Publishing has changed drastically over the last few decades, with more routes open to authors than ever before. This email covers the 4 main options for publication: traditional publishing, self-publishing, hybrid publishing, and small boutique presses.
If you aren’t up for a deep dive and just want a preview, check out this summary table:
The TL;DR summary table (enjoy!):
And for those of you who want to do a deep dive, we’re going to dig into each of the 4 types of publishing.
Traditional Publishing
In a trad pub deal, you partner with a publishing house, and that company manages the editing, production, distribution, and marketing of the book at no cost to you. They do this in exchange for a share of the sales revenue, and often you also get an advance.
Big publishing houses typically do not deal with authors directly, so to get a trad deal, you need to first get a literary agent.
There are several perks to trad publishing:
- No upfront costs.
- To secure this deal, you must have an agent. This means you’ll have someone not only advocating for your legal rights, interests, and entitlements but also providing editorial support and leveraging their publishing experience to your advantage. They’ll also often help you access other markets, like film and TV.
- Publishers provide professional editing, design, and marketing services at no direct cost to the author.
- Established publishers have extensive distribution networks, ensuring your book reaches a broad audience.
- Being published by a recognized publisher can lend significant prestige to your work, as well as awards and connections within the literary community.
But there are also some drawbacks:
- It’s highly competitive and, as previously stated, requires an agent.
- Authors lose control — with limited say in cover design, pricing, and marketing strategies.
- The royalties are lower than self-publishing, but this is often offset by authors receiving a cash advance.
Self-Publishing
Self-publishing allows authors to independently publish their work, no agent or publishing house required. The most common self-publishing platforms include Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Barnes & Noble Press, Apple Books, Kobo Writing Life, and Smashwords, offering various distribution channels and formats for authors to publish and sell their books.
There are several benefits to self-publishing:
- No agent needed.
- Authors retain full control over every aspect of their book, from content to cover design and pricing.
- The royalties are higher — self-published authors can earn up to 70% in royalties on each sale; trad authors typically earn 10-15%.
- The books hit the market faster. You can publish when you decide the book is ready, without waiting for publisher timelines, which can take years.
There are also drawbacks:
- The upfront costs of editing, design, formatting, and marketing vary widely, ranging from just under $1,000 to well over $5,000, more if you include audiobook production costs.
- Authors need to balance their writing time with social media, marketing, and all the other elements of running a small business.
- Stigma is still an issue, although it is a dwindling one.
Hybrid Publishing
This is the Pay-to-Play format. Hybrid publishing essentially combines elements of traditional and self-publishing, with authors contributing to the costs of publishing services and benefitting from professional editing, design, and marketing support, often with more creative control and higher royalties than traditional publishing.
There are several benefits:
- Professional editing, design, and marketing services.
- More control over the creative process.
- A one-stop shop support system.
- Support with marketing.
- No agent required.
And the cons:
- The costs are high, ranging from $2,000 to over $10,000.
- Royalties may not cover the costs.
- The quality and reputation of hybrid publishers vary significantly.
- Authors share a portion of the sales revenue with the publisher.
- Some of these hybrid presses are predatory and scammy. Research them online. Contact others who have books out with that press and ask what their experience was like before paying for services.
Small Boutique Presses
A small press is a specialized publishing house that offers personalized attention and focuses on niche markets or genres. These publishers often provide more collaborative and tailored experiences for authors.
There are several benefits:
- Usually, no agent is needed — you can submit directly to the press, if they are open for submissions (you can find small presses on Query Tracker).
- More personalized support and involvement in the publishing process.
- Ideal for niche genres or specialized topics, where they have established audiences and expertise.
- Often allow for more creative input from the author compared to larger traditional publishers.
- They are often well connected to local booksellers and local media.
- Typically the author does not pay anything to be published.
The cons:
- These presses have limited resources. And smaller budgets usually means no advance for the author.
- They tend to have limiting ability to market broadly and limited distribution.
- Terms, including royalties, can vary widely and may not be as favorable as those from larger traditional publishers or self-publishing.
- There is some risk involved, as they operate with tighter budgets and resources than the bigger publishers, which can make them more vulnerable to market fluctuations, leading to a higher risk of them closing down quickly if their publications do not perform as expected. This can leave authors in legal and financial binds.
Determining which publishing path is best for you depends on your goals, ambitions, and how much money you have to invest in achieving your dream. For many, the choice comes down to two key aspects — cost and control.
Some Things to Ponder
If you’re struggling to determine which path is best for you, consider these questions:
- What are my main goals for publishing? (Seeking wide distribution, maintaining creative control, building a personal brand, etc.)
- How much control do I want over the editing, design, and marketing of my book?
- Am I prepared to invest time and money into self-publishing, or would I prefer the support and resources of a publishing house?
- How important is the prestige and validation of traditional publishing to me?
- Do I have the skills and network to effectively market my book, or would I benefit from professional marketing support?
- Am I looking for a specialized or niche market that might be better served by a small boutique press?
- How patient am I with the publishing process? Can I handle waiting for traditional publishing opportunities, or would I prefer the quicker turnaround of self-publishing?
- What are my long-term career goals as an author, and which publishing path aligns best with these objectives?
There’s no right or wrong answer.
These are all different ways to move forward to meet your publishing goals. And you can attempt several of these at once — query one novel while self-publishing another. Or query small presses after you’ve run through all of the agents on your list.
Figure out which ways work for you, and then work hard to make your dreams happen.
A Weird Little Diagram
We asked ChatGPT to draw an image of the 4 paths to publishing, and this is what it produced.
It’s 8 paths around ‘Sel-Pubishing,’ with great options like Selliheihiig and Puitlisshing.
Hope your journeys are more straightforward than this poor bloke’s.