“Should I choose traditional publishing or self-publishing?” this is # 1 question authors ask about publishing.

Traditional publishing or self-publishing?

In this weeks blog we tackle the big number one question new and unpublished authors ask. Should I choose traditional publishing or self-publishing?

Today we are digging in to that most important question that lots of new and unpublished authors literally battle with. This is a nuts and bolts look at the questions you must ask yourself about publishing your book, and the likelihood of success or making money at writing.

Specifically, this breaks down into two core questions:

 1. "How do I get published?" or "Should I choose traditional publishing or self-publishing?" Authors are often trying to understand the mechanics, pros, and cons of each route and which is the best fit for their work and goals.

 2. "Will my book make money?" or "What should I expect in terms of sales and success?". This reflects a deep concern about the financial viability and potential for your work to reach a significant audience.

Here are the cold hard facts that you must consider. The choice between traditional publishing and self-publishing depends entirely on you and your personal goals, the nature of your book, and how much work you are willing to invest beyond just writing it. You can tackle both at the same time but… be aware you are in for a significant amount of the most precious commodity we all have, and that is time.

Traditional Publishing: Pros & Cons

Traditional publishing involves a publishing house acquiring the rights to your book, handling production, distribution, and marketing.

Pros 

• No Upfront Cost & Potential Advance: The publisher covers all expenses (editing, design, printing, distribution) and may offer an advance payment against future royalties. Although this is becoming more and more unlikely with new or unpublished authors.

• Professional Support: You get a team of experts (editors, designers, publicists) to ensure a high-quality, professional product.

• Wide Distribution & Prestige: Publishers have established networks to get books into physical bookstores, libraries, and major media outlets, offering significant credibility and visibility.

• Validation: Being accepted by a traditional publisher serves as a form of external validation from industry gatekeepers.

Cons

• Loss of Control: You have limited say over the cover design, final edits, title, and marketing strategy.

• Slow Timeline: The process from contract to publication can take 18 months to two years or more.

• Low Royalties: Authors typically earn 5-15% royalties on print books and 25% for e-books.

• Difficult to Get a Deal: The selection process is highly competitive, and most authors face rejection.

  
  

Self-Publishing: Pros & Cons

Self-publishing means you are the publisher, retaining all rights and managing the entire process yourself (or by hiring freelancers). 

Pros

• Complete Control: You make all decisions regarding content, cover design, pricing, and publication date.

• Higher Royalties: You can earn 40-70% or more per sale, as you keep the majority of the profits.

• Faster Publication: You can get your book to market in a matter of months or even weeks.

• Ownership of Rights: You retain all intellectual property rights to your work

Cons

• Upfront Costs: You are responsible for all production and marketing costs, which can amount to thousands of dollars.

• Marketing Burden: The entire burden of marketing and promotion falls on you, requiring an entrepreneurial mindset and a big time investment.

• Less Bookstore Access/Prestige: It is difficult to get wide distribution in physical bookstores, and some perceive a lack of the "prestige" associated with a major publisher.

• Lack of Support You are a solo act: (unless you hire a team), so all quality control and business management is your responsibility.

How to Decide: Key Questions to Ask Yourself

Use these questions to guide your decision, literally sit down and write (no pun intended) these questions and answers out: 

• What are your goals? Are you seeking a large advance, a spot on the New York Times bestseller list, and broad bookstore exposure (traditional)? Or do you prioritize speed to market, creative control, and higher per-book profits (self-publishing)?

• What is your genre/audience? Some genres (like niche romance or sci-fi) perform well in self-publishing, while others (like picture books or certain non-fiction for a mainstream audience) may benefit from traditional publishing's distribution channels.

• What is your budget and time commitment? Do you have the funds to invest upfront in professional editing and design (self-publishing), or are you willing to wait years for a deal with no initial financial risk (traditional)?

• How do you feel about marketing and business management? Self-publishing is essentially running a small business. If you prefer to focus solely on writing and working with a team, traditional publishing might be a better fit (though even traditionally published authors must do some marketing) and in some cases a lot of marketing.

  
  

Ultimately, the "right" choice is the one that aligns best with your vision for your book and your author career. Here’s the deal. Times are changing and in the world of publication things are shifting and changing. As my buddy Dr. Dan A Doyle (author of “For a Women’s Love & The End of Hardship) often comments, I tend to tackle both of these at the same time. While I am sending out dozens of manuscripts and short stories to e-zines and publishers, I am also self publishing my works as well. Things have changed and I think you must tackle both of these if you really want to get published.

So there you have it, should you choose traditional publishing or self-publishing? It really comes down to what your goals are and how much time do you have to invest in your business of being a writer. If you would like to learn more, we posted a blog called "Getting your book published using the law of prosperity and abundance" (check it out with this link)

Please feel free to comment, we purposely leave these blogs open for comments and we would love to hear what you think?

Denny Segelstrom