18 Million and Counting

A Million Pieces a Year

This is an amazing feat, but more so than the accomplishment for us and our business, it’s a testament to the amount of projects we’ve helped print for thousands of creators.

We’ve been in business since 2009, so 18 million pieces averages out to over a million pieces printed every year. That’s a heap of artists, writers, game designers, and small businesses who got to see their dream projects brought to life.

Maybe that’s you. You started the journey with just a nugget of an idea, or maybe inspiration struck through a book or game, and you knew you had to get something made that was personally, uniquely you. You took that step beyond the inspiration and made it real.

Warts and All

This is the aspect of self-publishing that I really admire most. More so than with large scale productions put out by major publishers, the voice that is featured in a self-published work is singular in its identity. It’s a pure form of expression when an artist can produce something with no interference from editorial, market, or gatekeeping institutions.

Now, self-publishing, in and of itself, isn’t necessarily a sign of quality. But regardless of the level of polish on the project (and sometimes because of a lack of it) self-published work rings with an authenticity that pulsates with the free expression and passion rooted in the genuine love of the medium.

Sometimes the projects that I respond to most are not the most polished, but the projects that exhibit the most unfettered enthusiasm for the work. Warts and all, the project got produced, and the vision that results is exactly what the author wanted. Witnessing someone’s joy in displaying their imagination and creative freedom on the page can be infectious and rewarding. Rewarding not because you’ve seen someone produce the most technically proficient work in the professional medium, but because you can feel (and for other creatives, identify with) the wonder that comes along with creating something fresh that you love and desire to share with the world.

Often self-publishing is an investment of passion, time, and money in hopes of creating something that others can connect with. This type of work is often produced without profit as the main motivator, and I believe the purity of intent can be felt in the work.

PrintNinja specializes in working with self-publishers, and it’s been a privilege to see many projects and creators come through the door, many of whom would not have had the opportunity to see their work materialize.

Believing in yourself and in your own vision is something I believe in deeply, so to see the amount of work that has been produced by a company I’m a part of is a truly gratifying and humbling experience.

You’re in the Driver’s Seat

We’ve seen individual creators build careers and businesses out of their passions. They have curated and developed fan bases by selling their vision directly. They speak with people face to face about their project at conventions, at local bookstores, or spreading the word online. Joining or creating a community of like-minded people who share their tastes and point of view.

Building a system that allows those creators to have the agency to control the economics of their own work in a professional, but straightforward, transparent manner is our goal. You can speak to the folks on our team who have years of experience helping people with the same goals and aspirations, and can lend guidance on the best pathway.

At PrintNinja, you’re in the driver’s seat of your creative destiny. No waiting on a publisher to validate your work or promise you an audience that they may or may not be able to deliver. You know your work better than anyone, and self-publishing with PrintNinja allows you complete creative control while partnering with experts to manage the complex and mundane aspects that can be overwhelming.

Here’s to the Next 18 Million

Okay, enough selling my self-publishing manifesto. I’ll just finish with some thanks. Thank you to all the customers that we’ve worked with over the years who have trusted us with their projects. Your efforts and passions are why we’re here. Sharing in the excitement that authors have over their projects is the best part of our jobs.

Thank you to all the vendors and staff that have produced, printed, trimmed, collated, bound, and packed all of those orders.

Thank you to all the logistics folks who helped deliver those goods over oceans, highways, railways, and airways.

Thank you to all the staff (past and present) who have worked for PrintNinja to grow us to where we are and act as such excellent guides.

It’s been an exciting and wondrous 18 million pieces.

Here’s to the next 18 million to come.