledgements!

The Self Publishing Manual by Dan Poynter

The bible of self-publishing. In its 13th edition as I type. 

The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing by Tom & Marilyn Ross

Another tome on everything you need to know.

Smart Self Publishing by Linda & Jim Salisbury

A great little book explaining all there is to know about self-publishing via a book packager...and more.

Marketing Books

Guerrilla Marketing For Writers by Jay Conrad Levinson, Rick Frishman and Michael Larsen

100 tools, or 'weapons' to use in marketing your book. Each is rated by how much they will cost the author - and many cost nothing but time.

1001 Ways to Market Your Book by John Kremer

A 'must have' for any author - and I mean any. Even if you think your publisher is going to promote your book, you need this one. Roughly the size of a brick, but don't let that scare you. You can dip into this and come up feeling inspired.

Jump Start Your Book Sales  by  Tom & Marilyn Ross

Another inspiring book on how to market. Previously published under another title.

Contests

Fish Short Story Prize

Prestigious annual short story prize, supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Cork County Council. Open to works in English. Prize is €1,500 (that's $1,200 US or £1,000 UK). This prize was established in 1995 and has been judged by literary luminaries like Roddy Doyle and Frank McCourt. Up to 18 authors are published every year in the prize's anthology. Deadline Nov 30, annually. How To Enter.

Writer's Digest National Self-Published Book Awards.

Annual contest for self-publishers. Current Deadline is Dec 16, 2002. Grand prize: $2,500 cash and promotion, plus advice from self-pub guru Dan Poynter. Find forms online or write to Writers' Digest: Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Awards
4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236

Discussion Lists

Net Author

Net Author's mission is to “offer real-world experience". Hooks up experienced and 'newbie' writers to help each other out. List sponsored by NetAuthor.org which is a paying market for new writers. 

Subscription: e-mail to: NetAuthor-sibscribe@onelist.com or visit http://www.egroups.com/community/NetAuthor

Print On-Demand

A list specifically designed for POD authors - clients of 1st Books, iUniverse, Xlibris and the rest. Some complaining about services, some pooling of resources, recommendations and anti-recommendations, plus advice give-and-take about how to succeed as a POD author.

Subscription: email to Print-On-Demand-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Pub-forum

Discussion of article publishing, freelancing, book publishing, marketing,  dealing with libraries, potential scams, even advice on Internet connections .  Some discussion of POD e-publishing and self publishing.  This is a very active list (20 or more messages a day).  Recommended the Digest form, unless you want near- real-time discussion. Just don't cross-post to Publish-L - there's bad blood and you don't want to get them started.... 

Subscription: email to pub-forum-subscribe@eGroups.com or visit http://www.egroups.com/group/pub-forum (if you want the digest).

For information visit: http://users.deltacomm.com/writerl/writerl/wlhome.htm

Publish

Run by Angela Adair-Hoy of WritersMarkets and Booklocker (e-publisher) this is a relatively lively group. It is moderated, which could account for the pleasant tenor of conversation. List guidelines are sent with confirmation of subscription.

 Subscription: email to publish-subscribe@onelist.com or visit  http://www.egroups.com/group/publish

Publish-L 

Good, serious discussion. Membership includes many published writers. Lots of marketing talk; not too focused. Moderated.

 Subscription: email to  with Subscribe PUBLISH-L [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE] in the body of your message

List rules and resources at http://www.guestfinder.com/publishlist.htm

WriterL 

Moderated, high-quality discussion list focused on journalists and non-fiction writers.  This group charges a subscription fee of $20 a year plus $5 for first-time members (unusual).  Real community feel the tone of discussion is extremely professional.  These are sophisticated list users so some lurking in recommended before you start to post.  

General Resources

12 Steps to Building Your Advice Empire

Aimed at consultants and how-to experts, this page gives some very good advice to anyone looking to promote themselves and their intellectual property.

Barcode US

Another source for barcodes, for self-publishers

Barnes & Noble Corporate Site

This site contains loads of information you won't find at the bookstore site, including information for authors on how to get your book in BN stores.

Book Marketing Update

Not a good-looking site, and it unashamedly promotes reports and services for sale, but it is home-base for the one book no self-pub author or small press should be without: the brick-like tome 1001 Ways To Market Your Book by John Kremer.

Business Name and Tag-Line Generator

While aimed at businesses, Marcia Yudkin's Generator can help you come up with titles or tag-lines for your book. It's not a quick and easy form that you fill in, rather it is an exercise you go through. As such, it will get you thinking about your product much more thoroughly.

Fonts.com

A very professional site stuffed full of great fonts. Gives away freebies too.

Ivan Hoffman, Intellectual Property Law

Ivan Hoffman is well-known in writers' news groups, for offering advice about contracts and other legal issues writers are likely to come across - contracts, copyright, distribution deals. This site is packed with useful articles - and I bet he'd even let you hire him, if you wanted.

Lee Child, Author

An example of what an author's website should be - and an award-winning example, at that.

MyFonts.com

Looking for a cool, unusual font for your marketing, website or book cover? Don't want to pay hundreds of dollars? Take a trip to myfonts.com, where you can view and buy hundreds of unusual fonts. The site is very user friendly and the prices reasonable. Particularly touching: a font to benefit the American Red Cross, called September 11, and made up entirely of question marks...

A Poem A Day

April is Poetry Month. Sign up to receive a poem a day in April--from famed literary press Knopf.

PRLeads

Want journalists and conference organizers to beat down your door looking for pithy quotes, and in turn identifying you as 'author of'? PRLeads is a great way to list yourself as an expert and generate some free publicity for yourself and your publications. Charges fees.

ProfNet

Proftnet is a database of experts and PR people/information officers for companies. To be listed here you must be an information officer or have one who can vouch for you. (Independent experts should sign up with PRLeads). Journalists use this to find spokespersons and experts to comment on stories.

Magazines

The place to start, if you're thinking of becoming a writer. 

Newsletters

21st Century Publishing Update

JDWrite's own semi-monthly newsletter, containing links to newly-posted articles at JDWrite, industry news and updates, a writer's Q & A, and more...
To subscribe send an email to WritePublish@yahoogroups.com

John Kremer's Book Marketing Tip
A regular email packed with really useful info if you are interested in marketing your book. Recent editions contained information on up-coming themes in Publishers' Weekly, along with advertising deadlines. Kremer is the author of the supremely useful 1001 Ways To Market Your Book.

Bright Ideas

Creative marketing strategies from Cathy Stucker, The Idea Lady. Great for writers working in the marketing field, or for writers thinking about how to market their own work.
To subscribe send an email to ideasub@idealady.com

eGenre Weekly

A regular e-zine for fiction writers, especially Sci-Fi, Fiction, fantasy, horror, adventure/comic book style fiction. High quality, keeps you updated on all the developments in this area. Website homepage is a little ugly, but the e-zine is much easier to read.
To subscribe, send an email to genrenews@hotmail.com  

Inscriptions

Inscriptions, the weekly e-zine for professional writers. Editor Jade Walker recently appealed for fans to subscribe (on a voluntary basis) so that she could continue to run the magazine and pay her writers more. She set the subscription level at a very reasonable $5 which can be paid various ways, including through the Amazon Honor System. There is a huge amount of content in the weekly newsletter, so I coughed up my $5 and think you'll be moved to do the same.
To subscribe, send an e-mail to Inscriptions-subscribe@topica.com.
To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to Inscriptions-unsubscribe@topica.com

Publishers' Lunch

Sites For Writers

AOWC.com - The Writer's Place

Home of the daily Writing For Dollars column and the Complete Guide to Writing and Selling Magazine Articles by Peggy Fielding & Dan Case. Also features 650 markets for magazine writers.

Author.co.uk

A great site for UK authors and publishers. Author.co.uk publishes e-books and is moving into Print On-Demand soon. It also features publishing news, writing exercises, interviews, community functions. Author.co.uk recently teamed up with the US powerhouse Publishers Marketing Association.  

BF Printing

This is a great resource for anyone interested in printing almost anything. It has thousands of links in hundreds of categories, and has a nice clean design that makes it easy to find things. My only complaint would be that listings are not alphabetical within each category.

BooksandAuthors.net

This site offers another portal for readers to find information about authors and books. The site charges authors/publishers a one-time fee of $250 to be listed - which includes an author interview, book review, book summary, author photo and bio. They will also send out a press release to around 1000 media contacts who have all, I am reassured, opted in to BooksandAuthor.net's mailing list (meaning the press release stands a chance of NOT being immediately deleted!). Currently (Oct 2002) the site generates 4000 unique visits monthly. The owners actively promote the site in the media and recently uploaded an interview with Stephen King, which is generating more media buzz.

The Book and The Computer

A Japanese site about the Future of the Printed Book. This links to the English version of the site

Books Just Books

This is a group that will help you self-publish. A book packager or publishing consultant. The site has a great FAQ for people interested in self-publishing or printing in general. Sample questions: "What goes on the title page?", "Is white considered a color in printing", and "What typeface should I use for my text?"

Broken Pencil 
An ezine and print magazine about...ezines. Actually, it bills itself as 'the magazine of zine culture and the independent arts'. A great guide to the indie arts scene. Based in Toronto so not US-centric. A great resource for artists looking for new venues for their work. 

Buzz Your Book

The irrepressible MJ Rose and Doug Clegg share promotional tips on how to create buzz for your book. Download the free e-book, which is full of ideas to get your brain buzzing, then consider taking the course. For $330 you get personal tuition from Rose and Clegg. They send you an exercise a week for six weeks then go over your answers, to create and refine your marketing plan. Very good value for personal coaching from two enthusiastic 'Buzzers'. Tell 'em Julie sent you.

Coffee House For Writers

With the friendly slogan 'grab a cup and come on in', the Coffee House is a good site for new writers. It has a publication called 'Beginnings' which aims to help new authors get that first publication credit.

eBooks 'n' Bytes

eBooks'n'Bytes is a resource site for e-publishers. The articles page is packed with information on e-publishing and promotion and is well worth a look. Of course, there is lots of stuff to buy here, too including design and marketing services. 

The Enterprising Writer

Ah, a site after my own heart: dedicated to those who want to make money from their writing.

The E-Writer's Place

A site with resources, articles, a newsletter, workshops and the SEEDS writer's prompts. Download a free sample of these useful prompts before you fork over cash for the full edition.

Fiction Factor

An increasingly impressive online magazine aimed at the fiction writers, but often containing advice useful to all writers. Interviews, guest columns, resources and more.

Get Published

Bills itself as "Guerilla Guidance for your Writing Adventure" and seems to make good on that promise.
Run by working writers. Offers 'mentorship', articles, and tele-courses. (I've seen the job requirements for the course leaders and th standards are pretty high (including, preferably, contacts in the publishing industry). Also offers evaluation services, one-on-one coaching and more.

The site seeks to encourage all authors who want to be published, whether traditionally or self-published. Serious and upbeat. 

Guardian Book Section

News from the UK publishing scene from one of the UK's leading broadsheet newspapers. Updated regularly, the site contains publishing news (mostly from the UK, but also including international subjects), reviews, interviews, bestseller lists, first chapter excerpts, a community chat and essays from the London Review of Books.

Inscriptions 

The web version of the weekly e-zine for professional writers.

Ivan Hoffman, Intellectual Property Law

Ivan Hoffman is well-known in writers' news groups, for offering advice about contracts and other legal issues writers are likely to come across - contracts, copyright, distribution deals. This site is packed with useful articles - and I bet he'd even let you hire him, if you wanted.

The Local Writers' Workshop

Started in 1997, the LWW grew out of a San Antonio-based writers group that truly was local, but also posted works online, and critiqued them. This group is a serious workshop. You will not be allowed to post anything for critiquing until you have established your credentials by critiquing others' works for a set time (3 works each week for 3 weeks). Sounds elitist, but creates a community of dedicated writers. A great alternative to a physical local writers' workshop.

LongRidge Writers' Group

A 30 year old writers' group, now online. Sections include: Thriving and Surviving; Life Support for Writers; interviews and community message boards and chats.

Midwest Book Review

Voluminous site, full of book reviews, book review opportunities, advice for publishers. MWBR is a highly respected review source, publishing several print newsletters including the Small Press Bookwatch.

National Novel Writing Month

Got a great idea for a novel but never seem to get around to writing it? Then sign up for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) this November and get it done. NaNoWriMo encourages authors to sign up to write a 50,000 word novel between November 1 and 30. In its fourth year, the fun (free) festival provides a great way for procrastinating writers to force themselves to write a substantial work. Call it a first draft, call it a young adult novel, but call it 50,000 words long!

The Organized Writer

Ooh, this site appeals to everything in a writer's wishlist: we wish we had more time to write, more organizational skills so that we don't lose our brainwaves, more motivation. The Organized Writer offers tools for mastering all these artistic-temperament flaws. And since it is inspiring you to be the most organized writer you can be, you will find yourself eager to put the tricks into practice, and not just browse this interesting site all day!

The Market List

A site for fiction genre authors (that is those writing in a genre other than 'literary', such as horror, sci-fi, fantasy, mystery). Nice-looking, well put-together, useful site with articles interviews and reviews.

PictureBook

The online resource for children's illustrators, publishers, and book lovers. Find an illustrator, list yourself as a resource, or gain information about writing and illustrating books.

Poetry Magic

A UK site for poets.

Poetry Portal

A deep and good-looking resource site for poets - beginner to expert.

Publishers' Lunch

All the gossip you need to keep you in touch with who is doing what in the book-publishing world. This is a great way to become more familiar with which editors and agents are buying the kinds of books you are writing. The weekly 'Deal Lunch' lists latest deals signed and an approximate value of the deal. 
Subscription form

Publishers' Marketplace

The site that publishes the Publishers' Lunch newsletter. The Marketplace allows authors to connect with editors and agents--and this one really delivers. For $15 (US) a month you can join and list your book and what rights are available; research editors and agents, freelance copyeditors and more.

Publishers Weekly

Website of the weekly industry print rag. Get all the gen on the publishing and bookselling industry: what's hot, who's hot, who owns what... Keep an eye on their Hot Deals section if you're looking for an agent to represent your work - this section will keep you up to date on who is buying books like yours from first-time authors.

Predators and Editors

A guide to publishers and writing services for serious writers - sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

The Self-Publishing Network

A U.K. based site with loads of great information for U.K. writers: how to register an ISBN, or copyright; information about The British Library...Some of the pages are a bit under-populated and the whole site could do with a redesign (no offense), but a useful starting point for would-be self-publishers in the U.K., frustrated by the wealth of info on U.S. self-publishing and dearth of info on U.K. self-publishing.

Sell Writing Online

Markets, articles, e-books and more, for writers who hope to improve their craft and make some money at the same time.

Small Press Center

'Tucked away in a landmark building' in NYC, The Small Press Center works to raise awareness of the offerings of small and literary independent publishers. Sponsors National Small Press Month each March, and holds workshops throughout the year.

Society of Professional Journalists - Code of Ethics

Things any freelance non-fiction writer should know - and things any author being interviewed by a journalist should be aware of...

Speculations

Speculations is an online resource for writers who wish to break into or increase their presence within the science fiction, fantasy, horror, or "other" speculative fiction genres.

Write4Kids

Write4Kids.com - The Children's Writing Supersite some free content, some paid subscriptions and special reports. This site oozes with confidence and with solid advice. Also home to the Children's Book Insider, a newsletter for Children's Writers.

WritersWrite

A venerable website for writers, stuffed full of articles, archives, links and all kinds of good stuff.

WriterOnline

A fine site for writers looking to improve their craft. Especially good for fiction writers, it features interviews and how-to's and is also a paying market for your articles. 

Writer's Digest's Top Magazine Markets 2002

WD turns out its annual list of the best markets for freelancers.

The Writer's Lounge

A site for essayists and creative non-fiction writers. Contains articles, interviews, markets and more

Writer's Online Marketplace Updates

Debbie Ohi is back! Debbie, founder of the late, much-lamented site Inkspot is back in the market for freelance writing jobs and is trawling the job boards and guidelines for leads. Characteristically, she's sharing the information online. This page serves as a companion to her print book: Writer's Online Marketplace (Writers Digest 2000). 
Now isn't this how Inkspot got started...?

Writers' Rates

What should you be paid for your writing? Brandi Jasmine has a useful set of links.

Writer To Writer
A collection of articles and links "for writers of all ages and stages". The News section is not kept up to date, but it has interesting articles for beginners and a good collection of links.

Writing World

Former Inkspot associate editor Moira Allen has started her own spawn-of-Inkspot site, Writing-world.com, complete with its own start-up newsletter, markets section and 'reprints' of some of the best Inkspot articles as well as new content.

World Writer

The Marketing Minute

Marcia Yudkin's sound marketing advice that can be read, unlike most e-newsletters, in a minute. Great if you work in marketing, or if you need to know how to market your work.
To subscribe send an email to marci@yudkin.com with "sign me up!" as the subject line.

National Association for Women Writers

Weekly inspirational/how-to magazine for women writers.
To subscribe: email to naww@onebox.com

Woody's Watch

All Microsoft users should subscribe to this newsletter. Woody's watch painlessly explains all the little quirks of Word, Access, Excel, and more -- from how to kill the paperclip, to  how to incorporate the latest Windows Update. Go from being a clueless victim, to being the boss of your system - at last!

WriteNews Weekly

A weekly publication from WritersWrite.com. This email provides a wrap-up of the week's writing and publishing news. Essential for those who want to be in the know.
To subscribe, send an email to join-writenews-weekly@earth.lyris.net

Writers Weekly

Missing your biweekly dose of INKLINGS? Well, associate editor Moira Allen has started her own spawn-of-inkspot site, Writing-world.com, complete with its own start-up newsletter
To subscribe, send an email to Majordomo@admin.listbox.com with the words SUBSCRIBE WRITING-WORLD in the body of the email.

Yossarian's Diary

A gossipy column featuring news from London's publishing scene, from UK bookseller Ottakar's. Also includes recommendations and a literary quiz and, of course, links to Ottakars' online bookstore. Updated about every two weeks, you can sign up for email notifications that tell you when new entries are uploaded.

Print On-Demand Services for Authors

N.B. Always read the publishing agreement/contract thoroughly. I advise avoiding any company that takes rights. If they take rights they should provide full service as a publisher (promotion, distribution, editing), otherwise they're just a vanity press (not good).

alphabetical list

1stBooks Library

Been around since about 1997. Seems to be doing well financially (rumour has it, it is actually -gasp- profitable) . Privately owned, it has expanded slowly and seems to be keeping its customers happy. Offers hardback (although I’m not sure if cloth-bound or library bound). Also does music, spoken word and other options. Website a bit crowded but service seems like one of the best.

Booklocker

Can't speak highly enough of this outfit, run by high-energy, fun-loving writer/publisher/guru, Angela Adair-Hoy, hostess of Writers Weekly. Offers e-publishing (with the highest royalty rates I'm aware of) and full-color or black and white POD.

BookSurge.com 

Booksurge offers POD services and distribution and has just signed a distribution deal with R.R. Bowker, the company that publishes Books In Print, the database many bookstores use to order books. Claims to be the only POD company offering full-color but we know that's not true, don't we? (See Xlibris and eBookstand)

Buy Books On The Web
see Infinity Publishing

eBookstand

Offering POD services in a couple of different flavors. You can have your book printed and available for sale through the company OR you can have your book in their system and only available to you to buy (so you can control the distribution). Offers different sizes and formats of books including full-color picture books. Prices seem reasonable, royalties (on books they distribute) are 30% of retail price for print books, 50% for electronic. Non-exclusive agreement and they will supply ISBNs.

Dog Ear Publishing

Started up Oct 2004 by three guys from the publishing industry (one in graphic design, one in acquisitions, one on the marketing end. Services look good, if similar to older companies. Founders are stressing customer service, their risk-free guarantee, their experience in publishing and book marketing as differentiators. Non-exclusive contract, publishing packages (as of 10/2004) start at $699.

eNovel

Last time I looked, eNovel had a 13-page contract and said something about rights ‘in perpetuity’. Avoid. They acquired a former AOL writing community but that doesn't make them any more of a good choice...

FirstPublish

16 July '02 FirstPublish has informed its authors that it has folded and that all authors will receive copies of their books' digital files on CD-Rom. 

Part of The Breckel Group, FirstPublish's author division is part of a larger group of print service companies. The print on-demand programs and language seem very similar to ground breakers like Xlibris… FirstPublish doesn't seem to take rights and are non-exclusive, which gets them a high-star rating from me. The company has also branched out into document management solutions for businesses and commercial printing. This could be a necessary diversification, or an indication that they are less interested in the lower-profit business to consumer arena.

Gorham Printing

A book designer and printer now offering Print On-Demand of a sort -- short runs of 25-300 books. While true POD would offer individual copies printed as ordered, these short runs are a good option for a self-publisher who doesn't mind doing their own fulfillment.

Great Unpublished

23 Jan '02 Writer's Weekly/Booklocker has updated the listing for Great Unpublished/Digitz/ BookSurge group on its Warnings page after having trouble with the service. More authors have added their complains (remember, this is only one side of the story). 

9 Nov '01 - GU now offers two services, one which allows you to supply a fully-designed custom cover and/or book block ($299); the other in which the company formats the book block and slaps on a branded GU cover ($99). GU now assigns ISBNs and lists all books in the Books In Print database (a change from their earlier business model). The more expansive publishing package also offers you the chance to create your own publishing house imprint - no-one need ever know you published POD! Printing by digitz.net.

Helicon Plus

Finally, a POD solution for those wishing to publish in Russian (or in Russia). Helicon's POD program is an outgrowth of a traditional, royalty-based small press.

Imprint Books

ImprintBooks.com is offering full-color print on-demand books in affiliation with Booksurge.com. This company offers 2 formats: 5.5" x 8.5" or 7" x 10". Publishing prices start at $499. Book retail prices range from $10-40 depending on size and page count. Looks like you must send the books ready to print (designed), although they will do text book formatting. Non-exclusive agreement, royalties are 10%, 25% or 55% or retail price, depending on format and retail channel.

IndyPublish.com

Five service bundles for new manuscripts, $0-$999 and a list of 'add on' extras to suit your every whim. Publish your previously published book free or for $99. Publish a controlled-distribution book (i.e. you're the only one who can buy it from them, and you distribute it how you wish) for $275. IndyPublish allows the author to set the book's retail prices.

N.B. IndyPublish's prices seem to have been set to be competitive with iUniverse and Xlibris (who used to offer a free service). Like Xlibris, this seems to have overwhelmed them. IndyPublish is not accepting new manuscripts until they finish working on the ones they have in the door. While I sympathise, and think they've done the right thing (to better serve their existing authors), this can't be a good business plan... To be notified when they are accepting mss again, email: submissions@IndyPublish.com

Infinity Publishing/Buy Books On The Web

Used to be known as BBOTW, Infinity Publishing is the newer, less specific, name. Family owned, the books used to be photocopies with tape-bound cardboard covers BUT the company has moved to a laminated, perfect bound book with a color, laminated cover. Not the prettiest book I've ever seen, but a real book. Good for How-To's and non-fiction. Has a nice, clean non-exclusive, no-rights policy. Owns its own equipment but also uses Ingram's LSi for printing some higher-volume titles.

iPublish

no longer in operation

Time Warner’s entry into the POD world. Announced a year before the launch, Spring 2001. Closed Fall 2001. Had an interesting model: manuscripts selected based on feedback from reader panels. Sales figures to be shared with TW’s major imprints with the idea that promising mass-market style books would be picked up. None were. 

iUniverse

My old company (Xlibris)'s arch-rival, so don't expect me to be entirely fair. The biggest problem I have with them though, is that they take your rights for three years. Unnecessary, in my view and there are plenty of companies that don't. Of course, if you want out of the three year contract, you just let them know. They keep your book for a year, but then you're free. 
Always much more of a business-aiming-for-an-IPO than a writers' rights crusade. Suffered an identity crisis earlier this year when it announced it was going to concentrate on a business to business model. However, it still seems to be dealing with individual authors. Book printing and fulfillment through LSi (Ingram subsidiary).

Neighborhood Press

A new entry into the field (judging by the fact that some of their links are still under construction). Seems to be operating on a rights-based traditional publishing model

On-Demand Press

If you are a self-publisher who doesn't want to give up control of distribution to a POD firm, On-Demand Press might be the best solution for you. Operating more like a printer than a POD company, they quote you a production price for books (sample price for a 300 page book: $5.28 each). You can order short runs to be shipped to you or your preferred distributor or elect to have On-Demand Press take orders and drop-ship as the orders come in. Also offers 'total solutions' (design, editorial etc.).

PageFree Publishing

Another company using Lightning Source for its printing. Doesn't take rights and does allow you to set the price of your book (within certain limits, of course). Seems to offer page design, cover design, ISBN and distribution support. Publishing Agreement talks about a 20% wholesale discount. This is smaller than the standard discount wholesalers and booksellers prefer. PageFree Publishing is, so far, getting good reviews in the newsgroups.

Podium

A Swedish "cultural-political project aimed at investigating how print on demand technology can be used optimally to broaden the range of quality Swedish and foreign literature."

Rosedog Books 

A subsidiary of Dorrance, a well-known subsidy  press, Rosedog offers POD services with  expensive set-up costs but the promise of  hand-holding for the novice PODista.  

Rosedog has a non-exclusive contract and  lots of design help (if you want it) as well  as the option to submit professionally-designed  layout if you prefer. They will create custom illustrations if you want. Rosedog does put its imprint on your book. 

The two services are $1,400 and $2,400, with the  more expensive service offering marketing help. There is no hardback option. Books are distributed via Baker & Taylor not Ingram but orders are filled in 48 hours. Royalties are a slightly low 20% of wholesale price (10% for color) when sold to the bookselling trade and 30% of the retail price when sold directly from Rosedog's site. Author discounts are a decent 40%. (For color  books the author receives a 30% royalty). Books come in 5.5" x 8.5" (B&W or color) and 8.5" x 11" (color). 

Pros: Lots of handholding. Non-exclusive.  Can supply own design. 

Cons: Expensive. Division of well-known  subsidy ("vanity") press. 

Self-Pub.com

It looks like only the author can buy books. Looks like a small operation. Ugly website - I'd hate to see their cover designs!

Superior Books

update 5/18/02: Superior Books is currently suing its previous book supplier (Replica Books, a division of Baker & Taylor) for failing to produce books as agreed. Superior is now using Lightning Source (a division of Ingram). Fulfillment problems should be over now. Billing itself as the first truly selective internet publisher (although I'm not sure they were really the first, since they've only been around for 13 months - small niggle) Superior books offers electronic publishing and Print On-Demand, but does operate on a traditional publishing model. If you sell your book to a publisher, they get a 20% commission. They tell me they do try to attract the attention of trad publishers, to earn that commission.  Royalties are 50% on electronic books and 50% of gross profits (net receipts) on print books. These royalties are as good a deal as any other POD.

Universal Publishers (UPublish)

UPublish has been printing theses and manuals for a long time. Took steps towards becoming a book publishing services provider but still specializes in academic, non-fiction, and manual-type materials.

Virtual Bookworm

This company has some relatively inexpensive packages and does offer color printing inside the book BUT beware of rights, add-ons and annual fees.

All POD companies offer add-on services but VBW  charges $25 if you want to submit on a disk (not online) and it costs $14 annually to stay in their system. Also the company takes rights for the  first two years and exclusive rights for electronic editions that are distributed online (not for  CD-Roms). VBW offers softcovers, hardbacks, electronic editions and full-color books. Books are  distributed through Ingram and Baker & Taylor. Custom design is available in high-end packages.

Royalties are 50% of net (30-35% of list when sold through the company's store, less when sold through retail channels). This is comparable with other  major POD companies. Typical retail prices for softcovers are  $12.95-$15.95. 

VBW offers marketing services and products. Includes a website design & hosting package. Their stated production time is 8 weeks (not  including the time you spend reviewing your proof copy). They offer micro-warehousing 97-10 copies) for  $100.

 Pros: Thorough FAQ, lots of options and formats 

Cons: They claim they take fewer rights than  other PODs. This is not true. Users report  slow customer service response. Ugly bookstore. 

WritersCollective.org

This really appeals to me. Not so much a company as a clearinghouse for publishing (POD and other) services. WC negotiates deals with printers, designers, and others. Authors join the collective (for a fee) and gain access to all the relationships. 

Run by one person there are no shareholders to please and no major overheads, so the service provider model can run without gouging the authors it serves. Maybe its the leftie in me, but I love this.

The standard package allows you to order bundles of books for yourself but you can also sign up with the printers drop-shipment program and so get true one-at-a-time fulfillment of your readers' orders. You can get an ISBN and here's the best part:

You keep 100% of the profits, and all rights.

The snag, it costs $225 to join the collective (plus a $50 fee that goes to the printer) and $125 to renew each following year. But with those profit margins and compared to the price of other POD firms, this looks like a great deal.

(Authors who have used this service, please tell me about your experiences)

Writers' Press, Inc.

A small operation run by a print publishing veteran. Doesn't take rights but doesn't provide a clear contract either (yes, contracts can be bad, but having something legal on paper is a good thing too). Promises to help with marketing, but I have to question how much one small organization can help. Has produced 150 titles. Owns its own equipment.

Xlibris

I was the first full-time employee and helped it grow for three years, so yes, I am biased. However, I really do believe the publishing agreement is one of the best there it (it's the model for the best of the rest). The people are nice and they work really hard. They've always worked to make sure the books are great quality and the company seems to be forming some good relationships now. Part-owned by Random House Ventures.  Xlibris announced increases in the retail price of books in 2001, that may prove prohibitive to readers.
update! Xlibris has announced that it now offers Print On-Demand full-color picture books (April 2002)

Xulon Press

A print on-demand publisher specializing in Christian books. See their publishing agreement. Offering trim sizes 5"x8", 5.5"x8.5", 6"x9", 8.25"x11" in paperback and/or hardback. Offer four services, priced $699-$1699 (Sept 2002). Xulon does not take rights and the author signs a non-exclusive agreement. Will continue to produce your book for 12 months after you request cancellation of the contract. If they don't produce your book in 45-90 days of receiving it, you can cancel. Royalties paid quarterly, 25% (presumably of list price). 25 free corrections included in all services, thereafter changes cost $2.50/page. Author discount: 30% off list price. Basic ($699) service does NOT offer bookstore distribution. You buy the books and re-sell. This plan also offers the poorest author discount. Higher priced services offer better discounts, bookstore distribution and marketing support such as a catalogue mailed to Christian bookstores (since Xulon is a service, not a selective publisher, this catalogue may not be valued by bookstore buyers). 

Print On-Demand In Color

These companies provide color POD books. Bear in mind color printing is always expensive and your cost of books will probably be very high. Some of these companies are full service providers (design through distribution), others offer printing only.

Booklocker In Color

Booklocker.com is now offering full-color print on-demand paperbacks.The set-up fee is $299 (you do your own design), and there is a minimum initial purchase of 20 books, not included in the set-up fee. The sizes options are 8.5" x 8.5" and 8.5" x 11", 28-120 pages. The minimum list price is $14.95 and the author discount starts at 35% on the first 24 copies, increasing thereafter. Booklocker (which carries my ebook) doesn't accept every book that is submitted, but it does offer the best royalties around: 70% on e-books and 35% on print books.

BookSurge

Offers distribution services as well as printing.

eBookstand

Offers distribution and printing.

WritersCollective.org

They print the books, you order them in batches as low as 25 copies.

Xlibris

Commercial Print On-Demand Facilities

These companies are commercial printers. They generally deal with other companies and publishers. They do not generally offer any publishing services (such as design, editing or sales)

Book On-Demand (BOD)

A division of CSS Publishing Company, a religious book publishing company. A fire destroyed CSS's warehouses, and the company created its digital printing subsidiary to help get them back on their feet. Now they work with other publishers to print their books. They seem to offer negotiable publishing programs.

Books Just Books

This is a group that will help you self-publish. A book packager or publishing consultant. The site has a great FAQ for people interested in self-publishing or printing in general. Sample questions: "What goes on the title page?", "Is white considered a color in printing", and "What typeface should I use for my text?"

BlitzPrint

Strictly a print service. Does deal directly with authors - but you must be able to provide print-ready copy, with all the pages in the right order. Good if you are the hands-on type.
Also features a very useful glossary.
Located in Canada.

C&M Press

Located in Denver, Colorado. Seems very much aimed at business-to-business type printing. Minimum print-run 100.

DeHarts

Comes highly recommended by a C21st Update subscriber. Commercial printing service, eager to expand into book manufacturing. Seems willing to deal with authors. Based in California.

Berryville Graphics and Offset Paperback Manufacturing

Despite the name, this group wants to offer digital book printing. Doesn't seem interested in individual authors. 

RPI

Commercial printer offering digital on-demand printing. They define on-demand as 'same day/next day'. Immediate, not just on-demand. Site doesn't offer much information for the casual browser. Call for more info. Good for those on a tight deadline.

Universal Press

Not to be confused with Universal Publishers, UP seems to be a jack-of-all-trades printer that offers book printing and perfect binding.

Book Packagers

Web site has some great explanations of common typo-graphical mistakes; the differences between a word-processor and a professional layout program; vanity versus traditional publishing. Also has lists of printers (all based in California)

BookMasters

Trustworthy, biggish operation. Book packaging and distribution services as well as printing.

Evanston

A book-packaging firm that will help you design and package your book for self-publishing.

Griffith Publishing

A book packager and publisher. Also a publishing consultant. Lots of useful 'how-to' information at this site. Doesn't seem to offer POD.

Comprehensive services, long-time business, all the extras you could ever want (at a price, of course!). Useful website and guide

Pneuma Books

Husband and wife team Brian and Nina Taylor run this classy outfit. A newly updated website showcases their design and book packaging services nicely. Active in the self-pub community and a regular at conferences, Managing Partner Brian has been elected President of the MidAtlantic Publishers' Association for 2003.

Tabby House

Book packagers and authors of the nifty little book Smart Self-Publishing, Linda and Jim Salisbury run Tabby House. They would have received five stars if not for the momentarily amusing, ultimately annoying cat that hangs from your cursor when you go to there site. Go, see it, see what I mean.

Printers for Self-Publishers

N.B. Always make sure you are dealing with a printer that specializes in book-printing. There are things a book needs that a book-printer will know and your local copy shop will not.

BookMasters

Trustworthy, biggish operation. Book packaging and distribution services as well as printing.

Gorham Printing

A book designer and printer now offering Print On-Demand of a sort -- short runs of 25-300 books. While true POD would offer individual copies printed as ordered, these short runs are a good option for a self-publisher who doesn't mind doing their own fulfillment.

Quebecor

Originally a Canadian company (no, with a name like that?), Quebecor has been acquiring other companies and now claims to be the world's biggest printer. Does digital as well as offset printing.

R. R. Donnelly

Book Wholesalers

[The guys who sell books to bookstores, and who will need to know about your self-published book...]

Baker & Taylor
1200 U.S. Highway 22
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 218.3863

Used to be mainly a wholesaler to libraries. Now wants to be known as the most complete collection anywhere.

Ingram
One Ingram Boulevard
La Vergne, TN 37086
(800) 937.0995

Ingram is the main game in town, and also home to Lightning Source - the POD printer for many of the POD companies listed on this site.

Independent Publishers

Editors

e-Publishing

E-Publishing Way

A resource for people looking to publish or self-publish e-books. Includes articles on formatting and typography, and interviews with e-book publishers and editors. Also includes listings of e-books, one ways to get your book some online exposure.

TumbleBooks

Innovative publisher of animated, illustrated kids e-books. Interesting idea...

Writers' Organizations

Professional orgs

Association of American Publishers
Useful site for an overview of developments in the publishing industry - including monthly reports, industry statistics, conference info, and campaigns, including the Intellectual Freedom campaign

National Writers’ Union 
Union for all and any writers. Affiliated with AFL-CIO.

American Society of Journalists and Authors
Union for working non-fiction writers with proven publishing credits.

The Authors’ Guild
Union for working writers with proven publishing credits.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Union for working Science Fiction and Fantasy writers with proven publishing credits.

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

"the only professional organization dedicated to serving the people who write, illustrate, or share a vital interest in children’s literature." Information, resources, events, conferences, awards...everything you'd expect from a writer's org.

Society of Professional Journalists

Organization for working Journalists. Many local chapters. Must be sponsored for membership but usually quite easy to find someone to sponsor you. Contact your local chapter.

Genre Writers' Orgs 

Romance Writers of America
Huge national org with local chapters. Aims to help authors get published. Author advocate, pushing for better recognition and compensation for romance writers

Sisters In Crime
Mystery writers

Mystery Writers of America
Mystery writers

Geographically Based Orgs

Southwest Writers
For writers in South Western US states. Hosts a large, well-respected annual conference

Washington Independent Writers
That's Washington, DC - sorry Seattle! Hosts a good Spring conference.

Christian Writers' Orgs

Christian Writers’ Fellowship International
Large Christian Writers' Organization

New Jersey Society of Christian Writers
Geographically based society