Cost Of Materials
Any self-respecting author will tell you that the price of blank paper and a comfortable computer are not enough to get the job done. You will also need various electronic devices, from a smartphone to an expensive computer, to be able to write and edit your book. As a result, the cost of materials alone is enough to make you think twice about writing a book.
Apart from the cost of materials, another vital consideration is a word processor. If you are on a tight budget, you should search for the best possible deal on a used one, since new models come with additional software that can be upgraded as needed. A word processor allows you to input and format text quickly and easily, and the industry standard is Microsoft Word. You will not find a better value than this software, which can be installed on a desktop or laptop computer for around $30 – $50. You will not regret this investment, especially if you are a professional who needs to format thousands of pages regularly.
Cost Of Software
Even if you do not need a lot of functionality, you will need to invest in software to write and publish your book successfully. More and more people are choosing to write their books on their smartphones and tablets, but this does not mean that you should not edit them carefully on a computer. For this, you will need a word processor to be able to make changes to the text and produce a single, polished version that is suitable for printing.
The cost of this software alone can be quite high. However, if you are writing a book in the public domain, many word processors offer a free trial or a discounted rate. Some of the best-known brands include Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, and Google Docs. If you have access to the Internet, you can also use online word processors to write and edit your book completely free of charge. If you decide to go this route, make sure to download an offline copy of the software, in case you do not have access to the Internet when you need it.
Cost Of Hiring A Publishing Company
Once you have reached the point where you cannot write the book due to lack of materials and software, you will need to consider investing in the third category: hiring a professional publishing company to do the job for you. This company will take your manuscript and turn it into a finished product that you can sell and distribute to the world.
The cost of hiring a company to do this job for you is quite high. You should do your research before making this investment, since you cannot always assume that the company you settle for will give you good value for your money. Make sure to work with a reputable company with a good history, and ask for references. You should also make sure to get a contract that will legally bind both parties to ensure that you get what you paid for and that the company does not exploit you during the process. The most important thing to consider is the cost of ownership, which you will need to decide whether or not to include in your budget. Owning a book publishing company can be quite costly, especially if you are paying for the use of expensive equipment and professional-quality software.
Cost Of Travel
To be able to sell your book internationally, you will probably need to travel to other countries to meet with distributors and retailers. In some cases, this can be a lengthy process, and it is definitely not something that you want to do on a frequent basis. For this reason, you should try to find the best possible deal on airline tickets and visit as few countries as needed. If you want to visit a particular city in a foreign country, it can be helpful to research the cost of living and what services the local economy offers.
The cost of travel alone can be high enough to make you think twice about publishing a book. When you factor in everything else, it is certainly a good idea to wait until you have enough material to publish on your own before doing so.
The Total Cost
Once you have all of the materials listed above, the total cost of writing and publishing a book is not that high. You will need to factor in the price of the equipment and software that you purchased, as well as the cost of hiring employees to help you with the process. For a quick estimate, you can multiply the cost of all of these items by four, to get an idea of what it will cost to write a book. This is a very conservative estimate, however, and it does not account for the possible royalty payments that you may receive if your book becomes a best-seller.
When you add everything up, the total cost to write and publish a book can be quite low. You should not count on one single genre or market segment to make you enough money to cover all of your expenses. It is a good idea to diversify your income streams, so that you will not be completely dependent on one single product to make your living. In case you are wondering, you can sell your books through online marketplaces and platforms like Amazon, Apple Books, and Barnes & Nobles NOOK, as well as traditional brick-and-mortar bookstores.
Summary
To write a book, you will need numerous materials. These can be expensive to purchase individually, so it is best to consider investing in tools that will aid you in the writing process. If you do not have the resources to purchase these items yourself, it may be a good idea to hire professional writers to help you complete your book.