It can be a dilemma for a writer planning to make his or her work official: as an ebook or a print book. Should the traditional publishing route be the first or only option? How about self publishing?
The question on most writers’ minds is this: what are the benefits and disadvantages of both routes?
Comparing and contrasting the two options, while weighing the benefits is very crucial when deciding on publishing your book. You definitely want to publish your book, right? But with which method? Which one would be most appropriate and convenient? In this comprehensive guide, we explore the pros and cons of traditional publishing vs self publishing to help you make an informed decision.
There isn’t a strict yes and no when it comes to both methods of publishing. Depending on your needs, finances, available tools, time and other factors, one or the other can be the better option.
So let’s right away look at what we mean when we say Traditional publishing, and what is meant by Self-publishing, shall we?
Traditional Publishing
To understand what traditional book publishing is, let’s describe what it entails.
It generally involves four distinct steps: manuscript submission, editorial evaluation, copy editing, and printing and binding.
Manuscript submission is the first step in traditional book publishing. Authors submit their manuscripts to publishing houses, who then pass them on to editors. Editorial evaluation, the second step in the process, is the period during which editors decide whether or not to accept the manuscript. At the copy editing stage, the manuscript is revised and refined. Printing and binding is the fourth and final step in traditional book publishing, during which the manuscript is turned into a physical book.
With that explained, let’s look at the pros of this method of publishing.
Pros
1. Traditional publishers have more financial resources to invest in marketing and publicity. They handle the book marketing needs of the author, saving the writer a lot of work and money.
2. Traditional publishers have larger distribution networks and established relationships with booksellers, meaning, your book is likely to benefit from a very wide distribution, and become well known among book retailers and readers.
3. Editorial feedback and guidance is provided to help improve your book. These publishers definitely want the best work published and would do everything to make sure it is worth its price.
4. Traditional publishers typically offer advances and royalties to authors, which can provide a financial incentive to write.
5. Authors are not charged for publishing. The publisher bears all publishing costs.
Cons
1. It can take a long time to hear back from a publisher, and even longer to see your book in print.
2. Publishers typically only accept a small percentage of submissions, so the chances of getting published are quite low.
3. Your manuscript can get rejected. Even if you have a good manuscript, it may not be what the publisher is looking for at that time.
4. You may have little control over the editing process and the final product.
5. Once your book is published, you may not get much royalties unless it becomes a bestseller.
Self-Publishing
Self-publishing means publishing your work without the involvement of an established publisher.
This can be done either through print-on-demand services, especially through self-publishing websites, or by directly printing copies of the book. Self-publishing is often considered a faster method of publishing, hence it’s become a popular option for writers.
The author takes on all of the responsibility and costs associated with publishing the book. This includes editing, book cover design, printing, distribution and promotion. For a list of self-publishing sites you can consider if you decide to follow this route, check out my post on 10 best self-publishing sites.
Pros
1. The writer is in complete control of the content and presentation of his or her book.
2. The author does not have to go through the many rejections that traditional publishing houses hand out.
3. Writers keep a larger percentage of (if not all) the profits from book sales.
4. The author gets to decide when the book should be released.
5. It is a quicker and seemingly easier means of publishing.
6. You can build a strong personal brand as an author.
Cons
1. Unless you are able to market your book effectively, it will be difficult to get it into the hands of readers.
2. There is limited editorial and design assistance. Most self-publishing sites do not offer any or the same level of editorial and design assistance as traditional publishers. This can result in a poorer quality book.
3. Self-publishing can be a costly venture, and there is no guarantee that you will make your money back. The writer has to bear all costs of designing, printing and marketing which can be a heavy financial burden.
4. The self-publishing process can be very time-consuming, and you may have to invest a significant amount of time in editing and promoting your book.
5. Self-published books are sometimes perceived as being of lower quality than traditionally published books, which can make it difficult to build a readership.
Conclusion
As always, the final decision is yours, but your choice would depend on many factors, including your budget, the time you have available and how early you wish to publish. As said earlier, there is no yes and no answer to both routes of publishing. Writers have used both paths and succeeded or failed either way. Hardwork, perseverance and commitment does help a lot in the long run.
I hope these comparisons help you make your final decision as an author.
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