Digital Publishing House: Balance of Creativity With Commerce

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Table of Contents

Background
Balance of Creativity with Commerce
Considerations to Take Into Account
References

Background

Publishing is a combination of both art and commerce hence the need to consider this when deciding on the establishment of a media house. Incorporating creativity with economics entails understanding the dynamics of the industry, as well as being in a position to manage the publishing house in a way that will sustain the business (Juby, 2005). This knowledge is significant in an environment where many publishers feel that they are putting so much effort into publishing, but get small rewards (Norman, 2010). In addition, selecting the type of publishing is a trick, since there are changes taking place daily. An example of this is the electronic publishing by which the publishers are venturing more into digital publications (Norman, 2010). Moreover, e-books have become less expensive when one wants a printed copy since they will incur an extra cost. The publishers also have to involve intensive marketing as a way of dealing with competitors (Juby, 2005).

The financial part of developing a publishing house calls for a keen analysis to make sure that the business runs smoothly and it is sustainable other than running at a loss. The relationship between the editors and the writers can determine the way that the business will run and its success (Juby, 2005). Minimizing tension between the editors and the writers is an effective way of ensuring that the publishing house staff and stakeholders are satisfied. Hostility between the editors and the writers needs neutralization so that the two can interact peacefully. If this is not done, there will be shoddy work, and this will affect the income that gets back to the business. When the editors and the writers are not on good terms then chances are that these differences can exist in a publishing house, hence a clear explanation as to why publishing is a combination of art and commerce (Juby, 2005).

Balance of Creativity with Commerce

The publisher house details and the financial perspective

The publishing house will venture into blockbusters because it has a higher probability of bringing in more profits. The mandate of the publishing house will be to produce the best quality of publications that are available in hard copy ad also online. The projected profits for the publishing house in the blockbuster field are $195,343.02, when the enterprise is operating individually (Norman, 2015). In determining the profits or losses that the publishing house is likely to experience, one has to look at all the projections in relation to the total quantity produced (Finkenstein, 2005). These costs include the revenue projections, direct expenses, and negotiated operating expenses (Norman, 2015). In the revenue projections, there are the trade units shipped to buyers in which 50% returns are expected (Norman, 2015).

The price list is also created indicating the costs per unit, the average price that will be received for all the units and the average discount in order to ensure there are no significant losses (Finkenstein, 2005). The discounts can have projections to 50% in order to ensure that the rates are still within the projected average prices (Finkenstein, 2005).

Revenue projection also entails determining the gross trade sales in which the total sales returns and the net trade sales as calculated according to the total quantities produced (Norman, 2015). The bulk sales units shipped and the export units shipped are also calculated where necessary depending on the shipped and exported quantities (Norman, 2015).

The calculation of the direct expenses involves estimating the direct manufacturing cost of the total units, distribution costs, author advance expenses, fewer royalties, and the net advance (Norman, 2015). The other estimates in the direct expenses include marketing costs that can be divided into advertising, publicity, and promotion for the published genre. All operating expenses are calculated and added up to the direct expenses and then subtracted from the business revenue projections in order to get the profits that the business will have (Norman, 2015).

The editorial perspective

The best kind of house to create will be a hybrid in that it will majorly be involved in digital publishing as well as hard copy printing. The publishing house will also run as a self-publishing entity in which it will have to face many challenges faced by the self-publishing houses today. However, the strategies on how to operate the editorial activities and the business finances will be developed to facilitate the success of the publishing house (Norman, 2015).

Developments in technology have also made self-publishing easier and increased the business opportunities for self-publishing houses. The publishing industry analysts are predicting that in the near future, the market will be flooded with books in electronic form. In fact, there are many books that are already available in electronic forms over the internet (Norman, 2015). There is no major need to print the books because there is the technology of smartphones that allow people to save the books and read them from their phones. In the 21^st century, even the education system is being transformed into electronic teaching and learning, and this means that people have phones, tablets or computers that can access books. As a result, the printing services will be available on request by the customers (Norman, 2015). In creating the publishing house; one cannot fail to assess the future of publishing to avoid moving in the opposite direction with the world’s technological advancements (Norman, 2015).

The issue of electronic rights (e-rights) is also coming up, hence the authors and publishers have not known how exactly to deal with them (Norman, 2015). The e-rights require publishers to have the rights to publish and distribute the books, even in the traditional print form. An increase in profitability, as people get used to obtain their books online, will be realised (Norman, 2015).

The publishing house will ensure that its online publishing rights are not violated and the customers get the products and services of a high quality. Digitizing the publishing house will make it easier to adjust to the changes in the future as the industry turns fully into electronic publishing. There is also the likelihood of the emergence of electronic publishing standards, and this will force many houses to adjust to comply. In the competitive environment, staying up to date with the changes is the best way to ensure that the house operates efficiently (Norman, 2015). The digitalisation of activities at the publishing house will help cut down cost resulting in more profits.

Considerations to Take Into Account

Identifying Problems in the Publication Manuscripts

It is sometimes difficult to highlight different problems in the manuscripts and this area should be addressed seriously. The editors need to ask more questions in order to ensure that the manuscripts are good for publication. In addition to this, looking at the work from different perspectives will help in identifying areas that the author might have missed out on (Norman, 2015). The work of fiction has to have all the areas working out correctly otherwise the discrepancies will be noted by the readers. The plot is the first area of focus to ensure that the content of the manuscript drives the work forward and sets a pace. If the plot is not good enough or has errors, the readers will not have an interest in the writing. A poor plot also questions the credibility of the author since everyone expects that the work published is good for the readers. The editors have to focus on the content from the beginning to the end to ensure that it is error-free (Norman, 2015).

The structure of the manuscript should also be considered since it is the architect of the writing (Norman, 2015). The editor needs to analyse the way in which the author tells the story to ensure that it interests the readers. Using the linear, traditional approach can be boring to the readers, and these are some of the things that the editor needs to look at before the work is published. The characters should also drive the interest of the readers and invite them to read the contents of the book (Norman, 2015). Editors need to ensure that the work of the writer is captivating to meet the interests of the readers. The interests of the readers have to come first for there to be a ready market (Norman, 2015). The trend of quality also has to be maintained always to avoid losing customers. Dialogue should also be considered because when characters are involved, the readers tend to get bored and notice that there is a lack of dialogue in the work. The setting also provides an opportunity for the reader to travel the journey with the author. When a book has the right setting, the readers have the feeling of being home that makes them comfortable (Norman, 2015).

Finding the Market

It will be essential to have a market target and to determine whether the books will be sold online or as hard copies. The publication house needs to have a clear idea of the age, social class, and location of the audience among others, that it targets as the primary market target (Hancox, 2007). The analysis of these factors needs to be done before starting the publications so as to note the advantages and risks of the business. Failing to find an appropriate market can be disappointing. The publishing house can also operate at a loss if there are no buyers for the published materials (Hancox, 2007).

The Publication Rights Considerations

Many rights are involved with publishing and they should be known to all the stakeholders. These rights include the primary grants of rights that are between the author and the publisher (Norman, 2015). There are the primary and the secondary rights in this general category (Norman, 2015). The primary rights between the author and the publisher allow the author to do the production, publication, distribution and the selling of the book in the various forms of agreement (Norman, 2015). These rights remain in effect during the period of copyright. The copyright life as provided by the Canadian publication laws is the period that the author is alive and an addition of fifty years. These rights are followed to ensure that neither the publisher nor the author has taken the advantage and it protects the two (Norman, 2015). The secondary rights have to do with the sub-contraction between the publisher and a third party.

References

Finkenstein, J. R. (2005). “Blueprint for a book: Formulating a meaningful Author-publisher contract”. In Lorimer, Maxwell, J. W., Shoichet, J. G. Publishing Studies: Book publishing 1. Canada: Canadian Centre for Studies inPublishing, CCSP Press.

Hancox, R.(2007). Financial models. In Managing the publishing process: The nature of management in the successful realization of the publishing proposition (pp. 97-137). Vancour, BC:CCSP Press

Juby, S. (2005). Editor to Author: Some personal reflections on getting published. In Lorimer, Maxwell, J. W., Shoichet, J. G. Publishing Studies: Book publishing 1. Canada: Canadian Centre for Studies inPublishing, CCSP Press.

Norman, S. (2010). Canadian Centre for Studies in Publishing. Vancouver, BC: Simon Fraser University at Harbour Centre.

Norman, S. (2015). Acquisition P&L.

Norman, S. (2015). Acquisition P&L-2.

Norman, S. (2015). Costing sheet scenarios A-2.

Norman, S. (2015). Costing sheet scenarios B.

Norman, S. (2015). Diagnosing the problem. Fiction checklist.

Norman, S. (2015). Offer letter.

Norman, S. (2015). PL scenarios A-2.

Norman, S. (2015). PL scenarios A-2.

Norman, S. (2015). PL scenarios B.

Norman, S. (2015). Sample pub agreement.

Norman, S. (2015). Tips on restructuring a Book.

Norman, S. (2015). Title Information Sheet.

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