Article: Publishing Tips 

Which Publishing Path is Best?

How to Choose between Traditional Vs. Self-Publishing

by Diane Eble

"Should I go through the added work of doing a book proposal and then waiting for a traditional publisher to decide on my book, or forge ahead with a self-publishing company?"

This is the happy, though difficult, decision facing two of my clients right now.

Two traditional publishers are interested in seeing their proposals and manuscripts. These are major publishers with whom it would be prestigious to publish. 

In the past, there would be no issue. But today, there is. There are now alternatives. 

Weighing Traditional vs. New Publishers

Just because an editor of a traditional publishing house expresses interest (even a very senior one like the editors at each of these publishing houses), that doesn't mean the book will be accepted. It also may mean a very lengthy wait to hear back. (Though because I know these editors personally, it may be more likely they'll give me a timely answer.) It could take up to a year or longer to get a contract. My authors may not want to wait that long.

Then, assuming a contract is offered, the royalty may not be what the author wants or needs, or can get with a different kind of publisher (such as InterMedia).

I t will be at least a year, usually more like 18 months, before the manuscript will be turned into a finished product.

And when it does, will the publisher really give the authors the push needed to launch the book successfully? The first thing the one publisher asked was, "What's the author's platform?" They want you to already have one, and expect you to promote your own book primarily. 

So what's the alternative for these authors? 

A "hybrid" publisher like InterMedia Publishing Group or Mill City Press.

With this kind of publisher, you pay for the publishing services and "do it yourself." You hire a professional designer, editor; they will package and promote your book and put it before wholesalers and retailers, giving you the distribution you need. (Some are better than others at distribution, and this is, in my view, THE key thing to look for, along with fair prices and actual delivery of promised services.) 

The big advantages to self-publishing are: control (you get to choose title—for better or worse; cover design; often even price of the book), speed (usually 90 days to get published, depending on how finished your manuscript is now), and sometimes, better service.  

As Terry Whalin pointed out in a recent interview, most traditional publishers don't do a whole lot to help you succeed as an author. (That's why I'm here!  J  )

A publisher like InterMedia makes money only as you do, so they have a vested interest in helping you succeed. (Of course, this is true for traditional publishers, too, but often they don't seem to operate as if it's true. There are many complicated forces at work in the traditional publishing business model that are not present in a model such as InterMedia. For more about this, listen to my interview with Terry Whalin.) 

More Prestige with Traditional Publishing?

Is there more prestige in publishing with a traditional publisher? Yes and no.

As far as the traditional media is concerned, yes. They recognize you've gone through "the gatekeepers" of a traditional publishing house. You're more likely to be perceived by them as a true expert.

With the general public, no. Most people don't know (or care about) the differences between a HarperCollins and an InterMedia. If the book looks like all other books they'd see in a bookstore (one of the biggest signs of self-published books is inferior design, cover, and title), the publisher doesn't matter. 

A Matter of Rights

The other big issue may come down to rights. One of my authors absolutely needs to maintain rights on other media besides the book's actual content. The book is intended as a way to establish credibility and be an introduction to the revolutionary products he has to offer. In this instance, we will have to weigh the added credibility of a traditional publisher (who might open doors being self-published may not) with the speed and rights issue. 

With my other authors (who are coauthoring the book), the issue of rights to other media may not be as important. The prestige and credibility factors (not to mention not having to pay upfront money for publishing costs) would likely be the deciding factor with them.

I have more to say on this, but will save that for another article. There is an alternative path that just may give you the best of both worlds.

How to Make the Right Choice

As you see, publishing decisions these days are not always easy or clear cut. You have to know what you want out of getting published, and weigh everything against your resources (not just money, but time and skills). 

One resource I offer to assist you in thinking through such decisions is Jump Start Your Book: 12 Steps to Writing a Book that Sells. It is similar to Write Your Book Right, except for the additional resources. Jump Start has additional resources for starting your book from scratch, learning how to write irresistible queries and book proposals, and a 20-minute coaching session to follow up and help you figure out the next best steps. 

I also offer one-on-one coaching and consulting, which you can learn more about here. 

If you're facing a decision about the best way to publish, I suggest you get Jump Start and/or contact me for a consultation.  

If you need some background in self-publishing first, listen to my interview with Mark Levine, author of The Fine Print of Self-Publishing: The Contracts & Services of 45 Self-Publishing Companies--Analyzed, Ranked and Exposed.  

And if self-publishing seems to make sense for you, make sure you get Mark's book and listen to my interview with Terry Whalin. We shared lots of "insider" information about publishing and got rave reviews from listeners. 

Complicated decisions like this are best made by doing thorough research (which is why I gave you so many resources; these are among the best), and becoming very clear on what you want.  

And, of course, getting professional input when you need it. I'm here when you're ready!