| p>Today, technological advances, centralized | | | | This is aesthetic as well as technical work that |
| distribution systems and a growing interest in | | | | involves many steps and skills. While anything can |
| reclaiming regional identity makes self-publishing a | | | | be printed as a book cover, |
| viable option for many authors who want their | | | | professionally-produced designs have certain |
| books to reach a wider circle than their immediate | | | | features. It's unlikely that your-niece-the arty-one |
| family and friends. It is not true that your book is | | | | knows the standards unless she is a professional |
| not worthy to be read unless it has been | | | | graphic designer. Use her drawing or painting--but |
| purchased by a New York corporate publishing | | | | hire a designer to prepare the book cover design. |
| house. Self-publishing has many benefits, not the | | | | People really do judge a book by its cover! |
| least of which are that you can control production | | | | 3. Supervise your printing and binding. Do a cost |
| decisions and can recoup your expenses. | | | | comparison, before settling on a print house. (In |
| 1. Know the difference between between a | | | | fact, you should do this first because details of |
| publisher and a printer. A publisher (whether that's | | | | the pre-press work should be informed by the |
| you or Random House) assumes responsibility for | | | | particular printer's specifications.) Prices can vary a |
| all the tasks to get your book designed, printed | | | | lot! So request estimates. Large plants that |
| and marketed. A printer puts ink on paper | | | | specialize in books offer lower rates than smaller |
| according your specifications (it's all computerized | | | | firms--but long distance communication and |
| now!) and binds the books. | | | | shipping costs may be a disadvantage! Your local |
| Printers can be like lawyers--if you want it done, | | | | printer may not be a good choice because, like |
| they'll do it--no questions. Their job is to do | | | | doctors, printers have specialties. Someone who's |
| whatever the customer says he wants. (Like the | | | | the best at letterheads and business cards doesn't |
| lawyer who says, "You want to leave your | | | | necessarily have a handle on book design |
| fortune to your dog instead of your children? Just | | | | standards or even have the best equipment to |
| sign here!") Printers are generally not good | | | | print and bind books. You must educate yourself |
| sources for designing a book. If you are | | | | about the process in order to make informed |
| self-publishing, be sure the publisher function is | | | | choices-and get the end result you want. |
| being exercised. | | | | With some study and deliberateness, you can |
| 2. Pay attention to pre-press. Designing and | | | | make good choices for printing your memoir. |
| formatting to create electronic files according to | | | | Good luck. |
| printer specifications is called pre-press production. | | | | |