Book Publishing: Platforms, Printing, and Possibilities...

…where shall we place eBooks?

In my previous article, The Three Types of Book Publishing You Should Know, I made no mention of online publishing, eBooks, electronic book publishing or anything related to that sort. Perhaps, this took you aback and you ruled out book publishing in electronic formats from being under the entire publishing scope, I’m very sorry for that. In this article, I’ll explain what a book is, the “how” of book publishing, platforms, printing, and possibilities.

Do you remember the eight-year-old me? How that I was so oblivious of the two other forms of book publishing until I was eighteen? More, I was unaware of online publishing as a means of book publishing back in those days. Now, online publishing isn’t a type of book publishing but a categorization of book publishing by availability and/or accessibility.

That takes me back in time. In the introduction of my book, Viral Author Blueprint, I cited a definition of “book” I really resonate with and I’m copying it here:

"A book is a non-periodical; printed publication of at least forty-nine pages excluding the cover page… A book is printed, created using one or more machines rather than written or printed by hand… A book is a publication: it is printed in multiple copies for circulation to more than its creators… A book has a [physical, touchable] cover.”

• Journal of Research and Development (J.R.D.) Vol 2, No. 10, 2016. (Ojo Titilope Oyeyinka, Victor Em, Aganbi, Atewolara-Odule, Odukunle Adebayo).

Where do we therefore adjudge eBooks and electronic publishing? Where? Or does the definition of “books” rule out eBooks, ePubs, PDFs as improper & unaccepted in this world of “online,” all thanks to the invention of the internet? Well, no.

As a result of this, I believe an exhortation of the categorization of book publishing by accessibility/availability is crucial to understanding the placement of online and eBook publishing in the book publishing industry.

Book Publishing is categorized into three:

-         Bulk printing publishing

-         Print on Demand (POD) publishing

-         eBook publishing

Bulk Printing Book Publishing

As the name implies, it refers to book publishing done so that a number of the author’s book copies (usually starting from 300) is printed to confirm publishing. Now, depending on the type of book publishing utilized, these copies may be distributed to brick-and-mortar bookstores owned by book publishers or by the author himself. All types of book publishing offer bulk printing to one extent or the other. Popular nomenclature includes: order author copies (e.g., Amazon Kindle), print 500 copies, print in bulk, etcetera.

Print on Demand (POD) Book Publishing

Just like hybrid is intermediate between traditional and self-publishing, POD book publishing usually has characteristics of both Bulk printing (in that book copies are eventually printed) and eBook publishing (in that PDFs and other documents are uploaded online in one form or the other).

The POD system works this way: you upload your book document’s final edit, well formatted onto a book publishing site set up like an eCommerce store. When someone orders your book on that website, it is then printed and sent to them without you getting involved any much further than uploading. So, you upload your manuscript as an eBook, say in a PDF format, and when someone buys, your book is printed only for that person that buys.

Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Nobles, Lulu, and a ton of other websites offer print-on-demand services for free. That is, you upload your book on the sites for free hence, generally, POD book publishing is cost-effective for an author who is keeping an eye on his pocket.

Critically, all book publishing companies offer print on demand services along with their core publishing service.

eBook Publishing

You have heard of Wattpad, Okadabooks, and the likes. You probably even have a Kindle Reading Device and engage well with Kindle books; eBook publishing is simply the uploading of your book onto a website for free or paid downloads. Various sites offer this service and I have listed just a few I know. Also, having your book in a PDF and sharing on your website or via WhatsApp, or an email autoresponder system, etc., falls under eBook publishing.

Like the remaining book publishing forms by accessibility, eBook publishing can be featured (actually, it usually is featured) in every type of book publishing be it traditional or self, depending on the publisher and/or author concerned.

Having learnt of this categorization of book publishing therefore, I think it is needful that I give the following tip:

The bestselling books engage all forms of book publishing by accessibility hence, I believe it is of great benefit that you make your book accessible by all means there is.

And if you need further assistance towards strategy in the publishing of your next book, do not fail to reach out to me here.

Connect with me, and drop a message about your dreams for your awesome book. You can get to know more about my strategy for book publishing in my book, Viral Author Blueprint.

Thanks for sticking with me to the end!

Do not forget to share your biggest takeaways in the comments section.

PS: Have you heard of the new Kindle Vella platform yet? It is entirely awesome! Don’t you worry, my next article will put you through the platform hence, stay tuned!