Passing Through

Question: Passing through & hamsade ghadimi

Do you know if Lulu is doing its global distribution package with hardcovers now as well? Are they also providing Library of Congress cataloguing numbers, or do you still have to get that one yourself separately?

hamsade ghadimi: The publish-on-demand industry (which is what Lulu is) is slowly but surely putting the conventional publishing industry out of business. At this rate, in the next decade mainstream publishers could go out of business. You are right that no outside peer review, copy editing, proof reading, etc, exists in the self-publishing industry. But outfits like Lulu are also offering this service to their customers (as well as many others)  with a nominal fee. The conventional publishing industry has also become  very politicized and money (as opposed to content) focused. Quality is pretty much being put out by academic and university publishers, who generally rack up prices to unbelievable levels,  whereas lots of junk gets published by mainstream publishers. Someone mentioned HarperCollins and Penguin: believe it or not, for many of  their first time publishers  I have heard that they are also charging publishers' fees. If that is the case, what difference does it make if someone publishes with Lulu or with them? In that situation, paying to have HarperCollins, Penguin or whatever to publish your book for you can likewise be considered a vanity publication. The trends are changing. Writers need to get with them, since quality control is also becoming more democratized in this overall situation.

The only real downside to PoD and self-publishing is that your publications don't get publicity or advertising at book fairs. Big chains won't carry them, nor (unless under special circumstances) will university libraries or institutions carry them. This is so because they buy through their own distributors who deliberately aren't dealing with PoD yet.

BTW why hasn't anyone thought of a publish-on-demand outfit like Lulu for Persian language books yet? 

Ya NUR 

......

Hi Natalia,

      If you like, you can do some self-publishing also.....I know you like to write very much.......you have your favorite topic to write.......you write articles and poems........as you know, you have written a lot of stuff, you just need to re-format your materials to fit the publication specifications!

take care!

......

Yolanda,

 How interesting. This is the first time, I have seen anyone on this web site share this kind of information.

Usually, most keep such things to themselves.

The poet seems to be a generous soul..........very interesting.

Dear Friends

If you decide to use Lulu, I would like to caution you that initially, you may run into some glitches - Once you get over that, the system is very easy to use :)

If I can be of any assistance, please either leave a comment here, or send me a direct e-mail through Iranian.com - I would gladly do my best to assist you,

Tks Again,

PT

Thanks for clarifying ...

Your point is very well taken :) - Impressive!

...

Dear Yolanda,

Thank you very much for your continued support - Your participation in my blogs was absolutely invaluable :)

I sincerely hope that this book would be both a blessing and an inspiration to all those who read it - Let's hope that other contributors to Iranian.com would also take advantage of this opportunity with Lulu,

Tks Again,

PT

......

Dear PT,

     I am glad that you decided to publish your poems.......wow! You wrote over 300 poems.......I am glad that there is a website that allows people to publish their work and does not charge the listing fee. LULU reminds me of www.amazon.com and www.half.com      these 2 websites let you sell your used books....you don't need to pay commission until the book is sold....it is risk-free.....

    I think it is great to get your work published 'cause you can share your creations with others and you can also pass on the writings or poems to the future generations as souvenirs.

   I also noticed that LULU has poetry contest that people can win money for submitting good poems.

I wish you success!

Thank you for introducing LULU to the Iranian.comers!

This sounds interersting. Some people can take advantage of it.

Everything is sacred.

Dear hamsade ghadimi

Thank you for your comment :)

You have raised a number of issues, and some indeed are quite valid - However, in my case, the issue of name recognition is indeed something that I am trying to avoid as much as possible :)

I have found Annonymity a wonderful thing - There are but a very few people who know my true identity - When one is annonymous, one's work is the primary issue - Furthermore, one doesn't have to constantly worry about what one is writing, always looking over one's shoulder, wondering what others may, or may not,  think :)

I hope you understand what I am saying,

Tks,

PT

there are advantages of

there are advantages of peer-reviewed publications over the self-published ones. for one, it cuts down on the arrogance factor for those who enjoy seeing their name in print but their talents are not refined enough to be published on their own merits.  the critical review process also can be a gut check for the writer and gives him valuable feedback in improving his work or making it more clear.

a very good friend of mine who is a talented writer self-published a book last year.  he made some nominal money (in no way, it compensated for his effort) and got his name on a book; however, i wish he had gone the traditional route because as good as his book was , he had made numerous mistakes and his work was basically a diamond in the rough.  with the review process and scrutiny that goes with publishing houses, at least one can be assured that his work has passed the laugh test. and it will certainy reduces the poor writing, and amateurish production of the book.

in my line of work, non-published but available works are called white papers and are just not taken as seriously as a peer-reviewed work.  i'm not saying that there are no perils of publishing through a traditional publisher.  and not saying that someone who self-publishes is narcissitic. 

all the power to you 'passing through' with your book, marketing of your book, and future projects. however, you should not give a blank endorsement of an industry that is riddled with scammers.

Thank you for that insight.

Thank you for that insight.

Dear Humility

To put this collection together, I had a total of almost 300 poems to consider - I have been writing poetry for a number of years :)

There is one thing that I need to be absolutely clear about: In any Art, whether that's writing, or painting, or sculpture, or music, there comes a point in one's development where one becomes truly aware of the Quality of one's work :) - By that I mean, there is this God-given sense which truly informs one of whether one's work is of the Highest Quality or not, regardless of what others may, or may not, say! 

All great Artists have that sense - It's something that one develops over time - Through practice, and focus on one's craft! Essentially, one has an audience of one - And that's indeed oneself!

Furthermore, one knows whether one's work is of the Highest Quality or not, regardless of what the Whole World may think; either Positive or Negative! 

In the selection of these thirty seven (37) pieces, I felt that none of the other ones deserved to be in this collection - These pieces in this collection are of the Highest Quality! Pure And Simple!

I hope that has clarified things,

Many Thanks,

PT

P.S. I hope that you don't interpret what I have just said as arrogance :) As I have indicated, it's a God-given sense that informs one of whether one's work is of the Highest Quality or not :) - Again, regardless of what others may think - Positive, or Negative :) - Pure And Simple!

:)

'... Especially, if one believes in the Quality of one's work :)'

Very interesting!

Dear Friends

There is one thing that I would like to emphasize here:

The feeling of satisfaction that one gets from publishing one's work is truly immense - Especially, if one believes in the Quality of one's work :)

Thank you,

PT 

P.S. I sincreely hope that all of you try this also - You'll not be disappointed :) 

Dear yaboo_yahoo

Thank you for your comment :)

My expression of gratitude was to include not only Jahanshah himself, who is a significant part of Iranian.com, but also the support staff such as Foad, etc.

I hope that has clarified things for you :)

P.S. I also hope that you find the work inspiring :)

Thanks Nuri Azal & Passing Through

I appreciate your effort in your book.  I really hope it is a great read.  I genuienly mean that.

Ofcourse, I mean it because thanks to "self- publishing" there is very little control over copywritten material.  Unlike works pucblished by Penguin and HarperCollins.

I would with or without your permission, re-write your poems in a different font, redesign the cover and sit back and enjoy the ride!

Personally, my philosophy is that the works of humans is a reflection of GOD's work.  Therefore, since I take your work perhaps a reflection of the DIvine or atleast an inspiration from the Lord, then I take it to be an act of GOD.  And, because I feel I am Forever Loved BY GOD and am more connected to GOD than most people, then I would think that I have some rights to your writings. 

Therefore, I hope you are not discouraged.  You should instead be honoured if I choose to go ahead with my plans.  Oh yes, I will choose a completely different Title to my work.

YY: Forever loved by GOD

Passing through

"I would like to say a special word of thanks to both Jahanshah Javid and Iranian.com for making all of this possible "

Correction: Jahanshah Javid IS Iranian.com

Jahanshah Javid is the Publisher, Editor in Chief, Copy Editor, Manager, Paper Boy  of Iranian.com

We hope ...

that more of the contributors follow this suggestion :) It sounds like an exquisite idea!

Dear Nur-i-Azal

They have several of these Marketing packages, but one doesn't have to opt for any of them :)

I am just going to see how things develop, and decide what future steps to take, if any :)

Tks for your comment

Lulu doesn't charge anymore?