So, you have just completed your manuscript and self-edited it, too. Now, you are seriously contemplating which route of publication to choose. You have two options for getting your book published: traditional publishing and self-publishing.
Both publication routes offer vastly different experiences, which is why it is incredibly important for you to consider both options so that you can make an informed decision about which option is the best one for your book and your potential situation.
There is No Right or Wrong Way
Now, you might have found people debating how self-publication is the only way to get your book in the hands of your ideal readers – but the truth is that there is no single way to publish, which is right. In simpler words, no publishing option is better or worse than the other.
Each book publication route comes with its own set of pros and cons, which is why you need to determine for yourself which publication route makes the most sense. Keep in mind that you can find success and failure going down both paths, which is truly why there is no right or wrong way to publish.
Assess Your Personal Goals
There are several things you should consider when deciding on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, including your personal goals. Ask yourself the serious question of how important it is to you to actually see your book displayed on the shelf at a physical library or bookstore.
If seeing your book displayed at a physical bookstore is incredibly meaningful to you, then opting for the traditional path of publication might be a better option for you.
The reason is that traditional publishers have enormous book distribution networks and business relationships with bookstores. Getting your book onto a shelf at a physical library or store means that you need the broad market reach that a traditional publisher can offer you.
Self-Publication Places Major Responsibility On You
As a writer, you should know that if you opt for self-publishing, then you are responsible for your own book distribution. Of course, it is possible to get your book displayed at the local bookstore, especially at local indie bookstores – but – it falls on you to initiate the mandatory networking and conversations about stocking and displaying your books with booksellers.
So, if you believe that you have great marketing or networking skills or even that you have the right team of people who can do the necessary for you, then check out more about ways to self-publish your book and how to get your book into the hands of your ideal readers.
Speaking of self-publication, Amazon is an extremely popular option. If you choose this platform, your primary focus will be on online sales instead of in-person sales.
Assess How Important is Clout To You
Another question to ask yourself when you are in doubt about which publication route to opt for is how important credibility or clout matters to you. The thing is that when you choose the route of traditional publication, there is a certain level of clout that comes with it.
The underlying reason is that the industry of traditional publishing is highly competitive, and you have to display patience and determination while going through several layers of checkpoints to finally get a literary agent to agree to team up with you and get your book published by a publishing house.
This aspect indicates that anyone who is in the writing industry and understands the drills of getting traditionally published will be pretty impressed when they get to know that you have been published by one of the major publishing houses.
On that note, traditional publishing might be a better option if you value prestige and credibility.
Self-Publication Has No Potential Barriers
The number one reason why more and more writers are turning to self-publication is that there are no potential barriers to entering this industry. Self-publication is essentially a simple process for anyone who successfully puts together a book and wants to display it online through any self-publishing platform of their choice.
Assess Your Budget And What You Can Afford
Another crucial factor to consider when choosing between traditional publishing and self-publishing is the cost or your budget. Things are less costly when you opt for traditional publishing. The traditional publishing house will typically offer you an advance, which is a lump sum that you earn – no matter the number of copies your book sells.
Traditional Publication – No Upfront Costs
Your book might sell one copy – it might even sell a thousand copies – but you will still get to keep all of the money that the traditional publishing house offers you in advance.
If you opt for the traditional route of publication, the publishing house will cover all of the production costs related to your book, including cover design, marketing, and editing. Although you won’t be paying anything upfront, you should know that you will be earning a lower percentage in terms of royalty rates.
Self-Publishing – More Royalties Earned
If you choose the self-publication route, you will retain a much larger share of the royalties on every book that you successfully sell on different platforms. Your royalties can vary depending on the platform that you choose.
However, you will need to bear all of the potential upfront costs yourself. To publish a book that is successful and appeals to the readers, you will have to invest in high-quality professional services, which means that you will be hiring an editor, a proofreader, a book cover designer, and a marketing team, too.
With self-publishing, it is very unlikely that your book is going to do very well if you don’t have a professional-looking cover or you don’t have professional editing done to ensure that each page of your book is polished and as good as traditionally published books.
Final Thoughts
Money plays an important role in the decision to self-publish vs. traditional publishing, which is why you must assess your budget and how much money you have to invest in your book project. If you are running low on money, you might want to opt for traditional publishing. Yes – it will take you longer to get your book out – but – money won’t be a problem.
