Hello, I am Gisela Hausmann, a self-publishing veteran who self-published her first books in 1988, 1993, and 1998, long before ebook publishing and print-on-demand became available. Amazon.de lists a few used copies of my first book.
Then, thirty years ago, any false move could sink one's hopes of becoming a successful author. Since aspiring authors had to pay for the paper, printing, and binding before the first copy could even be sold, making mistakes could lead to financial disasters. Hence, we learned everything we could, from the ground up. I myself spent hundreds of hours talking with editors, translators, lithographers, printers, binders, and so on.
Unfortunately, today quite many people who have never "shelled out thousands of dollars" to publish their work, also offer advice; including stories, "facts", and arguments which are hyped, half-true, or incomplete.
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Please subscribe because I won't be able to publish this blog regularly but only when my schedule permits.
http://www.giselahausmann.com/free-creative-ideas.html
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THE BEGINNINGS
Here are the three books I self-publishing in 1989, 1993, and 1998.
I could not do book signings in real bookstores anymore; and/or guest-speaker appearances at school book fairs and PTA-meetings where I used to sell my book "obvious LETTERS."
Suddenly, there was not enough money and/or time to do everything I needed to do. But, I tried. In fact, I went through extraordinary efforts to make things happen. I even slept in my car.
Here is how that came about.
During the years of the Great Recession I worked two jobs six months of the year. My kids were high schoolers; both of them were enrolled in the North Carolina Youth Legislature. This extra-curricular program required that the students met on the first Saturday of the month in the state's capital Raleigh, a good two hours from our hometown Wilmington, NC. So, for three years, six months out of the year, I'd work a 63.75 hrs. work week, not including lunch times and commuting to two work places.
And, on the first Saturdays of these six months, after having worked a 63.75 hr. work week, I got up at 6:00 a.m. and drove my kids to Raleigh. Arriving at the meeting location, I parked my car under a shady tree, collapsed, and slept in my car till the event was over.
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I slept in my car, not because I had to but because I wanted to do certain things which I could not make happen any other way.
That's the spirit we live by, we authors.
And, yes, I know what "not having time or money" means all too well.
Which is why I get annoyed when I see people spreading half-true, unfeasible, or incomplete advice. Let's look at an example of incomplete advice.
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Again and again, I see people advising that though the trade paperback size 6 x 9" is very popular, it may not be the best size for your book's genre. The advocated remedy is to check books published by traditional publishers at a bookstore or visit the local library (which costs time & gas money).
At first glance, this advice looks so smart. It is supposed to prompt the reaction, "Now why haven't I thought of this before?"
It reality, it is an incomplete argument and here is why:
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3 BESTSELLERS
Let's look at three bestsellers I own and a list of trim-sizes Createspace offers.
- 5” x 8” (12.7 x 20.32 cm)
- 5.06” x 7.81” (12.9 x 19.8 cm) *
- 5.25” x 8” (13.335 x 20.32 cm)
- 5.5” x 8.5” (13.97 x 21.59 cm)
- 6” x 9” (15.24 x 22.86 cm)
- 6.14” x 9.21” (15.6 x 23.4 cm) *
- 6.69” x 9.61” (17 x 24.4 cm) *
- 7” x 10” (17.78 x 25.4 cm) *
- 7.44” x 9.69” (18.9 x 24.6 cm) *
- 7.5” x 9.25” (19.1 x 23.5 cm) *
- 8” x 10” (20.32 x 25.4 cm) *
- 8.5” x 11” (21.59 x 27.94 cm) *
According to Amazon's website,
"The Bully Pulpit's" paperback edition measures 6.1 x 1.6 x 9.2 inches
(versus CS's 6.14” x 9.21”)
"The Power of Habit's" paperback edition measures 5.2 x 0.9 x 8 inches
(versus CS's 5.25” x 8”)
and
"The Success Principles'" paperback edition measures 6 x 1 x 9," precisely the very popular trade paperback size. According to the publisher, half a million copies of this title have been sold.
Now, there's got to be a reason why the book's publisher, William Morrow (an imprint of Harper Collins) picked this size; right?
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Still, if we get down to the nitty-gritty we find out that though Amazon's website states that the paperback edition is supposed to be 6 x 1 x 9", in actuality, 1/8 of an inch is missing. The book was cut incorrectly. It is only 5.875" wide.
[Please note: I measured the backside of the book because the front cover is cracked and I wanted to show an accurate reading.]
Unfortunately, the book is also 1/8" too short.
Instead of being 6 x 9", as advertised, this copy is only 5.875 x 8.875". You realize that thousands of copies were printed during the same print run, maybe as many as 20,000 copies.
Still, the book's publisher, William Morrow (an imprint of Harper Collins) whose quality control hopefully noticed the flaw, allowed the books to be distributed.
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Maybe the book was printed in China? Some/ many / who knows how many publishers print their books there.
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In comparison, Createspace fares fairly well. Of the nineteen different book titles printed by Createspace which I have at my house, only two were 1/16" too short, which amounts to 0.06".
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Now, let's look at fiction. The most popular size for novels seems to be 6 x 9.2".
But, what if some of the novels your readers own have also been mis-cut (in length, width, or both) and are, in fact, only
- 6 x 9.075"
- 5.875 x 9.2" or
- 5.875 x 9.075"?
The reasoning that certain genres should be printed in certain sizes doesn't really make that much sense anymore.
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Additionally, there is also another argument to be made, which may be the one publisher William Morris had in mind when they decided on the size of Jack Canfield's book.
If you too decide to pick the very popular trade paperback size 6 x 9" your book will fit nicely to other books your fans/readers have already purchased.
I myself just pondered this decision. Having published a good dozen non-fiction books ( size 6 x 9") I released a fable about ten days ago. I could have chosen trim size 6 x 9.2" but I didn't because I want my books look good together when my readers place them side by side on their book shelves.
Which leads to another truth:
In this day and age, indie authors need to cater to their specific fans, the wonderful people who spread their message, write first reviews, retweet their tweets, and are - the most awesome fans. Forget that fancy bookstore that won't stock your book anyway but try to find out what the wonderful people who are waiting for your next release like best.
Finally, if you want to check out the sizes of paperback books of your book genre, there is no need to waste time and money by driving to your local bookstore or library. Amazon lists this information on their ecommerce platform, in the section "Product Details."
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So, (1) what's your favorite book size and (2) have you made any negative experiences?
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Gisela Hausmann is a 29 yr. self-publishing industry veteran, an email evangelist and a top reviewer.
Her work has been featured in regional, national, and international publications
including Success magazine (print) and Entrepreneur, on Bloomberg, The Innovation Show ― a show for Square Pegs in Round Holes, "The Brutal Truth about Sales & Selling"-podcast, and Austria's Der Standard and Das Wirtschaftsblatt.
To subscribe to Gisela's Blog pls subscribe at
http://www.giselahausmann.com/free-creative-ideas.html
Gisela tweets @Naked_Determina
including Success magazine (print) and Entrepreneur, on Bloomberg, The Innovation Show ― a show for Square Pegs in Round Holes, "The Brutal Truth about Sales & Selling"-podcast, and Austria's Der Standard and Das Wirtschaftsblatt.
To subscribe to Gisela's Blog pls subscribe at
http://www.giselahausmann.com/free-creative-ideas.html
Gisela tweets @Naked_Determina
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© 2018 by Gisela Hausmann
