A few decades ago, things seemed to be simpler. The path for writers who wanted to publish was clear: get the attention of publishing houses. Although this was no easy task, at least they knew which way to go.
The development of DIY software and the advancement of the Internet have opened new gates for writers that want to be successful. But having so many opportunities can backfire if you don’t know where to start.
Self-publishing, for example, sounds very attractive. You don’t need a publishing house’s support to release and sell your books. But it’s not as easy as it sounds.
While self-publishing seems attractive, there are many things to consider if you want to achieve your goals. Also, the traditional publishing methods still exist, and many are still using them.
If you don’t know which path to take, you can find some answers in this article. It features a comparison between self-publishing and traditional publishing.
Self-publishing vs traditional publishing
The oldest publishing house is Cambridge University Press, which was granted a publishing license (a ‘Royal Charter’) by Henry VIII. They released their first book in 1584.
Since then, the industry has grown immensely but has experienced a setback in the past decades. This is due to the rise of other forms of entertainment like TV, live streaming, YouTube, video games, etc. But this only opened the gates for new publishing ways to arise.
This section presents a comparison between these options based on categories. These are the main aspects that writers need to consider when starting their careers.
Profitability
Self-publishing
Undoubtedly, self-publishing wins this round. If you release your own book, you can set the price you want and get all the profits. You’ll have expenses, but all the earnings will be for you.
Traditional publishing
The main advantage is that you don’t have to invest your own money to publish. But you need to consider that the royalty rates are usually 10% of the retail price. This means that if a book is selling for 20USD, the author gets 2USD.
Market reach
Self-publishing
Without a publishing house, the marketing efforts are all at your expense. This means you need to invest either money or time (or both) to promote your book. If you already have followers, this task will be easier. Some writers get followers by blogging, offering workshops, etc.
Traditional publishing
Publishing houses take care of everything for you. They place your book in stores and promote it. This is a huge advantage because they have their followers and marketing channels in place. If you don’t have enough time or are not good at marketing, traditional publishing is the best option.
Technical aspects (edition and layout)
Self-publishing
There are many technical aspects pertaining book publishing, the main ones being edition and layout. After you write your story, you will need a good editor to revise it. If you are thinking you can do it yourself, think again. Even the greatest authors had had editors they trusted. The author can’t have enough perspective to revise his/her own work.
After this, you’ll need to arrange your page layout. This includes:
- Font
- Font size
- Spacing
- Page numbers
- Chapter disposition
If your book has pictures, bullet points, or graphics you must make sure they are readable and nice-looking.
Traditional publishing
With the traditional path, all this is done for you. The publishing house takes care of these aspects and, since this is their business, they provide quality.
The creative aspect and ownership rights
Self-publishing
Self-publishing is the best option in this regard. Writers can choose their topic and storylines freely. They also have full rights over their work.
Traditional publishing
This may vary depending on the deal. In general, publishing houses retain distribution rights for a certain period. For example, they may have exclusivity to distribute your book for 2 years. This means that you are not free to use your work as you please or share it with whoever and whenever you want.
Also, they can ask you to make changes or require certain topics if you want to publish with them.
Self-publishing vs traditional publishing in a nutshell
Self-publishing
Pros:
- More profitability
- Full control of your work and ownership
- You are responsible for the book’s quality (style correction, proofreading, layout, etc.)
- You are responsible for the book’s promotion
- Requires a higher investment (time and money)
Cons:
Traditional publishing
Pros:
- Higher validation
- No investment needed
- Possibility to reach more people
- More chances of placing your book in stores
- Deals are hard to get
- Less or no control over the creative aspects, and ownership and distribution rights
- Lower profitability
Cons:
Can I combine both options?
Many people wonder if they can combine both alternatives. This is a possibility but there are some things to consider.
If you self-publish and don’t have as many sales, it will be harder to publish traditionally. Publishing houses won’t see you as a profitable option.
And if you are successful, shifting to traditional won’t be profitable for you unless you can get a very good deal.
Self-publishing vs traditional publishing: Which one to choose?
Waiting for the right publishing deal from a traditional source can be frustrating, but it can be worth the wait. This is the cheapest and simpler option.
Many writers choose to publish their own books. But in this case, they are in charge of the edition, proofreading, layout, and promotion of their work. This is the more profitable option if you are willing to invest some money and conduct the necessary research.