I have been using my shielded quarantine to write a daily blog about my favourite songs. Not really done any writing before, but it helped me fill my time and gives some sense of achievement.
I am now stopping at song 101 (returning to work soon), but I am interested in printing them in book form, as a souvenir for myself or gift for my supportive family and friends. Probably about 20 copies.
Any one had any experience of using the print on demand websites in the UK ? Any useful feedback ?
Thanks
I used Blurb at work a few years for a short-run publication and they were pretty good.
Seconded – they do a nice job.
If you didn’t already know @Dplumbley , @mikethep spent his professional life as a publisher at some of the major UK firms so his opinion is worth listening to on this.
Thanks, nice to have a consensus.
I don’t have any knowledge about printing your own book, but having had a look at your blog just wanted to congratulate your choice of Marlene On The Wall as great song to start with.
Lovely stuff. Still listen all the way through when I hear it.
As you were.
Yes, a special song for me.
Nice writing, I’ve read a few and they are spot on. If you’re going to print you might want to get someone to check/edit it – there are a few typos and what look like editing mistakes e.g. in Jason Isbell’s entry and I know I would kick myself for ever if I didn’t get them removed!
Thanks, definitely needs more checking.
Another vote for Blurb BookWright
Createspace, now part of the Kindle Publishing empire, works fine for me and my scribbling chums. It gets put up on Amazon where you and anybody else can buy as many or as few as you like.
Would think a smallish book like yours would retail at something like 2.99 a copy.
It’s self-publishing by any other name but there’s still a wee thrill to be had from searching and finding it on Amazon…
I have an itch to write stuff. Must do it.
Yep, another recommendation for Createspace. I used it a couple of years back when I did a book on the little football team I support in the National League South. It was easy to get started with, easy to update and was highly efficient in printing copies and getting them sent out. Incidentally, it sold just over 300 copies, which isn’t bad considering the average crowd that year waa probably only in the 400s. If that was Man Utd, (etc…!)
It still sells the occasional copy through Amazon.
That’s an excellent idea. Your blog looks good and I think I might buy a copy myself. Definitely come back on and post a link to Amazon or whatever once it is published.
I have used both lulu and createspace and they both seem decent.
By far the most tedious part of the process is checking for mistakes and typos. I would definitely print a trial copy first and go through it with a red pen.
Thanks for all the suggestion and kind words, I really appreciate it.
As regards Createspace, does it still exist ? I visited https://www.createspace.com/ but it seems to push you towards Kindle Direct Publishing. There is just a sign-on for existing createspace users and no option for new users. Do I just sign up for KDP instead ?
Oh, not sure, sorry. I think I just used my Amazon account last time? It was a few years ago!
Thanks for all the help.
In the end, I went with KDP (createspace seems to be closed to new accounts). Partly because of the ego of having my book for sale in several big countries.
It was pretty easy because they supply a Word template. You can request a proof copy beforehand, and then they let you buy as many author copies as you want at the printing cost.
I don’t expect to sell many (or any) copies through Amazon, but it feels great to have a tangible book that I have written.