Science fiction writer Charlie Stross recently wrote an interesting post called “Why I Don’t Self-Publish.” It isn’t necessarily designed to discourage writers from self-publishing, but it does show why the process can be daunting — and why the publishers expect the lion’s share of all revenue.
Here’s a partial list of what a publisher does:
Editorial
- Acquisitions
- Editing
Marketing
- Book design
- Blurb writing
- Advance readers’ copies and review copies
- Handling trade shows
- Meeting the bookstore buyers
- Organizing author tours
- Commissioning advertising
Managing freelance team
- Copy-editor
- Proofreader
- Book designer
- Cover artist
Working with Firms
- Accounting
- Legal
- Typesetting
- Printing
- Distribution
via Charlie Stross