Writing, Self-Publishing, Book Marketing

Truth is literary magazine and trade periodicals suffer constantly. When the editors aren’t trying to squeeze every penny out of their meager printing budget, then they’re dealing with flighty designers, artists, volunteer readers combing through hundreds of submissions, event coordinators, venue staff for readings, journals returned to sender – if you can name a single part of the production or printing process, then it’s undoubtedly an editorial stress as well.

Trust me, as a previous editor-in-chief myself, I understand completely. Looking back, I’m surprised I didn’t pull all my hair out and develop an ulcer in the meantime. 

But as I started working for Wordclay, the journal benefits of Print-On-Demand technology and companies like Wordclay – companies who are trying to automate the publishing process – occurred to me. 

Let’s cut to the chase then. 

Running a literary magazine, like anything, takes money, usually at least a couple thousand per issue.  Unfortunately, funding for many magazines and periodicals primarily comes from outside sources such as university reserves, local or state grants as well as independent donations. Frankly, subscription sales can barely keep most periodicals afloat, which means editors have to rely heavily on the renewal of their annual donations and grants. And editors print, all with the constant threat that their outside funding might not come the next year around and then the magazine will, literally, go under. 

So how exactly can POD technology and Wordclay help prevent quality magazines from biting the dust before their time? 

First, obviously, Wordclay is free. An editor could use our free story and poetry templates from the Genre Lounge and design a galley all by themselves, designer free. Then, if you’re not concerned with cover art, you could opt for a free cover. Or you can always pay a small price for the Stock Cover Art and submit artwork with directions for our professional designers. Comparatively, it will save you time and money using Wordclay even with Stock Cover Art, then contracting a busy designer who might not care about the look of your emerging journal. 

(Note: Read about the controversial shipping cost later in this blog)

Another design benefit to using Wordclay is that once we have your design (both interior and exterior), you can always reuse aspects of it, like imprints or layouts, limiting miscommunication and additional costs. For example, with a magazine like Greensboro, the editor might submit a general layout for a cover that Wordclay could easily repurpose time and time again for future issues. Where cover art would need to be resubmitted for a magazine with new issue cover designs, standard periodicals still need no longer worry about relying on outside designers. 

As for print-runs, print-on-demand can greatly reduce the money editors spend and the stress they endure. If you go directly to a printer, your designer will have to submit perfect specs to the printers (and if you’re lucky, they’ll submit them on time!). Once there, printers can take up to an additional 60-90 days to complete your print-run. Most of the time, printers require that you purchase a minimum number of copies as well. Say you only have 250 subscribers right now, a printer might force you to order 400 or even 1000 before they’ll print any. 

With Wordclay, we print only those that you need. If you only have 250 subscribers, then buy only 250 copies (maybe a few extra for your own purposes). You’ll have the funds from the subscription money, and since you only have to pay the printing cost with Wordclay, you’ll be making a profit then.  

But say you get additional subscribers, then just order more, any amount at your editor/author discounted price. Plus, like a print run, you’ll get increasing volume discounts when you order 25 copies or more. 

Now let’s talk about the shipping costs. How many great magazines and periodicals have hurt because of the recent increase in shipping costs? It’s affected almost everyone in the journal publishing industry. But Wordclay now has an effective method of limiting your financial losses. 

If editors just retain a spreadsheet of their subscribers and mailing addresses, they can always order the copies they need and have them individually mailed out via media mail or UPS. (Note: Connect via Live Chat to ensure we have all the data we need). Instead of paying for a shipment from the printers, to the magazine office, then back out to the subscribers, now you can just have the issues forwarded on. And then you don’t have to waste hours stuffing manila envelopes and paying outrageous prices at the post office. 

You might think that paying for each individual shipment via Wordclay would add up. Either way (forwarding with Wordclay or paying at the Post Office), you’ll be spending the money, but comparatively, you’ll still be saving money using Wordclay’s book publishing shipping rates. 

The last three points I’ll mention here (and then I promise to stop rambling) are royalties, the “Be Your Own Publisher” package and our database.  

Royalties: You do have the potential to earn royalties on the sales of an issue. You can opt to place your book on the Wordclay Bookstore or even purchase a Distribution Package and get your journal listed on Amazon. That way, you’ll be making royalties for each copy ordered, and you definitely won’t suffer any undue stress or paper cuts. 

Be Your Own Publisher: Editors might find this package particularly appealing. Essentially, you can create your own imprint (which will replace the Wordclay logo), your own publishing name (which will replace all Wordclay reference) and your own unique ISBN, which can allow for Worldwide distribution. Essentially, Denver Quarterly could be published by “Denver Quarterly Publishing”; Canteen could be published by “Canteen Publishing”. Or you change the name completely, The Louisville Review could be published by “Belle Press” or “Churchill Publishing,” whatever the editor would like. 

Note: Editors can always pay a nominal fee (one quoted on a case-by-case basis, but trust me, it’s never unfair, maybe $50-$200.00) to remove all reference to Wordclay from copies ordered (by editors or anyone else). That means you order copies that have no data that attaches your issue to Wordclay in any way, and you can even have them shipped that way directly to subscribers. For a quote, connect via Wordclay’s Live Chat. 

Database: I don’t know about other editors, but my database was constantly crashing, and when I took over as editor-in-chief, the system was antiquated at best. But once you submit your spreadsheet(s) to Wordclay, we’ll indefinitely retain your files in our growing digital database. So too, you’ll be able to access your account online and even use cover images as well as PDFs (and e-books) on your own Web sites for marketing purposes. 

Really, I have no clue why journals and periodicals haven’t jumped on the POD band wagon yet, but certain, it can save editors time, money and stress. Think it over and browse Wordclay’s Main Web site. If you have a question about POD or you’re from a journal and you just want more information, feel free to post a comment. I will personally respond to each, and hopefully, bring a few into the print-on-demand light. 

This is Justin Dimos, blogcasting from Wordclay, signing off.