Working with the Power of a University Press

You might wonder what the point of working with a university press is, or what IS a university press. Some of the questions I most frequently encounter since I signed a publishing contract with NDSU Press include these:

• What’s a university press?

• Do you attend school at that university? (i.e., Is it a publication for students only?)

• Is your book a scholarly work?

• Why would you choose a university press?

Since signing, I’ve learned a lot about university presses in general. And I have to say, I’m very happy about what I’m learning!

1.     Forty-five percent of all traditionally published books are published via small presses or university presses. I’m part of a great and growing tradition.

2.     As commercial publishers increasingly turn away from books (that seem unlikely to make a lot of money) university presses are finding new authors and audiences for their books.

3.     Because university presses are located all over the country, they often specialize in publishing books about the culture and history of parts of America that attract less attention from commercial houses.

4.     University presses help to preserve local culture by producing regional literature leading to books which are an integral part of the broader literary conversation.

5.     Poets & Writers has a combination list of 500 small and university presses.

6.     University presses operate on a minute scale compared to the billion-dollar publishing juggernauts. But much like HarperCollins or Hachette, university presses choose manuscripts, shepherd them through editing, production, and distribution. They pay royalties to the authors. The size and scale of production and budget are where the differences comes in. 

7.     The numbers of books produced may be small but put together university press books are adding up and are a powerhouse of knowledge and diversity.

1.     NDSU PRESS has been publishing books at North Dakota State University since 1950.

2.    They focuses on books aiding an understanding of the Red River Valley, the state of North Dakota, and the northern plains and prairies.

3.     NDSU Press publishes works including scholarly, nonfiction, fiction, and poetry,

4.     They average six to ten books published per year.

5.     NDSU Press accepts manuscript submissions year-round. There are no submission fees.

6.     In 2020, NDSU press received more than one hundred manuscripts to be considered for publication and about a dozen manuscript proposals.

7.     NDSU Press provides students an opportunity to earn a Certificate in Publishing as they learn about acquisitions, production, marketing, publicity, and distribution of books, while working with publishing actual books!

Working with NDSU Press is a win/win for me.

I have a small team of (enthusiastic, young, motivated) students working on my book. Dr. Kelley, the class professor, has a wonderful eye for details and a keen mind. She brings with her many years of experience in publication.

This past semester the students mainly learned and worked on editing. Next semester my book will move on to layout, design, cover design, marketing, and publicity. I’m excited to see what the students will bring to the table. And, I have a voice in the overall design. An author at a university press has the freedom of back and forth dialogue that’s not even thinkable for authors publishing within big publishing houses.

I’m happy to be working with NDSU Press.

North Dakota is my home and I’m proud of it!

READ LOCAL!!