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Find out more about self-publishing... 10 hazards of physician publishing 25 ways to promote your own book Topics to consider for your next book
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You get what you pay for. How true that is. But a high price doesn't necessarily lead to a high-quality publication. You need to consider all price factors.The safest path is to learn prevailing book prices by looking in bookstores, find out the total cost of book production by sending out multiple proposal requests, and set up a strict resistance to sales experts who will call you over and over again in utter amazement that you haven't sent them your book (and your money) yet. We follow a procedure at Griffith Publishing that keeps us from leaning on the benefits of a single printing company. Our procedure is to study the capabilities of various firms and choose one that produces books like the one you want at the most economical prices. Pre-press services such as editing and page design can throw obstacles in your path. I know a publishing firm that will pay about $4 per day for heavy editing of thousands of words. What kind of quality will you get for that price? (They are not located in the United States.) For light editing, you shouldn't pay less than $2.00 per 300 words, and for extensive rewriting and editing, no less than $4.00 for 300 words, about the same as a printed page. Market prices are the prices Here are four traps we've observed that seem to be set just for physician authors—
Knowledge traps Knowing too much about medicine and too little about writing and publishing is a trap that can send you spinning. If you make it through the barriers to publishing, your book may be too complex for the average reader, who may get lost. If you're writing for fellow physicians, that's one thing. If you're writing for people without a rich technical background, your reader may be lost. No amount of knowledge can substitute for good organization and style in making your book effective. Unlike the situation you face when writing for a professional journal or commercial publisher, with self-publishing you are both judge and jury until your book has been produced. Only then will you learn if you have been successful. Don't let your knowledge interfere with good communications. Even technical and scientific topics can be presented clearly. On the other hand, never approach a prospective publishing consultant by saying you know absolutely nothing about writing or book publishing. As soon as you admit you know nothing, the unscrupulous operator is ready to pounce on you with costly and time-consuming options for producing your book. Learn what you can. Ask questions. Base your book on your knowledge of the subject matter and the interest and comprehension level of your reader. Click on another type of physician publishing trap: Price traps, Reader Traps, Time traps. Physician Publishing represents a line of editorial and design skills from Griffith Publishing, offering custom-only book publishing services since 1988. |
Choose what you need You can choose from a wide variety of top quality design services associated with our physician publishing services. These include web design, brochure and poster design, book and newsletter design, and logo design. All design projects are one-on-one with an award-winning West Coast designer. We never use templates. We also offer custom-designed packages for virtually every communication need, including CD and DVD production, audio tapes, group presentations, and business reports. We don't try to do everything ourselves, and neither should you. We choose the best, and you receive the benefits. Call Joyce Griffith at |
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