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What is the best way to publish a book?

Long ago there were traditional publishers, and that was all. You submitted to one of them, preferably through your agent. The alternatives were vanity publishing or sending Xerox copies to your friends and relatives.

Now there are many firms that help with on-line and printed publishing, such as Amazon and Lulu.

How does one choose among the possible alternatives? Any good stories on which ones to avoid, and why? Or which are totally super-duper good?

3 Answers

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  • 6 years ago

    It depends on why you want to publish, and what you think is important. The only certainty is that you shouldn't use a vanity publisher, unless you like giving large amounts of money to people who don't deserve it, and who will do nothing of any value in return.

  • Davirk
    Lv 6
    6 years ago

    As far as I understand, traditional publishing is still the way to go.

  • Anonymous
    6 years ago

    There are four basic models that dominate publishing in America today: commercial, nonprofit (both of which would be considered "traditional"), self-publishing, and vanity. Each one serves a different purpose, and which one is right for your book depends on the book (its subject and quality), and on you (your hopes and goals).

    There's a video that talks about all four, and how to know which one is right for your book: https://youtu.be/fg2WUga0sS0

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