Self Publishing - An Overview

If you have ever thought about publishing your own book or have had problems trying to get your book published and promoted through a mainstream publisher, then self publishing might just be the answer!  Simply put, self publishing means that you, the author, are the one in control of how your book is published. The copyright remains with you and you will reap the rewards you deserve from your hard work.

The process of self publishing is now easier and more affordable than ever before and we, at Direct POD, are here to help you every step of the way. We understand that every author's requirements will be different and we aim to offer a personal and flexible service to YOU.

For some of you this will not be your first publication and you may be well versed in the publishing process. For you therefore, we are more than happy just to print your book to your specification – end of story, if you’ll forgive the pun!

For the rest of you we have 3 self publishing packages to choose from – or you can mix and match – offering services ranging from simply supplying you with an ISBN (International Standard Book Number), supplying you with promotional material and advising you on how to set up google alerts, to supplying you with extra case bound copies of your masterpiece and setting up your own blog to promote your book. The choice is varied and the choice is yours!

What we have and what we do

•  An experienced, friendly and dedicated customer service team – we put you

   at the heart of our business

•  Advice and assistance for authors in the printing and self publishing process

   – we are here to help!

•  Fast turnaround – usually within 7 days of proof approval

•  Direct PoD is an OCÉ Quality Centre, using environmentally friendly,

   carbon neutral print technology

•  Free ‘No Obligation’ Quotes available online – as many as you want

•  High quality 1200 dpi (dots per inch) printing – for excellent pictures and half tones

•  Colour books and colour sections available – to your specification

•  Various papers available – bookwove, bond, silk and gloss

•  Secure payments available online

•  File uploads available online – secure and time saving

•  Secure file storage - Reprint orders can be fulfilled with ease

•  Any size and quantity undertaken

•  Perfect bound (paperback) and Case bound (hardback) are the most

   popular bindings, but we also wiro, comb and spiral bind!        

Self Publishing Packages and Benefits  

Find below the details of our 4 packages designed to help with the print and promotion of your title. Click on any of the features for a detailed description of each benefit on offer.

The component parts are also available to you as separate modules - please call to check out our prices.  

 Click here for Instant Quote

Page layout/Format:

We can accept manuscripts in most pc or mac-based software, but our preference is a PDF format.

• There are no rules about the font you use or the size; these are completely your own choice. The most common font used is Times New Roman, with an 11 point size.
• The usual margin around each page is approximately 15mm.
• It is generally accepted that odd numbered pages should be on the right hand side as you look at the open book.                       
• A new chapter starts on a new page. Use a page break, rather than a series of returns to achieve this. Some people prefer new chapters to start on a right hand page, which may require the insertion of a blank page beforehand.
• If you want a gap between each paragraph, insert automatic spacing (Alt O P E in Microsoft Word).
• Be wary that a computer spell checker is no guarantee of correct spelling.
• Do not manually hyphenate words at line breaks as these can move. Let your word processing application do it for you automatically (Alt T L H in Microsoft word).
• A common mistake is the over use of capital letters, which should be reserved for proper nouns and the first word in each sentence.
• To indent paragraphs, use a tab character rather than a series of spaces.
• Use only one space, not two, between sentences.
• Titles of books, songs, films and so forth are generally denoted by the use of italics rather than inverted commas or speech marks.
• Try to avoid typing whole words in capital letters and the use of bold and underlining as such styles can become difficult to read if over used.
• Some software automatically defaults to American letter size pages (216 x 280mm) rather than English A4 (210 x 297mm). You can check by using Alt F U and choosing the paper option in Microsoft Word.

Graphics 

• Graphics – anything that is not text – need to be included within your manuscript. We can add these in for you, but this would incur an additional cost.
• Pictures can be distributed throughout the book; they do not have to be grouped together, but note the cost of colour below.
• Colour does add to the cost of printing and if you have a colour image on one side of a leave with just mono (black and white) on the other, we have to charge for two colour pages due to the nature of the printing process.
• Colour images, where used within the book, can be saved in either CMYK or RGB colour. However, please see additional notes regarding the cover.
• If you are scanning items to include, choose a setting of 300dpi. A lower setting is likely to result in poor print quality.
• It is very important that you do not use pictures, maps or images without the permission of whoever owns the copyright. Please note that you cannot copy from other books, newspapers or the internet without permission.
• Images from the internet may look crisp and clear on a screen but their quality will be too poor to print well.

  Cover design  

• We offer a cover design service at an additional cost. Price on application.
• If you are supplying your own cover file, it should be in PDF format. If your book is to be perfect bound (paperback) then the artwork can be in either CMYK or RGB. If it is to be case bound (hardback) however, it must be supplied in CMYK.
• Please ensure you use images of sufficiently high resolution for printing, rather than low resolution internet ones.
• The design must include the back, spine and front as one single file and should have a minimum of 3mm ‘bleed’.
• The spine width can be calculated for you. Please call if you require assistance with this.

• 134 x 197mm (Standard) √
• 216 x 138mm (Demy) √
• 210 x 148mm (A5) √                                                                          
• 234 x 156mm (Royal) √
• 249 x 177mm (Pinched Crown Quarto)
• 246 x 189mm (Crown Quarto)
• 276 x 219mm (Demy Quarto)
• 297 x 210mm (A4) √

Please note that the ticked sizes are the most common and can be accessed within our on-line quoting tool. For other sizes, please call or  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  us for a quotation. 

 Submitting your Manuscript 

• For best quality results supplying your manuscript in PDF format is ideal. If you do not have the software to convert your document it is possible to do this on various internet sites. Type “convert to pdf free” into any search engine to find one. If you have any problem with this, we can format your manuscript for you from many PC and Mac-based softwares. This may incur an additional charge based on £45 an hour, depending on the amount of work / time involved.
• If you supply a word file, please make sure that it is set up at the correct finished page size and with the margins you feel happiest with.
• We can also accept typed manuscripts where there are no electronic files. These will require scanning and cleaning and will incur a charge of £25 set up and 15p per page.
• We also provide typesetting services for hand written manuscripts – price on application.
• When supplying your own files we require one for the cover and a separate one for the inner pages. The text file should be in single page order, from 1 through to the back. Please do not submit each chapter or each page separately. Please note that we will print the pages exactly as you supply them unless we have been commissioned to undertake formatting work, as described above.
• We can accept the material through the post on CD, DVD or USB.
• If the files are less than 8Mb we can accept them by email and if larger, you can use on of the free, file transfer sites on the internet such as http://www.mailbigfile.com/ or http://www.yousendit.com/

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B)   Allocate an ISBN to your Book and create a Barcode   

If you wish to sell your book commercially it must have its own ISBN (International Standard Book Number) printed with its own barcode on your book. This is an international identification code, unique to a particular edition of a particular title. It serves to facilitate accurate cataloguing, ordering, accounting, billing and stock control. 

• Your ISBN should be printed in your ‘prelims’ (preliminary pages) and in barcode format on the back cover.
• If you are using Print Express, you will need to supply your own ISBN, though we can create the barcode format at an additional cost.
• If you are using one of our self publishing options, then we will supply the ISBN for you and create the barcode to match.
• Updated editions require new ISBNs.
• Paperback and hardback versions require separate ISBNs.

 The ISBN agency for the UK and the Republic of Ireland is run by Nielsen Books.

 What Nielsen does: 

• Allocates ISBN publisher prefixes, to eligible publishers. These are sold in blocks of 10, to be assigned one per title, or version of a title.
• Advises publishers on the correct implementation of the ISBN system.
• Maintains a database of publishers and their ISBN prefixes for inclusion in the Publishers International ISBN Directory.
• Encourages and promotes the importance of the ISBN for a comprehensive listing of titles with bibliographic agencies, such as BookData.
• Provides technical advice and assistance to publishers and the book trade generally on all aspects of ISBN usage.

Nielsen is therefore in the unique position of having a direct relationship with over 40,000 publishers, which means that their database of titles and publishers is the most up-to-date and comprehensive.

 Contact Nielsen:

Tel: +44 (0)870 777 8712 (9am – 5pm)

Fax: +44 (0)870 777 8714

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: http://www.isbn.nielsenbook.com/

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 C)   Legal Deposit Libraries

Legal Deposit is the act of submitting published material to designated libraries and archives. In the United Kingdom the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003, and the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 (Ireland) make it obligatory for publishers and distributors in the UK and Ireland to deposit their publications within one month of publication to six libraries that collectively maintain the national published archive of the British Isles. This is a four centuries old tradition, which will ensure that your publication is accessible in the library reading rooms, is preserved for the benefit of future generations and form part of the national heritage. Your book will be recorded in the online catalogue of the libraries, which is accessible on the worldwide web and provides an essential research tool for generations to come.

One copy of each publication should be deposited with The British Library in Wetherby.

Legal Deposit Office

The British Library

Boston Spa

Wetherby

W.Yorks

LS23 7BY

Tel: +44 (0) 1937 546268

Website: www.bl.uk

 The other Legal Deposit Libraries may then each request a copy. However, many publishers choose to send their publications to all six libraries at the same time, ensuring their inclusion in all the archives.

The other Legal Deposit Libraries are:

The Bodleian Library, Oxford                        The University Library, Cambridge

The National Library of Scotland                    The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth

The Library of Trinity College, Dublin

The other five Legal Deposit Libraries employ an agent to receive publications on their behalf. Their contact details are as follows:

Agency for the Legal Deposit Libraries

161 Causewayside

Edinburgh

EH9 1PH

Tel: +44 (0)131 6234680

Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 If using Print Express you will need to organise the deposits yourself. If using one of our self publishing options we will retain 6 copies of your book and send them to the relevant addresses.

 D) Register your details with Nielson Enhanced Book Data 

Nielsen Book offer a free title listing service to all publishers of English language books, regardless of location, size or genre. This service allows the publisher to display basic information about their books, which is accessible to all book buyers and libraries worldwide. However, in order to ensure that your title really stands out we subscribe to their Enhanced Book Data service. In order to be eligible for inclusion on this database your title must have an appropriate, valid and correctly applied ISBN (International Standard Book Number).

When you purchase one of our self publishing options we will register your title with as much of the following information as you are able to supply:  

• Descriptions – Both short (a maximum of 350 characters) and long (no set limit)
• A Table of Contents
• Jacket / Cover image
• Author Biography
• Classification e.g. Fiction, Medical, Religious etc
• Readership Levels e.g. Children (by age), Adult etc
• Promotional Details
• Reviews
• Territorial Rights
• Book Awards

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 E) Supply of Free Promotional Materials

Authors and Publishers often ask if we can offer practical help with local (and not so local) advertising. Accordingly, we have produced a small range of postcards, leaflets and posters to help you.

If using our Acclaim self publishing option you will receive 40 x A6 postcards, with a picture of your book on the front and your synopsis, with space for additional launch information etc on the reverse, which you complete yourself. In addition we will supply you with 40 x A5 leaflets with more space to add even more information. We will email you a template of the leaflet including your book image and synopsis – you simply add your own text (it could be about your book launch for instance) and email it back to us to print and despatch. If using our Velocity self publishing option you will receive both the above items plus 10 x A3 posters, displaying your book, synopsis and including a box for you to advertise or promote your book.

If you are using our one or two star service you can still purchase the above items at extra cost:

40 x A6 postcards @ £20.00

40 x A5 leaflets @ £20.00 

10 x A3 posters @ £20.00

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F) A web page for your book in Direct-POD's Bookshop - Coming Soon!

As part of our Acclaim and Velocity self publishing options we will be creating a web page for your book on our Website bookshop. We will discuss with you the best way to fulfil orders (from stock or print on demand) and agree costs, charges, commissions and payments before we start.

If using our Print Plus self publishing option we can still offer this service at additional cost. Please call for further information.

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G) Bespoke Cover Design Service

Included in our Acclaim and Velocity self publishing options is a cover design unique to your book. In consultation with you, we will create up to 3 different designs using your own pictures or one from the many photo libraries now available. 

If using either our Print Express or Print Plus option we will print your cover design exactly as you supply it to us. To ensure there are no problems with this please follow these simple guidelines:

• If ordering a casebound (hardback) book, please supply your artwork in .pdf format and CMYK. For perfect bound (paperback) and other bindings your artwork should be in .pdf format but can be in either RGB or CMYK.
• If you are purchasing a design from an internet image library please ensure it is a high resolution image i.e. a minimum of 300dpi.
• The cover artwork should be supplied in one file including the front cover, spine and back cover. To calculate the spine width, use the calculator on our website.
• Please allow 3mm ‘bleed’ around every side of your design i.e. extend the background colour 3mm beyond the finished size of the book so when your book is finally trimmed there are no unsightly white edges showing.

H) Instructions of how to set up your own Google Alert 

Google Alerts are being increasingly used to generate enquiries and push traffic to your website, using keywords associated with your book, subject or specialism.

As part of our Acclaim and Velocity self-publishing options we will supply you with an easy to follow instructions, plus a few tips to help you on your way. 

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I) Your own Blog created for you 

Blogs are now a mainstream activity used for personal, commercial, political and environmental communications and have almost single-handedly transformed the world of publishing.  Blogs are diaries reflecting a particular area of interest which can get huge audiences.

Thirty years ago an author, even if totally unknown, could send an extract from a manuscript to a literary agent or publisher with a reasonable expectation that it would be read and considered. Today, that is no longer true. Publishers generally report that they only accept books from agents, whilst the line heard all too often from agents is that they ‘are not taking on any new writers at this time’.

Are we really entering a world in which no books by relatively unknown authors will ever be published? Fortunately the answer is ‘No’. The digital revolution has transferred the power from publishers to authors and publishers and literary agents now spend their time trawling blogs looking for authors who have already attracted a big audience.

You can certainly set up your own Blog. Firstly, you will need to purchase a website address and find a blog creation programme. These can be found on the internet but if you are starting from scratch, it can be time consuming. After you’ve got the site running, you can start writing. The more you write the more things there are for people to find via Google searches. You might put up extracts from your book, comment on the news and publish pieces by friends and colleagues related to your book. Ideally you should be publishing an article every day, but certainly every week. Finally you need to attract readers and there are 4 ways of doing this. Firstly, you need to indexed by Google; secondly, you need to use Google Alerts to generate links across the internet; thirdly, you need to go out and get publicity for your blog by running press releases about your latest articles and finally, you need to write to people who might be interested in your blog. They could, for example, be members of a club that relates to what you are writing about.

If all this sounds far too much like hard work, then let us do it for you! When you purchase our Velocity self-publishing option we will create a Blog for you and write 3 articles to get you going. We will also give you advice and examples of interesting ways of tackling your subject together with ongoing on-line technical support for one month, to enable you to maintain your Blog in the future.

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J) Up to 10 additional copies of your book sent to your Reviewers list

Our Velocity self-publishing option includes up to 10 additional copies of your book which we will despatch to your personal Reviewers' list in the UK. (Additional charges will apply if sending these overseas.) Depending on the subject matter, this may include specialist media groups, local newspapers, specialist magazines, local bookshops etc. Just send us your list and we will do the rest.

We also have access to a vast array of media companies, associations etc. In fact, we can acquire mailing lists covering just about any target group. If necessary we can create new lists, if they don't already exist. For more information, get in touch.

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K) An additional 5 copies of your book beautifully Case bound (Hard Back)

Whether you want to retain these for prosperity or give them to your family and friends, we are sure you will appreciate the satisfying look and feel of these copies.

Our Velocity self-publishing option includes these additional books. Our Case bound books differ from perfect bound (Paperback) in that the cover artwork is used to create a PPC (Printed paper cover) which is laminated to your specification (gloss or matt) and attached to a wrap-aroundboard cover and bound.

We will use your original artwork and adjust as necessary (Case bound covers are printed slightly larger than others). We will supply and additional ISBN and barcode, print, bind and send your books to one UK address. Additional charges will apply for overseas addresses.

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L) Advice on your PR Campaign

The ways in which authors promote their books are as varied as the subject matter they write about. Specialist books are perhaps the easier to promote through societies, associations and local groups. Fiction may require a wholly different approach but, as part of our Velocity publishing option, we will be happy to give you advice on the best way to promote YOUR book, regardless of the subject matter.