by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Once you have completed a manuscript for a book whether a novel or work of non-fiction, you then have to decide how you want it published. This decision will depend on many things, including time and money.
You have two major choices: find a traditional publisher or self-publish. There are pros (advantages) and cons (disadvantages) to each.
Traditional publisher: This is the publishing company (like Bantam, Avon, TOR, Harlequin) that you must query, and then follow their guidelines as per outlines, synopses, full manuscripts etc.
Self-Publishing: There are two main ways to do this: ‘do it yourself’ (some people call this “true self-publishing”) or subsidy publishing, where you pay for a package and the publisher handles some of the distribution.
The main disadvantages of a traditional publisher:
Finding a traditional publisher is a long process and there are no guarantees. It can take years of rejection letters before you even get a request for a full manuscript. Less than 2% of all manuscripts submitted are ever published.
- Your book is NOT guaranteed to be on every bookstore shelf.
- Promotion and advertising is up to the author.
- Events are also the author’s responsibilities.
- You will earn less per book.
The main disadvantages of DIY self-publishing:
- You have to do everything yourself: design the book or hire someone, handle all sales and shipping, and receive returns. You have to get vendor accounts at Amazon.com and Chapters.ca to sell your books there. While this can be done, it is time consuming and sometimes not that easy.
- You’ll need space to store thousands of copies. Distribution will be done by yourself or by hiring a distributor. You will probably have to do consignments in most stores. Your book will NOT be on every bookstore shelf. Promotion and advertising is up to the author.
- Events are also the author’s responsibilities. You will pay thousands of dollars for set-up and start-up costs to run this business.
- You won’t have as much time to write since you’ll be too busy with orders and promoting your book.
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Filed under: Articles, Questions on Self-Publishing, Self-Publishing Books, Writers Resources | Tagged: book publish, book publishers, book publishing, get published, how to get published, publish a book, publishing a book, self-published, self-publishing, self-publishing a book, Xlibris
