7月31日
Print-on-Demand Technology
Made-to-order publishing gives authors a shot at success
The PODs are here, and it seems resistance is futile
These are no iPods, Apples popular MP3 player. These are print-on-demand books, essentially self-published books.
Unlike previous self-published books, PODs are digitally printed, which makes them cheaper and quicker to produce. Since 1997, print-on-demand companies have taken over a big chunk of the book industry.
POD companies use what are essentially giant desktop printers. They print and bind paperbacks, charging the author several hundred collars and giving him more involvement in production and design.
POD companies have no costly inventory of books in a warehouse. Instead, a digital file is kept and whenever people want to buy copies, the POD firm cranks out the number ordered.
But can you buy on demand?
Printing the book isn’t hard. Selling it is. Marketing POD books is difficult because most major newspapers and national magazines do not review them.
POD books are available at Amazon and other online retailers. But, unlike mainstream books, bookstores cannot return POD books. So most bookstores won’t stock them, although they will special-order them.
Still, there are definite advantages to POD publishing when it’s done right. It’s faster, for one. So authors can capitalize on a news event or get a book out for scheduled lectures or conventions.
For self-motivated people who know what they’re doing and want to control how their book looks and how it is sold, POD is a good choice. As a “starter” publisher for new authors, a way to print a technical treatise or a family gift, print-on-demand fills functions that mainstream publishing does not, said iUniverse president Sheri Driscoll.
“I don’t think we’re going to replace traditional publishing,” she said. ”But there’s definitely a need for alternatives. There’s room for more niche publishing, more niche audiences.”
Vocabulary Focus
Futile (adj) producing no result; useless; pointless
Paperback (n) 平装本
Inventory (n) a complete list of items such as goods in stock or the contents of a building
Crank out (phr. v) to produce a lot of something very quickly
Review (v) to write a critical opinion of a book, play or film
Stock (v) to keep a supply of something for use or sale
Capitalize on (v) to use a situation to one’s own advantage
Treatise (n) 论文
Niche (n) an opportunity to sell a product or service to a particular group of people who have similar needs, interests etc
Discussion Question
Have you ever bought print-on-demand books? How to buy it? If not, what are pros and cons of print-on-demand books?
Extra Exercise
1. Translate the following sentence into Chinese, ‘So authors can capitalize on a news event or get a book out for scheduled lectures or conventions.’
2. According to the recording, what are the two reasons Bill thought to be for the starter authors to publish print-on-demand books?
说明：
1.文本摘自《Advanced 彭蒙惠英语》，由chandler30亲自录入。
2.回帖内容为大家讨论类话题，如非个人隐私，请不要选中“只有楼主可见”，以便大家交流。
3.参考答案在二楼，回复可见。
4.参与讨论问题奖励50沪元，回答问题奖励50沪元，本栏目谢绝灌水!