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CWIP Self-Publishing Resources Guide

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created for March 21, 2007 program

Professional Self-Publishing: The Process, Profits, and Pragmatics

[modified July 4, 2007 for Web posting]

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Chicago Women in Publishing (CWIP) — http://www.cwip.org/ — One of Chicago’s most helpful and active nonprofit publishing-related organizations, formed in 1972 for professionals in the publishing industry and allied fields. Respected source of publishing education, information, outreach, leadership, and career opportunities. Membership draws from all areas of publishing and is open to any to women and men who support CWIP’s goals. CWIP offers programs, services, and networking opportunities to advance publishing careers.

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CWIP’s Self-Publishing Panelists

Peter Bowerman, the Well-Fed Writer & Self-Publisher — http://wellfedwriter.com/ & http://www.wellfedsp.com/ — Sites of “the author of The Well-Fed Writer and TWFW: Back For Seconds, how-to ‘standards’ in the lucrative field of commercial freelancing, and of The Well-Fed Self-Publisher.” Sites feature commercial writing and self-publishing resources, articles, and FAQs, as well as sales of Bowerman’s books and related items.

Jean Iversen, self-published author of BYOB Chicago — http://www.byob-chicago.com/ — Book site of this successful Chicago self-publisher, whose popular book is now in its second edition. Books available online and at stores listed on site.

William McGrath, intellectual property attorney and business litigator, a co-founding member of Davis McGrath LLC — http://www.davismcgrath.com/ — Site of Davis McGrath features firm members’ biographies, as well representative cases and articles. Mr. McGrath’s main areas of concentration include copyright, trademark, and information technology law, as well as publishing law, trade secret law, and software licensing.

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Recommended Resources for Self-Publishing

American Society of Indexers (ASI) — http://www.asindexing.org/ — Site of the nonprofit professional organization founded “to promote excellence in indexing and increase awareness of the value of well-written indexes.” Particularly valuable to self-publishers are the site’s Indexing Evaluation Checklist and Indexer Locator.

AuthorsLawyer — www.authorslawyer.com/ — Illinois attorney Charles Petit’s site, with information on subjects like contracts, copyright, ethics, and literary scams, as well as links to related sites.

Baker & Taylor — http://www.btol.com/ — Web presence of the top wholesale distributor to school, public, and specialty libraries, also marketing to retailers. B&T and Ingram (see below) handle the bulk of wholesale distribution in the book-publishing industry. Site not as rich as Ingram’s, but working familiarity with B&T is essential to gaining an understanding of the U.S. book-publishing biz.

Book Marketing Works — http://www.bookmarketingworks.com/ — Special-markets expert Brian Jud’s site, focusing on niche-marketing techniques and services. Newsletter and site offer access to information on promoting books to non-bookstore markets that is seldom found in such concentration and detail.

BookMarket.com — http://www.bookmarket.com/ — Site of book-publishing and marketing expert John Kremer offers a great deal of free information and resources. Much of the information in Kremer’s energetically promoted books may be found in his various free newsletter back issues and low-cost reports.

BookWeb.com — http://www.bookweb.org/ — Info-packed site of the American Booksellers Association (ABA), major not-for-profit organization devoted to the interests of “independently owned bookstores with retail storefront locations through advocacy, education, research, and information dissemination. Sponsors the highly influential and “national integrated marketing campaign” Book Sense, among its many other programs.

Chicago Book Clinic — http://www.chicagobookclinic.org/ — Cite of nonprofit book-publishing organization, founded in 1936 and “encourag[ing] excellence in publishing by providing a platform for educational, social and professional interaction” among “professionals in book and media publishing, printing, editorial, design, and all business aspects of our industry.” Sponsors many events and programs, including scholarships. Site includes web resources and info page on getting published.

Creative Minds Press: New Self-Publisher’s FAQ — http://www.creativemindspress.com/ — Stage-by-stage website from book packager Creative Minds Press, created “as a starting point to understanding what questions to ask (half the battle is discovering what you don’t know).” Extremely detailed, with a wealth of resources that include websites, books, and discussion groups on virtually every aspect of the self-publishing process.

Dan Poynter’s Para Publishing — http://www.parapublishing.com/ — Site of writer and self-publisher-turned-small-publisher Dan Poynter, offering many free and useful resources on all aspects of book development, from idea to promotion — including articles, stats, an InfoKit, and a newsletter.

Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) — http://www.the-efa.org/ — National professional organization of self-employed workers in publishing and communications that works to raise the professional status of its editor-members.

Incomplete Guide to POD Publishers — http://booksandtales.com/pod/index.php — Unique listing of Print on Demand companies, including royalties and discounts as well as costs for various services. Also includes articles on the subject.

Independent Book Publishers Association (PMA; formerly Publishers marketing Association) — http://pma-online.org/ — Site of “the largest non-profit trade association representing independent publishers.” PMA sponsors annual three-day Publishing University before the major national book trade fair, Book Expo America; numerous member benefits include marketing, distribution, and wholesaling programs. Valuable archive of articles from association newsletter, the PMA Independent, available to nonmembers.

Ingram Book Group — http://www.ingrambook.com/ — Site of the “world’s largest wholesale distributor…of books and audiobooks to booksellers, librarians, and specialty retailers” (though Baker & Taylor handles more libraries). Ingram does not deal directly with consumers, but site provides industry info as well as a focused look at a key book-industry organization. A must-know for anyone interested in the business of publishing.

Ivan Hoffman, Attorney — http://www.ivanhoffman.com/ — Site of intellectual property attorney Hoffman, containing extensive article database for publishers and writers.

Nolo — http://nolo.com/ — Online presence of publisher dedicated to “provid[ing] do-it-yourself legal solutions for consumers and small businesses.” Includes info and books on copyright, permissions, and business law.

Preditors & Editors — www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/ & www.invirtuo.cc/prededitors/ — Extensive listings of specific writing- and publishing-related service providers, with standardized ratings criteria and annotations. Especially valuable in weeding out scams and unscrupulous practitioners, as well as finding legitimate businesses and assistance.

Published! How to Reach Writing Success — http://yudkin.com/publish.htm — Writer-focused area of writer and marketing guru Marsha Yudkin’s Web site, offering succinct, practical info on and tools for the hoops awaiting publishing hopefuls. Yudkin’s books, paid services (coaching, speaking), and a free newsletter are also available. Associated site, Creative Marketing Solutions, http://www.yudkin.com/marketing.htm, will also interest self-publishers.

Publishing Basics — http://www.publishingbasics.com/ — “A Monthly Newsletter for the Small Press and Independent Self-Publisher.” Site offers newsletter subscription, free e-book download, and lots of articles by self-publishing experts on a various topics in the process.

Publishing Law Center — http://www.publaw.com — Site sponsored by The Law Office of Lloyd L. Rich, “devoted to providing quality information for the publishing community — publishers, authors, editors, web masters, and freelancers.”

Self-publishing.com — http://www.selfpublishing.com/ — and Books Just Books — http://www.booksjustbooks.com/ —Informational and commercial sites established by printing veteran Ron Pramschufer, dedicated to “educating the novice print buyer.” Sites offer extensive info on printing manufacturing, as well as other stages of the self-publishing process.

Self-Publishing in the New Millennium — http://www.self-publishing.org/ — Michelle Thomas, self-described disinterested helper of self-publishers, offers links, information, and advice. Particularly useful Comparison Chart provides side-by-side notes on costs of and aspects of various major self-publishing service companies.

Self-Publishing Resources — http://www.selfpublishingresources.com/ — Site of Marilyn Ross, celebrated “guru of self-publishing,” containing her books, recommendations, links, and a trove of articles, particularly those addressed specifically to self-publishing.

Small Publishers Association of North America (SPAN) — http://www.spannet.org/ — Site of one of the two major nonprofit trade associations of great service to small and self-publishers. “[D]edicated to advancing the interests and expertise of independent publishers and authors through educational opportunities and discounted services.”

Small Publishers, Artists, and Writers Network (SPAWN) — — http://www.spawn.org/ Publishing organization offering information, resources, and networking to “creative individuals and small business owners,” including writers, editors, illustrators, graphic designers, photographers, small publishers, and self-publishers. Access to many free resources, such as SPAWN member directory, articles on the publishing industry, and links to relevant services.

Writer Beware — www.sfwa.org/beware/ — Invaluable and extensive resources for writers, including informational articles, evaluated listings, links, and fraud alerts for writers; originated and maintained by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

Writer’s Resource Center - http://www.poewar.com/ - Wide-ranging informational site covering many writing-related topics, including a good section on publishing and self-publishing. Home page is a surprisingly spare and therefore highly usable table of contents arranged by subject.