Start a publishing company

I want to publish books. Not magazines, but books. Maybe small pulp books to read on the Metro (DC Subway system) or a plane. “Slimline” books that fit into a purse or inside pocket of a jacket.

They should last out about two hours of reading, have a compelling storyline and good characters. A range of different topics/genres. There should be mysteries, adventure, scifi, and gods help me, romance. But I want them to be good, strong books, just not 300 page opuses. Novellas, I suppose.

I want to publish magazines, but with a mix of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. All of which is stuff that catches my fancy. I don’t want to tie myself down to a genre.

Only proviso is, I will not publish anything like a bodice-ripper. Those things just turn my stomach.

1. What kind of publishing company: books, magazines, short stories, poetry?

2. How does one start a publishing company?

3. What steps do I need to take to make it pay for itself?

4. Should I start with a ‘zine and move up?

5. What’s the best way to attract authors?

6. How much can I afford to pay authors?

7. How do I attract advertisers?

8. What specializations do I want? cooking? women’s? spirituality? philosophy? murder mysteries? sci-fi? fantasy?

9. Should I have another reader/editor or should I maintain control of the selection of pieces?

10. Is this really something I’m willing to put the work into to make it successful?

11. Why do I want to do this?

12. What can I learn from my own rejections on how to handle potential writers?

13. How do I get my products distributed?

14. How do I find a good printer?

15. How do I find a good person to design cover art?