The purpose of this article is to consider Print-On-Demand publishing as an alternative for aspiring author. It has its strengths and its weaknesses. You may wonder as you begin reading this, but in end I'm going to say some good things about it.

The title explains technology. The way that literature has traditionally been printed involves running many copies simul- taneously in order to bring price per copy down. Smaller print runs, such as advertising, brochures, or concert programs, cost more per copy because they are small print runs. Until recently, printing a single book was all but unthinkable.

In case of novels, traditional print publisher begins by printing several thousand copies. His goal is to run off smallest number of copies he can while getting best possible price per copy.

These books are then sent to bookstores, which tend to prefer something along lines of what has succeeded before. The remainder sits in a warehouse somewhere. Perhaps to be shipped as orders come in, perhaps to be joined by any "remaindered" copies bookstores couldn't move.

This represents an investment on part of that publisher, hence his paranoia about experimenting with new formats or (more importantly) new authors.

Print-On-Demand (POD) uses a completely different process. The end result is, price per copy on a small run is much lower. How small of a run? Try one book. Zero inventory. The book is economically produced when reader orders it, not before.

This technology was probably invented for sales literature. Then someone realized it might be a pretty cool way to get ARCs (Advance Review Copies) out to book reviewers before book was actually available. Finally, someone decided to get it into publishing mainstream.

Why is it so much cheaper to publish a single book via POD? The reasons really aren't relevant to this article, besides which they'd probably bore you. But if you care, first link below spells it all out.

http://www.jdwrite.com/writing/pod_01.htm http://www.jdwrite.com/writing/pod_02.htm http://www.jdwrite.com/writing/pod_03.htm http://www.jdwrite.com/writing/pod_04.htm http://www.jdwrite.com/writing/pod_05.htm

I recommend reading (or at least skimming) all five of those, by way. It's quite a comprehensive analysis of how. Then come back to this article to determine why. Or if.

Have you ever heard of author who self-published and wound up with a best-seller? They do exist!

Now look at all self-published authors who couldn't do that. They're vast majority. The author who uses POD faces similar longshot odds.

POD has a definite advantage over other self-publishing, in that you don't wind up with a few hundred (or more?) copies of a book in your basement because you can't sell them. Thus, it's cheaper, with no difference in quality unless you hook up with losers.

But neither option will bring you readership that you'll get from a successful book with a traditional print publisher.

I have self published. I went to a local print shop back in pre-POD days, ran off 80 copies at $3 a copy, and sold them to local bookstores for $6 a copy. Lots of fun, and lots of learning, but I didn't get rich. My wage per hour stunk, but that was fine with me because I honestly didn't care. I broke even and gave away rest. A pleasant way to spend lunch hours during work week.

Most of us, though, just don't have that kind of time. And even if we do, why bother? Take money you'd have invested and buy some Microsoft stock, then take time you'd have invested and write more books. You'll be happier and you'll make more money.

Having said all that, why am I recommending POD at all? In my case, it's because I've written some books that no print publisher will ever pick up. That's my honest appraisal.

If I were a mercenary type, I'd follow that up with something like "Why'd you even write those books then?" But if you're a REAL writer, you know answer.

It's always about writing first, marketing second. Two different hats. I'm assuming you already did writing and now are wondering what heck to do with it.

As an example, my EPPIE 2002 finalist is too short. I wrote it back when print publishers wanted 40,000 words. Now they want 50,000. But it doesn't take 50,000 words to tell that particular story, and I'm not padding it. Even if I were willing, it'd stink and nobody would buy it. Give publishers some credit. They know padding when they see it. The same goes for readers.

As another example, consider my short story collection. Critically acclaimed and selling moderately well, but no traditional publisher wants short story collections from unknown authors. It's just that simple.

First, adopt an aggressive I-am-taking-over-this-place mindset.

2. Develop a system for executing research process. By creating your own rules to follow systematically, you really speed things up. Don't have one? No worries. You can use mine. I happen to have "research animal" stamped on my forehead.

3. Follow rules. You can tweek them to suit your own style after a couple of runs with this method. But these make for great training wheels.

4. Before going into battle, always ready your weapons.

Do not go near a library or desk to start research unless and until everything you will need sits neatly arranged all about you for quick access. This one is your call. I use 2 or 3 pens and a pad of paper to scratch out notes and thoughts, and a pack of index cards for especially important notes. Then come highlighters. In college, I used to work highlighters until they overheated.

Some people like sticky notes (post-its). You can stick 'em all around you as you work. You will want a rolodex and a phone nearby in case you have to call someone you know to ask questions. For instance, if you have a specially-gifted techie friend in your inner circle, or know a professor, you may want to put him on speed dial. Think a bit about anything else you might need. Some folks study and research well to music, so get your headphones if you need them. Okay, here we have system lined up for you.

PART #1: Begin Reconnaissance. You're going in.

A. Get an overview and "contextualize" your topic. Learn its timeline of events and major historical factors associated with it. When did it happen? What did it do? Why do people care about it at all? Find a short article that outlines history of, or at least offers a timeline for, your topic. Everything has a history, and gaining a quick overview of your topic's chronology will give you context into which all your other sources will fit.

B. Next, ride wave. This is surfing and browsing stage. Start with what you know. Pick out words associated with your topic or subject and Google them. When you land a starting topic (you can change this as you go, no worries. Just start somewhere.), use online encyclopedias and other resources to get a "quick snapshot" of general views on subject that exist out there already. Try to see your subject from as many angles as possible, as it were, "walking all way round it," inspecting as you go. Ask questions in your head, or even out loud like I do (caution: this may scare people), and put them down on paper in a special spot. Slap a sticky note on it that reads "QUESTIONS I HAVE."

To aid and abet developing a "snapshot overview," start looking up books on topic. Find 10 of them. Note titles on maybe 50 books -- if you can find that many -- about your subject or topic. Note overlap in words used in titles about your topic. This will give you a quick idea about who or what this topic means to others who have already studied it.

Next, read bibliographies of books. One good book can give you 5-10 great leads you might never have found otherwise. Note titles that show up repeatedly in different bibliographies. In research geekspeak this is "bibbo," bibliographic overlap. Bibbo identifies your IRT's -- Initial Research Targets. Photocopy or print out from your IRT's: table of contents; first chapter; a middle chapter that looks interesting or helpful; and final chapter. Then read these and highlight Dickens out of them. This gives you a snapshot, and a working knowledge, of entire book extremely fast. It works too. Use your scribbled out question set as a filter for "what to look for" -- and highlight or take notes on -- when reading your IRT's. Write down any further questions that develop. These can be as simple as "Who is that guy?" Let your curiosity guide you, and let sticky notes FLY!!