How do you want to publish your book?

This is one of the first questions I ask every author I talk to.

Since I only work with authors who want to publish, it’s important they understand their options and what those options mean. For most writers, there are two main paths available for publishing: traditional and self.

Sometimes authors come to me with elaborate fantasies of what they think traditional publishing is and not what is real.

The dream they’re chasing involves signing a contract with a big New York agent in Times Square, going on an epic Rolling Stones national book tour, and seeing a cardboard cutout of themselves next to a table of their novels in every airport from Los Angeles to Boston. Traditional publishing is viewed as a mythical kingdom where the streets are paved with gold.

The reality is much different.

In this post, we're going to talk about a few of these realities.

What is traditional publishing?

Traditional publishing is an established process which, at a very basic level, looks like this:

1. You submit your finished novel to a literary agent.

2. The agent evaluates your novel and decides whether to take you on as a client.

3. Once an agent accepts you as a client, they then submit your novel to a publishing house.

4. The publishing house evaluates your novel and decides whether they want to publish it.

5. Once your novel is accepted, you work with a team of professionals to edit, produce, distribute, and market your book.

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The above process is more complicated than those 5 steps. What’s important to know is that this is a process with many moving parts, exit ramps, and no guarantees.

5 Pros of Traditional Publishing

#1 Perceived prestige

Many authors view traditional publishing as a mark of prestige and legitimacy. They believe that being traditionally published validates their efforts and provides them with the automatic respect of their peers. There are writers who believe that if they’re not traditionally published, then they aren’t “real” writers.

#2 Wider distribution

There aren’t as many physical bookstores as there used to be. (Remember Waldenbooks?) This translates into less physical book space for books. Traditional publishers have established relationships with booksellers, which can help authors get their books into that coveted book space.

#3 Advance payments

Traditional publishers offer advance payments for their work, which can provide financial support during the writing process and help with expenses.

#4 Professional editing

Traditional publishers typically provide professional editing services to their authors, which can help improve the quality of the manuscript and increase chances of success.

#5 Marketing support

Traditional publishers typically have dedicated marketing and publicity teams who can help promote the author and their work through various channels, including book reviews, media appearances, and social media.

5 Cons of Traditional Publishing

#1 Difficulty getting published

The biggest challenge of traditional publishing is getting a publishing contract in the first place. Agents and publishers are very selective in the books they choose to represent. Most publishing houses won’t look at books that are not represented by an agent, and agents can receive hundreds of submissions a week. How many authors do they sign contracts with? Depending on the agent, typically less than ten a year.

#2 Loss of creative control

When you sign a contract with a publishing house, you are selling your story and creative control over to an investor. This means you'll likely have very little or possibly no say in the direction the publisher takes your novel. This can include things like cover design, title, marketing strategies, and even editorial changes to the story itself.

#3 Lower royalties

Authors typically receive a percentage of the book’s cover price as their royalty. This percentage depends on the publisher, the author’s negotiating power, and other factors. However, the publisher also deducts their expenses, such as printing, distribution, and marketing costs, from the book’s revenues before calculating royalties. Agents also get a percentage of your novel's sales in perpetuity. Do you receive advanced payments? Yes, but often not as much or as fast as you might need to earn a living solely from writing.

#4 Lack of Marketing Support

Some authors believe that as soon as they sell their novel to a publishing house, they can wipe their hands and everything related to sales will be taken care of. This is not the case. In today’s publishing climate, you will have to be engaged at some level in selling your book. How much you’ll have to do will depend on the contract you signed, and how much money the publisher is willing to spend. For most books, that's not very much.

#5 Length of time

All of this takes time. Usually a lot more time than an author expects. It can take years before your novel is accepted by an agent, purchased by a publishing house, and is available for sale. And there are lots of places in the process where something can go wrong and keep your book from ever seeing a bookshelf.

Should you publish traditionally?

Now that you know some of the big picture pros and cons, here are 6 questions to ask yourself:
(Be honest!)

1. Does my novel fit with what traditional publishers are currently seeking?

2. Am I comfortable receiving lots and lots of rejections and no responses?

3. Do I have the patience to go through the submission process and wait for the publishing process to take its course?

4. Am I willing to change my novel based on feedback from an agent and publisher?

5. Am I prepared to give up creative control of my novel?

6. Am I comfortable with the payment system for traditional publishing?

Despite the complications of traditional publishing, it still holds a significant place in the industry. Doomsayers may say it’s going away, but it’s not. At least not in our lifetime.

Many authors don’t understand what it is they’re committing themselves to when they say they want to traditionally publish.

I've had clients tell me, "I didn't realize what I was getting myself into."

If you want to traditionally publish, then go for it. Educate yourself on what exactly it is you’re chasing and why. Do your research and talk to many other authors and industry professionals.

Don’t go into this chasing a dream that’s not real. It’s too heartbreaking.

Hello!
My name is Jocelyn.

Story warrior, book lover, day dreamer, gardener, and creative. I help serious writers roll up their sleeves, get their novel ready for publishing, and reach readers. When I’m not elbow-deep in the story trenches, I’m outside world-building in my garden and battling weeds with my three criminal mastermind cats.