Forums » Smalltalk » why does publishing have to be so expensive?

Sooo. I waited until now to look up what an ISBN costs. (The data/barcode that is needed to publish a book.) Because I figured, hey, it couldn't possibly be that much money.

WRONG. I'm really unsure when I am going to be able to get my book published now. I spent all the money I had making the cover, and getting a software to help me format my book; but an ISBN cost $100 for just one, or $250 for ten. How in the HECK am I supposed to afford that????? I have exactly $3 to my name right now, and for the foreseeable future, espeically if I can publish none of my books.

Now I feel like my book, and the two other books I planned on writing this year aren't going to get published for another year or so, maybe even two.

I'm feeling really depressed. This was my dream. I thought I planned good enough; but now it's all falling apart.

There honestly isn't anything I can do except wait until I have $250 to buy a pack of ten. Which could take me a year. Sigh.

I need something to cheer me up, so please leave a gif of something or someone cute below, thanks.

Edit: I did look into it, and if I publish solely, through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, I get free ISBN's, but, the reach is limited there. My original plan was to go through create space as well, which will allow my book to be sold as an ebook on kindle, and amazons main site, and hardcover, and softcover books that could be distributed to stores. With KPD, it's just an ebook.

I might need to bite the bullet and just have it as an ebook, even if my reach is a bit limited with that, since a lot more people think you think at least want paperbacks.

I am feeling espeically sad and just meh right now. I am sure my view on it will change when I have time to think more clear headed you know?

I am sorry I am being dramatic. I just have been pouring my soul into my book and my nerves are crispy strands of hair at this point.

... Can you buy one from Australia?
https://www.myidentifiers.com.au/isbn/main

It's a global number... so I'd assume so? It'd save you a lot of money if it's acceptable.

I can't. ISBN's have to be issued by the country the publisher (me since I am self publisher) is from.

I did look into it, and if I publish solely, through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, I get free ISBN's, but, the reach is limited there. My original plan was to go through create space as well, which will allow my book to be sold as an ebook on kindle, and amazons main site, and hardcover, and softcover books that could be distributed to stores. With KPD, it's just an ebook.

I might need to bite the bullet and just have it as an ebook, even if my reach is a bit limited with that, since a lot more people think you think at least want paperbacks.

I am feeling espeically sad and just meh right now. I am sure my view on it will change when I have time to think more clear headed you know?

I mean you /could/ try and contact local publishers. Those normally are less exploitative since they work in their communities unless the book shows promise. At least for one of them? to restock on money.

I don't know where you live but a friend of mine published his novel series through a local publisher while in school and got a pretty decent deal (afaik it was 25-75 in his favor or something like that. Minus printing costs etc)

The universe never works out as intended; As hard as it is, you have to keep on keepin' on and just keep working.
If nothing else, now you have extra time to work on the second book


I'd say you could maybe offer writing commissions and/or character designs and things to try and make money in the meantime? Speaking as someone who does commissions, it may / may not be super effective, but hey, it's better than nothing.

Sorry to hear about the hardships hun

Thanks. I do already offer writing commissions and such and have a kofi for people who read my writing/fics to support me also but that's gotten me nothing yet unfortunately and I don't really see it getting me anything any time soon.

But thank you 💕 hopefully I'll figure things out in the next month.

Why not use the CreateSpace-Assigned ISBN?

My original plan was to go through create space but with an ISBN I buy myself for the hardcover. Which I don't have the money for.

With the free isbn I don't get credit as the publisher, createspace is listed as the publisher, I also am locked in with them as a printer.

Say I get my hardcover printed through them, use their free isbn, but 3-4 years later, I find a different printer that seems more efficient, or a bookstore who wants my books but doesn't collaborate with create space? I would be unable to switch printers or have multiple printers like I would if I owned the isbn completely, and would be stuck with create space entirely.

Say later on down the line you wanted to change it, you'd have to retire that ISBN through CreateSpace, and then you could republish under a new ISBN. Really, the two big options for printers are CreateSpace and Ingram Spark, but Ingram will have even more costs than CreateSpace will (generally).

You'd still have the ability to buy a lot of books at a reduced rate direct after publishing, and you could then bring those to local signings, local bookstores, etc.. There's plenty of options. Honestly, with your lack of budget, I imagine there's also no advertising money, so I wouldn't even worry at all yet about expanding beyond Amazon. It's the one big place right now, especially with ebooks, and even then it's a dog-eat-dog world. There are many very successful self-publishers that sell solely on Amazon.

I just need to sleep on it I guess. I'm still unsure about if I would be able to publish the eBook through KDP and then the printed through create space or would the eBook have to go through create space too... Ugh

The whole thing is damn confusing.

KDP will assign an ISBN solely for the ebook. Your paperback copy will have a separate one from CreateSpace. KDP has print publishing, but I haven't used it.

One thing to pay mind to - If you go with KDP Select, your ebook will be part of Kindle Unlimited. You'll be paid for page reads, but it's an exclusive contract - You then can't go publishing your ebook on Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc.. You can however, have paperback copies.

I've been working on my book for about a year and a half now. Besides writing and editing, I've been doing a lot of research into what needs doing to publish. Personally, I aim to go the traditional route. It's less control over the book, but I'd rather be able to focus on writing the next book than marketing and sales for my current book. Whichever way you go, publishing is absolutely brutal.

You may find some funding in loans from family and friends to get your book published, or even from an actual lender. I've also seen a few authors use crowdfunding to raise money, essentially pre-selling the book. There's a lot of articles online for funding self-publishing if that is a direction you decide to try.

Hi, Self published two books already. I went through Createspace to get an ISBN that worked for the paperback on createspace, nookpress gave the ebook a BNID for free, and kindle gave it an ASIN. All of these were free and have allowed sale of my books for 6 years.

However, another option is to start building your author platform before your book is released. Once your following is large enough, you can start a patreon to try and offset some of the costs of publishing.

There's no way around it. Whether you self-publish or go traditional, publishing will costs you money and generally quite a bit. I recommend this video by Jenna Morcei. She actually has a several great videos on the ins and outs of publishing as well as tons of great writing advice in general.

My two books were kinda a trial run for me to make sure I had the salt to actually do it before I had kids that would take up most of my time and I proved I could do it, so once I'm ready to get back out there I am 100% going to work on my author platform first.

That's great! I have decided against createspace, since most bookstores don't want books printed by createspace due to not thinking they are good enough quality. I am figure something out right now after talking to my best friend who is also publishing a book, and I think things about about to get pretttyyy interesting.

Also I do already have a facebook author page and an author IG. I have about 60 followers on facebook, and 50 on IG.

UPDATE:

After talking with my best friend who is also writing and publishing a book/books, ( and we literally have been on each other every step of the way) we decided to split the cost for 10 isbn's, which is $295, making it about $150 each, giving us each 5 isbn's. [My dad is going to loan me the money. Which I wasn't expecting he'd agree to!]

So, we will each have 5 isbns. We're going to create our own two person publishing company, and both of us publish under it And we'll be buying isbn's and publishing our books under our publishing company from now on until we die.

It's gonna take a few months for my dad to get the money to loan me, so my friend and I are pushing our publishing date for our first books up, but... We have a plan, time to come up with our publishing name, as well as file the paperwork and everything and I am feeling better.

If you had asked me last this time last year I thought I'd be starting a publishing company with my best friend, and likely have two books (four with her two books as well) published by the end of the year, I never would have believed you.

That's so exciting!
As a personal experience note, make sure you look into what your state/country/etc requires for creating your own company.
I went to start my own editing business, and found out there were several forms, registrations, etc that I had to fill out and submit to be considered legal. So be sure to do your research!

Of course. My best friend is a psychology and business major so she wouldn't let me go into anything without research and making sure I understand what's happening to begin with. I am quite aware there is paperwork that has to be filed, business license to be acquired, etc.