Getting into print.

Mystic Eye said:
Good points Joe but just as a note, Hal did not write that post, I did! As amazing as it may seem Hal and I are not one!

Heh.... its the big eye.... hypnotism. thats my story and i'm stick'en with it... :)

joe b.
 

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Okay, new twist.

I've just discovered that a lot of the smaller e-publishers that I had discounted are getting deals to have their products printed. Given that a proposal to the print publisher won't get to the e-publisher, how do I efficiently expand my list of publishers to whom I send a proposal?
 

Printing w/o distribution

Being the übernerd I am, I have to throw my $0.02 in.

I was looking over my newsletter from Cafepress. If you have a cafeshop, you will in the near future be able to use them to print and ship your publication. The specs aren't fully out as of yet, but they will be doing a softcover with color cover and b/w interior. You don't have to order a set amount, just it'll be printed and shipped if/when someone orders it.

They'll also soon be enabling data CDs and uploadable audio CDs (currently you have to send them an audio CD master for audio). This could be really good for a number of us, as if someone wants to buy a bunch of PDFs, they may prefer to have them on a CD, and again, there's no inventory to keep in stock. Other people may want a print book instead of a PDF, and they could order it.

I for one would be interested in getting a bunch of PDFs on a single CD.
 
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Re: Printing w/o distribution

cyphertube said:
I was looking over my newsletter from Cafepress. If you have a cafeshop, you will in the near future be able to use them to print and ship your publication. The specs aren't fully out as of yet, but they will be doing a softcover with color cover and b/w interior. You don't have to order a set amount, just it'll be printed and shipped if/when someone orders it.

Well, that blows RPGNOW out of the water. No pre-purchase of the printed books!

I wonder what the profit margin is on that...
 

Re: Re: Printing w/o distribution

Vaxalon said:
I wonder what the profit margin is on that...

Hopefully nowhere near as low as the profit margin on all other CafePress services...
 


Re: Re: Re: Printing w/o distribution

HellHound said:


Hopefully nowhere near as low as the profit margin on all other CafePress services...

Given their normal profit margin on services. I'd imagine $.25 on a $9.95 product. Mind you, no inventory.. but not quality control, or profit either.
 

I wouldn't use cafe press for anything except a last-ditch way to get into print.

Given the quality of art in this book, I think it would be cool to just put the art in there, though. Have to see what the eventual publisher wants as far as rights are concerned.
 

Vaxalon said:
I've sent proposals to all of the major labels I can find on the D20 publisher lists. My question now is... any advice?

First off: Don't do that. Publishers generally don't like simultaneous submissions, so you're getting off on the wrong foot by doing that.

Second off: You might try something a little bit different than most authors. Since you're apparently putting together a complete package (writing, art, layout, etc.), you might as well try selling it as a complete package.

Now, you run a risk here: You become a chain which is as weak as its weakest link. An editor doesn't like the artist you've chosen? You're out. He doesn't like your layout? You're out. She doesn't like the cover? You're out.

That type of thing.

But you could make up for it by offering the product for a flat royalty, no advance. Then you only need to convince a company to(a) pay the printing and distribution costs and (b) put their good name behind it. They don't have to pay the development costs, and that can be a big deal.

Good luck!

JB
 

Re: Re: Getting into print.

Justin Bacon said:
First off: Don't do that. Publishers generally don't like simultaneous submissions, so you're getting off on the wrong foot by doing that.

Well, 1> it's a little late, and 2> I didn't send submissions, I sent proposals. So far noone has seen anything more than an outline and a little art.

Most of the companies I have talked to don't do royalties. From what I hear, they have a bad reputation in the business right now.
 

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