Spectrum

RAJGOPAL NIDAMBOOR

It's not unusual for first-time writers/authors to turn to a vanity publisher, especially when they just can't get their work published by mainstream publishers. A reflection on the tizzy concept, which is gaining new ground… everywhere.

Vanity publishing offers a "plausible" solution -- to getting published -- though, in today's writing world, the trend seems to be a-changin'. More and more authors, who don't hit the "print-rap" with a regular "publisher," often self-publish. Besides, quite a few of them have also made it big, when a major imprint has taken up their originally self-published title, down the line, and published it under its own imprint.

The reason is simple -- there's no need to search the horizons for an answer. How often have we not heard of good manuscripts not being accepted by mainstream publishers -- on grounds other than merit alone? Also, it is not that books that have been published, by them, have all been literary, or estimable, signposts. Many of the much-hyped books have bombed; there have been many more that have had nothing but thrash published between their pages.

So far as pure self-publishing is concerned, the author himself/herself does everything -- from writing, editing, proofreading, including marketing. S/he may, of course, outsource the essentials like DTP, designing, printing/distribution, and so on. But, that's what many small publishers themselves offer and do, just as well, today.

Unlike a purely self-publishing venture, vanity, or subsidy, presses often call themselves by other names, including "self", "joint-venture", or "co-operative" publishing, and ask for a "contribution" to cover costs. There lies the catch. Most vanity publishers make money not by selling books, but by charging the client as much as possible ["co-operation"] to print as few copies of a book as they can, without giving much thought to marketing… However, you just cannot generalise all vanity publishers as "sly" -- there maybe exceptions. This depends on your luck -- if you want to get published, anyway, by them.

Maybe, writers who wish to get so published need to look at vanity publishing as a hobby -- one that may provide "professional" copies of a book, and not make them great writers, or help them build careers in writing [That's what you've vanity publishing for! And, also, because, no mainstream publisher advertises/calls for books/submissions, and charges you a fee!].

Now, the nitty-gritty of it all. Vanity publishing is a service in which authors are charged to have their work published. Unlike mainstream publishing houses, which reject many more manuscripts than they publish, some vanity publishers print work, regardless of quality. They most often claim, that, submissions have been read by "in-house" readers and/or approved by their "editor/s," sans documentary evidence. Most authors would, of course, buy the idea -- not as "flattery," but as gospel, even truth. After all, "writers" want to be pampered -- and, subsidy publishers know how to just do it best.

Says a first-time published author -- B K -- who wishes to maintain his anonymity. "I contacted a vanity publisher to get my work of fiction published. I was told to send my MS, in its entirety, for their reading. I soon got a response -- they'd found the book 'worthy of publication.' We signed a contract, which said that they would take it up as soon as the 'specific' fee was received. I was quite happy, and duly sent them the amount… It was, of course, a different thing that I'd not read between the lines -- 'they'd give me no guarantee of sale.' [Nobody does]. They also indicated that they would stand by my book, to the best extent possible -- through a launch, if I could afford it, and also send review copies to the press."

He adds: "The book was appropriately published with an attractive cover. I was more than pleased. However, I have, so far, not received my royalty payment -- on the sale of copies per se. Worse still, I have not seen copies of the book displayed at the local bookshops I've visited -- not just in my town, but elsewhere. Besides, I have also asked friends to check out, wherever possible. I have, until now, drawn a blank."

Another vanity-published writer notes that she received a pittance as royalty -- on a few dozen copies, which her publisher reported he'd sold. This happened six months after the book was published. It's now two years, and she's yet to receive a penny… Besides, it's only after repeated inquiries that her publisher told her that he had not received statement/s from his distributor; and, that the book was "moving too slowly."

This, says an insider in the book trade business, is a commonplace strategy -- a great way to buy time, and keep the heat off. More so, because most authors won't be as demanding as the consumer at a retail outlet -- or, they may not have exact details of the print-run, or get their hands on the precise number of copies sold. They are, quite simply, contented that their work has seen the light of the day -- and, made them "authors."

There's more to vanity publishing than what meets the word in print. Some vanity publishers state, or imply, that they share production costs with the author. This is far from the truth -- unless you've a genuine invoice/inventory. The first victim, in most cases, therefore, is transparency! You believe your so-called publisher, because you've no other choice.

That's not all. With vanity publishing, your writing doesn't improve. You don't have the services of [good] editors, artists etc., out there -- unlike mainstream publishing, where many, many hours are spent on the editorial/aesthetic attributes of any given work. Inference? The only guys that make merry, and laugh their way to the bank, for doing almost nothing are vanity publishers, thanks to our own lack of sanity!

More importantly, vanity presses often claim that "so-and-so," quite often a celebrity, made it big through subsidy publishing -- which isn't quite true. You've names of self-published/vanity writers who have become best-selling authors, down the line -- with mainstream book publishing. But, one cardinal fact remains. No vanity book has ever been nominated for an award, much less the Booker Prize! Also, nobody ever wants a vanity press author to win commendations, much less read him/her. There hangs a tale -- quite transcendent… [However, it's entirely a different matter if you were a corporate bigwig. You'd push your book down unwilling "throats" -- or, get someone who wants business, to lift copies, at a discounted price, for usage as corporate gift/s, and so on].

But, that's the way it is -- at the stakes. And, there's nothing you could do except beat a primal grouse. Which is also one reason why vanity writers are not so fastidious about getting "royalties." They simply can't. Because, nobody is ever going to lap up a book written by them a la a best-seller from mainstream publishers, although there are a few choicer "commissions" for the "compulsive" vanity author, who wants his/her ego to soar -- in the esteem of friends, family, and inner circle, not to speak of their bookshelves, or drawing room centre tables -- to the seventh heaven of one's existence!

To look at vanity publishing -- differently. Expression, after all, is a fundamental right. Well, if somebody wants to publish his/her own book, all by oneself, or through a subsidy press, there's nothing one could do about it. Also, if someone is well off, and doesn't mind to spend money from his/her own pocket, why not? The latter, for sure, does not make a living by writing books. Also, in most cases, the books are given away as complimentary copies, or the proceeds -- if any -- go for a cause, maybe charity. If this isn't a kind of social service, an add-on "bonus" -- which could get you a mention in the local newspapers -- what is?!

Vanity publishing isn't a foreign phenomenon. It's growing in India too, despite the fact that many such publishing houses, especially abroad, which also "engineer" the "business of dubious publishing" in this country, have shut shop because of gross cheating, and "manoeuvres" of the worst order, thanks to legal battles. Needless to say, too, some first-time authors have lost huge sums of money, and, perhaps, their life's savings, trying to "piggy-ride" on their backs to success, or stardom, or to fulfilling a dream -- and, failed miserably in their thoughtless attempts.

Deduction: authors beware about subsidy publishing! Maybe, it's better to self-publish, with adequate professional help -- from freelance editors to designers, and printers, and distributors -- if you'd afford costs, and wait for a leading imprint to "lap" up the title, down the line. But, one thing is imperative: make sure that your work is worthy, well-written, and meets the demands of would-be readers. Also, remember, you'd sell, or help sell a not-so-good book, with a few USPs in tow -- not on the basis of your "vanity" alone -- even if you've everything that goes to making you a "saleable" author, with celebrity/corporate friends, book launches, author-signing sessions, media coverage etc.,

The premise is simple. If your book cannot make it to the readers' or book lovers' podium, on its own steam -- nothing else will.