You’ve done the excruciating work of finishing your novel, memoir, poetry or short story collection, and now you’re wondering how to get it out to more readers than just your mom. Should you self-publish, seek out a traditional publisher, or explore hybrid publishing? The internet is crammed with information on this topic, some of it helpful, some of it, frankly, aimed at grabbing not only your attention but your pocketbook.
As an editor who's worked with writers across the publishing spectrum, from first-timers to New York Times bestsellers, and an author who has both self-published and been traditionally published, I know how daunting it can be to choose the option that feels right for you. So, I thought it might be helpful to share some of the pros and cons of three types of publishing to consider before making a decision.
Traditional Publishing
PROS
Most authors love the idea of sending their finished manuscript to a publisher and having them take care of things like cover design, formatting, marketing, and distribution.
There’s also the perk of receiving an advance on future sales, a sum that varies based on many factors, but is a nice bonus, regardless.
A publisher can potentially get your book into places that you might not, as an individual, be able to reach, including independent and major bookstores as well as libraries and schools.
All bookkeeping and sales tracking is done by the publisher, and the author receives quarterly sales reports and, when applicable, royalty checks.
There’s a sense of legitimacy and status that comes with a publishing deal as it represents a level of quality, an industry standard your book has achieved.
CONS
There are certainly downsides to choosing the traditional publishing route. It can be a long and discouraging process, often taking years from the time your book is signed with a publisher to the time it finally gets released.
Only a small fraction of books submitted to publishers actually get accepted. One reason for that is publishing is a highly competitive industry, and there’s a lot of pressure on authors to essentially guarantee big sales before a publisher will even consider taking on their book.
Most traditional publishers only look at submissions from literary agents, and it’s incumbent upon the author to find and secure an agent on their own (which can also be a long process of submitting and waiting).
Even if an author manages to get their book sold to a publisher, they may see very little in the way of royalties, since the publisher recoups the author’s advance first, and takes a large percentage of each unit sale.
I do want to add here that some publishers are small and more specialized, and will sometimes accept manuscripts from authors even without an agent if the topic is one they’re interested in or the author is someone they want to partner with. You might do a google search on “small press publishers” to see if any are accepting manuscripts unsolicited. There could be a smaller, niche publisher out there that’s a great fit, you may just need to do a bit of digging to find it.
Self-Publishing
PROS
With self-publishing, you control everything from creating to selling your book, including deciding which professional services (designers and editors) you want to enlist to help with various stages of the process.
Authors can directly upload both digital and print-ready versions of their manuscript and cover design to an online site like Amazon, and immediately promote it to colleagues, friends, and fans via newsletters, social media, email, etc.
Amazon (and other online retailers) take a portion of sales, but authors can start collecting royalties as soon as the book starts selling.
Authors who own the rights to their books can create and sell audio books and see the potential for sales increase significantly.
You can schedule the exact release date of your book, rather than waiting months to hear whether an agent or publisher likes it enough to sign it.
Authors have final say over the look and content of their book, whereas a traditional publisher will usually make the call on things like title, design, and editorial invovlement.
CONS
The downside to self-publishing is the same as the upside: all of the work involved in getting the book ready for publication, as well as selling it, falls on the author.
Paying for the various professionals needed to ensure that the book looks great and is polished from an editing standpoint can be a strain on the budget. Reputable editors, book formatters, and professional cover designers aren’t cheap.
Like every other aspect of self-publishing, marketing is solely the author’s responsibility and can be confusing and costly. Navigating Amazon and Facebook ads, for instance, takes time and money – but most agree is necessary to promote your book.
Hybrid Publishing
I don’t have as much personal experience with hybrid publishing, but it's gained popularity in recent years. In short, the way it works is if a hybrid publisher is interested in your book, you agree to pay them up front for their in-house editing and design services to get your manuscript ready for publication. They agree to invest a certain amount of money in the marketing and distribution of your book, and you then split the sales, typically 50% - 50%.
This option potentially offers the best of both traditional and self-publishing, with two big advantages, in my opinion:
the editing and design work are all taken care of in-house, with professionals overseeing every part of the process
a good hybrid publisher has more access to distribution channels (most notably, bookstores and libraries) than independent authors have.
If the upfront cost is within your budget and the publisher is reputable and wants to work with you, it’s worth pursuing, in my opinion. One hybrid publisher that makes the top of most industry “best of” lists is Greenleaf Book Group. Another reputable hybrid publisher I’ve heard good things about is Amplify Publishing Group. If you want to look around at other possible hybrid publishers, this article will help you determine which are worth looking into.
Publishing is an ever-shifting landscape, with changes happening at a quick pace. Whichever path you take, be sure to seek out trustworthy sources to help you navigate the process.
Our suite of editing services can help get your manuscript ready for publication. Whether you need a manuscript evaluation, developmental editing, or copyediting, we want to collaborate with you on publishing the best possible version of your book. Contact us here if you're interested in a free sample edit!
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