All-By-Yourself Self-Publishing

Rating:
Summary: Still a Classic
Review: David Li's slim, precise volume has stood the test of time. His coverage of the business end of book publishing and of such arcana as the Library of Congress CIP program is unique and highly useful.

Only its age keeps this book from rating 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Help to Self-Publishers
Review: This book breaks down the process of self-publishing and makes it both understandable and doable. It encouraged me to get my own project going and make my book a reality.

Rating:
Summary: If you plan on doing everything yourself, you need this book
Review: This book details every single step in the process of creating a book from the initial idea to marketing. Each step includes the actual cost and all necessary background information. I read three or four other books on self-publishing, but they fell short by being too general. I get the impression from reading some of the other books that the authors really haven't done everything themselves. I had several specific questions that the other books didn't address which were answered by this book.

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended "how to" for self-publishers.
Review: This reviewer's bookshelf of books on self-publishing is short and selective. Li's book was added (despite its awkward title) primarily to satisfy curiosity stimulated by Li's frequent and helpful contributions to the Internet newsgroup "alt.publish.books." It was a happy choice. Li fills in blanks left by others, and approaches the business side of self-publishing with careful detail and resolute honesty.

But is David Li the David to take on the Goliaths of the self-publishing genre? His book sells slowly compared to better-known works by Judith Applebaum and Dan Poynter, to name two. Even The Complete Idiot's Guide To Self-Publishing outranks it on Amazon, although the latter title (like its ilk) is guaranteed to be an instant emetic --- condescending, insufferably cute and laced with tiresome cheerleading.

By contrast David LI is sober, serious and very honest about his own missteps in his self-publishing efforts. But he continues to self-publish regularly, on subjects as diverse as radiology, the game kriegspiel, and Chinese literature. His contribution to self-publishing literature is carefully wrought, not padded with cheery encouragement, and offers detailed analysis of subjects often skipped over by others. For example all authorities prefer proper pagemaking/typesetting software to word processors for producing final, camera ready copy to go to the printer. Most don't explain why WP is inadequate. Li devotes a short chapter to the subject. And while most books mention Library of Congreess Catalogue in Publication (CIP) services only Li offers a useful alternative for the publisher who does not yet meet the criteria for CIP.

Not every piece of advice offered is golden. For example Li uses and recommends a Post Office box for a business address. In fact the P. O. Box address raises immediate suspicion in many quarters. And the rapid growth of publishing technology has left holes in his presentation. He doesn't mention Printing On Demand (POD) because that technology was not widely available in 1996. Although the book ages well it is perhaps time to update it. Dan Poynter's The Self-Publishing Manual is in its 11th edition, and was revised as recently as 1999.

Finally, "All-by-Yourself Self-Publishing" should not be your only book on the subject. You will need at least the Poynter book and that incredible book of lists, Judith Applebaum's How To Get Happily Published. But don't neglect Li's work. It tells you things you won't find elsewhere. Despite the somewhat wooden style it impresses with its honesty and candor. The author has been there, done that, and hasn't forgotten his roots.

(John Culleton has fiddled with self-publishing since he took over the "Carroll Kennel Club Breeder Directory" in 1996. His first published writing was a parody (printed as a feature by a Memphis newspaper) written in 1943 at the tender age of 10. He has a thick file of op-ed and "letters-to" published by various newspapers. His pamphlet "Home Publishing Secrets" (first of a series) is now available. See his website at: http://ccpl.carr.org/~john/wexpress.html.)

John Culleton, Reviewer, http://ccpl.carr.org/~john/

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended "how to" for self-publishers.
Review: This reviewer's bookshelf of books on self-publishing is short and selective. Li's book was added (despite its awkward title) primarily to satisfy curiosity stimulated by Li's frequent and helpful contributions to the Internet newsgroup "alt.publish.books." It was a happy choice. Li fills in blanks left by others, and approaches the business side of self-publishing with careful detail and resolute honesty.

But is David Li the David to take on the Goliaths of the self-publishing genre? His book sells slowly compared to better-known works by Judith Applebaum and Dan Poynter, to name two. Even The Complete Idiot's Guide To Self-Publishing outranks it on Amazon, although the latter title (like its ilk) is guaranteed to be an instant emetic --- condescending, insufferably cute and laced with tiresome cheerleading.

By contrast David LI is sober, serious and very honest about his own missteps in his self-publishing efforts. But he continues to self-publish regularly, on subjects as diverse as radiology, the game kriegspiel, and Chinese literature. His contribution to self-publishing literature is carefully wrought, not padded with cheery encouragement, and offers detailed analysis of subjects often skipped over by others. For example all authorities prefer proper pagemaking/typesetting software to word processors for producing final, camera ready copy to go to the printer. Most don't explain why WP is inadequate. Li devotes a short chapter to the subject. And while most books mention Library of Congreess Catalogue in Publication (CIP) services only Li offers a useful alternative for the publisher who does not yet meet the criteria for CIP.

Not every piece of advice offered is golden. For example Li uses and recommends a Post Office box for a business address. In fact the P. O. Box address raises immediate suspicion in many quarters. And the rapid growth of publishing technology has left holes in his presentation. He doesn't mention Printing On Demand (POD) because that technology was not widely available in 1996. Although the book ages well it is perhaps time to update it. Dan Poynter's The Self-Publishing Manual is in its 11th edition, and was revised as recently as 1999.

Finally, "All-by-Yourself Self-Publishing" should not be your only book on the subject. You will need at least the Poynter book and that incredible book of lists, Judith Applebaum's How To Get Happily Published. But don't neglect Li's work. It tells you things you won't find elsewhere. Despite the somewhat wooden style it impresses with its honesty and candor. The author has been there, done that, and hasn't forgotten his roots.

(John Culleton has fiddled with self-publishing since he took over the "Carroll Kennel Club Breeder Directory" in 1996. His first published writing was a parody (printed as a feature by a Memphis newspaper) written in 1943 at the tender age of 10. He has a thick file of op-ed and "letters-to" published by various newspapers. His pamphlet "Home Publishing Secrets" (first of a series) is now available. See his website at: http://ccpl.carr.org/~john/wexpress.html.)

John Culleton, Reviewer, http://ccpl.carr.org/~john/