Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing

Many authors battle with the decision of what avenue to take when it’s time to publish their book. Both traditional and self-publishing are worthy and challenging avenues to get your book out into the world, but what is the best decision for you? We will go through some pros cons and questions to ask yourself when making these decisions.

What is traditional publishing?

Traditional publishing is what most people think of when they think of publishing. In fact, traditional publishing was the only type of publishing that existed until very recently. Traditional publishing is when an author submits to a publisher, whether or not they have an agent, and that publisher takes care of all the costs associated with publishing the book for a percentage of the royalties. Variations of what a publisher will cover, how much royalties they will give you, and if they will give you an advance exist. There are also publishers called boutique publishers that will traditionally publish only very specific books, such as The Publishing Room.

What is self-publishing?

Self-publishing is a more modern way of publishing. This exists because companies have set up a way that authors can set up and distribute their books themself. The most popular of these companies include Kindle Direct Publishing and Ingram Sparks. Anyone can write a book and publish their book whenever they want. They do not share royalties with anyone except what they pay in materials and shipping.

How do you traditionally publish?

Traditional publishing has many hoops one needs to jump through. After you finish writing and perfecting your manuscript, it’s time to query. Querying is when you submit your manuscript to agents and publishers for the chance to be picked up. This process can be very time-consuming and usually leads to many rejections. At The Publishing Room, we offer a course all about how to navigate traditional publishing. It also includes templates for things like a query letter and a synopsis which are an important part of the querying process.

After and if you do get picked up, the publishing process can take about two-year to be out in the world.

How do you self-publish?

Although you do not have to deal with rejection, self-publishing still has a lot of hoops you have to jump through. From editing, cover design, manuscript set up, to marketing, all tasks fall upon the author. Here at The Publishing Room, we offer a Self-Publishing Course that gives writers everything they need to self-publish their book. Self-publish can seem daunting but it doesn’t have to be.

Pros of traditional publishing?

·       No upfront costs

·       A team of people behind you

·       Validation in your writing

·       Opportunity to reach a new market

Pros of self-publishing?

·       Everything is your own timeline

·       You keep 100% of your royalties

·       You can take whatever direction you want to go

·       No one can let you down

Cons of traditional publishing?

·       Very difficult and time-consuming to secure a deal

·       Hefty loyalty sharing

·       Things take longer

·       You might not have everything exactly how you want it

Cons of self-publishing?

·       All your own money upfront—example: editing can be expensive

·       A big learning curve at first

·       Time-consuming set-up

·       All your mistakes are your own

How do you make a decision?

·       What’s important to you?

Do you care about getting validation from a publishing company? Or do you just want even a few people to read your words? These are the questions you need to ask yourself when making your publishing decisions.

·       When do you want it?

Are you okay with waiting two years for your book to be out in the world? Or do you want to have it out sooner?

·       What’s your budget?

Self-Publishing is more expensive at the front end, but it can also lead to more money later down the road. Are you able to front the cash to follow your dreams or do you need someone else to do it for you?

Whatever decision you make for your publishing journey, just know that both options are valid and worthy. It’s important that people hear your words and you have a place to share them. There is no right or wrong decision and even if you try one the first time, you can always try the other the next time. Rememeber, if you ever need help along the way, The Publishing Room is here to make it easier for you.