What Ways Can You Publish a Book?
The two primary ways to publish a book are self-publishing and traditional publishing, but choosing between the two can be a daunting decision for aspiring authors, each path carrying its own allure. Traditional publishing boasts glamour and prestige, while self-publishing offers unparalleled freedom and creative control.
There’s also a third option growing in popularity in recent years. It’s known as hybrid publishing, which blends elements of both traditional and self-publishing. This choice should not be taken lightly, considering factors such as the book's genre and audience, your willingness to contribute to the process, and the brand you aim to build.
We understand the complexity of this decision and are here to help aspiring authors like you assess what's best for them, guiding them toward the right path to effectively prepare for the next steps. We want you to make informed decisions that will serve your goals for success.
What is the Difference Between Traditional Publishing and Self-Publishing?
When deciding how to bring your book into the world, it's important to understand the key differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing.
Traditional Publishing
Traditional publishing involves acquiring a literary agent who helps you submit your manuscript to established publishing houses, where, if accepted, the publisher takes responsibility for editing, designing, marketing, and distributing the book.
Involves approval by literary agents and publishers.
Doesn't require upfront financial investment by the author.
Longer timeline due to the submission and review process.
Works off a shared royalty model, meaning the author and publisher both earn a percentage of book sales.
Self-Publishing
Self-publishing is a method where authors independently publish and distribute their books, taking charge of all aspects, including editing, cover design, and marketing.
Authors have complete autonomy and don't require external approval.
Involves upfront costs for editing, cover design, and marketing expenses borne by the author.
Quicker, allowing for faster time-to-market.
All your royalties earned stay with you.
What is Hybrid Publishing?
In between these two options is something called hybrid publishing. Hybrid publishing is meant for authors who want to retain more control but also benefit from the expertise of a publishing partner. With hybrid publishing, authors generally:
Pay for services like editing or cover design.
Get professional support to produce a high-quality book.
Will share their royalties with the press.
Just because you’re paying for services and sharing royalties, it doesn’t mean hybrid publishing is not a “good deal” for authors. It depends on a lot of factors, like who you team up with and what your goals are.
However, you must be cautious of vanity presses. These companies often present themselves as legitimate publishers, but their goal is to profit from the author rather than the success of the book. Vanity presses charge high fees for services without offering the distribution, marketing, or support that a true hybrid publisher would provide. Essentially, they make their money from the author, not the book sales.
Get Free Resources for Writers
Whether you want to self-publish or traditionally publish a book, we’ve got free resources for writers to understand and work through various aspects of the publishing journey.
What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing Your Book Publishing Path?
Deciding how to publish your book is a personal decision based on your unique situation and goals. Here are some questions for you to consider when deciding which publishing path is best for you:
What are your publishing goals?
This might seem like too broad of a question to ask but understanding your goals is crucial. Self-publishing offers more control and faster time-to-market but also requires a bigger financial investment. Traditional publishing might provide wider distribution and editorial support, but it’s a competitive market with unpredictable timeframes. Knowing your priorities sets the tone for your decision.
What are your long-term writing aspirations?
Consider your long-term writing career. Some authors use self-publishing to kickstart their careers and later transition to traditional publishing. Others prefer the independence of self-publishing because they already have an established brand to build off of on their own. Clarifying your long-term strategy can guide your initial decision about which route to take.
What level of financial investment are you prepared for?
Self-publishing requires an upfront investment for services like editing, cover design, and marketing. Traditional publishing typically doesn't cost the author, but the trade-off may be lower royalties and less creative control. It's about aligning your publishing choice with your financial capacity and ensuring that your decision doesn't hinder your overall financial goals.
How involved do you want to be in the publishing process?
Understanding your willingness and capacity to contribute to the publishing process is vital for either path. Traditional publishing requires author involvement in marketing and promotional efforts. But it goes beyond substantial promotion when you decide to self-publish, as you’re taking on every aspect of the process from distribution to sales to marketing and beyond. Get clear on how much you’re willing to take on independently throughout the journey.
What genre and audience are you targeting?
Certain genres and niche markets may find more success in one publishing path over the other. A mainstream romance novel might be more suited for traditional publishing than an erotica or highly niched novel. Research the market trends for your specific genre to inform your decision.
How resilient are you to handling rejection?
Traditional publishing often involves rejection from literary agents and publishers. If resilience to rejection is a challenge, self-publishing might offer a more direct path. Plus, traditional publishing involves relinquishing some control and facing tough critiques to align with the publisher's vision. Assessing your comfort with this trade-off is essential.
What is your timeline for publication?
Self-publishing is generally quicker, allowing you to get your book into readers' hands faster. Traditional publishing timelines are longer due to the submission and review process. Assess your patience and urgency in getting your work out and why that timeline is significant to your success.
Let Our Galaxy Help You Decide How to Publish Your Book
We understand that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by making informed decisions about how to publish your book and get it into readers’ hands. In our Pathways to Publication workshop, we’ll work together to help you decide how to publish your book based on your unique goals and be with you to create a plan for how to get started once you decide.
Are you an aspiring author? Our Galaxy Publishing Wants to Help You Publish a Book
Our Galaxy Publishing is an all-in-one solution for aspiring authors, offering them the education, tools, and resources they need to write, edit, publish, design, and market their books. We assist authors at all levels of their publishing journey, whether they’re looking for a literary agent to traditionally publish, are going all-in on their self-publishing venture, or are unsure of which book publishing path to take. We are a service-based platform, meaning all the creative power stays in the writers’ hands. No long-term agreements or contracts, no splitting royalties, and no sharing of your intellectual property. You tell us your aspirations and goals, and we’ll guide you to making them happen through our publishing services and author workshops.
Are you a Black, Brown, Indigenous, Latino, or Asian writer?
We recognize the disparities in the publishing landscape, from the inequity of opportunities to the misrepresentation of marginalized communities in literature. As part of our initiative to support the amplification of diverse voices in literature and publishing, we offer 10% off of our services to all women-identifying BIPOC writers. Your story, both your personal one and the one you've written, deserves to be at the forefront.