Being required to buy your book before approving it for distribution

@lovebuglena (43080)
Staten Island, New York
February 6, 2017 1:26pm CST
When publishing your book with Lulu you are required to get a copy of the latest version of your book before you can approve it for distribution to Amazon and other online retailers. Though authors have to pay for the copy they order (it doesn't cost a lot though) it is a good thing they require it. Not only does having a hard copy of the book make it easier to spot any typos or mistakes that may be in the book but authors also get to see how the book will look once it is printed. If anything doesn't look the way it should, or if there are any mistakes, all of that can get corrected before the book becomes available for sale. Of course, that doesn't mean that you won't miss a typo or two but at least you can catch most of them... The downside to being required to buy a copy of the latest version of the book before approving it for distribution is that if you still find mistakes in the book when you order your copy you will have to re-publish the book if you want to fix those mistakes, which means having to order the book again. That means more money to spend, but thankfully it doesn't cost a lot. Also, the publication date changes. So, for example, if you publish the book sometime in the end of 2016 but re-publish it in 2017 the new publication date will be 2017, so you will have to adjust that on the copyright page before re-publishing. Do you think it's a good idea for authors to be required to buy a copy of their book before approving it for distribution?
1 person likes this
1 response
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
12 Feb 17
I know there are ways out there where you do not have to do it this way, but that is definately something most people have to consider when it comes to any form of being able to earn some extra money off something.