who determines what will be printed and how access to information limited with mass production of books?
5 answers
The publishers' editors decide what will be printed, based on how well they think the books will sell.
Ms. Sue is right -- the vast majority of books (as I understand the system) is published because of editors' decisions.
If a person really WANTS to get his or her book published, but can't get any of the publishing houses to do so, there is the practice of "vanity press" (as long as he/she has enough money!).
http://www.essortment.com/all/vanitypresses_redy.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_publishing
If a person really WANTS to get his or her book published, but can't get any of the publishing houses to do so, there is the practice of "vanity press" (as long as he/she has enough money!).
http://www.essortment.com/all/vanitypresses_redy.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_publishing
The problem with vanity presses is that not only does the author pay for the printing, s/he must also see to the publicity and distribution of the books. My companion and I self-published a small quiz book about our county. We sold it on consignment in local book stores -- at a time before the major chains became popular. It was a pain in the neck to take the books to the stores and collect the pittances that were due us. We were pleased with the sales, but we didn't make much more than our costs on it. I'd hate to think what the problems would be trying to sell self-published books in national chain stores.
I've thought of publishing my father's letters home to his parents while he was in training before and after the attack on Pearl Harbor and while he was in England, France, Luxembourg, and Germany. Mostly, I'd have them printed for family members, but I'd have to have quite a bit of money to sink into the project!
Check your project out with Kinko's. It can do amazing things and it might not be all that expensive.