A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: How do small publishers stay in business?

 

It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side. 

The question for today is how do small publishers stay in business? We are a small publisher, and yes,sometimes we struggle. Other times we do well. Much depends on our authors and how active they are; the top 10% are the ones who keep us in business. 

Co-pilot comment: 

Out of curiosity, I asked co-pilot this question and the following popped up as typical strategies used by small publishers to stay afloat:

• Funding from Grants: Many small publishers receive financial support through art grants, especially if they focus on niche markets or support underrepresented voices.
• Markup on Books: They often mark up the price of their books to ensure a profit, though this markup is typically less than what larger publishers charge.
• Subsidies from Larger Publishers: Some small publishers are subsidiaries of larger publishing companies, which can provide financial backing and resources.
• Small Staff: Operating with a lean team helps reduce overhead costs, making it easier to manage expenses.
• Digital-Only Books: By focusing on digital publications, small publishers can save on printing and distribution costs.

MSI Press Experience

Our experience differs somewhat, but I imagine we are also typical of a subset of small publishers. Specifically,

• We build strong relationships with their authors and readers, creating a loyal community that supports our books. 
• We can also be more agile and willing to take risks on new or unconventional projects, which can lead to unique and successful publications.
• We look for niche publications where authors can excel in a competitive world.
• We take on only high-quality writing, which results in a lot of book awards and good reviews. (Many times, authors who submit work are in incensed that we do not consider their writing good enough, but our record of dozens of awards every year with the publication of a handful of carefully chosen books helps us stick to our guns.)

Bottom line: Small publishers' success depend on authors' success, and authors' success depends upon publishers' success. It is a symbiosis, without which both fail.

See more Publisher Conversations with Authors HERE.

 Learn more about publishing from an acquisitions editor -- how to get your book proposal accepted, why proposals are turned

The Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic that you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 18 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.

                         

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Julia Aziz, signing her book, Lessons of Labor, at an event at Book People in Austin, Texas.

Want to communicate with one of our authors? You can! Find their contact information on our Authors' Pages.

Steven Greenebaum, author of award-winning books, An Afternoon's Discussion and One Family: Indivisible, talking to a reader at Barnes & Noble in Gilroy, California.

   

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