We know steps towards getting published through both of these methods. Now, it's time to look at what benefits could grace us or what unhappy surprises could creep in during the process. 

• Self-Publishing Positives
  • You have full control over everything. From pricing and where your book is sold to designs and advertising, you have complete control of your book.  
  • You get published faster. Sometimes, it can take years for the possibility of getting a publisher to nibble at your book idea. It’s much quicker to be published through a printer company than a publisher.
  • Anyone Can Do It. It helps knowing that it’s not as hard as getting publisher’s approval. All it takes is dedication, resources, social skills and a positive attitude.
• Self-Publishing Negatives
  • It’s not immediate success. If this book is more of a hobby, then self-publishing may be a fun way to pursue your dreams of being published. However, if you are trying to put food on the table, investing in a publisher who knows how the ball game is played may benefit you in the end.
  • It’s harder to find readers. Other than word-of-mouth and advertising in magazines, online and other venues, it’s hard to get your book title out there to the readers. Unless you’ve got the right connections, a known publisher may get readers stuffing their noses in your book quicker than you can.
  • Anyone Can Do It. Although this is a positive, it can be a negative as well. Because anyone can do it, your book is harder to be singled out as a good read. It’s harder for book stores to sell your book because they get so many people with self-published books entering their doors.
• Publisher’s Touch Positives
  • Publishers and Literary Agents Help You: You don’t have to feel so alone when getting published because there are professionals helping you along the way.
  • They Provide a Self-Esteem Boost: Who isn’t excited when a publisher or agent is interested in his or her novel? It’s a great feeling! We all like help when we need it – that’s what the publishing industry is there for.
  • It’s More Likely the Book Will Succeed: In the hands of a publisher, who may have connections where you don’t, your novel will be more likely to get into readers’ hands. They have connections with book stores, libraries, online avenues, advertising tricks and much more that help them be successful in their field. Otherwise, they wouldn’t make it for long.
  • They Help You With Artwork: Some writers say, “It took me X amount of years to write this book! I don’t want to deal with the artsy side, too!” Or, if you’re like me, you’re not exactly the most artistic straw in the hay. The publishers can help you with that. You can submit your manuscript, then they’ll get artists to do the rest.  
• Publisher’s Touch Negatives
  • More hands in the pot causes more confusion. Make sure you read all contracts, terms and rights carefully before signing anything.
  • Your book no longer “belongs” to you after being sold. Well, your book does belong to you, but for every dollar you make off it, someone else is inevitably making money too. Don’t get the wrong idea! They do deserve something because they helped you succeed, but just make sure you know how much they are taking from your overall profit.
  • There are Standards to Keep. Creativity still exists when you publish with a printing press, but you don’t get to do whatever you want and expect it to be published. The printers have guidelines specific to what they know will sell and be successful – or just plainly their policy. After all, they will be putting their name on it too.

Both self-publishing and traditional publishing have their highs and lows. Depending on what your personal preferences and limitations are helps determine the boundaries that you set for publishing.

Works Cited:

Klems, Brian. “Self Publishing Tips: The Pros and Cons of Self Publishing.”WritersDigest.com, 11 June 2012.

Penn, Joanna. “Pros And Cons Of Traditional Publishing vs Self-Publishing.” The Creative Penn, 13 June 2017.

Palmer, Alex. “How to Get Self-Published Books into Stores and Libraries.”PublishersWeekly.com, 23 Oct. 2015.

Sambuchino, Chuck. “5 Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before Self-Publishing.” WritersDigest.com, 28 Aug. 2015.

​Did you know that every time you print something off your computer, you are electronically publishing your writing? Of course, that’s not exactly what we are talking about, but it’s a fun thought. More seriously, there are times when self-publishing can be challenging but more cost effective in the long run and other times where printers can make the job more effective for the money you dish out. So how do you choose which method is the best? Let’s break down the two ways of getting published:

• How to reach a Self-Published Status – Each of these steps is important for getting published no matter what. But, there are companies out there that can help with the steps individually if you have problems in any of these areas.
  • Get Your Book Edited: This step is our fancy, offering editing and proofreading services before your book goes to press. But whether you let professionals handle your editing or you’d prefer to tackle it on your own, you’ll want to make sure your novel is in the most pristine shape before continuing with the publishing process.
  • Finish All Illustrations: Not everyone has illustrations in their books, but pictures can take up a chunk of time. Whether you create them yourself or have someone else create them, make sure you have all of them finished and looking the way you want.
  • Decide Your Designs: The great thing about books is their unique identities. Different fonts, layouts, colors and page designs – like swirls or checkers on every chapter page – gives more freedom for the pages to have some excitement or unique quality. The field is yours to command.
  • Getting Your Book Printed: Although you may can even do the printing yourself, I would highly recommend you let a more practiced hand do the actual printing. Many places, like BookBaby, CreatSpace or TheBookPatch can help you with printing for reasonable prices. But don’t be blind-sighted by the cost for publishing thousands of copies – it’s going to be a lot.
  • Sell, Sell, Sell: Once you have graced the spine and smelled the pages of your new book, it’s time to sell it. This can often take the longest time, but it’s the way to make sure people hear about your book. Approach libraries, talk to book stores and advertise online. Getting the word out is the primary goal here.
• Steps in Reaching Publisher-Printed Status – In the printing industry, you still have some freedom, but not as much as with self-publishing. But, the road to being printed is less bumpy and more likely to be received by stores. In this instance, stores are a lot like we are about brand name items at grocery stores. People are more comfortable buying a product they know will work. In the same way, book stores are more at ease when a publishing house approaches them than an individual about chancing a book to sell in their store.
  • Make Sure All Editing is Done: Whether you use D&R WordSmiths, another editing service or ask friends and family to help, make sure your work is in its best shape before sending out to publishers or agents. If you want to learn more about our prices on editing or proofreading, visit our Services and Pricing page.
  • Contact a Literary Agent: I expound more on literary agents in my blog topic, How To Get A Literary Agent, but getting one isn’t a “have-to” thing. You can increase your chances of a quicker turnaround between your manuscript and a publisher putting it on the shelves, but like everything, it comes with a cost. Your advertising starts here with the literary agent rather than directly with book stores.
  • The Professionals Do the Rest: Of course, you should keep up with their progress and communicate with them, but their job is to get your information out there. So, they take the hardest part of the process out of your hands so you don’t have to deal with it. That’s what makes the investment possibly worth it. 

As you can see, the choice of what steps to take next are yours. Your circumstances and goals will help you decide which publishing method is the best option for your book. 

Works Cited: 

Underdown, Harold. “Home Page  |  More Useful Articles  |  Search for More Information | Self-Publishing Articles | Publishing Articles Purple Crayon Bookstores.” Self-Publish or Not: Advice from a Traditional Publisher, Underdown.org, 2006.

Davies, Tammy. “Why Fiction Authors Benefit from Indie Publishing.” Digital Book World, 22 Mar. 2016.

Palmer, Alex. “How to Get Self-Published Books into Stores and Libraries.”PublishersWeekly.com, 23 Oct. 2015.