I am asked often how to make a chapbook.
Here are some simple steps to make a product with a good production value:
- Use a word processing software program that is compatible with the creation of pdf's.
- Structure your chapbook with front matter, content, and back matter.
- Front Matter should have informative elements for your reader like:
- Title page
- Copyright/Publishing page
- Table of Contents
- Contents should be in logical/chronological order with numbering
- Back Matter should have extras for your reader like:
- Author biography
- Thank you
- Dedication (maybe Front Matter for Print books)
- Publisher's mark
- Book design cover art to visually explain your poetry with images instead of words with:
- Title
- Tag line, if applicable
- Author's (pen) name
The time and dedication to put all these elements together is necessary to give your audience a complete sense of what message, feeling, or thought you wanted to convey to them.
Many publishers will charge around $1,000 for their time, original art work, and editing services.
So if you would like me to do a chapbook for you in pdf format with my original design cover art, editing, layout, and internal design services, please note that I charge a fee.
Anthologies I usually do for free or a reading fee of $1 per poem/microfiction prose piece. Then I will give the anthology out for free for one day and then begin to charge for my time per chapbook sold.
Considering many people do not buy anthologies, I am usually out my time.
Thems the breaks.
So if you would like to hire me to do your chapbook under 50 pages including original artwork, front/back matter and contents. Then set a goal of a $250 to $300 budget. That is with the originator handing in a typo free document.
Since my original cover art starts out at the $200 price point, poets and writer's are really getting a great deal. If you would like to hire me to accomplish a New Year's goal of a publication credit for 2020, then please go over to my Sonoran Dawn Studios social media page and write me a private message.
I take Paypal.
Thank you!
*****
Please be advised that there is a $50 nonrefundable payment due before any work can begin as to safeguard my time creating a cover design mock up for you. Then you can decide after the mock up if you would like to continue, if you do, then $200 of the overall completed chapbook fee will also be nonrefundable.
It is unfortunate but I have ran into people who want to see the product before payment only to take the work for themselves and leave me without compensation. It does not happen often but now I put in barriers to those individuals who have dishonorable intentions.
Thank you for your understanding.
