The Author’s Crossroads: Traditional vs. Self-Publishing
Is it better to self-publish or get a publisher? Here’s a candid look at the pros and cons of traditional publishing and true self-publishing.
The Author’s Crossroads: Traditional vs. Self-Publishing
For decades, authors faced a rigid gatekeeping system: Either land a deal with a traditional publisher or give up the dream of publishing their book. Since the advent of “self-publishing,” the landscape has completely shifted. Authors have more options than ever regarding how to get their book into the world. The trick now is deciding what route to take.
At 1106 Design, we meet authors every day who are standing at the crossroads between traditional and self-publishing. Here is a candid look at some pros and cons of both routes.
Understanding Traditional Book Publishing: Pros and Cons
Most authors looking into this route immediately think of the largest publishing houses, such as Penguin Random House. There are smaller firms, however, that may be more fitting for your book and can have more close-knit ties with their authors.
Just keep in mind that nothing about the traditional route is guaranteed. Even some of the most famous authors faced one rejection after another before finally getting their big break.
Pro tips:
Wherever you decide to query, always research the firm first. Resources such as Writer Beware, The Authors Guild, and Writer’s Digest are invaluable in learning about the industry, vetting potential agents and publishers, and avoiding scams.
A literary agent is recommended for this path. Many traditional publishers won’t consider unagented authors, and an agent can be instrumental in helping negotiate a fair deal.
Traditional publishers favor authors who already have a strong platform and large social media following. Despite what many authors believe, publishers generally will not create or manage your website, socials, or otherwise put a lot of effort into front-end marketing. Their marketing efforts are focused more on the back end, such as outreach to retailers, libraries, and trade reviewers, and they tend to backlist titles (stop actively marketing them) after a few months.
Benefits of Traditional Publishing
No upfront costs: Perhaps the biggest benefit of this route is that there are no out-of-pocket production costs—not with legitimate publishers. The publisher pays for the editing, cover design, typesetting, and any other necessary services to create a professional product.
Advance payment: Depending on your contract, you may receive an upfront financial advance against your future royalties.
Easy distribution: Traditional publishers have established pipelines that make it easier to get books into physical bookstores. Retailers and libraries tend to favor traditionally published books.
Competitive list prices: Your book can usually be priced more competitively. Traditional publishers often have access to cheaper overseas printers to help reduce overhead.
Downsides of Traditional Publishing
No control: You surrender creative control and rights. The publisher gets the final say on your cover art, title, and sometimes even the content of your manuscript. The specific rights you grant the publisher can vary based on the contract.
Low royalties: Because the publisher assumes all financial risk and foots the bill for production, authors typically only see about 5% to 15% of the domestic print book royalties, (often around 25% for eBooks). As with other aspects, your royalty percentage will vary according to the contract. If you receive an advance against your royalties, royalty payments won’t start until the publisher has sold enough copies to account for the advance they paid you. Additionally, agents take a cut of your earnings (commonly around 15% for domestic sales).
Slow turnaround: Traditional publishing is a long process. It can take years of querying to find an agent and land a deal, and then 18 months or more before the book actually goes to print, if it finds acceptance at all. The publisher can even choose to delay your launch based on their existing catalog and market conditions.
Less stability: If the publisher is bought out or otherwise folds, you may get stuck in limbo, unsure where your rights rest or whether you can seek out a new publisher.
True Self-Publishing: Weighing Out the New Industry Standard
Notice we specify “true” self-publishing. There is a lot of misinformation online about what self-publishing actually is, and hybrid publishers have muddied the waters.
With true self-publishing, the author acts as the publisher, taking on all financial responsibility but also reaping all rewards and retaining all rights. This doesn’t mean you have to do everything on your own, however.
You can (and should) hire experts to help with editing, proofreading, cover design, interior design and layout, eBook formatting, audiobook production, and any other desired services. This is essential so you can compete well against traditionally published books.
You can either hire separate freelancers and manage the team yourself, or you can hire an experienced author services company like 1106 Design that provides project management and end-to-end editing and production services that will ensure your book is created according to traditional publishing standards.
Pro Tips:
Vet any service before hiring them to avoid scams. The Alliance of Independent Authors, IngramSpark, and Reedsy provide excellent information for self-publishers.
We recommend avoiding hybrid publishers that charge authors up front AND take a cut of author earnings off the back end. The only reason it makes sense for traditional publishers to dip into author royalties is that they, not the author, shoulder all financial burden. If you’re paying a service to produce your book, that service has no right to also take a cut of your earnings.
Purchase your own ISBNs from the official ISBN agency of your country (Bowker, for the US) to ensure you are the publisher of record and allow for greatest flexibility regarding where you may print and distribute your book.
We recommend using IngramSpark and KDP to print and distribute your books. This article from The Alliance of Independent Authors is perfect for explaining why.
Benefits of Self-Publishing
Full control: Again, you retain full creative control and retain all your intellectual property rights. You choose the title, accept or reject editorial suggestions, approve the interior typography, and dictate the cover design.
Higher per-book profit: All net revenue (the profit left over after subtracting the print costs, any distribution or market access fees, and wholesale discount) is yours to keep. You can control how much compensation you receive by setting your own retail price and wholesale discount (depending on what distribution platform you use).
Faster turnaround (usually): Your book is published on your timeline, no need to wait for anyone else’s approval. At 1106 Design, once a manuscript is finalized and submitted to us, it generally takes around 3-4 months (for average-length books) to make a manuscript market-ready. Because we allow authors to weigh in on every decision, however, this timeline can vary based on author review time and the number of file revisions requested.
Downsides of Self-Publishing
Upfront fees: To compete with traditional books, you must act like a publisher. This means paying upfront to hire professional editors and top-tier book designers. Cutting corners here is the biggest mistake new authors make. Costs will vary based on who you hire. Our pricing for each service is listed on our website.
Licensing worries: As the publisher, you are responsible for ensuring you do not infringe on anyone else’s copyright. For instance, if your cover features artwork or fonts that you don’t have permission to use, you are liable.
More responsibility: You are responsible for the business side of things from day one, from hiring the right production team to setting up your distribution accounts and marketing your book.
The Verdict: Choosing the Right Publishing Strategy
The debate between traditional publishing and self-publishing basically boils down to your goals, budget, and how long you’re willing to wait. Both paths can be viable, but neither is a one-size-fits-all solution.
Those who put the most value on control and independence may favor self-publishing. As long as you’re willing to invest in meticulous editing and industry-standard design, true self-publishing offers unparalleled freedom.
You don’t need a traditional gatekeeper to legitimize your voice—you just need the right professional team behind you to ensure your book shines among the best on the shelf. Contact us today to learn how we can help.
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