Table Of ContentWHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ...
“This is the best self-publishing manual on the market.”
—Judith Appelbaum, How to Get Happily Published
“This is by far the best book of its kind.”
—Writing & Publishing
“The book is a must for those considering publishing as a business, for
writers who want to investigate self-publishing, and is eminently
useful for its new and old ideas to those who have already begun to do
it. A fine and handy guide by a fine and successful publisher.”
—Small Press Review
“With this book, you will learn how to speed write your book; copyright
it yourself; bypass publishers; set up your own book publishing
company; promote your books with book reviews, book signings, feature
articles and radio/TV interviews; get your book into bookstores, specialty
stores, catalogs and on the Web; and make spin-offs of your book.”
—The Writer
“A handy, concise and informative sourcebook… Expertly organized
and chock-full of hard facts, helpful hints and pertinent illustrations…
Recommended for all libraries.”
—The Southeastern Librarian
“Poynter is at his best when discussing such specifics as starting one’s
own publishing house; dealing with printers; establishing discount,
credit and return policies; promoting, advertising and selling a book;
and order fulfillment.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A deeply researched how-to book on writing, printing, publishing,
promotion, marketing and distribution of books.”
—The College Store Journal
“Poynter is a self-publisher of considerable experience which he passes
along in minute detail… There is real gold here.”
—Quill & Scroll
“Poynter covers the production basics but his emphasis is on the
business of books.”
—Booklist
“The most comprehensive book I have found to date on self-publishing.
This one book could save you the price of several.”
—Iowa Authors United
“The strength of this book is the detailed discussion of various marketing
methods.”
—Choice
“Self-publishers: This how-to book and encyclopedia will be your most
important investment. The subject matter is succinctly stated, well
organized with excellent illustrations, and particularly notable are the
sections on how to gather and refine material for any nonfiction book,
no matter who publishes it. Poynter points you in the right direction.”
—Teacher-Writer
“All the information is here, and various aspects of small publishing
are discussed in a complete and comprehensive manner. A publisher
who follows Poynter’s advice can hardly go wrong.”
—The Independent Publisher
“The publication is worth its purchase price and more if it prevents those
with book-length manuscripts from wasting a printer’s time with
questions that The Self-Publishing Manualcould easily answer. It is a good
work, well written and complete.”
—National Association of Printers and
Lithographers Bulletin
“The approach is clear and easy to use in any order and should make
available answers for many writers or would-be writers with questions.
Recommended.”
—Booknotes
“This is it, the most complete book on self-publishing…”
—Open Chain
The Self-Publishing Manual
The guide that has launched thousands of books
THE BOOK THAT STARTED
THE SELF-PUBLISHING REVOLUTION…
…by the man the industry turns to for publishing advice.
You canbe in print.You canhave a book you will be proud
of.You can make it a successful seller. Most importantly, you
can afford it!
The Self-Publishing Manual, more effectively and successfully
than any other book, has turned writers with an idea into suc-
cessful authors with books.Real books.Books to be proud of.
How? By providing solid,usable information in clear,concise,
readable language.By covering every stage of the process from
putting ideas into words and words into print, and print into
books and books into the hands of readers.This is not the stuff
of theory;it is the product of hard-earned experience written
by a man who walked,then ran the path to success.More than
120 times.
Dan Poynter is the acknowledged expert in the field of
publishing.He didn’t get there by self-promotion.He got there
by producing measurable results for countless authors who
were turned down by or chose to turn away from established
publishers.
From the very first edition through the 15th, The Self-
Publishing Manualdelivered insider secrets for creating a solid
foundation in self-publishing. Each subsequent edition was
updated to cover the latest development in the technology
and realities of the publishing industry. However, unless you
have the 16th edition,you don’t have all you need to know to
keep you on the fast track to success in the rapidly evolving
world of publishing.
This is your single most important resource;it will lead you
to publishing success.
I have never met an author who is sorry he or she
wrote their book. They are only sorry they did not
write it sooner.
—Sam Horn, Tongue Fu!
Dan Poynter
Sixteenth Edition
Completely Revised
Santa Barbara,California
DAN POYNTER’S SELF-PUBLISHING MANUAL
How to Write,Print and Sell Your Own Book by Dan Poynter
Para Publishing
Post Office Box 8206
Santa Barbara,CA 93118-8206 U.S.A.
[email protected]; http://ParaPublishing.com
All rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means,electronic or mechanical,including photocopying,recording or
by any information storage and retrieval system,without written permission from the
author,except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
Unattributed quotations are by Dan Poynter.
Copyright © 1979 through 2007 by Dan Poynter.
Edition ISBNs
Softcover 978-1-56860-134-2
Large Print 978-1-56860-135-9
LIT 978-1-56860-136-6
PDF 978-1-56860-137-3
Mobipocket 978-1-56860-138-0
Palm 978-1-56860-139-7
Audio,MP3 978-1-56860-140-3
First Edition 1979.Sixteenth Edition/Twentieth Printing 2007,Completely Revised
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Poynter,Dan.
Dan Poynter’s self-publishing manual :how to write,print,and sell
your own book / by Dan Poynter.-- 16th ed.,completely rev.
p.cm.
Rev.ed.of:Self-publishing manual.c2007.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13:978-1-56860-134-2 (trade pbk.:alk.paper)
1.Self-publishing--United States.I.Poynter,Dan.Self-publishing
manual.II.Title.III.Title:Self-publishing manual.
Z285.5.P69 2006
070.5’93--dc22
2006010649
