POD vs. Literary Agent
Printing on demand is often confused or
looked upon as vanity publishing. Vanity publishers charge authors a fee to
print the books on demand. However, POD publishers print and sell the books but
obtain a percentage from the books sold - much like traditional large
publishers except you pay upfront. Most PODs do not get carried in libraries or
bookstores. However, with digital publishing now available you will see more
carried on Amazon for Kindle or Apple’s market for the iPad .The real question
is whether or not to go with POD or a literary agent?
With all the services offered by PODs
they may not have the tenacity of an established and connected literary agent. Most
large publishing houses do not accept unsolicited work anymore. With self-publishing
as an option, some authors may not ever consider utilizing a literary agent.
However, if the content is of high quality, why not go beyond self-publishing
and seek an agent. PODs insist an agent is not necessary but actually each
author will have different needs. Base the decision on sound judgment of what
the desired outcome would be for the book, the audience, the pro & cons of
each, and type of recognition desired.
To find an agent a good resource is the
Association of Authors’ Representatives. They provide more than just a
directory; they provide information on publishing, pitch tips, and a library of
programs. If you have a large network and it will be your best resource to
build followers or fan base prior to utilizing an agent. It is becoming more difficult to secure an
agent to represent authors’ needs because the market is very competitive. It
can be a challenge to demonstrate to the agent why you are a good invest and
risk. This of course is one of the reasons some authors chose self-publishing,
digital publishing, or PODs.
Resources:
http://www.alanjacobson.com/nine_tips_for_finding_an_agent.htm
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