Self-Publish or Contract Publish with Activity Press
Activity Press provides contract publishing and self-publishing services ranging from book or ebook production through to printing, distribution and marketing services.
We specialise in non-fiction and are experienced in trade (bookshop), business-to-business and education market sectors.
As with any publishing venture, the starting point is a well-written manuscript with a clear target readership. Depending on your requirements, a typical publishing project is likely to include some or all of the following:
- Editing to ensure a high standard of readability, consistency, literacy with good structure and organisation. It might also involve fact-checking, some writing or rewriting of sections of the book, and dealing with a range of issues associated with the use of images.
- Design and layout to turn the manuscript into a book that has good aesthetics and readability for its target audience, and stands out in an often-crowded market
- Proofreading at least once, and usually several times, is essential to providing the final quality edge to your publication
- Indexing. This is important for all but the slimmest non-fiction books. It’s a specialist skill that can greatly enhance the value of your work.
- Printing. Unless you’re planning a pure ebook (for which all of the above steps still apply), you’ll want to see your book in print. There are many options and pitfalls to navigate, from print-on-demand to larger print-runs and possible offshore printing. It’s important to do proper research before you commit to this and to include the printing requirements in the very early discussions about your publication.
- eBook Production. This is an emerging market and there are many issues to consider in terms of what you want to do with an ebook. Often the ebook option comes up as an after-thought to the book project and, in reality, many of today’s ebooks are produced as ‘add-ons’ to a traditional book production. But the best time to consider this option is early in the project so if this is part of your plan, tell us sooner rather than later:-)
- Getting your book to market. This involves three key areas: distribution, sales and marketing. There are a lot of things you need to consider to ensure that your book gets to its intended audience. If your main interest is in selling or supplying it to your own network of friends, colleagues or customers, you might be well-placed to look after this yourself. If you need to reach other channels such as bookshops, libraries, schools or other organisations, you’ll probably need some help and Activity Press is well-placed to assist you beyond the production phase. In both cases, you’ll also need to think carefully about marketing and publicity which will help your book rise above the ‘noise’ and achieve its goals, whether that be sales or raising the profile of the author or field that your book covers.
We’ll discuss your requirements, give you a realistic assessment of the potential for your book in various channels, and assist you in getting your book to the right places, including possible distribution through our associate company Addenda Publishing.
- Multi-media opportunities. In some cases, you might want to extend the use of your work to areas such as a related website, ebook, or syndication/licensing to other partners. We’re happy to advise and assist in these areas to ensure you make the most of your publication.
In the first instance, feel free to contact us for a no-obligation assessment of your intended publishing project, including an indicative budget and timeline. We look forward to working with you.