Writing Wednesday
Every Wednesday I share some of the things I have found that worked well for me and some that didn’t work so well on my journey to publication, marketing and publishing again. The sort of stuff I wish somebody would have told me back then…
Publishing Choices
Traditional
Traditional Publishing is still number one through six in sales, in publications and in best -selling titles, in the world. Those top six companies are:
Hatchette Book Group
Harper Collins
McMillan
Penguin Group
Random House
Simon and Shuster (name owned by CBS)
Each of these companies also own dozens of smaller companies known as imprints. An imprint may be used when publishing in a narrow field such as sci-fi or fantasy. How it works:
Traditional publishers in most cases will only work with literary agents. If you want to be traditionally published you will first need an agent.
How it works:
Submit your finished, professionally edited manuscript to an agent
If they decide to sign you they will have you go through another round of edits
They will try to sell your manuscript to a publisher
They will negotiate a contract on your behalf
They will receive a percentage of your sales
Once they have sold your manuscript to a publisher:
You will go through yet another round of editing
A cover will be designed and a title will be decided on
Conceptual editing will be done (styling)
The Advantages of Traditional Publishing:
They put up the front money for editing, copyrighting, distribution, listing with vendors, ISBN number, marketing and advertising. They may even provide an advance. The big Publishers have connections w/ T.V., radio, Magazines etc… Prestige and credibility. Your book will be released in Hardcover and then 8 months to a year later it will be re-released in paperback. Chances are much better for international sales.
Disadvantages of Traditional Publishing:
Lack of control over everything involving your book including style, title, where it is sold, how it is marketed etc…
Earnings- You do not get paid until your advance is paid back (if you received one), royalties tend to be paid at lower percentages than other types of companies
The process tends to be impersonal
If the Publisher does not make their initial investment back in two-years they may drop you
The time frame from signing to publication can take up to two-years
Independent Publishing
Independent Publishers tend to be smaller companies and can be imprints of a larger company. Most of them operate ‘under one roof’ meaning they have editing, marketing etc…in house.
There are hundreds of Independent Publishing companies with new ones starting up every day.
Advantages of publishing with an Independent Publisher:
They may or may not require you to be represented by an agent, More author attention, Time from signing to publication can be as quick as one year, Prestige and credibility, better royalty agreement.
Disadvantages of publishing with an Independent Publisher:
Less opportunity for international sales, not impossible but unlikely
You will need to do most of the marketing
Your book may be released as an e-book prior to paperback release. It may not be released in hardcover.
Boutique, Hybrid, Subsidy, Vanity, Print on Demand and Assisted Self- Publishing Companies
This is where the publishing water gets very murky. These companies charge fees for services. Some of them are very good companies that do exactly what they say they will do and some of them are very bad companies. Some of them are extremely choosy over what they accept for publication and others will print anything. If you choose this route for publishing you must research the company, have any contract looked at by a literary attorney, request author references and order a few books that the company published to check the quality.
These companies may offer different publishing packages ranging in price from $10,000 for complete preparation to release services, $5,000 for less services and $600 or less for assistance with self-publishing such as ISBN number (your books social security number) copyrighting and formatting for Amazon and Barnes & Noble on line listings.
Advantages to this type of Publishing:
More control artistically, the highest royalties paid, a good option for special interest, regional, self-help, speakers, cookbooks and celebrities, quicker to release (less than a year.)
Disadvantages:
Some of these disadvantages are changing, rapidly. The stigma surrounding self publishing is eroding. To break through these barriers, write a good book and make sure it is professionally edited and professionally formatted.
Most libraries and book stores will not stock these books.
Lack of credibility.
Many professional reviewers will not review these books.
Some of these companies don’t handle returns and that is a distribution problem.
Keep Writing,
Doreen
15 thoughts on “Publishing Choices…”
This is exactly what I needed to read Doreen! I appreciate how much you share about this process with us newbies. I can’t imagine how many headaches it will save later. Oh wait, yes I can because I have nightmares about just that every single night haha!
You can do it!
Thanks for sharing such valuable resources, Doreen! It’s all a bit overwhelming, isn’t it?
It is so overwhelming.
There’s a hybrid, She Writes, that people are now using.
Yes, there is She Writes which falls under boutique but you are right I’m going to add hybrid to the list.
Fantastic rundown! Thank you so much. You’ve gone far beyond the basic “traditional vs. self publishing” conversation. Very helpful.
Thank you Lisa.
Again, bookmarked this valuable info! Thanks so much for always supplying such great content.
Thank you!
I did not even submit to an agent or any publishers — maybe lack of confidence or unwillingness to give up control of the most personal parts of the story or who knows what else. Yes, learning is hard but with the advice of wise people like you I am wading my through! Thanks Doreen!
You did good, now onto marketing!
It’s insane how much you have to know to get a book published. I read all about Julia Child getting her cookbook published back it the 60s…seemed like an easier time.
And it keeps changing…
My SIL has done both with her writings, I need to ask her which method she preferred or got the most benefit from. I hear people say similar things with regard to being an Indie Yarn maker/seller vs the big companies…pro’s and con’s. One thing I’ve heard most often is not getting respect, not feeling like there’s credibility because you just decide you’re going to do it and you’ve not gotten the stamp of approval for the powers that be……..though, from what I’ve seen in recent years the lack of respect for those who self publish and those indie yarners…seems to be going by the wayside. I think they are viewed in a much better light than they were previously.