Being a writer is a challenging, rewarding
occupation and one of the major perks of the job is publishing a book
that you have worked really hard on. However, it can be difficult to land
that big-time book deal (especially given the country's current economic
crisis) and get that book out into the world. That's where
self-publishing comes in.
Being a writer is a challenging, rewarding
occupation and one of the major perks of the job is publishing a book
that you've worked really hard on. However, it can be difficult to land
that big-time book deal (especially given the country's current economic
crisis) and get that book out into the world. That's where
self-publishing comes in. When you self-publish your work, you have
control over everything including the actual binding process. Here are
several devices and methods to consider when it comes time to bind your
book.
A booklet maker. If you have a group of
poems you want to publish or a handful of short stories, you might want
to consider putting a chapbook together. A chapbook is a small volume
that's usually stapled and they can often be found in the literary
journals section of your local periodicals stand. You can put together a
chapbook with a booklet maker, a machine designed to fold and staple
paper. Just drop the covers and pages of your manuscript in the feeder
and it will get to work for you. You can make just a few chapbooks or a
bunch of them with this type of device which makes it a great option for
self-publishing.
Twin-loop wire binding.
Wire binding is very popular because it makes any document look
sophisticated. It's an ideal choice for poetry collections and memoirs.
And it's especially great for cookbooks because the wire spine will
allow the book to lie flat when it's open. Wire spines can be used to
bind manuscripts that are up to 300 pages long. They're available in
several different colors (including silver and gold) and there's likely a
hue that will complement your book's cover quite nicely. One thing to
keep in mind about wire spines is that they're usually 11" long so they
might not be the best choice for smaller books.
Thermal binding.
If producing a professional-looking book is high on your priority list,
you should consider thermal binding. Not only is thermal binding fast
and easy to do, it can make any manuscript look like a book that could
be sold in bookstores and online. You can use hardback covers if you
want or take advantage of the many softback covers available. The covers
can be embossed with foil or be offset printed so your work will be as
eye-catching as possible. When you use this document finishing method,
you can put together documents that are up to 475 pages long, so it's a
great choice for lengthy novels and non-fiction works.
Binding is an essential part of the self-publishing process and
it's important to choose a method that's workable and provides you with
the results you need. The bookbinding devices and methods mentioned
above can help you produce books you can be proud of whether you're
publishing a chapbook or a long novel. Decide what will work best for
you so you can get your book out there. Good luck!
Jeff McRitchie is the Director of Marketing for MyBinding.com.
He regularly writes articles, reviews, and blog posts on topics related
to bookbinding, laminating, paper shredding, and office equipment. More
than 2,500 of his articles have been published in thousands of
locations on the Internet. If you're looking for information about binding machines his articles are a great place to start.
