So, you want to publish a book, but you don’t want to use an indie title such as Kindle, Create A Space, and you don’t want to pay to have your book published through a vanity press, so what do you do?
You join or create your
own co-op publisher. A co-op is when a
group of people get together to form an entity that benefits the group. In this instance, the group formed is
writers, literary agents, sales people, and publishers that help to drive down
the cost of publishing and marketing books.
Book publishing
co-op’s were created over eighty years ago as a way to help book publishers and
bookseller’s during the great depression.
Normally, literary agents are not a part of co-op publishing process.
There are a few
true co-op publishers that exists.
With co-op
publishing, authors have to pay to have their books published, but in return,
they receive a higher percentage of royalties.
Co-ops usually work very well for self-published writers.
Current co-op
publishing uses a model set during the Great Depression and usually lacks the
benefits of traditional publishing such as marketing and advertising. But all of the members of a co-op publisher
must belong to the co-op to have use of the co-op services.
Co-ops offer
authors and writers an excellent platform for getting your books published if
you don't want to try self-publishing.
Co-ops offers its members nearly every service it takes to get your
books published.
Benefits of Co-op
- Lower Publishing Costs
- Higher Royalties
- Lower Promotional Costs
- Very Low Membership Fees
Publishing Co-ops:
Author's Publishing Cooperative : http://www.authorspublishing.com/
New Mexico Book Co-op : http://nmbookcoop.com
Independent Book Publishers Association : http://www.ibpa-online.org/
Northern California Publishers & Authors : http://www.norcalpa.org/
Ocean Cooperative Publishing : http://www.oceancooperative.com/frameset.htm
Columbus Creative Cooperative : http://columbuscoop.org/index.php
References
- The Advantages and Disadvantages of Cooperative Publishing by Donald Bastian
- The Absolute Write Water Cooler
