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Print-on-Demand ServicesPrint-on-demand services are a relatively recent phenomenon, and are due to a revolution in printing technology. Until very recently we were still using the same basic printing technology as that invented by Gutenberg in the 15th century! That technique involved setting metal letters in order as per the required text to create a mould or form. That was then inked and stamped onto the paper. Of course those letters were placed electronically nowadays rather than manually, but still the basic principle was the same. So the initial labour (i.e. setting the type, literally typesetting) was very high, and therefore you had to do a big print run to get the unit cost down to anything reasonable. But now with computers it’s easy to print just one copy of anything. And that’s where print-on-demand services come in. They are exactly what they say: print-on-demand.In many ways they put the power in the hand of the author. He or she can go onto the website of one of the print on demand publishers and within minutes have his or her novel ready to be printed and dispatched. It’s very exciting! There are a few issues to watch out for though. The first is that print-on-demand services have the disadvantages inherent in all kinds of self-publishing. I really do suggest you read that page before ever deciding to self-publish in any format. The second is that at their worst they’re just another type of vanity publishing - or can be perceived to be so. The third is that you have to overcome the print-on-demand stigma. The fourth is that the unit cost of each novel will usually be very high, and that might mean that it’s not competitive in the market. In summary of all that information - print-on-demand services have their place. But you need to think about it long and hard and be sure what you're getting into.Return from Print-on-Demand Services to
Getting Published
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