Publishing Online Course
Each publisher will answer the question, “What to publish?” differently. Some establish a limited repertoire of publication activities, focusing on academic books, novels, westerns, romance novels, text and educational books, informative or self-help books or material on specific topics such as health and wellbeing, ostrich farming etc., fashion or gardening magazines, music scores etc.
Other publishers will engage in a wider range of activities, publishing books, journals, monographs and newspapers in their different branches. The nature of the publishing enterprise will determine what kinds of texts they will publish, and how they choose which texts to publish.
All publishers share one thing in common though: that being their primary concern is to maintain a viable business operation. This course focuses on the Business side of publishing.
Publishing enterprises include small book publishers and large publishing houses, magazine publishers, desktop publishers, e-zine publishers, self-publishing enterprises, and non-profit organisations involved in publishing, such as universities, galleries, professional bodies, community groups.
All of these publishers follow a similar 6 step cycle in producing their work:
- Writing or commissioning the document (for commissioned works); accepting a manuscript for publication
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Editing and proofreading
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Designing the document and preparing artwork
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Typesetting
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Printing
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Marketing and distributing the publication.
While a production manager generally oversees this production process, a publisher will oversee that person and others controlling the spending and ensuring each project remains viable.
This course will help you understand these and other business requirements and practices in the publishing industry.
COURSE CONTENT
There are seven lessons in this module/course as follows:
1. What to publish?
Nature of publishing enterprises
Deciding what to publish
Commissioned work
Uncommissioned manuscipts and proposals
Factors influencing the decision of what to publish: Genre or type of writing, News value,
Storyline, Cost and profit potential, perceived need
Guidelines for writers
2. Planning a New Publication
The publication plan
Publication process
Editing and proofreading
Designing the document and preparing the art work
Typesetting, printing, desktop publishing
3. Costing a New Publication
Cost components: Staff, Production resources, printing, quantity, distribution, etc
Why some publications fail
Sponsorship
Creatation costs
Production costs
Marketing costs
Distribution costs
How royalties work
Income sources
How to prepare a budget
Collecting from debtors
Cash budgets and decision making
4. Resource Management
Managing publishing
Nature of management
Different resources for different publishers
Printing: print run, binding, cover, paper, etc
Analyzing the market
Developing procedures
Developing a business plan
5. Risk Management
Legal risks
Financial risks
Sources of finance
Health issues and risks
Duty of care
Safety audits
Managing risks
6. Managing Writers
Scope and nature: publishers, writers and illustrators
Support role of literary agents
Support role of publishing staff
Photo libraries
Copyright free material
Benefits an author gets from a book
Style: variations, page set up, formatting etc
Guide to good writing
7. Managing Production and Distribution
Timing production and distributionQuality control during production
Quality control during distribution
Marketing and distributing a publication
Sales procedure
Managing the marketing process: step by step
Merchandising
Publicity and public relations
Managing distribution
Distribution channels: retail sales, direct sales
Physical transportation and stock control
Remaindering stock
DURATION 100 hours
What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?
This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.
If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.
If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.
If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.
There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.
Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.
You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.
You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.
WHAT YOU MAY DO IN THIS COURSE
Some of the activities you will be required to do in this course are:
- Research the kinds and styles of works produced by three different book publishers;
- List market research strategies that a publisher might use to decide which proposal to develop;
- Research the percentage of publication given to advertising and graphics in three e-zines or books;
- List the information that a publisher might want to research before either (i) commissioning a new children’s book (choose the topic), or (ii) starting up a new magazine aimed at 8-12 year old children
- Investigate the costs involved in cash and/or in resources in producing a particular publication
- Write up a budget for the publishing of one issue of a local newsletter in two colours
- Identify factors that contribute the very different retail prices of books and magazines
- Prepare a draft business plan for a publishing business of your choice.
- Investigate insurance policies that would be relevant to the publishing industry
- Define publishers’ responsibility in regards to copyright
- Explain how a publisher would find a freelance writer and the process for contracting them
- Briefly explain the importance of a photo library.
- Track the process of a best seller and collect information on the marketing/advertising/selling process
- Write different procedures which would be relevant to management of the production and distribution of a new e-zine, new magazine or new industry newsletter.
Extract from Course Notes of this course:
Staff
What staff will be required during the production stages?
Production resources
What specialised equipment is required?
Printing
Marketing and distribution
Materials
If the publication is a book, newspaper, magazine, journal or other printed matter, also consider the materials required:
Quantity
Market research is essential to making accurate or reasonable predictions:
Distribution
Distribution involves the method and points of distribution, and the quantities to be distributed:
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Will the publication be sold or free?
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Will it be distributed through one-off sales or subscription, or supplied with something else, such as a society membership?
- Would it be better to use single or multiple distribution points?
More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses
Who are our tutors?
Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “The School” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.
Sample Course Notes
Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well. We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis. If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.
What learning method should I choose?
We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Enrolment” box above, then “Learning Methods.”
How Long will it take to complete the course?
This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.
Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”
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If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.
I don’t think this is the right course for me.
If you’re not sure about this course, then why not look at our wide range of other courses. Click on the “Courses” box above.
You may also wish to design your own course to fit in with exactly what YOU want. To do so, click on the “Enrolment” box, then “Design your Own Course”.
If you would like more advice on a course, then you can contact us and ask a tutor about the courses. You can contact us by calling 0800 328 4723 or +44(0) 384 442752 or emailing info@acsedu.co.uk
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Who is ACS Distance Education?
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