At either extreme, cost problems can trap you and ruin the value of your book

One myth that may cause you to stumble when choosing a publishing consultant is the idea that the more you pay, the more you get.

Not necessarily.

Higher rates may be a result of carrying heavy overhead costs. An office in downtown New York City or on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago carries a lot of prestige but is expensive. A large in-house staff or operations extending into overseas countries are other costly options that drive costs up.

Or the publishing operator may be riding on the edges of unethical behavior using a principle called "Soaking the Rich." (As a physician, you are considered "rich" by would-be providers of publishing services.)

Cheap services aren't necessarily a bargain, either. An offer to edit your book for $1 a page will consist of a quick spell check, and that's all. Choosing a pre-designed book cover is cheap but tawdry. Quick printing, photocopying, and online publishing may be wonderful bargains for you, but be careful.

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For more information about physician publishing, choose a topic from the list on the left. When you're ready to talk about your publishing project, call us. Or send us email at hodi@mindspring.com

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