Traditional, Hybrid, Self -- The many forms of book publishing

Chances are, you have a book in progress. It could be just an idea you're noodling around. Or an initial stab at the story. Or it could be a manuscript that you've polished and prepared and made it the best you can be. So, what next?

Publication?

If you're like many writers, that's your answer. (Not everybody writes to be published.) Today, writers have more options for publishing than ever before. It can be confusing, so this post is going to break down three of the main types of publishers that you might work with.

First, traditional publishers. 

Traditional publishers include huge companies like Penguin Random House, small independent publishers, and everything in between. 

How they work: The editor acquires a manuscript from a writer or an agent. This may be a one-person decision or depend on the input of a committee of editors and other staff members, like salespeople. (That will be another post.) The editor works with the author to make the manuscript better.

Wait a second! Didn't the first paragraph say that the manuscript was polished and made the best you can? Yes. The important word in that statement is you. Working alone, a writer can take a manuscript only so far. Another set of eyes (such as a critique group member or an editor) will notice things that you as the author miss, such as a plot hole or a character behaving in a way that seems out of character. This is developmental editing. Other editors will work with you, too, such as copyeditors. 

After the editors, there is design, who make your book look good, and production. A lot of time and effort goes into a traditionally published book.

What does it cost you? Nothing. In the traditional publishing model, the publisher puts up all the money to pay for all this work, for the printing, for the distribution, and (often) for publicity. The writer gets an advance against the money the publisher expects to earn.

Next, hybrid publishers. 

The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) defines hybrid publishing as follows:

"In short, a publisher utilizing an author-subsidized business model for the majority of its business." 

Hybrid publishers may have a similar structure to a traditional house, with staff editors and designers who will do the work to preparing your manuscript. However, the hybrid model charges writers a fee for these services. It can range from basic editing, design, and distribution to more involved services, such as publicity, social media promotions, and formatting for e-book versions.

People have various reasons for feeling that a hybrid publisher is the right fit for them. Some want to be in control of all aspects of their book, from illustration to cover design to the final edits. Others do not want to spend the time that traditional publishing involves; many traditional houses now ask writers to wait three to six months for a response -- and, alas, there may be no response unless the publisher is interested.

To help writers evaluate hybrid publishers, the IBPA set up criteria for hybrid publishers; you can find the list here.

Third, self-publishing.

Writers who go the self-publishing route will have total control — and total responsibility. The cost of publishing a book varies by genre, but expect to pay from $1000 and up. A quick search for self-publishing packages found a basic package for a 20K book priced at $2,230. It included line editing, copyediting, and basic cover design. The premium package included those services as well as five book reviews, proofreading, and a 3D book cover image for marketing purposes. This package cost $3,600.

Other self-publisher sites I looked at were not as forthcoming with their fees, though one did say that authors could buy as many copies of the finished book "at cost" as they wished. 

In any case, a number of self-published authors have enjoyed success, seeing their books picked up and re-released by traditional publishers. Among them are Lisa Genova, who self-published her novel Still Alice with iUniverse in 2007, which became a best-seller after being released by Pocket Books in 2009. Andy Weir published his novel The Martian in serial form on his website. Crown picked up The Martian in 2011.

So, which is for you?

That's a question only you can answer. You need to consider your motivations, goals, and finances. I've known people who have gone all three routes, and generally speaking, were satisfied because their choice helped them get to where they wanted to be—holding their book in their hands.

 

If you have questions, please let me know!