New Authors: Self-publishing

Mentioned this sometime ago, but I think that now is the time to revisit the idea.

Make it possible (simple procedure) for new authors to self publish in Logos. They will promote the platform when promoting their works, and the author will get the Lions share of the revenue.

This model will require the author to pay for the publication (tagging) of the work and Logos keep a small amount for hosting the resource and handling customer service etc..

What are your thoughts?

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Lexham Press

Comments

GaoLu

I have one ready....

Natasha Lampe

I would absolutely love this. There are books I am trying to compile (and hope to finalize in the coming years) and would gladly pay Logos in the future to tag my works and sell them on Logos. Hopefully this is something that will become available in the future.

I could see this being very popular for sermons, study guides, etc. and as someone that loves buying sermons and study guides on Logos this would be an area where I would gladly spend more money.

I do suppose there could be the issue of 'quality control', however. I self-publish fiction and know that sometimes self-published works don't always have the best quality because, well, literally anyone can self-publish. Some self-publications are downright unreadable. However, there are certainly ways to remedy this--for a well-deserved fee, of course.

Justin Gatlin

Count me on the other side of this. I think that, if this is done, those resources should be treated like Faithlife Ebooks, and upgrade to Logos format if a book is demonstrating value by selling well. Maybe even create a platform for selling personal books, but I would hate to pay the price for a Logos book and then find out it was poor quality. I want to trust the resources I get from Logos will be of a certain level, not that the author had sufficiently deep pockets. For me, it would decrease confidence in the platform.

Natasha Lampe

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1096714#Comment_1096714

Count me on the other side of this. I think that, if this is done, those resources should be treated like Faithlife Ebooks, and upgrade to Logos format if a book is demonstrating value by selling well. Maybe even create a platform for selling personal books, but I would hate to pay the price for a Logos book and then find out it was poor quality. I want to trust the resources I get from Logos will be of a certain level, not that the author had sufficiently deep pockets. For me, it would decrease confidence in the platform.

I agree with these concerns which is why steps would need to be taken to check the quality of the work. I'm 100% behind the idea of this, but certainly steps need to be in place to make sure the quality isn't compromised. I feel the author would be obligated to pay Logos for their time reviewing the work (to see if it fits quality standards) first. If it passes a quality check, then the author can pay for editing the work (not full-blown editing, but copy editing that fixes typos, punctuation, grammar, etc.) and tagging the work.

It certainly wouldn't be easy--nor should it be--but I don't want poor quality on the platform just as you and others don't, either. However, it could certainly open up for more works that may be great additions to one's library.

I do like your idea of a separate platform, perhaps. Or starting out on the Faithlife Ebook platform with high-sellers being able to become Logos books with the tagging. Regardless, these works should clearly state somewhere that they are self-published works to let potential buyers know.

EastTN

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1096731#Comment_1096731

I also like the idea of a separate platform. If I'm not mistaken, there's already an "edition" tag that distinguishes between:

Logos
eBook
User Created

My suggestion, if FaithLife were to pursue this, would be to add "Self Published" as another value for the "edition" tag. That would identify self-published works as a fourth kind of resource, separate from Logos resources, FaithLife Ebooks, and personal books.

Jacob Hantla

Mentioned this sometime ago, but I think that now is the time to revisit the idea.

Make it possible (simple procedure) for new authors to self publish in Logos. They will promote the platform when promoting their works, and the author will get the Lions share of the revenue.

This model will require the author to pay for the publication (tagging) of the work and Logos keep a small amount for hosting the resource and handling customer service etc..

What are your thoughts?

if the fact that the book was self-published were clear this would be great. I have come to appreciate the editorial quality of Lexham Press and would not want that impugned through shoddy editing and poor content in a self-published site. That said, I would be a big fan of a self-publishing option. I know that years ago when personal books were initially launched, this was part of the dream. The logistics were probably overwhelming at the time.

This seems to be most valuable if books would be released for Logos, in print, and cross-published to other digital platforms (Kindle, Apple Books,e etc). This would increase cost for sure, but likely have a self-selecting influence on quality control.

Jacob Hantla

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1096760#Comment_1096760

I also like the idea of a separate platform. If I'm not mistaken, there's already an "edition" tag that distinguishes between:

Logos

eBook

User Created

My suggestion, if FaithLife were to pursue this, would be to add "Self Published" as another value for the "edition" tag. That would identify self-published works as a fourth kind of resource, separate from Logos resources, FaithLife Ebooks, and personal books.

This is a great suggestion as well.

Nakhati Jon

Today is 2023 and still no option to self-publish on Faithlife?

I once asked a representative of logos at DTS about how authors can print with logos. He responded that those contracted with logos can print with them. However, he did not give any open doors to those not in that "club." I still wonder about quality self-publishing books that can benefit many in a particular field. I know that I pay for editing services that will most likely not be covered any time soon.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1263073#Comment_1263073

They are not set up for self-publishing. However, they do have instructions on how to submit proposals for them to publish your work.

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1263073#Comment_1263073

Today is 2023 and still no option to self-publish on Faithlife?

I doubt they are ever going to allow self-publishing.

CreateSpace and BookBaby and the like don't have quality brands to uphold like Logos/Lexham do. If Faithlife/Logos were to allow anyone to publish their own theology books with them, without going through the whole editorial/publication process that they do for books they actually publish, it could end up detracting from the brand they've spent years building up.

I suppose they could create a new brand for self-publishing that they keep distanced from the Logos/Lexham brands, but that would run counter to their current drive to consolidate their efforts back into their core compentencies/brands. So I don't think it's a good bet to hold out hope for this any time in the foreseeable future.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1263122#Comment_1263122

I doubt they are ever going to allow self-publishing.

My memory is not good. But I think this (not quite the OP's desire) was part of the dream of PBs. And Logos marketing them. I think PBs (distribution) sort of crashed, on copyright/copying issues. I assume the legalities almost force a 'Lexham' type of arrangement. Or almost. As you indicate.

Bob Falk

Hi Lynden! Do you know how to submit an already published book to Logos for consideration?

I have searched the website and have not found how to contact the Logos "acquisitions department" or how to request that a book already available in print, eBook, and audiobook become available in Logos. Thanks! --Bob

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1296003#Comment_1296003

Hi Lynden! Do you know how to submit an already published book to Logos for consideration?

I have searched the website and have not found how to contact the Logos "acquisitions department" or how to request that a book already available in print, eBook, and audiobook become available in Logos. Thanks! --Bob

There's a form for manuscript submissions here: https://lexhampress.com/manuscript-submission

But if it's a book that has already been published through another publisher, then you don't want to reach out to Lexham Press to publish it. In that case, post it as a suggestion on the Logos Book Requests Feedback board. You could explain there that you are the author and could facilitate permissions, etc. Then you'll want to come back to the Logos forums (generally the Suggestions forum is the best place for this) and post something to encourage other users to vote for your book request, along with a link to it. Logos supposedly takes into account the popularity of a suggestion when prioritizing whether/when to make it available as a Logos book.

Bob Falk

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1296038#Comment_1296038

Thanks Rosie! That's exactly what I needed! Blessings! --Bob