Navigating the Complexities of Traditional and Independent Publishing
To understand what path you want to take, we have to gain a balanced view between traditional publishing and self-publishing. Once you have all the information, you can make an informed decision.
Traditional Publishing Defined
Traditional publishing, or trade publishing, refers to the established system in which authors sell their book rights to a publishing company. In exchange, the publishing company takes responsibility for the book’s production, marketing, distribution, and sale. The author typically receives an advance payment before publication, followed by royalties from the sales.
The traditional publishing process often involves the following steps:
- The author writes a manuscript: The author writes a whole book or a proposal, which is the idea for the book they want to write.
- The author gets a literary agent: While not always necessary, many authors work with literary agents to get their work noticed by publishers. The agent pitches the author’s work to publishers and negotiates contracts on the author’s behalf. Literary agents are your IN to the publishers in most cases, as the big five publishers, 99% of the time, don’t seek unsolicited manuscripts.
- Publisher acquires the book: If a publisher is interested, they offer the author a contract. This contract gives the publisher the right to publish and sell the book.
- Book production: The publisher manages the editing, design, printing, and sometimes the book’s marketing. Traditional publishers DO NOT ask the author for a dime. The traditional publisher takes care of everything and pays the author for the rights to their book because they will make money off the author and pay the author a percentage of that profit. There is a HUGE difference between vanity presses and small presses that do not have the budget like traditional publishers.
- Book distribution and sales: The publisher distributes the book to physical and online retailers. The author receives royalties from the sales, usually a percentage of the book’s retail price.
One of the key features of traditional publishing is that the publisher assumes the financial risk of publishing the book. If the book is unsuccessful, the publisher bears the loss, not the author.
Here are some great blogs on the Pros and Cons of Traditional vs Non-Traditional publishing routes.
- “What Is Traditional Publishing?” Writer’s Digest, Link.
- “Traditional Publishing,” Masterclass, Link.
- “The Pros and Cons of Traditional Publishing,” The Creative Penn, Link.
- “The Traditional Book Publishing Process,” Penguin Random House, Link.
Let’s Define Independent Publishing
Independent publishing, also known as self-publishing, is a process where authors take on the role of the publisher. Rather than selling their book’s rights to a publishing company, the author retains them and is responsible for the entire process from writing, editing, and designing to marketing, distribution, and sales of their book.
The digital age has made self-publishing much more accessible and popular. Many platforms, like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Ingramspark, D2D, Smashwords, and Lulu, make it easier for authors to publish and get their work out there.
Here’s a simplified process of independent publishing:
- The author writes a book: The author is responsible for producing a completed manuscript.
- Author hires professionals or DIY: The author may choose to hire professional editors, cover designers, and formatters to refine their work, or they can choose to do it themselves. I would suggest doing only some things yourself as you will miss things and readers will catch them. Sure, you can be a jack of all trades but a master of none, and the proof will be in the pudding. I have first-hand experience of this.
- Book production: The author or their hired professionals manage the layout and design of the book, create a compelling book cover, and prepare the text for publication.
- Book publishing: The author chooses a self-publishing platform and publishes the book.
- Marketing and sales: The author is responsible for marketing their book and generating sales. They then receive royalties from those sales. Each platform has you sign a contract to use their platform, so in turn, they also get a piece of your pie because nothing is free; however, they take a lower percentage than the publishers do. There are pros and cons; look above for the pros and cons links throughout the blog post because it all comes down to how much work you want to put in.
References:
- “What is Self-Publishing?” Reedsy, Link.
- “How to Self-Publish a Book in 7 Steps,” Kindlepreneur, Link.
- “What is Independent Publishing,” Alliance of Independent Authors, Link.
Let’s learn about the history of Traditional Publishing because you need to know where it all began to avoid repeating bad behaviors.
The history of traditional publishing is intricately linked with the development of printing technology. Here’s a brief look at its evolution:
1. Invention of the Printing Press (15th Century): The modern concept of publishing started when Johannes Gutenberg invented the Movable type printing press around the 1400s. This revolutionary technology allowed for the mass production of books, making them more accessible to the general population.
2. Rise of Publishing Houses (16th-19th Century): The first publishing houses emerged as literacy rates increased and the demand for books grew. Notable examples include Cambridge University Press (founded in 1534), Leiden University Press (founded in 1583), and Harper & Brothers (now HarperCollins, founded in 1817).
3. The Paperback Revolution (20th Century): In the early to mid-20th Century, introducing paperback books dramatically lowered book prices, further increasing accessibility to literature. This period also saw the establishment of many publishing houses that are prominent today, like Penguin Books (founded in 1935).
4. Digital Era (Late 20th – 21st Century): Digital technology significantly changed the publishing industry. eBooks emerged in the late 20th Century, offering a new format for readers. Online retailers, especially Amazon, changed the dynamics of bookselling and distribution.
5. Current Trends (21st Century): The traditional publishing model has been challenged by the rise of self-publishing and indie authors, who can now bypass publishing houses thanks to online platforms and digital technologies.
References:
- “A Brief History of Book Publishing as Told by a Future Publisher,” B.K. Munn, Sequential, Link.
- “The History of Publishing,” Encyclopedia Britannica, Link.
- “The History of Publishing,” J.D. Harms, Medium, Link.
Most people believe Independent Publishing is new, but it’s not. Let’s learn about its history.
Independent publishing, often synonymous with self-publishing, has a history that’s as old as the book itself. Still, its recent growth and acceptance are intrinsically linked to the advancement of technology.
1. Early Examples of Self-Publishing (Historical Times – 19th Century): Authors have been self-publishing for centuries. Notable historical figures like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine self-published some of their works. In the 19th Century, authors like Walt Whitman and Virginia Woolf chose to self-publish some of their books.
2. Vanity Press Era (20th Century): Throughout the 20th Century, self-publishing was often associated with vanity presses, which charged authors high fees to publish their books. The term “vanity press” came from the perception that authors who chose this route were merely feeding their vanity, as traditional houses didn’t deem their works publishable.
3. Print-On-Demand and the Internet (Late 20th – Early 21st Century): The invention of the internet and print-on-demand technology revolutionized self-publishing. Websites like Lulu and Createspace (later merged with Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing) made it easier for authors to publish their books without a large upfront investment.
4. E-books and the Digital Revolution (21st Century): The rise of e-readers, most notably Amazon’s Kindle, and the introduction of e-book self-publishing platforms gave authors a cost-effective way to publish and distribute their work globally. The e-book format allowed for higher royalty rates for authors and lower prices for readers.
5. Today’s Independent Publishing (21st Century): Self-publishing has gained greater recognition and acceptance. Independent authors have seen significant success, sometimes surpassing traditionally published authors in sales and readership. Now more resources and services are available to independent authors, including professional editing, cover design, and marketing.
References:
- “A Brief History of Self-Publishing,” New York Book Editors, Link.
- “The History of Self-Publishing,” Self-Publishing School, Link.
- “A History of Self-Publishing,” Victorian Web, Link.
- “Self-Publishing Has Become an Invaluable Force in Publishing,” The Guardian, Link.
Now that you have the info, you can choose wisely and write on!
Until next time my friends
CJ
