Lulu.com-Affordable Print-On-Demand Publishing for Everyone and Anyone

Let’s begin with the assumption that everyone who has written a book they are proud of wants to be published. Let’s further suppose that if they decide to publish it themselves they will be interested in getting the best bargain, and that they will only print the number of books they think they ned. Lulu.com offers the ability to publish a book at no cost to the author, unless the author wants to buy his own copy (who wouldn’t?). If the book sells to another client, Lulu pays a royalty set by the author. The author is allowed to purchase books in numbers ranging from one to thousands at a time. It is true, there is a discount depending on how many you buy at once, but the initial cost for one book is very reasonable. Plus, the book can be distributed as a paperback or as a pdf file you can read from your computer.

Lulu offers other services such as an ISBN, book-cover design, editing, and so on at reasonable prices. If you can do all of that yourself or have a friend who will do it for free, you have that option as well. While Lulu is not a panacea for the troubles and travails of an author, it is certainly a nice starting point for someone who wishes to self-publish. Some of things that Lulu does not help you with unless you pay them for the service are marketing and distribution. Still, you must be willing to do some of that when you self-publish. If you are, you can have your book published in a very short period of time.

Lulu offers a system where you can talk to other Lulu authors or their support staff. They offer print services for color and black-and-white interior projects. The books come out looking very professional with a square binding as a standard offering at no extra cost. The covers are neatly-printed color covers. The number of pages in a book is a determining factor in the cost, but you can always decide on whether you think the price is becoming too hefty.

Although their support system is very helpful, setting up a book on Lulu can be daunting to those unfamiliar with the computer. Also, if you don’t have an artist or a graphic designer in your pocket, you might not get the cover you would hope for. Lulu does offer images for covers and will put the information on the spine, front, and back of the book that you enter for those areas. The formatting of the book’s inside is a bit tricky, but if you find a free *.pdf file generator, it is often a snap.

What about the other P.O.D. publishers? Many of them offer complete book packaging, and even go so far as to design your book covers and edit your book for you at a cost. These publishers likely still fulfill a need in the market or they would no longer be around. Lulu’s deal may look really good, but that’s no reason to stop there. You should research your options as thoroughly as possible before you decide on any of these publishers. Because many customers are extremely pleased with Lulu’s service does not mean it is necessarily right for you.

Perhaps you want to eventually interest a publisher in your work, but in the meantime would like to self-publish it? This may not be a bad idea at all. Some publishers or agents even like to see a proven track record of sales for the book and the author’s dedication in selling it. It may just act as a springboard for something more lucrative. Whatever reasons you may have to self-publish a book, Lulu.com may offer an avenue that is right for you. I know I tried it and have been very pleased with the results.