As a first-time writer, you should know about the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing.
One of the first decisions you will need to make is whether or not you will self-publish or traditionally publish your book.
Now, one of the reasons why this aspect is such an important decision is because there are two very different journeys – depending on the pact that you choose for yourself, as the steps for each publication route will be different.
For example, if you opt for traditional publishing, you will need to know how to find a literary agent, as well as there are certain guidelines that the traditional publishing industry has set up, such as word count and formatting, that you need to adhere to.
Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing
Whether or not you choose the self-publishing or traditional publishing route, there is no right or wrong answer, as this decision is very much dependent on your goals as a writer.
For example, some of the things that you might want to consider include how much control you actually want over your book.
Do you want to have the final say on the cover of your book, the book title, and the final edit? Also, how many books do you plan to write? For instance, if your plan is only to write one book, then the better route for you could be self-publishing.
Traditional Publishing Starts with a Literary Agent
When it comes to traditional publishing, you will first need to find a literary agent.
The literary agent is someone to whom you will send a query letter in which you will basically introduce yourself and explain to them what your manuscript is about.
If the literary agent is interested in your manuscript, they will respond back to you and ask you for a full version of the book (in most cases), and sometimes they ask for a few chapters.
However, in most cases, the literary agent, if they are interested, will ask you for the complete version of your book.
This aspect emphasizes the importance of having a completed version of your manuscript ready if you are opting for traditional publication and you are preparing to send out your query letter to a literary agent.
Keep in mind that this is your one opportunity to make a good impression, which is why you will need everything prepared and ready so that you don’t mess up your chance at the last minute.
That said, if the agent is happy with your manuscript, hopefully, their next step will be to sign you to their literary agency, and then, on your behalf, they will reach out to different traditional publishers who publish the type of book that you write.
Traditional Publishing – Potential Advantages and Royalty
Literary agents have a multitude of different relationships – so – they are able to get your books in bookstores and set you up for media opportunities.
This aspect also means that traditional publishers have experience.
So, if you opt for traditional publishing, you will naturally feel confident that you have gotten yourself a good opportunity to do so once the book hits the market.
More importantly, if you opt for traditional publishing, the traditional publisher will pay you royalty and oversee every aspect of your book.
As the traditional final say on various things, including the following:
- The book title
- The book cover
- The final edit of your book
Now, you have a better overview of what you will be signing up for with traditional publishing, which will allow you to make decisions accordingly.
Understanding Self-Publishing – Potential Advantages
Self-publishing is all about publishing your book yourself, which also gives you more control over the entire publication process.
It is important to mention here that you will also pay for all costs associated with writing your book, editing it, and finally getting it published.
You will also be responsible for your book cover, the formatting, and the final editing.
If you opt for the self-publication route, you will also be the person who hires the different people in order to complete your book.
If you opt for self-publication, it might be a better option to avoid taking the responsibility of editing your book yourself, especially if this is not the area that you are proficient in.
Even if you were to be efficient in this area, it might be a better idea to have another set of eyes look at your work and assess what you have written.
When it comes to self-publication, you will also need to hire a book cover designer, someone who can format the inside of your book, and someone to perform the final editing version of your book.
You should also know that there is a lot of scrutiny around self-published authors, which is why you will always want to hire professionals so that you have people who can actually compete with your book with other self-published books within the market.
Also, if you are self-publishing, you will want to hire professionals to edit and proofread your books so that you can be objective and have another set of eyes look at your book and provide you with much-needed feedback on certain areas on which you can improve your manuscript.
Once you have everything in place, you can move on to personally publish your book on Amazon or some other platform that is exclusive to the self-publication of books.
However, as a first-time writer and as a first-time self-publisher, you might want to opt for Amazon only because it is a relatively simple platform that makes self-publication so much easier.
More importantly, if you choose the self-publication route, you will also be responsible for social media and all sorts of marketing that is linked to your books.
The Takeaway
Now that you know how self-publication differs from traditional publishing your book, you are in the position to make a better decision for your first book.
No matter what route you opt for, make sure to hire a professional proofreader and editor to ensure that your book is good-quality and that your ideal readers like your book.
