Should I Self-Publish or Look for a Publisher?
/Up until about roughly fifteen years ago, traditional publishing was virtually the only way to get published. You needed to find a literary agent who would shop your manuscript to large publishing companies, and if the odds were in your favor, your manuscript was accepted!
As recently as ten years ago, the phrase “self-published” still had a strong stigma. Perhaps images of spelling errors, flimsy paperbacks, and garages full of unsold books came to mind. But the publishing industry has dramatically changed.
Today, the traditional and self-publishing routes both have their pros and cons. Self-publishing is a viable, professional, and even recommended way to go! You can sell just as many books each way. In fact, it’s been rumored by some in the industry that by 2030, traditional publishing may be on the way out.
Really, the choice between traditional and self-publishing is now up to the author, and depends on goals of the project! Let’s take a look at the pros and cons traditional vs. self-publishing:
Traditional Publishing
The path of traditional publishing:
Your manuscript or manuscript sample (one to three chapters) and book proposal is submitted to publishers
Once an agent is secured, they are your advocate to help you find and communicate with a publisher (you cannot access the publishers yourself without an agent, who will take a percentage of your earnings as a fee)
Once a publisher is secured, a contract regarding copyright, advance, and royalties will be negotiated
Now your book is in the hands of publisher. The publishing company will handle some portion of the editing, titling, printing, marketing, and distribution (the amount they do depends on the publisher, and on your contract). You will be paid royalties on the sales of your book (again, amount depending on the publisher and on your contract).
Pros
Expertise in book editing, production, marketing, and publicity
Publisher shoulders much if not most of the risk
Physical bookstore distribution nearly always assured
Chance of media coverage and reviews
Cons
Everything is contract-based (so read it over carefully!)
Limited control of design and editing aspects (they choose the cover, the title, and may even ask you to rework the book)
The process may take up to two years before your book is published.
You generally surrender the rights (copyright) to your book and its content when it is traditionally published. This can inhibit you in the future from using, adapting, or sharing that content in the future without permission from your publisher.
Self-Publishing
The path of self-publishing:
The author is the owner of the project and hires outside help for editorial and design (Inspira), and provides distributor or printer with final files for printing.
If the author uses a printer, they are then in charge of book distribution, orders, and shipping (this can be delegated to a third party)
If the author uses a third-party distributor, such as IngramSpark, the distributor will print and ship the books on demand; however, the books will not likely be stocked in stores
The author is in charge of all marketing, publicizing, orders, and website management
Pros
Greater control of content and timeline of the project
Maximum earnings: author gets highest possible percentage of sales
The author is not bound to a particular printer or distributor
Author retains full rights to the content
Cons
The author shoulders the entire risk of project; there is a possibility the book will have no commercial viability.
The book may be availed to order through bookstores, but is rarely ever physically distributed/stocked.
The author may have more work to do, i.e. managing printing, marketing, and distribution.
If you are deciding which publishing route to take, we are happy to discuss your project with you and can walk you through the pros and cons! At the end of the day your readers will not care which route you take, as long as they get your book in hand!