Small publishing is often synonymous with independent publishing. Small publishers are to the publishing industry what independent filmmakers are to the film industry. A small publisher is generally independently run by a handful of people who are willing to specialize and take on the more risky literary projects that the larger publishers reject. Small press publishing serves the niche markets, the special interests.
A small publishing press will often suit a writer's creative needs better than the big publishing houses. Small presses can usually offer a more intimate, customized, one-on-one relationship with the writer. Some writers go with independent publishers because they are simply fed up with the stifling corporate bureaucracy of the big publishers.
Various associations and conferences exist to facilitate small and independent publishing:
- Small Publishers Association of North America (SPAN), website www.spannet.org. Their stated purpose is to bring success to small publishing houses, self-publishers, and authors.
- Small Press Center, website www.smallpress.org, who is dedicated to promoting interaction between the public and small independent book publishers.
- Small Press Book Ring, website www.ringsurf.com/netring?ring=publishing;action=list, which is a collection of sites that honor the literary tradition of independent and self-publishing.
Three other groups are associated with small publishing. These organizations provide great information on independent and small publishing, events, and opportunities:
- Independent Publishers Group (IPG), website www.ipgbook.com
- Independent Press Association (IPA), website www.indypress.org
There is also a printed guide available. It is The International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses. This directory is a publishing legend. It includes information on over 5,000 small presses and journals from around the world, listing addresses, manuscript requirements, payment rates, and recent publications. Subject and regional indexes are also provided. Issued annually, it presents an alphabetically arranged catalog of 4,000 magazines with a circulation under 50,000, and small presses that publish only a few books a year. Each entry lists contact information, type of material, number of issues or books published in the given year, copy price, average number of pages, length of reporting time on manuscripts, percentage of submissions published, and payment rate.
Another website that is an excellent resource in regards to independent and small publishing companies: www.independentpublisher.com
Also, Yahoo has an excellent directory of small press publishers:
