So, you want to publish a book. You have a great concept but you’re not sure the best way to get your bestseller into print. The good news is, there are more publishing options for new book authors than ever before.
The bad news is, there are more publishing options for new book authors than ever before.
The wrong choice can cost you a lot of effort and money for what might amount to a fantastically expensive limited edition Christmas present for family and friends.
The Right Publishing Model for You
Avoid a disappointing publishing adventure by picking the model that’s going to yield the best possible return on investment. That’s a matter of understanding the pros and cons of each model, and determining which best suits your situation and book.
• Traditional. Mainstream publishers have used this process for more than seventy years. (Note: The description here pertains to trade non-fiction books; works of fiction follow a different process.) It starts with a book proposal that follows a tightly regimented format. An agent reads the proposal and agrees to rep the book to publishers. A publisher buys the book, paying an advance (more precisely called “advance against royalties”). The process is standardized and the traditional publishing cycle requires the longest time to final publication.
Once the publishing contract is signed, the book is written, edited, physically published, and distributed. The author promotes the book and receives a proportion of sales as royalties (that percentage varies depending on the channel through which any individual copy was sold). The upside is that best-in-class experts handle editing, design, production, and distribution. The downside is that publishers these days put precious few, if any, resources toward promotion. That’s typically left up to the author, and why it’s easier for individuals with existing platforms like a TV show or a significant social media following to get a book deal in the first place.
Who it’s for: Professional writers, influencers, personalities, celebrities; less-famous individuals with a truly unique and compelling concept that ignites imagination and will spur sales based purely on the hook.
• Hybrid. This is the middle-ground option, straddling the fence between traditional publishing and self-publishing. The hybrid option began decades ago with “vanity presses.” These sometimes-shady companies simply turned client’s writing into bound, printed books for a hefty fee. Marketing and selling were left up to the client. But, hey! You had a book with your name on it.
Today’s hybrid publishers are much more multi-faceted. They often operate as an “imprint,” a legitimate publishing identity that can make your book appear as if it has been traditionally published (an advantage on Amazon and in some other channels). Some hybrid publishers provide soup-to-nuts services, writing, editing, and physically producing the book based on the client’s concept and input. Others specialize in one part or another of the publishing process. Many also offer back-end promotional and advertising guidance. (Full disclosure: Shout Ghostwriting offers clients a hybrid option, in partnership with Rogue Press.)
You won’t receive an advance with hybrid publishing. In fact, you’ll pay a fee for services. The benefit is that you’ll also recoup a much larger percentage of book sales (essentially everything but what the platform—such as Amazon—takes as their share), far exceeding a traditional royalty percentage. In short, the hybrid client is betting on themselves to drive book sales and wants to reap the lion’s share of the reward. But he or she also wants the book to be perceived as legitimate and professional quality.
Who it’s for: High-energy professionals who are serious about publishing a legitimate book; pros who have not been able to secure a traditional publishing deal.
• Self-publishing. This one is just as it sounds: you do everything to get the book into print. Although this can easily be the least expensive option, there are a lot of potential pitfalls in self-publishing a book. It’s easy to make the mistake of thinking you don’t need an editor or proofreader, but that’s a recipe for errors to crop up and detract from the professionalism of the book. Amateurish cover designs are another common flaw that can drastically impact audience perception and sales. If you’re publishing through KDP (Amazon), you’ll need to be detail-oriented and tech-friendly to avoid frustration and make the most of the platform.
Maintaining control means you can speed the process up. A self-published book can get to market in a fraction of time a traditionally published title would require.
Many companies, like BookBaby and Lulu, offer ala carte self-publishing services. These can be pricey, but can also lend a professional polish to the final product. Of course, you can cobble together your own editorial, design, and production dream team off of gig websites such as Reedsy, Upwork, or Fiverr. Just be aware, you generally get what you pay for.
Who it’s for: High-energy, driven self-promoters who don’t like the confines of other publishing models and want to maintain complete control over the book.
No matter what option you choose, the basic equation remains the same: the actual work you do and effort you put in are inversely related to the money you’ll need to spend. Professionals are available for every single part of the publishing process, from ghostwriting the manuscript to formatting it for ebook readers. Given the wealth of options and available talent, there’s simply no excuse not to take the plunge and create your own magnum opus!