A People's Guide to Publishing

Building a Successful, Sustainable, Meaningful Book Business From the Ground Up

Joe Biel

• Publisher: Microcosm Publishing LLC
• Year: 2026
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• eBook ISBN:
  9781648417740
• Subtopic: Publishing
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

So, you want to publish books.  Drawing on 30 years of experience operating an independent publishing company, Joe Biel has written the most accessible and comprehensive guide to running a successful publishing business. You'll learn all the skills of the trade, including how to:Develop your individual books to connect with readers on a practical and emotional levelChoose between offset printed, digitally printed, and ebook formats and work effectively with printersBuild an authentic niche so you can reach your audience and sell books directlyUnderstand if and when you're ready to work with a distributor or large online retailerCreate a budget and predict the cost and income of each book so your company stays in the blackDecide what work you need to do yourself and what can be done by othersPlan for sustainable growthFeaturing interviews with other upstart independent publishers and funny anecdotes from publishing's long history as well as detailed charts and visuals, this book is intended both for beginners looking for a realistic overview of the publishing or self-publishing process and for experienced publishers seeking a deeper understanding of accounting principles, ways to bring their books to new audiences, and how to advance their mission in a changing industry. All readers will come away with the confidence to move forward wisely and a strong sense of why publishing matters today more than ever.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• About the Publisher
• Dedication
• Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction: Independents Grow Faster
• What a Publisher Does
• 1. Build Your Movement: Make Books that Need to Exist
• 2: Title Development: How to Make Books that Readers Will Find & Relate With
• 3: Printing Books: Making the Package Match the Product
• 4. Where to Sell Books: Putting Your Work in Reader’s Hands
• 5: How to Sell Books: Fulfillment at Every Level
• 6. Doing the Labor: Who Is Your Staff?
• 7. Acquisitions & Editorial: Connecting with the Right Authors & Making Their Books Worth Reading
• 8. Ownership & Rights: Legally Setting Yourself Up for Success
• 9. Contracts: Outlining Your Agreements
• 10: Publicity & Launch: Growing Your Small World
• 11: Money: Understanding & Planning Your Press’s Future
• Conclusion: The Future of Publishing
• Afterword: Success Can Be Humbling
• Appendix