Vanity or Verity?

If you have written something meaningful to you and think it might be worth getting out there for others' benefit, consider self-publishing.

You will probably have heard the term "vanity press," a derogative term sometimes used synonymously with self-publishers. Vanity presses generally do give more freedom to authors seeking to publish their work but with more risk involved, taken on by the authors themselves. Often vanity presses do not require that work be edited and will flagrantly mark-up the costs at the expense of the author. As a result, the books turned out by some vanity presses are of very low quality, wield little respect, and rarely gain a reputation good enough for bookstore and library distribution at all. Decades ago, vanity presses were an affordable option for people who simply could not pay to go with a traditional publishing house (Walt Whitman and Mark Twain, for example).

Mill City Press is not a vanity press, it is a self-publishing company. The differences are clear. You as the author do not pay extra for printing costs. We offer a publishing package and other services that will get your book mainstream exposure in many of the same avenues of the book trade as traditional publishers. All this while offering you complete control, 100% of all royalties, and ownership of the digital files of the layout and cover design.

The founder of Mill City Press, Mark Levine, wrote a book called The Fine Print of Self-Publishing that serves as a comprehensive guide to the publishing industry, borne out of his own experience in it. Read about it at http://www.book-publishers-compared.com/.

For more information about how to get your book out of your computer and into the hands of readers, visit the Mill City Press online by clicking on the link above.

A Book Publishing Glossary Worth A Second Look

Each industry has specific terms that take awhile to become accustomed to and publishing is no exception to the rule. Even after nearly a decade in the publishing business, I often find myself looking up terms that I forgot, or trying to figure out a new term I haven't heard before. Just the process of printing and binding the book involves words you don't hear every day, "offset, underrun, galley, saddle stitching, and web press", to name a few

As a new author, it can leave your head spinning. I'm always on the search for a bigger and better publishing glossary and resources I can share with our authors. Tonight, I came across one in the strangest of places, on the BookJobs.com website. Hop on over to their "About Publishing: Commonly Used Terms" page and you might just learn a thing or two.

From Where I Sit: An Honest Look at Publishing As a Business

If you're looking for a well-written, frequently updated blog on the business of publishing, sign up for Michael Hyatt's blog, From Where I Sit. Hyatt is the President and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers. He offers an-depth look at what it takes to run one of the world's largest publishing companies. Michael also writes about leadership and staying focused on your goals, not the daily "put-out-the-fire" activities thrown in your way.