Self-publishing or subsidy?
Published: April 30, 2004
Many POD publishers are trying hard to blur the distinction between "subsidy publishing" and "self-publishing." Subsidy or "vanity" publishing has always had a bad reputation; hence, POD publishers tend to refer to any form of paid publication as "self-publishing." However, self-publishing and subsidy publishing are two distinct models of paid publication.
Simply put, self-publishing means becoming one's own publisher. As a self-publisher, your book's ISBN is registered to you, and your name and address will be listed under "publisher" in Books in Print. You have complete control over the design of your book. Once your book is printed, you own all the copies. You can set the price on your book, change the price or give the book away for free, if you wish. All rights remain with you, and every penny of revenue you earn from the sale of your book goes to you.
Subsidy publishing means paying another publisher or entity to publish your book for you. Your book's ISBN is registered to the publisher, not to you. When your book is printed, the publisher owns the copies. You often have no say over the price of your book, nor can you choose to give copies away (or, often, to send copies to reviewers without first "buying" them yourself). You may have limited control over the interior or cover design of your book. You may be required to give up certain rights to the book to the publisher. When a book is sold, you receive a percentage of the revenue in the form of royalties.
For more information, see "Subsidy Publishing vs. Self-Publishing: What's the Difference?" at www.writing-world.com/publish/subsidy.shtml.
--Posted April 30, 2004
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