Making My Own Puzzle/Crossword Book and Selling It

rebeccaharris31

Hi - Am wondering if anyone can advise me re: the following.

I've been having a go at compiling crosswords, wordsearches, codewords etc., and got to wondering - could I make a magazine/booklet on a regular basis and sell it? I then thought about the legalities of it and realised I didn't know anything about that side of it, so could anyone help me out, please?

Also, if it's do-able, I'd sell them at my church's regular Saturday coffee morning, but would I be allowed to print off some fliers, asking if anyone was interested in buying them, and deliver them in my local area.

If anyone can help me with these questions, I'd be v. grateful, as I would be for any hints or tips etc. Before I forget to say, any income made would be split 50/50 between myself and the church mentioned above - is it OK to do this?

Thanks in advance for any help given.

Rebecca

googler

There's already tens or hundreds for the public to choose from, in almost every news agency or bookshop in the land. Why would anyone buy yours in preference to picking one up when they buy their papers or morning rolls?

[Deleted User]

I wish you the best of luck with this idea, Rebecca. I've pondered doing something similar myself as I am an avid puzzle-solver and was often asked to contribute puzzles etc to in-house mags and newsletters at places where I worked.

Some people produce puzzles etc for published magazines/papers etc but most of the regular mags have staff contributors so don't accept freelance work sent 'on spec'. if there is a puzzle mag that you read regularly it will inform you in the 'small print' somewhere whether submissions from readers are accepted. I've thought of doing this myself but haven't done it yet mainly because of formatting and other issues with sending the finished item to them. Many of my logic puzzles need solver grids. A good idea might be your local newspaper, especially if your puzzles have a local theme. Not a major money-raiser but a bit of extra cash always helps. Don't forget to check if there is payment. Don't forget they plan things ages in advance. Christmas-themed stuff needs to be in during the late summer I believe!

As for your idea of producing/selling booklets at your local church/charity, I think the best bet is to have a word with them directly. I can't see any problems really, you are mainly only taking out enough money to cover printing and other costs. The charity is still benefitting. Not sure about the advertising though as you may need to be more specific in it about how much profits are going to the charity concerned e.g. 50p from the sale of every £1 book going to the charity.

Then there's the problem of prizes, if you plan to give some. The judging needs to be meticulously fair and I'm not sure what hoops you need to jump through for that aspect to be OK.

I belong to a group where the founder issues a couple of puzzle/quiz mags a year (really complex ones but just typed and duplicated, not commercial-looking at all). She has a sort of 'members' club where people subscribe each year and each puzzle/quiz page has at least one prize (ranging from M&S vouchers to books and postage stamps&postcard packs). I don't think she makes anything out of it really, she just loves compiling quizzes etc and having the camaraderie. It is all done by post (she has nothing to do with computers and the internet!) I really don't know anything about the legal side of it though. If you are interested I could dig out her address and contact her to ask if she'd be willing for you to contact her directly. PM me if you like.

As an afterthought, I once organised a big raffle for a charity I volunteered for and as it was a 'proper' raffle with pre-sold tickets which we had printed (as opposed to the 'cloakroom ticket' type that are just sold 'on the day' and people are there when the draw is made) we had to pay to register with the local authority and be licensed. Maybe selling things like regular puzzle books (especially if you offer a prize element) may need to be registered. No idea about this but someone in charge of fund raising at your church should know.

Whatever, good luck and success to you:beer:.
You are bound to get some 'knockers' on here:(. You'll get lots of conflicting advice (always good at weighing up the pros and cons of an idea) but there are many, alas, who just like to pour cold water on people's dreams. Don't take it personally.

I'd be very interested to know how you get on

googler

carbootcrazy wrote: »

You are bound to get some 'knockers' on here. You'll get lots of conflicting advice (always good at weighing up the pros and cons of an idea) but there are many, alas, who just like to pour cold water on people's dreams. Don't take it personally.

Since I'm the only other contributor to the thread, I'll assume this is directed at me.

I genuinely want to know, since the OP wants to SELL these in book form as an ongoing business, why he or she would reckon that his or her version will sell in preference to the existing professionally-produced product that's out there in quantity, and how he or she could sell them outside their own circle of friends and associates. Your modus operandi seems to be founded on selling to a limited network.

If there's no clear indication of the likelihood of selling them in quantity, it won't look good on a business plan. Fine for a hobby, but....

[Deleted User]

googler:

Sorry if you thought my comments were directed at you:o. They were not.

I have noticed from dipping into various postings on money-making threads that a poster's genuine request for help and encouragement over a new venture frequently receives scorn and ridicule. Some threads get very 'nasty'. That's a far cry from a valid mention of 'cons' which the original poster needs to know in order to make a reasoned and educated assessment of whether the 'business' idea is a 'goer' or not. We wouldn't be asking for advice if we already knew everything about a potential venture. Often there is someone who has direct experience/information which those contemplating setting up a new business really need to be aware of before going into something 'blind'. I was criticising the 'knockers' (of which there are plenty on MSE!) who have yet to emerge in this thread.

Your points were perfectly valid and I was not referring to you when I told the poster not to take criticism personally.

Incidentally, I assumed that the OP wanted to sell locally but by distributing flyers was hoping for a larger potential market than by just selling at her church coffee mornings. The proceeds would still be for the local church. This venture didn't appear to me to be in competition with established, commercial puzzle mags etc on sale in newsagents etc. So, yes,I agree with you that I assumed the network of buyers would be limited ( in this case by locality and possibly affiliation to the church).

I also assumed (maybe erroneously) that the OP was not planning a full-scale business as such, just a way of making a bit extra for the church. The overheads of production will nullify much of her 50/50 split.

I stand to be corrected of course on all of the above. Maybe the OP will check in again and let us know.

rebeccaharris31

carbootcrazy wrote: »

Incidentally, I assumed that the OP wanted to sell locally but by distributing flyers was hoping for a larger potential market than by just selling at her church coffee mornings. The proceeds would still be for the local church. This venture didn't appear to me to be in competition with established, commercial puzzle mags etc on sale in newsagents etc. So, yes,I agree with you that I assumed the network of buyers would be limited ( in this case by locality and possibly affiliation to the church).

I also assumed (maybe erroneously) that the OP was not planning a full-scale business as such, just a way of making a bit extra for the church. The overheads of production will nullify much of her 50/50 split.

I stand to be corrected of course on all of the above. Maybe the OP will check in again and let us know.

Re: the above - No, I don't want to be a full scale business and be in competition with the magazines you get in newsagents. and yes, I'm aware that the network of buyers would be limited, but I live in a very residential area and am hoping (perhaps a bit naively) that as well as the flyers, word would spread and I also have connections to various sources that might be interested in buying them as well.