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SELF-PUBLISHING |
TRADITIONAL |
Time frame |
Go from manuscript to print in just a few weeks. |
From acceptance of manuscript to publication takes about a year. Getting the manuscript accepted in the first place can take . . . who knows? |
Control |
Author retains full control of all aspects of the book: content, style graphics, cover copy and so forth. |
You have to be a team-player. Lose some control but gain the help of experienced professionals. |
Distribution |
Arranging distribution through online booksellers like Amazon is easy. Finding your book in Borders or Barnes & Noble is extremely unlikely. |
Depends on your publisher, but sure to be better than you could do on your own. This benefit is short-lived, however. If it’s not selling briskly your book is unlikely to be restocked. |
Financial Risk |
You have to cover all your production and marketing costs before you see any profit. If sales are modest, costs could well exceed income. |
On signing, the publisher gives you an advance on royalties, which is yours to keep even if the book sells poorly. Publishers will usually sign non-fiction authors on the basis of a proposal alone, so you get some funds to cover the writing. |
Financial Gain |
All profits are yours to keep. But selling enough copies to make any profit is exceedingly difficult. Consider the venture a success if it breaks even. |
Your royalties will be 7-10% of the cover price. Sounds low, but usually works out to be a better deal than self-publishing. |
Rights |
How long the book remains in print is entirely up to you. You can issue a new edition whenever you like. |
Your book may go out of print after a few months. If the publisher retains the rights, you'll either have to buy them back or resign yourself to oblivion. |
| Publicity |
Many periodicals decline to review self-published titles, but a good publicist can still arrange feature articles, radio and TV interviews and personal appearances at bookstores. Advantage: that person works for you, and will concentrate on promoting your career as a whole, not just your book. |
Most publishers will arrange for reviews--a good source of free publicity. Apart from that, you may find their efforts disappointing. Publishers rarely invest in advertising, book tours, premium placement in retail stores, etc. for unknown authors. You may find you need to hire your own publicist. |
Best Fit |
The most efficient way to publish if your main goal is to promote your business or make a name for yourself in a profession other than writing. Can be modestly profitable if you are serving a niche market and have an easy way of reaching them. (Attendees at your seminars, for instance). |
Your best shot at reaching a broad, general audience and selling a lot of copies. Good for authors who want to concentrate on writing and don't want to hassle too much with the business end of publishing. |
