Millions of aspiring authors strive to write and publish a book at some point in their lives. Whether you have a compelling story to tell, a unique perspective to share, or a passion you want to explore, writing a book can be a transformative experience in self-expression, creativity, and personal and professional growth. While the process is unique to each author, the path to success requires careful planning and execution. One of the most important choices during a literary journey is determining the right book publishing format for your work.
Three Types of Publishing
When authors commit the time and energy required to write a book, it’s essential to find the right publisher for their work. Various publishing models are available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
1. Traditional Publishing
Traditional publishers can range from well-recognized entities to small press options. In traditional publishing, authors complete a manuscript, develop a proposal, and then submit it to a publishing house. If working with a literary agent, the agent will handle the pitch on the author’s behalf. An editor will determine whether to reject or pursue the proposal. When a traditional publisher decides to publish a book, it typically buys rights from the writer and pays an advance on future royalties. The publisher puts up the money to edit, design, package, print, and market the book. Although the benefits of traditional publishing are similar across the board, the distribution power, readership, and advance-to-royalty ratio vary greatly based on the size and focus of the company.
2. Self-publishing
Self-publishing has gained in popularity due to the accessibility of digital publishing platforms, increased creative control, guarantee of being published, global reach, digital options, and 100 percent profit margin potential. True self-publishing does not include support in the form of editing, design, marketing, and distribution. Instead, the author is responsible for funding the necessary publishing components. When pursuing a self-publishing option, some authors brave the entire publishing process themselves. In most cases, however, authors outsource some or all of the development and publishing functions.
3. Hybrid Publishing
Hybrid publishing refers to publishers who assist with many functions of the publishing process, typically in exchange for the author funding the project. Also known as author-assisted publishing, partnership publishing, co-publishing, or independent publishing, this option is a middle ground between traditional and self-publishing. Creative control, royalty negotiations, and close collaboration, however, are dramatically increased versus traditional publishing, and the need to seek out support services is (in theory) eliminated.
Questions Every Author Needs to Ask
While prospective authors have many options available, there are some important questions authors should ponder before deciding which publishing route or routes to take:
1. Do you have adequate time to devote to writing, publishing, and marketing your book?
Every writer works at a different pace, but the average time to write a book ranges from four months to a year or more. Additional time is required for editing, design, and production. Once the book is published, it will be necessary to promote it to target audiences, which requires an additional investment of time and marketing skill.
2. Are you able to make a financial commitment to hire a writer, invest in publishing, and fund post-production marketing?
Low-end estimates say it costs authors between $500 and $5,000 to publish a basic book. Of course, the cost depends on the services you require, such as editing, cover design, formatting, and marketing. From Reedsy’s 2022-2023 data, average prices range up to $2,000 for an editor and $750 for a cover designer. Most will pay far more for professional quality writing, editing, proofreading, and marketing services—likely in the range of $30,000 to $60,000.
3. Do you have graphic capabilities or access to a graphic designer?
In addition to an eye-catching cover, graphic designers help create page designs, illustrations, charts, and other graphics that enhance a book.
4. Is artistic control important to you?
Self-published authors retain full creative control over their books’ content, design, and promotion. But with full creative control comes a great deal of responsibility and required skills.
5. Do you know how to use social media?
In today’s digital marketplace, a social media presence is essential to give a book visibility.
6. Do you have a way to market yourself to stand out from the crowd?
With as many as one million books published each year, it’s essential to get noticed by readers, librarians, journalists, podcast hosts, professional groups, and other stakeholder audiences.
7. Are you willing to hire a developmental editor, engage Beta readers, and/or join writer communities?
While writing can be a solitary experience, books are not produced in a vacuum. The more feedback an author obtains during the writing process, the better the final product. Jeff Lehman, co-author of Running Out of Time: Wildfires and Our Imperiled Forests, advises authors to “get professional editing help and engage them early in the process.”
8. Do you want your book published sooner rather than later?
While self-publishing may be considered the fast track, traditional publishers provide the structure and support that may make the project shorter in the long run.
9. Is it important for your book to be widely distributed?
If fame and royalties are not your primary objectives, wide distribution may not be a priority. Some authors (such as professional speakers) already have a captive audience of potential buyers.
10. Is prestige important to you?
With the advent of the internet, anyone with a keyboard has become a self-proclaimed writer. Meanwhile, published book authors, especially those who are well-known in their fields and work with large publishers, can garner a higher level of respect.
11. Are you seeking critical reviews or literary awards?
Self-published books are rarely chosen for critical reviews, given the overwhelming number of self-published books available. While self-published books are typically not eligible for literary awards, there are smaller contests that may specialize in the self-published category.
12. Are royalties or a monetary advance an important factor?
Authors pursuing a self-published track should be prepared to make a significant financial investment in writing, editing, designing, and publishing their book. That said, the percentage of royalties is much higher than through a traditional publisher. While a big-brand publisher may offer an advance to authors, especially if the author has name recognition, back-end royalties may be lower.
13. Are you willing to wait 12-18 months for your book to be published?
Traditional publishers have a fine-tuned process authors are expected to adhere to when writing their books. That said, once the manuscript is submitted, it can take up to or more than a year to see the book hit the shelves. On the other hand, self-publishing puts the author in full control of the timeline.
14. Are you willing to take the time to seek out and find representation through an agent?
Traditional publishers rarely respond to author submissions. As such, it is often important to retain the services of a specialized literary agent. Bear in mind that an agent is one more expense to consider.
15. Can you handle a lot of rejection?
Authors who seek a traditional publisher should expect to be rejected—a lot. Publishers receive thousands of unsolicited manuscripts each year, and it is estimated that between only one to two percent of these submissions make it to bookshelves.
If you answered yes to most questions 1-8, you might want to consider self-publishing or hybrid publishing. If your yes answers are mostly to questions 9-15, you might want to consider traditional publishing.
Get Published, Get Results
When experts showcase thought leadership through published content, they forge new connections with target audiences and affirm their position as a recognized expert. Books offer the opportunity to engage target audiences with an in-depth exploration of expertise balanced by compelling storytelling. Writing, developing, distributing, and marketing a book require an investment of time and resources. The outcome, however, can transform your business and thought leadership.
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