From: moghal@usc.edu (Nadeem Moghal)
Newsgroups: misc.writing
Subject: Some questions on Publishing vs Mail-Order --- And Self-Publishing
Date: 23 Dec 1992 18:56:24 -0800
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: koh-sun9.usc.edu


Dear Friends:

I posted this article to misc.entrepreneur a while ago. I for a slight
response, and some very useful feedback. But most of the people suggested
that due to the nature of my query, this would be a better newsgroup, in
terms of reaching out to more people in this special area, and getting
their ideas about my whole plan.

So, here is the complete article. Please feel free to e-mail or post
the response. If I receive useful responses as personal messages, I
would post the synopsis.

Thank you very much.

  \ /
   X      ----------------  CUT HERE (Though, why you need  -------------
  / \     ----------------   to do that, I have no idea!)   -------------
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Dear Friends:

I need to inquire something that was discussed on the net fairly recently,
but I could not maintain a synopsis of the entire discussion. If anybody
else has a summary, or could do one for me, I would be very grateful.

My query concerns the choice between getting published through a regular
publisher or through a mail-order "specialist." The difference, I think,
lies not only in the steps taken but also in the overall process of prin-
ting and distribution.

Let me explain what I mean: The book could be published through a regular
publisher who goes through the manuscript, and agrees that it sure has
some promise. Or, if he (How can I afford to forget "She"?) decides not
to gamble him(her)self, the writer could finance the costs.

If done through mail-order, the publication could easily be Xeroxed at
not-that-astronimical-a-cost that it would take, ordinarily, for printing.

So,

Q.1  When we have a choice between going to a regular printer or,
     to what I would call "A Mail-Order Specialist," who should
     we opt for? What to consider before taking a decision?

Can we have a combination of both? That is, selling the book through
mail, AND getting it published and distributed through a publisher? Or,
that would amount to Copyright imfringement?

Q.2  Essentially, who keeps the copyrights? The writer or the Publisher?


I have written a book that could be very useful even when sold normally
through big chains of bookstores. This (non-fiction) topic appears very
popular to those who keely follow the NY Times & LA Times lists of best-
sellers.

Q.3  What should be the best strategy for me to follow? What if I am
     (AND, if I am not) in a position to finance it on my own? Would
     a bank be willing to put up some money for it as a loan? Or, is
     it a good idea to set up a business (perhaps a DBA) and then
     seek a loan? What is the best way of going about?


Q.4  How to find a good printer/publisher who not only hs a good rate,
but is also able to do an excellent marketing?


Thank you very much. Please feel free to E-Mail or post on the net.
If I receive personal messages, I would mail the synopsis on the 
net.


Nadeem Moghal

University of Southern California,
Los Angeles.