Self publishers can definitely be taken seriously in the publishing and reading world. Zig Ziglar and Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup books) are two huge examples.
There are several self publishing companies, depending on your goals and budget. Some require that you purchase their editing and design services and others allow you to do everything yourself, and learn as you go. Which also means you pay as you go.
If you are doing very small runs, try Cafepress.com. They charge more per individual finished book, however their quality is good.
If you are looking to get on amazon.com, try Booksurge. You will have to pay for some of the services, but they have a POD (print on demand) division that works with new and aspiring authors. They are very helpful.
If you are looking to get on BarnesandNoble.com, try Lulu.com or their associate iuniverse.com. Again, you may have to pay for certain services, or pay more per individual book. They also print on demand.
All this can be accomplished online.
All that being said, part of your planning should be how you are going to market your book. Each of these companies have a marketing division.
Another note - if your goal is retail sales, you should own your own ISBN #'s. (International Standard Book Number) The company that owns the ISBN# on the book, owns the publishing rights and therefore editing, distributing and marketing rights, and can set the price, distribution, etc. If someone offers to SELL you a single ISBN# - just remember, they then own the publishing rights AND it is illegal to promise to transfer the ownership of one ISBN# to another person. It cannpt be done. If you use any of these POD companies, they will automatically assign an ISBN# from their inventory, if you don't have one, because the ISBN# is needed to distribute a book through online and retail stores. Their name will then be listed as the publisher.
I hope I have answered your question without going overboard. Good luck - wish you great success.
Self publishers can definitely be taken seriously in the publishing and reading world. Zig Ziglar and Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup books) are two huge examples.
There are several self publishing companies, depending on your goals and budget. Some require that you purchase their editing and design services and others allow you to do everything yourself, and learn as you go. Which also means you pay as you go.
If you are doing very small runs, try Cafepress.com. They charge more per individual finished book, however their quality is good.
If you are looking to get on amazon.com, try Booksurge. You will have to pay for some of the services, but they have a POD (print on demand) division that works with new and aspiring authors. They are very helpful.
If you are looking to get on BarnesandNoble.com, try Lulu.com or their associate iuniverse.com. Again, you may have to pay for certain services, or pay more per individual book. They also print on demand.
All this can be accomplished online.
All that being said, part of your planning should be how you are going to market your book. Each of these companies have a marketing division.
Another note - if your goal is retail sales, you should own your own ISBN #'s. (International Standard Book Number) The company that owns the ISBN# on the book, owns the publishing rights and therefore editing, distributing and marketing rights, and can set the price, distribution, etc. If someone offers to SELL you a single ISBN# - just remember, they then own the publishing rights AND it is illegal to promise to transfer the ownership of one ISBN# to another person. It cannpt be done. If you use any of these POD companies, they will automatically assign an ISBN# from their inventory, if you don't have one, because the ISBN# is needed to distribute a book through online and retail stores. Their name will then be listed as the publisher.
I hope I have answered your question without going overboard. Good luck - wish you great success.
self publishers never get taken seriously later in life. don't waste your money, it's a scam.