Evan Marshall's Blog, page 3

Computer Generated Novels

Fans of “A Song of Ice And Fire” – the epic fantasy series on which TV series Game of Thrones is based – are eager for George R R Martin to finish the next book the in series. Fan Zack Thoutt demonstrated his impatience by creating an AI system that wrote the opening of the next book. To do so, he fed the machine 5000+ pages of the series and sat back while it generated predictions for how the series would progress.

While not perfect, it was able to learn about Martin’s style. It starts each chapter with a character’s name, just as he does.

This isn’t the first time that a computer has generated a novel and it won’t be the last.

When Did Computer-Generated Fiction Become a Thing?

You may have heard of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), but have you heard of NaNoGenMo? In 2013, developer and artist Darius Kazemi tweeted a suggestion that people write code that generates a 50,000-word novel and so NaNoGenMo was born.

National Novel Generation Month encourages people to write computer programs that will generate a novel. For now, computer-generated novels are more about entertainment for the creators and amusement for the readers than a serious competition to traditional writers – that is, writers without a built-in CPU.

Examples of Computer Generated Novels

Teens Wander Around a House by Darius Kazemi– As the title suggests, this is a novel in which teens wander around a house.

The programmer had the characters move around a house at random, with the program narrating their movements. When they ended up in the same room, they started a dialogue that was pulled from Twitter.

Each sentence would use the same keyword, keeping the conversation focused, though not necessarily making much sense or being interesting.

Twide and Twejudice by Michelle Fullwood – In this take on Pride and Prejudice, the original dialogue has been substituted for a word that was used in a similar context on Twitter. It makes for some amusing, but largely unintelligible reading.

50,000 Meows by Hugo van Kemenade – In this novel, all words a replaced with a meow of the same length. Punctuation is unchanged.

Whether you want to read The Jungle Book or Moby Dick, you can now do so in cat language.

Here is an excerpt from the meow version of The Jungle Book, with translation:

He was a mongoose, rather like a little cat in his fur and his

Me mew m meeoooow, meeeow meow m meeeow mew me mew mew mew mew

tail, but quite like a weasel in his head and his habits. His

meow, mew meoow meow m meeeow me mew meow mew mew meeoow. Mew

eyes and the end of his restless nose were pink. He could scratch

meow mew mew mew me mew meooooow meow meow meow. Me meeow meeeoow

himself anywhere he pleased with any leg, front or back, that he

meeooow meeeeeow me meeooow meow mew mew, meeow me meow, meow me

chose to use. He could fluff up his tail till it looked like a

meeow me mew. Me meoow meeow me mew meow meow me meeeow meow m

bottle brush, and his war cry as he scuttled through the long

meeoow meeow, mew mew mew mew me me meeeeeow meeeoow mew meow

grass was: “Rikk-tikk-tikki-tikki-tchk!”

meoow mew: “Meow-meow-meeow-meoow-meow!”

And so on.

Definition Book by Sam Coppini – This novel starts with an 8-word sentence. The program then chooses a word to define for the reader and continues to do so, defining one word used in each subsequent definition, until the book is 50,000 words long.

Generated Detective by Greg Borenstein – This is a noir comic. The developer’s program searches detective novels on Project Gutenberg for sentences that include the following words:

[:question, :murderer, :witness, :saw, :scene, :killer, :weapon, :clue, :accuse, :reveal]

It also selects images from Flickr, runs them through a manga app, and delivers the reader a noir story that Kazemi describes as being “a very disjointed, dream-like narrative, like most NaNoGenMo narratives.”

Who Reads Computer-Generated Fiction?

It seems that computer-generated fiction is best when consumed in small doses. Twitter makes a great delivery system. Via Twitter, authors can space content out so that a novel is ready over several weeks or months in an episodic fashion rather than all at once.

This kind of fiction is popular with people into conceptual art and new forms of fiction. It also appeals to people who desire more customized reading experiences. Through advancing digital technology and AI, people can read novels in which they appear in the action, or in which the reader can swap the genders of various characters.

Computer-generated writing is not about to replace the author. Nor is it intended to. Rather, it’s a fascinating way to consider what a novel is and how they are written. Those that reach for humanity miss in hilarious, disturbing, or heartbreaking ways. Others make no attempt to replicate the human touch, but the results are often nonetheless interesting.

An Interview with Tom Corson-Knowles, Founder of TCK Publishing

Can you tell us how TCK Publishing evolved?

I started TCK Publishing because I had a big problem, and I couldn’t find anyone who would help me.

I wrote my first book in 2006. Back then, the internet was still young, and there were only a handful of sites with information about how to get a book published.

What I read online led me to believe that the only way to get a book published was to find a literary agent, so that’s what I tried to do. I found lists of agents online and started sending queries.

Of course, I didn’t really know what a query was, what the proper format was, or what an agent wanted to know in order to decide to work with me. I was ignorant, and yet I had no idea how ignorant I was (which is a dangerous combination). My queries were pretty terrible, and, in hindsight, I can see why I never got a positive response from a literary agent.

After a few years of trying to get my book published with absolutely nothing to show for all my effort and anxiety, I gave up on my dream of becoming a published author.

That all changed in 2011 when I had a conversation with someone who casually mentioned that I should publish my book as an eBook on Amazon Kindle. I researched everything I could find about self-publishing on Amazon, and within a few weeks I self-published my book as an eBook on the Kindle platform.

I was so embarrassed that I had to self-publish my book that I didn’t tell anyone what I had done. I had a blog and a small social media following, but I didn’t post anything about the book because I was afraid of what others would think of me.

A month later, I logged in to my Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) account and I saw that I had 11 sales. That was my lightbulb moment. I thought, “If I can sell 11 books on Amazon without telling anyone about it, imagine what I could do if I treated this like a real business!”

That inspired me to keep writing and publishing my books (I had 12 different manuscripts on my computer at various stages from almost finished to just a few hundred words). I kept writing and publishing books as fast as I could. Ten months later, I earned over $12,000 in a single month from Amazon Kindle royalties alone.

That was around the time I decided to start sharing what I was learning with other writers. I just knew there had to be millions of people out there like me—people with a message or story they wanted to share who just had no idea what to do or how to do it.

I started blogging about what I was learning and recorded some free training videos for writers on YouTube. I then created an online course to teach self-publishing on Amazon.

Sales for the course took off fast, and within a few weeks I had students asking me to publish their books for them. I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to run a publishing company because I was having so much fun writing and publishing my own books, but I thought I might be able to help other writers. I took on just a handful of clients in the first few months to see how things would go.

I decided to offer 50% royalties to clients. I thought it seemed pretty fair given that my clients could simply take my training course and learn to do it all without me. In other words, I never really thought my clients needed me. I thought everyone would be just as excited about self-publishing as I was, but I soon realized that many writers just want to focus on writing instead of working online for several hours each day managing all the publishing work and marketing.

After I saw some promising sales results from early clients, I started to take the publishing business much more seriously. I hired an expensive publishing industry attorney from a top firm in LA. I started taking on lots of new clients in many different genres so I could see which markets were promising and which markets weren’t.

I also started making lots and lots of mistakes. A lot of people seem to think that mistakes are bad, but I’ve found that mistakes are a great way to learn. Well, I learned a whole lot about the business in the first few years from making mistakes.

I learned there are some markets like poetry and children’s picture books that are really tough for us to compete in, so we stopped accepting submissions for poetry and children’s picture books.

I discovered there are many people who sell editing services, but very few editors who have experience working on commercially published books and really understand the publishing business. I’ve worked with dozens of editors over the years, and there are only a small handful of them I would recommend without any reservations. Finding great editors who really understand their craft and the publishing business has been and continues to be a challenge. (We’re currently hiring for a full-time editing position).

Through all the mistakes and changes, I’ve come to realize that the most important thing for TCK Publishing is to stay focused on adding value to authors and readers. We really have two sets of customers: authors and readers. We have to sell books to readers to earn a profit, and we have to build a reputable company that attracts high-quality writers.

At almost every team meeting, we ask “How can we add more value?” It’s that commitment to adding value that has allowed us to grow from just a one-person business to a full-time team of 8 with dozens of freelancers (while being profitable and without raising any money from investors or debt).

Are there any projects you’re especially excited about?

There are several projects I’m very excited about, but I try not to get my hopes up for any one book or project. I’ve worked on publishing over 400 books, and I’ve been shocked several times when a book I thought was going to sell well tanked. I’ve also seen a few books that I never expected to sell many copies turn into steady profit streams.

I often tell new clients that there’s a lot of luck involved in book publishing. Sometimes an author’s first book breaks out, and sometimes it takes 10 books before an author starts to see significant sales. And, of course, some authors just never see big royalty checks for a variety of reasons.

There’s just so much that can’t be controlled. If publishers knew how to perfectly project book sales, there wouldn’t be more than 600 million unsold books returned each year. The truth is there’s just a lot of luck involved, and the only way you’ll ever know if a book is really going to sell is to put it on the market, work as hard as you can to get the word out, and see what happens.

With all the uncertainty around sales projections, I try to keep our team focused on what we absolutely can control: the quality of the authors we choose to work with, our editing process, our marketing systems, and the work we do on a day-to-day basis.

You’ve done exceptionally well publishing both your own titles and titles for your authors. It’s clear from your website that you consider the author-publisher relationship a true partnership. What advice do you have for authors seeking to improve sales and visibility for their books?

I believe every successful relationship in life is a partnership. You have to feel like you’re on the same team, working together, and striving to achieve the same goal. If not, that relationship probably won’t last very long. That may be fine in casual relationships, but in the publishing industry, long-term relationships are crucial for success.

As for marketing and selling books, I wish there was one specific tip or strategy I could give that would make all your financial dreams come true, but there is no one-click system for success.

I believe the most important thing is for authors to have a growth mindset. You should always be willing to learn and try new things. The minute you think you know it all or that you’ve “tried everything,” you’ve lost because that’s when you stop growing.

I highly recommend every author study marketing on a regular basis. You should always be learning new things about marketing because you never know when that next big idea will come to you.

In addition to studying marketing, you also have to practice. That means trying new things. Start writing some blog posts. Try posting some videos on YouTube. Test out social media. Start experimenting with email marketing. Keep learning and tinkering with new ideas until you find a way to market your books and build your audience that doesn’t feel like work to you.

If you love putting in the work of marketing and spreading your message, you’re much more likely to stay consistent long-term. And it’s that consistency and commitment to growth that will set you apart from everyone else in your genre or market.

We created a free online training course called How to Become a Full-Time Author that teaches authors what I consider to be some of the most important marketing principles and strategies for long-term success. I recommend every author take that course if you’re serious about earning income as an author.

We also interview bestselling authors and publishing industry experts each week on The Publishing Profits Podcast show, so that’s another great way to make sure you’re continually learning more about marketing and selling books.

About Tom Corson-Knowles

Tom Corson-Knowles is the international bestselling author of 27 books including The Kindle Publishing Bible, founder of TCK Publishing, an independent publishing company specializing in digital marketing, and host of The Publishing Profits Podcast show.

Tom has taught more than 80,000 authors how to write, publish and market their books like professionals through his online training courses, including Ebook Publishing School, a free training program that shows authors how to publish and launch their first book.

You’re Never Too Young or Too Old to Write a Novel

If you’re a young writer, you have an opportunity to write from the heart or from a perspective to which most readers may be unaccustomed. If you’re advanced in years, you may have enormous life experience and maybe even some wisdom to bring to your work.

Some of the best novels combine the two. There are plenty of very young and very old authors who prove that readers are not prejudiced against the age of the writer.

Don’t want to take our word for it? How about taking the words of these well-known authors who started writing and publishing in their youth?

Ida Pollock – best known for her many romance and erotic novels, written under multiple pseudonyms, Pollock completed her first thriller, “The Hills of Raven’s Haunt,” at the age of 14.

Christopher Paolini – You may have heard of the “Inheritance Cycle,” the fantasy series comprising the books: “Eragon,” “Eldest,” “Brisingr,” and “Inheritance,” but did you know that he wrote these after graduating from high school?

A best-selling author at the age of 19, Paolini even designed the cover art and maps for the first edition of “Eragon.”

Françoise Sagan – This French novelist (and playwright and screenwriter) was best-known for her first novel, “Bonjour Tristesse” (1954), written when she was a teenager.

Anne Frank – Almost everyone knows the tragic story of this remarkable young woman. She began writing in her diary on her 13th birthday. She journaled her time in hiding during the war, she wrote short stories, and aspired to be a journalist and famous writer.

Though she and her family were transported to concentration camps, where they died months later, her diary lives on. It is one of the world’s most widely-known books. “The Diary of a Young Girl” was published in 1952 and has been translated into more than 60 languages.

Mary Shelley – Some people are shocked to discover that 1818’s Gothic novel “Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus” was written by a woman. If you manage to elicit this reaction during conversation, pause, then drop in the fact that she wrote the novel at just 20 years old.

At the other end of the age spectrum:

Marquis de Sade – Before “50 Shades of Gray,” there was Marquis de Sade. Best-known for his novel “Justine,” he was imprisoned for real-life sexual excesses. In prison, he wrote sexually graphic plays and novels to cope with his anger and boredom.

He wrote an early version of “Justine” in 1787, in his late forties.

William S. Burroughs – An influence to Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, Burroughs admits that he wouldn’t have become a writer if it wasn’t for the tragic death of his wife, by his hand, in a drunken game of William Tell. “Naked Lunch” was published in 1959 when Burroughs was in his mid-40s.

Helen Hooven Santmyer – She worked as a writer, educator, and librarian, but is best-known for her best-selling “…And Ladies of the Club,” published when she was in her 80s.

Ida Pollock – When it comes to staying power, we return to Ida Pollock. She was the world’s oldest novelist when she died at 105 in 2013. Although she was unable to sit at her typewriter, she was dictating novels to her daughter beyond her 100th birthday.

It’s never too soon to start writing your novel. And it’s never too late.

One thing connects all of the writers in this post: once they started writing, not one of them gave up.

Free Stuff for Novelists

Being a novelist can be satisfying. It can even be enjoyable. But it’s hard work. Give yourself a treat with some free stuff just for you.

These freebies are perfect for novelists and will help you work harder, better, and faster.

Book Marketing Resources from The Creative Penn

Author Joanna Penn has transformed her life, moving from a dissatisfying career in IT to six-figure author. On her website, she uses many tools to share how she did it and how you can do the same. Much of the content is for sale, but there are plenty of free resources to start you off.

Free Audio Books – Loyal Books

Writers like reading, but not every author has the time or the money to read as much as they would like. Solve both problems with Loyal Books. This site offers a vast collection of audio books, and they are always free.

Quality varies, but let the reliable star system and customer feedback guide you.

Writer’s Digest Newsletter by Brian Klems

Want something helpful in your inbox every week? Wish it were free? Sign up for Brian Klems’ Writer’s Digest newsletter. Get writing advice, publishing tips, and more without having to move from your chair.

WordPress Themes for Writers from ColorLib

Modern authors need to be working on their author platforms, starting with their websites. Having a professional website doesn’t need to take up all of your writing time, and it doesn’t need to cost you anything either.

Tech Radar’s alternatives to Word

Maybe your computer does not have Word. Or perhaps you are looking for an alternative. The good news is that there are alternative word processing applications out there. The even better news is that many of them are free.

Join an online writing community with Wattpad

Wattpad is a vibrant, supportive, social network for writers. Connect with authors, readers, and potential publishers for free. Publish your work in serial form and receive ongoing feedback. Read fiction by others and you’ll discover new gems, new trends, and new friends.

It is skewed toward younger adults, so you’ll have a blast if you’re writing for younger audiences. If not, don’t be dissuaded – there’s still a good chance that you’ll find an audience here if you look.

Don’t let anyone say that nothing worth having in this world is free. Any of these resources can help you become a better novelist, and they won’t cost you a thing.

The Rise of Shorter Works

Publishers and agents understand their genres and their readers inside out. At least, they should. Genre is one of the main factors that influence how long a book should be. The length of the novel used to be more of an issue for novelists and publishers, however, before the rise in popularity of the ebook and digital reading platforms.

Typically, publishers consider books to be “novel-length” when they are between 50,000 and 120,000 words. If you’re in the middle of this territory, say around 80,000 – 90,000 words, this is a good length as far as most publishers are concerned.

Young Adult novels can be shorter without raising eyebrows. A novel of 50,000 – 80,000 words is probably about right. Thriller and horror novels are often between 70,000 and 90,000 words. Science Fiction and Fantasy novels, however, tend to run longer, at between 90,000 – 120,000+ words.

Publishers have come to these conclusions based on experience and market research, as well as the cost of print materials, distribution, and how print books are displayed in bookshops and, to a lesser extent, libraries.

Factors that might have dissuaded a publisher from buying a shorter work, such as the cost of production, are no longer a barrier with digital publishing. Shorter fiction is having success online.

We’re seeing an increase in the popularity and study of microfiction, with stories as short as a few words finding a growing audience. Alice Munro, awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2013 as a master of the contemporary short story, has a catalog that consists primarily of short story collections.

While short fiction has traditionally been unrewarding or even considered hobbyist, it is now commercially viable.

Of course, we have classic novels that are shorter than the standard novels, such as John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men,” J. D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” and Anthony Burgess’s “A Clockwork Orange.”

Check out the Amazon Bestseller list and you’re likely to find several very short books, under 100 pages, ready to give readers fast entertainment.

Amazon promotes “Short Reads: Great Stories in One Sitting” and allows readers to browse by reading time, from “15 minutes” to “2 hours or more.” There is even a category for “15-minute Coffee Break” reads.

James Patterson tops the charts in “Kindle Single Best Sellers,” with stories including “Manhunt” and “Detective Cross,” alongside Jeffrey Deaver’s best-selling “Surprise Ending.”

By producing shorter works, you can get your books in front of readers faster and more frequently. There are plenty of paying readers enjoying shorter novels, so writing shorter novels is not only good for new authors, but it can be a lucrative business too.

When considering the length of your book, however, it’s helpful to consider the following two things: the expectations of your readers, and how many words it takes to tell your story effectively. Your novel should be no longer, nor any shorter, than is necessary to tell the story.

A quick take on publishing today: an Interview with Evan Marshall

We hope you’ll check out the interview Evan did recently with the terrific folks at Lachesis Publishing. He discusses indie publishing, the role of the literary agent today, what it takes to be a successful author, how to pitch your book idea (in person or via email) and what kinds of books he’s looking for.

The Cricket Syndrome

Authors need to avoid cricket syndrome. And we don’t mean watching too many cricket matches.

What is Cricket Syndrome?

When you think about an awkward silence, there are the crickets. Their chirping fills in what would otherwise be a void.

If etiquette says you should respond to something, but you’re silent, that’s Cricket Syndrome at work. Don’t let crickets rush into the gap that you should fill with good manners.

Cricket Syndrome in the Publishing World

You’re an author, dedicated to getting your work out into the world. Your time is precious.

When something doesn’t work out, some authors drop it. We don’t think this is the right choice.

If you send something to an editor or agents, and you receive feedback, you should respond. You should do this even if the feedback is not as glowing as you would have liked. Even if your book proposal is rejected, avoid Cricket Syndrome.

Thank the people who have taken time to look over your work. Following up and following through shows that you value an editor or publisher’s time.

An editor or agent who tells you they want a revised proposal deserves that revision. He or she sees something in your work that is worth a second chance. A revision request is an opportunity. Instead of fading out in silence, get to work! Pursue this potentially valuable opportunity. Ignoring feedback is perilous to your career.

The same is true when fans get in touch with you. If someone demonstrates how much they love your work, thank them!

An Example of Follow-Through

We understand that might not be sure how to respond to agents and editors. Negative or even neutral criticism can feel painful, especially when you have poured your heart into your work. We know from experience, however, that follow-through is vital. Set “achy” feelings aside and send a quick email.

Your response may be as simple as, “Thank you for your time. I appreciate your assistance. May I be back in touch with more of my work in the future?”

Continue your good work by marking a deadline for revisions on your calendar. When the time comes, send another quick email, such as, “Thank you for your interest in my project. I’m still on track to send it to you in December. I’ll be back in touch at that time.”

Don’t leave people hanging. Agents and editors are people, too. And, as we tell our kids, it’s impossible to say thank you too much. Don’t become a cricket!

Spot the Typo

In the world of indie publishing, KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) is a fantastic way to get your work into the hands of eager readers. With KDP, writers can self-publish their ebooks and paperbacks, in less than five minutes. The books show up in a matter of days, and it’s free to publish.

This #poweredbyindie platform is an optimal way to make money, get to market, and keep control of your rights and your list prices.

When you choose to publish with KDP Select, your book will be available to Kindle Unlimited readers. Kindle Unlimited is Amazon’s subscription reading service, opening up the pool of readers who will find and love your book.

KDP Select is exclusive, so your book cannot be offered outside Amazon. You will have to decide what is more lucrative to you — Amazon’s readers with Kindle Unlimited, or more control but none of the subscription service readers.

One thing to know either way is that the KDP’s dashboard will alert you to any potential proofreading issues or typos. This is a great feature … unless you don’t know what the typo is!

Where’s the Typo?

When we decided to republish Evan Marshall’s Jane and Winky Mystery series, so that KDP readers could find it, we ran into a problem. KDP’s dashboard told us there was a typo on the cover of Hanging Hannah, but we couldn’t find it!

We wondered if it was the ampersand in Jane & Winky. There was also the @ symbol in Marshall. Amazon’s proofreading machines were better than our own human proofreading, which shows just how powerful this platform can be!

Perfecting your Cover on KDP

When you publish a book on KDP, you can update your books at any time, including the cover. After creating a book, you simply navigate to your dashboard and choose to edit the ebook or paperback content. Upload a cover file and, once someone from Amazon has reviewed it, Amazon will publish your changes.

KDP’s cover creator helps when you don’t have a file already. This resource is great for indie publishing, when you want something that looks professional and eye-catching but may not have a designer or design programs available.

Find us on KDP

We solved our typo conundrum and finished updating and republishing the Jane and Winky series. Along with Hanging Hannah, we republished Stabbing Stephanie and Missing Marlene for our readers to enjoy.

Not Your Mother’s Book Club – The Rise of Monthly Book Subscription Boxes

In recent years, books have become a solid part of the monthly subscription box industry. No matter what your taste, the chances are good that you will find a monthly book subscription box club to suit you.

Readers are increasingly diverse. They are not only looking for their favorite genres but their favorite sub-genres too. Through a monthly book subscription box club, they can receive personalized book selections based on their book preferences.

These subscription services provide perks, such as snacks and treats, postcards, teas, bookmarks, notes from the authors, and other goodies. And the boxes, often referred to as crates, tend to be beautifully-packaged.

The pleasure of opening the packaging is definitely part of the appeal. You pay for a subscription service, but it may feel like a gift when it arrives on your doorstep. A subscription box club would make a wonderful gift for the readers in your life. The non-book additions make them exciting and surprising, while beautiful books elevate the pleasure of reading.

Here are some of the best:

Owl Crate – big on Instagram, Owl Crate’s beautiful, themed boxes have captured the imaginations of many book lovers. Subscribers can expect a new young adult hardcover every month, as well as book-related goodies such as bookmarks and tote bags.

Cost: from $29.99 per month

 

LitKit – this is the literary box club for aspiring writers, and those who enjoy quality crafting and experimentation. The first box, which was shipped at the beginning of 2016, contained an issue of a literary journal, bookmarks, a chapbook, a postcard, a calendar featuring writing prompts, and recycled pencils.

Cost: from $28 each

 

The Cozy Reader Club – this is a top-end subscription box club that will give you the premium feel. If you like to luxuriate in the reading experience, this subscription might help you take things to a new level.

In addition to the book, yo will receive an artisanal hot beverage, a gourmet treat, and handmade clothing!

Cost: $64.95

 

Sol Book Box – this subscription box demonstrates that there is a box out there for you. This box is aimed at people with Spanish or bilingual children! Each package contains two Spanish/bilingual board or picture books, and themed items from Latin artisans.

 

Whether you’re looking for kid’s books, comics, or contemporary thrillers, there’s a subscription box out there for you, or someone you love. A world within the covers of a book is a magical thing. These clubs create the sense of wonder and joy that books deserve.

The Difference Between Approaches To Print Publishing

One of the decisions you must make as an author is whether to go with print-on-demand (POD) or a print run. Let’s define what these mean so that you can make an informed choice.

If you are publishing via a POD platform, this will mean that your book will be sold nearly entirely online. When a customer buys your book on the website, a copy is printed and distributed to the customer.

This type of printing was developed so that older titles in backlists could be kept in print without having to perform a print run and store lots of physical books.

It’s now used for low-cost, flexible distribution for independent authors and digital publishers.

The advantages of this approach are that:

It’s better for the environment – when publishers produce a large print run, unsold books that are not discounted may end up in a landfill. This wastes several resources.
POD requires no upfront investment – in addition to the cost of printing books, warehouse space to store them costs money too. If you don’t have to stock books, you can eliminate those costs.
POD platforms take care of logistics – not sure how to accept payments in multiple currencies and ship your books around the world? By choosing a POD platform, you can have this taken care of for you.

The disadvantage of POD is that there are costs incurred each time a book is printed. Still, the advantages can outweigh this.

So when is it better to have a print run?

Larger print runs become cheaper – if you know that you will be selling a large number of books or you need a lot of books for book signings, it may be possible to save money with a large print run. The cost per book goes down with larger print runs.
Unusual formats and requirements – the results of POD and offset printing for print runs are almost indistinguishable. POD caters for typical formats and paper types, however, so if the book requires an unusual size, or includes images or high-quality insets, you may achieve better results with a traditional print run.
Books can be sold online and to brick-and-mortar stores – if you have a pile of physical books, you can work on getting traditional bookstores to stock them. Many traditional bookstores will order books printed by IngramSparks, but other POD platforms lack the quality and financial incentives to make this a viable option.

 

When you’re deciding between going with a digital or a traditional publisher, understanding the difference will save time and money and avoid a lot of frustration. One is not better than the other. Which you choose depends on your needs and the needs of your readers.