From the Tool Shed The Publisher's Reading Room

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     A tremendous amout of information is available from many writers in the independent publishing field, and each year sees new titles come out. Some the Cat considers basic or absolutely essential for the neophyte publisher; they are the starting points for the Would-be Publisher's bookshelf. Others (in the Also Recommended section) can or should be added as need or opportunity presents.

So here are the starting points.

    Sometimes it's well to check out what the territory is like before launching headlong into the publishing game. Several books give you such an overview. (It's fair game to decide against the project, especially if you see you don't have the necessary resources or know-how or time to develop them.) The ones below are good starter books, but if you decide to continue, you need to acquire and read the Basic Reading.

Before You Self-Publish, by Dick Lutz. Dimi Press. This is small book that provides a very quick overview of self-publishing.

A Simple Guide to Publishing, Mark Ortman. Wise Owl Books. In a succinct book, Ortman covers the different phases of publishng a book. This is better suited for those who are not contemplating getting seriouslin into publishing. The Cat likes his A Simple Guide to Marketing better.

How to Start & Run a Small Book Publishing Company: A Small Business Guide To Self-Publishing and Independent Publishing, Peter Hupalo. HCM Publishing. The approach in this book is from the vantage point of the entreprener - a point not often enough examined. Hupalo takes a very close look at the kinds of number crunching that should be done before embarking on a publishing venture.

The Publishing Game: Publish a Book in 30 Days, by Fern Reiss. Peanut Butter & Jelly Press. The time frame proposed in this book is far too compact; to come anywhere near to achieving the goal, you'd need to do the groundwork laid out before actually starting production. That said, the schedule is useful. This is one of a series of "in 30 days" Reiss is doing on different aspects.

    Certain books are basic reading for launching into publishing. Here's a carefully selected list.

Anatomy of A Business Plan, Linda Pinson and Jerry Jinnett. Dearborn
    Planning is essential in getting anywhere, and this is a classic.

The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing: Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish, Promote and Sell Your Own Book, Tom Ross, Marilyn Ross. Writers Digest Books
    One of the two fundamental books for the neophyte publisher, whether doing his own book or someone else's. Marketing is a major focus.

Grassroots Marketing: Getting Noticed in a Noisy World, by Shel Horowitz. Chelsea Green Publishing. Shel is a highly-regarded publicist; this book is an updated version of his wonderful earlier book.

Guerrilla Marketing Online: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Earning Profits on the Internet, Jay Conrad Levinson and and Charles Rubin. Mariner Books. Many regard this as THE book on online marketing.

Kirsch's Handbook of Publishing Law --for Authors, Publishers, Editors and Agents, Jonathan Kirsch. Acrobat Books
    While several good books on publishing law are available (see Also Recommended), this is considered the basic reference.

Marketing Online: Low-cost, High-yield Strategies for Small Businesses and Professionals, Marcia Yudkin. Plume/Penguin Books
    Excellent book on electronic marketing; lots of good insights.

Publishing for Profit, Tom Woll. Fisher Books
    This book helps you put together some crucial business considerations. Strongly recommended.

The Self-Publishing Manual, Dan Poynter. Para Publishing
    This is the other classic, fundamental book, done by the original guru and patron saint of the independent publisher. Revised biennially, generally keeps a keen hand on the trends in the industry.

Small Time Operator, Bernard B. Kamoroff. Bell Springs Publications
    Although this is one I've not read, I've heard many, many strong recommendations for this book by publishers I respect. It's been a durable classic.

1001 Ways To Market Your Books: For Publishers and Authors, John Kremer. Open Horizon Publications
    You'd better know how and where to market your books before you get started publishing or seeking a publisher. This is THE book for that.

    
How to Build a Successful One-Person Business: A Common-Sense Guide to Starting and Growing a Company, Veltisezar B. Bautista. Bookhaus Publishing.

Is There A Book Inside You? A Step-By-Step Plan for Writing Your Book, Dan Poynter and Mindy Bingham. Para Publishing

A SiMarketing Without a Marketing Budget : How to Find Customers Yesterday, on a Shoestring, Without Fouling Up Your Schedule Any Worse Than It Already is, Craig S. Rice. Adams Publishing

mple Guide to Marketing Your Book, Mark Ortman. Wise Owl Books
    This is a little book, succinct and terse; it can be read along with its companion, A Simple Guide to Publishing Your Book, which while helpful is not as good as this one.

Business Legal Forms for Authors and Self-Publishers, Allworth Press
    It provides almost all of what a small publisher needs.

Copyright Handbook, The: How to Protect and Use Written Works, Steven Fishman. Nolo Press.
    It is common-sensical, clear, and written by a knowledgeable attorney.

Copyright Permission and Libel Handbook: A Step-By-Step Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers (Wiley Books for Writers), Lloyd J. Jassin, Steve C. Schecter. John Wiley & Sons 1998, Paperback, 192 pages
    Nobody should launch into publishing without some legal references, and this is a very good one.

The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing, Linda Radke. Five Star Publications
    The "economical" part--items for the cost-conscious-- of this book is what makes it useful.

How to write and market booklets for CA$H, (manual and 2 videos) Paulette Ensign. Organizing Solutions, Inc.
    Paulette has been called the "Queen of Booklets."

Jonathan Kirsch's Handbook of Publishing Law, for Authors, Publishers, Editors & Agents, Jonathan Kirsch. Acrobat
    As you can see, there is a virtual arsenal of legal insight available. Kirsch has quite a few years of working with independent publishers behind him.

Media Magic: Profit & Promote with FREE Media Placement, by Marisa D'Vari. Deg International.
    THE handbook for becoming your own best publicist. It's crammed with practical tips, illuminative anecdotes and assignments for the reader to use.
    A must for the new author/publicist.

Presentation Magic; Dazzle & Deliver Talks With Confidence, by Marisa D'Vari. Deg International.
    In a tightly-organized little book, D'Vari identifies the parts of effective presentations. She vividly discusses each part and summarizes it, finishing with "assignments" for the reader to do to develop as a confident, effective presenter. In short, in this book, D'Vari is your personal coach for your own presentation magic.

Publish Your Own Novel, Connie Shelton. Intrigue Press.
    Self-publishing a novel is a riskier, more difficult business than publishing non-fiction. Nonetheless, it is feasible. Much of her advice will also translate for children's books. You can get information from Connie's at 800-996-9783

Publishing Resource Guide, by Linda Able, Florida Academic Press.

The Successful Self-Publisher, Dorothy Kavka & Dan Heise. Evanston Publishing

Trash-Proof News Releases: The Surefire Way to Get Publicity, By Paul J. Krupin. Direct Contact Publishing
    Nobody should get into publishing without understanding how to write a good news release; Krupin tells how and provides a slew of good examples. Krupin well understands the business of the well-written, well-placed press release. An invaluable companion to Kremer's 1001 Ways to Market Your Book.

The Writer's Legal Guide, Tad Crawford and Tony Lyons, Allworth Press.

Successful Nonfiction, Dan Poynter. Para Publishing

Write Publish & Market Your Book, Patrika Vaughn. A Cappella Publishing
    Plenty of how-to titles cover the basics of writing, marketing and the

How To Publish and Promote Online. M.J. Rose & Angela Adair-Hoy. St. Martin's Press

    
Writing:
    The fundamental and most basic of the writing handbooks is that of William Strunk, The Handbook of Good English: A Comprehensive, Easy-to-Use Guide to Modern Grammar, Punctuation, Usage, and Style, Edward D. Johnson. Washington Square Press, published by Pocket Books

Write Right! : A Desktop Digest of Punctuation, Grammar, and Style, Jan Venolia. Ten Speed Press
    A great little desk-top grammar book. Editing and grammar are part of good marketing. This is easy to use and a favorite of editors and writers.

Editing:
Simple and Direct: A Rhetoric for Writers by Jacques Barzun. University of Chicago Press

Editors on Editing edited by Gerald Gross. Grove Press

Editing Fact and Fiction: A Concise Guide to Book Editing,Leslie T. Sharpe and Irene Gunther. Cambridge University Press

The Copyeditor's Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications, Amy Einsohn, Marc Einsohn. University of California Press

The Chicago Manual of Style: A Manual of Style, for Authors, Editors, and Copywriters (also known as the Chicago Style Book), University of Chicago Press.

Copyediting: A Practical Guide, Karen Judd. Crisp Publications, Inc.

A Dictionary of Modern American Usage, by Bryan A. Garner. Oxford University Press

The Portable Wwriter's Conference, by Stephen Blake Mettee, Editor, Quill Driver Books.

Great, great essays about publishing and writing. For instance, the chapter: "Proper Manuscript Format & Astute Copy Editing: How to Avoid Needlessly Antagonizing Your Editors" would be useful for coaching writers. There is also a very good chapter on electronic rights.

Typography and Design

    Typography is a specialized area, yet the savvy neophyte publisher should do some studying on the subject to guide toward making more attractive choices in the type faces used for the text of the book and for the cover. By getting acquainted with terms and some of the history of the field, you'll be better able to discuss this important area with your designer. Recommendations here come from colleagues who work in design.

The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst, Hartley & Marks, is the classic in the field.
One book producer described this as "the best book you can buy on book design."

Aldus and His Dream Book, by Helen Barolini, Italica Press. Aldus was one of the early type designers; his name survived as the name of a page layout company until bought out by Adobe.

Graphic Design for The Electronic Age, by Jan V. White, Watson-Guptill Publications, is also a basic book in the subject. However, it is apparently out of print or hard to find.

Desk Top Publishing by Design Second Edition, by Ronnie Shushan and Don Wright, Microsoft Press.
This is an 8.5 x 11 424 page handbook

    
Editing:     The Editors' Association of Canada has a useful description of professional standards for editors at their site as well as a sample freelance writer/editor contract.

Professional Editors' Standards give an enlightening explanation of the different types of editing (regardless of country).
The Standard Freelance Editorial Agreement has a definition of terms that is useful as well and is available for download in various formats.

    

Comments or suggestions?
Write to catspawpress@aol.com. Thanks for dropping by, and come again--we'll be adding new "shelves" and "rooms."
You can also take a publishing class: Pat Bell is a faculty member of the WritersCollege, where she teaches an on-line class on publishing.

Don't have time to take a class? You can also arrange for consultations with her. Help is close at hand!

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