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Publishing and Self-Publishing: The First Copy

Update 2/19/2014: After I posted this, a friend pointed me toward a post that delineated the costs of the various steps toward self-publishing.

Developmental editing costs $45-$65 per hour. The minimum cost for 280 typescript pages is $2,520. Maximum could be as much as $18,000 depending how much work the book needs. Copy-editing costs $25-$50 per hour, so the minimum would be $840 and, if the book needs extensive work, $7,000. Cover design will run $150 to $3,500. Print and digital formatting runs from $0 to $2,500. ISBN identification codes for print books cost $125. Distribution is free. Reviews cost $425 from Kirkus and $149 from Publishers Weekly. Marketing costs $40 to $60 per hour. Good book publicists can get you reviews, radio spots and press. $1,000 to $5,000 per month.

So, figure a middlish total — $4,000 editing; $2,000 copy-editing; $1,000 cover; $1,000  formatting, ISBN and basic reviews; $4,000 marketing — equals $12,000 to get the first copy out the door and into the hands of readers. You can skip or DIY any or all of these steps, but a publishing company wouldn’t.

 

There’s an axiom in publishing that says something like 90 percent of the work goes into selling the first copy. I asked a couple of editor friends for details and this is what they said. A quick (very incomplete) list for reference.

Publishing

  • Editing
  • Copy-editing
  • Proof-reading
  • Book design
  • Cover art
  • Type-setting for print
  • Coding for ebook
  • Contracts

Marketing

  • Jacket copy / blurbs
  • Creating and booking ads
  • Sending out review copies
  • Setting up a book tour
  • Setting up interviews / guest posts
  • Co-op (getting good placement in bookstores)

Business

  • Bookstore sales (getting bookstores to carry the title)
  • Accounting / Taxes
  • Licensing (Foreign Rights, Audio, etc.)
  • Infringement monitoring and take-down notices

Filed Under: ePublishing

Charlie Rogers Charlie Rogers

Chief content officer, editor-in-chief, managing editor, launch manager, and product strategist on dozens of digital ventures, for companies including NBC, Conde Nast, Time Warner, Martha Stewart and Random House.
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