Publishing has become a difficult business of late, with self-publishing horror stories and abundant free content discouraging even the most determined of writers. Enter lulu.com, a one-stop shop for writers wanting to take their publishing dreams into their own hands. Lulu offers a wealth of resources for writers, and some of the most useful are not readily apparent from the homepage. This article will whet your appetite with a few of the highlights that this website offers, but there is certainly more of use than what you will read here.
Audience
Lulu is a very specific writer's resource and focuses mainly on the tasks of publishing and marketing completed works, more than how or what to write. Although there is some information available on more general writing skills and topics, this is first and foremost a site about publication, and all of the fun and frustrating aspects of it; from personal ISBN numbers, to spine width calculators for hardcover books (available in the Lulu Self-Publishing Toolkit). That said, if you are looking to improve your skills as a writer, or bone up on a new genre or style, this may not be the most useful site that you can visit, despite its breadth of topics.
Some of you may be asking, what if I don't know whether or not I want to self-publish? Well, there are guides which outline the demographics and pros/cons of different vendors and formats that might help you make that decision. Honestly, I had never considered self-publishing a viable option for writers who want to, to put it bluntly, be paid for their work, but this site makes a compelling case, with alluring profit margins helpfully displayed for each type of product and vending outlet, and an entire section dedicated to selling your work. It is definitely worth a look.
Tried and tested publishers rarely give writers, especially new ones, this much control over content and format, either. With Lulu, you choose what goes into your book, what gets cut, what color the cover is, whether you want a certain image on a dust jacket, and even the always contentious title; all up to you. It is a very well-done, and enticing option that Lulu presents. While I can't attest to how well these methods work in real world sales scenarios, there are a seemingly endless stream of reviews scrolling across a green banner which can; most of them very positive.
Lulu Self-Publishing Toolkit
The Lulu Self-Publishing Toolkit provides a wealth of tools and resources for writers looking to end the rejection letter cycle, and get their work out themselves. The thorough nature of the website's creators makes it a user-friendly interface, which even the most inept of computer users among us can navigate with ease. With creation and conversion guides that walk users through a sequential, step-by-step process of creating a finished piece, decisions are broken down into manageable bits, which make the process seem simple and fun. Choices such as print versus electronic, paper size, and text/paper color combinations are displayed with straightforward instructions, and amusing graphics. Just reading about it makes you want to click on over, doesn't it?
Here are just a few of the immensely helpful resources in the Lulu Self-Publishing Toolkit:
- Tips
- Infographics
- Publishing Guides
- Self-Publishing Checklist
- eBook Conversion Guide
- Cover Template
That covers the nitty gritty of producing a book, but what does Lulu offer by way of all the other tasks that go into publishing? So glad that you asked, as the author services section is one of my favorite parts of this website.
Publishing & Marketing Services
The Publishing & Marketing Services section of Lulu is just that; a compilation of some of the most useful services that a writer could need. Yes, before you ask, many of these services have fees, which seem reasonable for what is being provided. Just like authors wanting to receive adequate compensation for their work, illustrators, editors, and others have honed their respective crafts in order to provide you with the best service possible, and thus deserve to receive some remuneration. The most impressive service available, in my opinion, is the toll-free phone number, which allows you to talk to an actual human being, who will aid you in choosing the services and providers that are right for your project and budget; invaluable. I should note that this service is available via email, as well, for the more reclusive among us. Among the impressive list of services offered via the user interface, are:
- Publishing Cover Designs
- Personal ISBN (International Standard Book Number)
- Color Illustrations; monochrome, too
- Developmental Editing (one of five editing services offered)
- Social Media Coach; marketing
- Hollywood Screenplay assistance
Honestly, they had me at personal ISBN; they clearly know writers.
Within this web of online service providers, lies the editing services section, and your new best friend, if you are big on ideas, but not the most experienced when it comes to literary format. The Developmental Editing package offers all of the normal editing services that one might commonly expect, like punctuation and grammar, plus book level plot and flow analysis; all in one easy to hire service. Here is an excerpt from the service description:
For works of fiction, the editor will analyze the readership and genre to determine whether the content is appropriate. He will then examine essential considerations such as plot, pace, characterization and dialog. For nonfiction titles, the editor will analyze the readership, purpose, and possible uses of the work to determine whether the content is complete and appropriate…
Once big-picture changes have been made, the second step, a Content Edit, begins; the content editor will check the manuscript for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. And third, the manuscript will receive a quality review to ensure the manuscript is editorially sound before it goes into production.
Of course, line editing and content editing are available as stand-alone services, as well, for those who only need a second set of eyes in a more limited capacity. However, for the first-time writer, or those branching out to a new genre, the full-service package is an invaluable way to get a thorough, in-depth analysis of their work, with constructive feedback. And instead of having to personally research and vet a variety of editors, you can simply contact the helpful folks at Lulu, who will match your project with the most appropriate editor.
Non-writers
In addition to services for authors, Lulu highlights their benefits for Artists, Educators, and Nonprofits on their homepage, showcasing various book types and formats (photo book, calendar, etc.) available, which might better suit these groups. To be fair, these are not additional or separate services being offered, but more a quick reference to which of Lulu's extensive services might best suit each type of creator. Still, the option is there, and the ability to specifically format a photo or cooking book might get even experienced authors' thoughts going in a new and creative direction.
Print & eBook
The Create page is where the fun, magical part of self-publishing begins, as clients are first faced with that often difficult, but crucial, question; "Print or eBook?" This section is the one that I could see becoming a real rabbit's hole, with extensive color and font options—not to mention graphics that could keep me happily planning book designs for hours. This section is also one that is empowering to creators and writers, though, with each and every decision resting solely in your hands; both a heady and slightly nerve wracking prospect.
Should the paper versus pdf dilemma still confuse you, never fear. In addition to guides explaining option outcomes and likely demographics, there is a Knowledge Base page, with articles, questions, and responses from members of the Lulu Community. Fellow writers, illustrators, and creators have contributed useful knowledge and hard-won tips that can help guide you in your quest to make your personal labor of love as perfect as possible.
Sum it up
Lulu.com is truly a remarkable website for authors, and might just be the resource that you are looking for to jumpstart your fledgling publication list, or mix things up with a new genre. Even if you would never considered self-publication, there is a shop area full of works by independent authors that is worth a look- both for research and personal enjoyment purposes- and a wealth of useful information about genres, vendors, and demographics that can enhance the industry knowledge base of any author.
The publishing world is rapidly changing, and many authors feel overwhelmed by the new realities of Ebooks and downloadable content. Whether you feel perfectly comfortable pounding out Ebooks, or are just dipping your toe into electronic formatting, Lulu can help you to be more successful in your writing career, and we all need that kind of resource.