By: Kimberly Davis, Blog/Web Editor & Copywriter for The Teaching Press during Spring 2021

In the big wide world of publishing presses, it can be overwhelming for the most savvy of clients (and the most eager of interns) to not only narrow down their options from a professional perspective, but to pinpoint what exactly each and every press does from an organizational one. Although publishing presses can certainly offer their clients and staff with an extremely individualized experience—due to their wide range of services/capabilities, community/literary focus, and even the unique personalities they have on staff—there are undoubtedly similarities that can be detected across the board. So, let’s go on and ahead and get down to business. (The publishing business, that is!)

THE TRADE BOOK PUBLISHERS (THE BIGWIGS!):

Trade book publishers are most likely the type of publishing press that most of us are familiar with. These presses follow the publishing process from start to finish—from the selection process all the way to retail/bookstore/library distribution. In a way, these large scale publishing presses are most known to focus on the consumer appeal of their projects. These books can come in all forms (such as paperback, hard cover, and e-book) and concern a wide, if not all inclusive, range of topics. Publishing through a trade book publisher is considered to be the most ‘conventional‘ or ‘traditional‘ method for clients when it comes to editing, publishing, and distributing their work. Sometimes, independent publishers outsource to these bigger trade book publishers.

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EXAMPLES OF TRADE BOOK PUBLISHERS (‘THE BIG FIVE’):

Hachette Book Group

HarperCollins

Macmillan Publishers

Penguin Random House

Simon & Schuster

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SO, WHAT IS THE TEACHING PRESS?

To gain the best understanding of what The Teaching Press is considered to be, it may be best to hear straight from our director, Dr. Rebecca Meacham, herself.

As Meacham states, “The Teaching Press is most like a ’boutique/hybrid’ press. We offer clients our services to layout, edit, and design work; offer feedback and beta readings; and make books. Sometimes, we can print those books in limited editions (ex. 100 copies); sometimes, we create a file for the client to take elsewhere to print. We do not do marketing for all of our books; we do not hold copyright; we do not keep inventory; we do not sell books directly unless they are part of a launch event. We charge clients fees for our services. Our clients’ books, currently, would be termed ‘self-published.'”

However, she adds: “[The Teaching Press is] also like an ‘undergrad/university-affiliated’ press. Core to our identity is the ability for students to learn from, and assume leadership roles in, making books. Our projects and all steps of client engagement, and Teaching Press media and management, are meant to teach both ‘soft’ skills and technical skills. Our mottos, thus, are: ‘Failure is baked in to what our learners do;’ and ‘our clients should not expect competence.'”

Now, although The Teaching Press may align more so with these two categories of publishing presses, there truly is no doubt that we are just as dedicated and eager to offer the best experience we are capable of just like all the rest!

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BIBLIOGRAPHY (& ALSO RESOURCES FOR FURTHER READING!):

THE TRADE BOOK PUBLISHER

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/types-of-book-publishers-2799865

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-is-trade-publishing-2800076

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MORE FROM THIS SERIES:

University-affiliated presses

Independent, small, and micro-presses

Boutique, hybrid, and vanity presses

By: Kimberly Davis, Blog/Web Editor & Copywriter for The Teaching Press during Spring 2021

In the big wide world of publishing presses, it can be overwhelming for the most savvy of clients (and the most eager of interns) to not only narrow down their options from a professional perspective, but to pinpoint what exactly each and every press does from an organizational one. Although publishing presses can certainly offer their clients and staff with an extremely individualized experience—due to their wide range of services/capabilities, community/literary focus, and even the unique personalities they have on staff—there are undoubtedly similarities that can be detected across the board. So, let’s go on and ahead and get down to business. (The publishing business, that is!)

THE INDEPENDENT/SMALL PRESS AND THE MICRO-PRESS:

The independent (or small/indie) publishing press may be one of the most diverse publishing types out there when it comes to comparing all their individual characteristics down to the nail. Although these presses run their operations similarly to your standard, traditional trade book publishers, they do so on a much more condensed scale. Independent publishing presses may hold rights to their projects, while also curating submission quality. For the independent press, success is key! Notably, these presses also do not charge their clients due to their selectivity.

Many times, these presses will strive to provide their clients with a full publishing team experience (including editors, designers, and the like) when it comes to their projects; however, they are also all about providing a more involved, considerate approach than some larger publishers. In other words, they work to supply clients with the best of both worlds by connecting with their clients in both a professional and personal manner. It is possible for these types of presses to rely on out-of-house resources as well though, especially when it comes to marketing and specified printing services.

Similar in nature, the micro-press produces primarily smaller works, such as chapbooks and short stories, on an even smaller quantity scale. They also may not take on quite as many projects as other presses will throughout the year (with many of them only taking on one project within those twelve months!). Due to their limited services and financial output, these presses are considered to be more of a hobby or side-gig for many of those who work them. It is not entirely unknown for these presses to be run by a single individual either. Unlike the small press, however, the micro-press tends to keep all of its services in-house—taking on copy-editing, binding, printing, and sometimes marketing responsibilities for their clients.

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EXAMPLES OF INDEPENDENT, SMALL, AND/OR MICRO-PRESSES: 

Belt Publishing

Apt. 9 Press

JackPine Press

Ninepin Press

Milkweed Editions

Coffee House Press

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BIBLIOGRAPHY (& ALSO RESOURCES FOR FURTHER READING!):

THE INDEPENDENT/SMALL AND MICRO-PRESS

https://www.standoutbooks.com/small-press-publishing/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_press#Micro-presses

https://blog.reedsy.com/small-press/#what_is_a_small_press_

https://authorchristopherdschmitz.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/knowing-the-difference-between-types-of-publishers

______________________________________________

MORE FROM THIS SERIES:

University-affiliated presses

Boutique, hybrid, and vanity presses

Trade book publishers

By: Kimberly Davis, Blog/Web Editor & Copywriter for The Teaching Press during Spring 2021

In the big wide world of publishing presses, it can be overwhelming for the most savvy of clients (and the most eager of interns) to not only narrow down their options from a professional perspective, but to pinpoint what exactly each and every press does from an organizational one. Although publishing presses can certainly offer their clients and staff with an extremely individualized experience—due to their wide range of services/capabilities, community/literary focus, and even the unique personalities they have on staff—there are undoubtedly similarities that can be detected across the board. So, let’s go on and ahead and get down to business. (The publishing business, that is!)

THE UNIVERSITY-AFFILIATED PRESS:

To start off, we will first consider the university-affiliated press. The category ‘university-affiliated press’ gains its name from the fact that it branches off from, or is in collaboration with, its parent institution (a university). These not-for-profit presses are commonly known for publishing works of academic merit; however, they may also inch into publishing creative or general interest works as well. More often than not, the university-affiliated press is willing to provide university students—those with applicable majors and/or related interests—with an outlet for early exposure to the inner-workings and operations of the publishing industry. Considering that these presses tend to reach a smaller audience (specialists or regional), it is not completely uncommon for them to operate in a way similar to micro-presses. 

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EXAMPLES OF UNIVERSITY-AFFILIATED PRESSES: 

Cornerstone Press with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Book Arts Collaborative with Ball State University

The Publishing Laboratory with the University of North Carolina-Wilmington

University of Wisconsin Press with the University of Wisconsin-Madison

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BIBLIOGRAPHY (& ALSO RESOURCES FOR FURTHER READING!):

THE UNIVERSITY-AFFILIATED PRESS

 https://aupresses.org/the-value-of-university-presses/about-university-presses/

https://authorchristopherdschmitz.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/knowing-the-difference-between-types-of-publishers

______________________________________________

MORE FROM THIS SERIES:

Independent, small, and micro-presses

Boutique, hybrid, and vanity presses

Trade book publishers

By: Kimberly Davis, Blog/Web Editor & Copywriter for The Teaching Press during Spring 2021

In the big wide world of publishing presses, it can be overwhelming for the most savvy of clients (and the most eager of interns) to not only narrow down their options from a professional perspective, but to pinpoint what exactly each and every press does from an organizational one. Although publishing presses can certainly offer their clients and staff with an extremely individualized experience—due to their wide range of services/capabilities, community/literary focus, and even the unique personalities they have on staff—there are undoubtedly similarities that can be detected across the board. So, let’s go on and ahead and get down to business. (The publishing business, that is!)

THE BOUTIQUE, HYBRID, OR VANITY PRESS (OR EVEN ‘FEE-FOR-SERVICE’ PRESSES):

Traditionally, boutique presses are a type of small scale press that specialize in a specific subject niche. Because of this, many boutiques differ when it comes to the type of genres and/or projects they take on and complete. In a way, the boutique presses intent is to appeal to a specific audience in terms of marketability and the rate of success. 

Hybrid presses, on the other hand, are a bit harder to define. When it comes to the hybrid press a client is either funding their own creative endeavors, or raising money to do so through crowdfunding sources. Throughout the entirety, the client will remain ownership over their work and they can exercise a lot more control and freedom in its development. 

Similarly, the vanity press is known to charge their clients a fee (or solicit an arrangement of purchase related to the project otherwise) to publish their books. While the vanity press functions in much the same way to the boutique and hybrid press, there are significantly less restrictions in place when it comes to their ‘selection’ process.

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EXAMPLES OF BOUTIQUE, HYBRID, OR VANITY PRESSES (OR ‘FEE-FOR-SERVICE’ PRESSES):

Eckhartz Press

Parafine Press

Magnet Bound Press

She Writes Press

Greenleaf Book Group

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BIBLIOGRAPHY (& ALSO RESOURCES FOR FURTHER READING!):

THE BOUTIQUE, HYBRID, OR VANITY PRESS

 https://ribbonfish.co.uk/blog/a-short-guide-to-the-different-types-of-publishing

https://authorchristopherdschmitz.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/knowing-the-difference-between-types-of-publishers

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MORE FROM THIS SERIES:

University-affiliated presses

Independent, small, and micro-presses

Trade book publishers