The book research and writing is going a little slower this week, due to other responsibilities, but I finished reading The Prepublishing Handbook: What you should know before you publish your first book by Patricia J. Bell and wanted to post a quick review.

I knew with a copyright date of 1992 some of the information would be outdated and quite a bit of it was. But I still gleaned some good thoughts from it. In particular, Ms. Bell makes it clear that this is a “whether-to” book, not a “how-to” book. She does her best to scare off the faint of heart (or at least make sure that her readers are fully aware of what they are about to get themselves into if they decide to go the self-publishing route!). She points out that the self-publisher is an entrepreneur who uses his/her money to finance the project. Courage, persistence and resourcefulness are a necessity!

Ms. Bell makes it clear that a self-publisher must know what they hope and expect to achieve from the publication of their book. Is the goal to make money? Change the world? Pass on a family heritage? It is critical that this objective is clearly defined so that appropriate decisions can be made down the road.

Ms. Bell goes on to lay out five assets that will help an aspiring self-publisher determine if he/she has what it takes. The first four are interior assets (personal characteristics) and the last one is an exterior asset:

1. Creative
2. Confidence – you must learn to view your book as a product, not as your “baby”; you must be objective.
3. Courage
4. Stamina – persistence; determination to carry-through; need much physical, mental and emotional energy.
5. Money – Ms. Bell suggests that at least $12,000 is required for the first year.

In chapter 3, the many hats of the small publisher are briefly explored:

• Writer
• Managing Editor
• Financial Manager
• Designer
• Production Manager
• Marketing Manager/Promotion Director
• Sales Manager
• Distributor
• “Expert”
• Secretary

It is prudent to consider that as a self-publisher one is assuming all the roles that are filled by a staff of people in a traditional publishing house. Of course these may be contracted out to freelancers as desired, but ultimately all the responsibility for the production of the book rests on the shoulders of the self-publisher himself.

At the end of the book Ms. Bell includes an annotated list of Recommended Reading that is very helpful. It is arranged according to various categories (eg. Publishing, Business Planning, Production, etc.) and some of those that she highly recommends – like Dan Poynter and Marilyn Ross – are still known today as “go-to-people” in the world of self-publishing.

The number one insight I have taken from this book is the need for vigorous self-education. And so…let the journey continue!