From 2017–2022, Social Motion Publishing founder Andrew Chapman answered more than 2,000 publishing-related questions on Quora — he's posted some here and will continue adding more. If you have a question for him, you can send it using our contact page.
Question: I have a publishing business on Kindle and notice that customers return books on occasion. Do some of these customers steal the book, copy it and then return it, or are there legit reasons to return a Kindle book? These are all non-fiction books. Answer: From a practical standpoint, the vast majority of readers … Read more
Question: Can a title be trademarked? I just noticed a trademark on “Five Minute Gratitude Journal”. Does that mean I cannot use that exact phrase or if I chose “Five Minute Gratitude Journal For…” that would be infringing trademark, too? Answer: People often confuse copyright and trademark, but they are not the same. Yes, a title can be … Read more
Question: How can I find someone who is interested to buy a book that I wrote? I mean to buy the whole copyright of the book for themselves. Is it possible as opposed to selling it to a publisher? Answer: First, to clarify, you don’t sell a book to a publisher anyhow — what you’re … Read more
Question: Is it possible to publish an exclusive book with Amazon KDP, but make a differently formatted version (hard cover or spiral bound) and publish separately on Lulu thereby expanding distribution as well? Answer: Yes, you can — you just need to make sure that each format has a unique ISBN (as they should), and … Read more
Not usually. Authors are welcome to suggest or ask for a particular title. Some publishers will welcome feedback on titles or be more collaborative. But in the end, it’s the publisher’s choice unless agreed upon previously in the contract (which is rare). While this might seem unfair, there are two fair reasons: In a typical … Read more
Question: How can I self-publish a journal that can lay flat and is softbound? I’m trying to get a journal printed and I can’t for the life of me find out where other journals like this are being printed. I would prefer a company that offers print on demand. Answer: I’ve done a fair amount … Read more
Short answer: No; traditional publishing and self-publishing are very different things. The question is a bit like asking, “Is playing bassoon a retrograde step for a serious violinist?” Long answer: I’ve been significantly and professionally involved in both, and I can tell you firsthand that trade publishing and self-publishing aren’t as comparable as people seem compelled … Read more
Sure, you could omit credit — but why? One of the simplest, most generous things to do in the world is give people credit. Ethically it’s also the right thing to do. And it’s not like it costs you any money or more than a minute of your time to put a line of credit … Read more
Not a comprehensive list, but some major points… PROS Costs less. Publishing itself doesn’t cost anything, but the cost to *produce* a Kindle book is far less than producing a printed book due to the design and specification differences. It’s easier to correct, revise, and upload changes. Unless you are very adept at the skills involved in … Read more
Short answer: Become an A-list, bestselling author, with millions of copies of your book sold and then only option your film rights to a lesser-accomplished producer or director who looks up to you. Long answer: It’s a 99.9% chance you will get *no* say in casting (much less “major say”) unless you produce the film yourself. … Read more