5 minutes

Find a publisher

Dr..

Alaa Jarad

Garad@alaagarad.com

05 October 2020

Writing a book is not a complicated matter, although the matter is not without its challenges, but the biggest problem is in publishing and distributing the book.

First of all, I advise everyone who has meaningful and original content that may add value to others not to hesitate to write his book, and to start now and not at the end of the week or next month, or wait for the start of the new year, the time is now, and once you finish reading this article.

Publishing, especially purposeful, has several advantages, as it is a help to others, and ongoing charity, and at the same time it contributes to spreading knowledge and learning, and inspiring others, and it also helps the writer to master his topic, as he will need to establish references and read more in the literature of the book's subject It will also develop research skill and the ability to learn.

The second feature is documenting and demonstrating the writer's mastery in his field. It will also serve as a passport for career advancement opportunities, and possibly consulting and training assignments.

I am talking here about books in the fields that are called “non-fiction”, such as books on management and social sciences, and specialized books. As for fiction books, the above may of course apply to them, but my personal experience in the field of administration and the social field, and I have been through the publishing experience five times, including Two in Arabic, and three in English, in which I dealt with four publishing houses in Egypt and Britain, and I experienced self-publishing through Amazon without the need for a publisher.

My experience with Arab publishing houses is not completely positive, as the publisher requests an amount from the author to print the book, or the publisher takes care of the printing, but the author’s share is at best from 10 to 20% of the book’s sales.

Although the largest share goes to the publishing house, they do not make enough effort to promote the book, and I will not talk about transparency and integrity in disclosing the numbers sold!

From my point of view, publishing houses can be classified into four types: one that takes into account the secretariat, and does not print without the author’s knowledge, and has transparency in recording sales, but does not make the effort required to distribute the book.

The role does not have the minimum transparency, the author does not know the volume of sales, and I know some authors have tried to purchase quantities of their books from distribution libraries, but the publisher did not disclose them.

Big role that only publishes for celebrities and great writers, and does not appreciate emerging talent.

And the fourth type is the idealistic, respectable role that appreciates the content, has transparency, does not underestimate the author's right, and makes every effort to distribute the book, but I have not found one of them yet!

@Anime_Guy

Garad@alaagarad.com

To read the previous articles of the writer please click on its name . 

My experience with Arab publishing houses is not completely positive, as the publisher requests an amount from the author to print the book, or the publisher takes care of the printing, but the author’s share is at best from 10 to 20% of the book’s sales.

Garad@alaagarad.com