I Heart Media Press uses a POD distributor with an international catalog called Lightning Source to publish and distribute copies of our titles. Well aware of the doomsday rhetoric coming from the Big Six about the quality of independent and small press publishing titles, I Heart Media strongly believes the traditional publishing industry is crippled in silly fear, fretting and hand-wringing over the demise of stories that are actually good (meaning theirs). You know, because independent and small press publishing is destroying Literature.
Right.
Let’s address those Big Six concerns, shall we? Here are the Pros and Cons:
Pros to Independent and Small Press Publishing
- The author and publisher keep the profit
- No giving up cover, title name, or the final say on editing
- Costs very little to produce
- Always have product readily available
- No more rejections
Cons to Independent and Small Press Publishing
- Publishing can be expensive
It costs $117 to submit a title, which includes a proof copy.
- Readers avoid independently published stories due to sub-par quality
Typical readers don’t look for the name of an imprint when they’re searching for something to read; a great cover, price and book blurb is what attracts them. Also, as far as quality? I’ve got seven words for you: Snooki is a New York Times Best Seller
- Not having the proper resources
The social web, low-cost digital media production tools, and large number of freelance editors, book format-ers and print cover artists make this untrue.
- Inability to get the book into major chains
With the international market in all the major distribution channels that Lightning Source provides…why is this a problem again?
- Many major publishers won’t take your self published work should you desire to switch
If a story is remarkable, a major publisher who passes on it is doing everyone a favor by staying out of the way for forward-thinking publishers.
- Having a garage full of books
Not with Lightning Source, I Heart Media’s POD distributor.
Any questions? Want to know more about the publishing revolution? Contact us.
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