by Milica Filipovic
As a teen writer nearing the end of her current work in progress, I begin to think about where I want my work to go and how I want to push it out into the world. One way or another, my train of thought always seems to end up at publishing. For those of you who aren’t aware, publishing is usually split into two categories: traditional and self. It is crucial for each writer — especially young and new additions to the industry — to know the difference between the two and how to choose which direction to take your work towards.
Traditional Publishing
This type of publishing is most likely one you are familiar with. In short, traditional publishing is the process of collaborating with a mainstream publisher to promote and sell your writing. This process is lengthy and usually requires a literary agent to distribute your work to potential publishers. A literary agent is a key component of getting published traditionally. While you will be getting a lower percentage of royalties (pay) when working with a publisher to market your work, there are additional benefits. For instance, the majority of expenses are handled by the publisher. This includes the placement of your work, professional editors, and designers. Sometimes, publishing houses may provide a marketing team to promote your writing to audiences. It is important to note that you will have less rights to your work if you choose this path of publishing, as it is normal for publishers to make decisions regarding your work. The schedule for your book’s release is also often determined by the publisher and can take up to 2 years.
A Quick Guide Finding an Agent
First, you must research an agent that suits your work’s genre and target audience. Next, make a list of agents you would like to query. When making your list, be sure to refer back to their previous clients to find which agent best resonates with your goals. Finally, write a query letter, which is essentially an introduction to who you are as an author and what your work consists of. These letters should be formatted with a hook, synopsis of your work, your writing background and credentials, your work’s selling points, and a personalized note. It is vital that each letter’s note is unique to the agent you are writing to. Some agent’s submission guidelines may differ, so be careful with checking the information on their online pages. These guidelines might also state how long a reply may take. Once you get accepted by an agent, you will work on editing the book with your agent. After this, you are ready to begin looking for potential publishers. The agent will pitch your manuscript to potential editors in publishing houses to acquire your work. This may take some time, but after your work is acquired, you will then begin the process of polishing your manuscript with the editorial team.
While traditional publishing has some negative aspects, most authors choose this path because it provides a more solid foundation for becoming a bestseller.
Self-Publishing
Self-publishing is the process of pushing your work into the world without the support of a publishing house behind you. It is also viewed by some as less than or easier to do than traditional publishing since it does not require an agent or rejection process. This is a controversial opinion that doesn’t acknowledge the efforts put into publishing your writing all on your own.The costs of publishing and manufacturing and editing your work will either have to be done by yourself or paid for straight from your pockets. While this can be stressful and hard to organize, there are additional positive aspects of releasing your own work. As a start, every decision will be yours to make. You will get to choose where, when, and how your work will be published. There is no one holding you down to a deadline or schedule, so there is no expectation to meet other than those you set for yourself. According to self-publishing platform PublishDrive, when self-publishing, you make around 60-70% profit in royalties for each sale and the rest of the money goes to the distributor of your novels, whether it be a local bookstore or online shop.
The Main Takeaway
There is much more to take into consideration such as the type of work you’re looking to publish (book, novella, poetry, non-fiction, genre, etc.) and where you’re publishing from. However, knowing this basic information about both types is a great start to learning more about the industries and how they functions. Make sure to pick your method of publishing based on what most suits your needs and ensures that you’re comfortable in your craft. There is no right or wrong, simply what works best for you and might not work best for someone else.
If you’d like to know more about this topic, consider visiting the following resources:
On The Write Track (Podcast) - Hosted by two debut authors that discuss the behind the scenes of getting traditionally published
Publishing Rodeo: The Good, the Bad, and the Bloody Ugly (Podcast) - Two authors that debuted their novels at the same time, with the same genre and publisher, and had very different outcomes look into how the industry works and how these things happen
Manuscript Wishlist (Website) - A resource where editors and agents post their ideal submissions and writers can find agents that align dreams with their work
@laurenkaywrites (Youtube Channel and Instagram) - A published author that aspires to aid writers in publishing their work through tips and tricks from an insider
@alyssamatesic (Youtube Channel) - A professional editor that provides insights for writers into the editing process and industry tips
Citations:
Mădălina, Amalia. “Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing: Which One Is the Best for You?” Publish Drive, 25 November 2022, https://publishdrive.com/self-publishing-vs-traditional-publishing.html. Accessed 16 March 2024.
Lauber, Rick. “17 Pros and Cons of Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing.” Writer's Digest, 26 October 2021, https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/17-pros-and-cons-of-traditional-publishing-vs-self-publishing. Accessed 16 March 2024.
Bransford, Nathan. “Traditional publishing vs. self-publishing. Which should you choose?” Nathan Bransford, 6 November 2023, https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2023/11/should-you-self-publish-or. Accessed 16 March 2024.
“How to Find a Literary Agent (+ List of Directories).” Reedsy Blog, 13 March 2024, https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/literary-agent/how-to-find/. Accessed 21 March 2024.
On the Write Track Podcast, https://on-the-write-track-podcast.simplecast.com/. Accessed 21 March 2024.
Publishing Rodeo Podcast – the good, the bad, and the bloody ugly, https://publishingrodeo.wordpress.com/. Accessed 21 March 2024.
“About MSWL – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website.” Manuscript Wish List, https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/about/. Accessed 21 March 2024.
Lauren Kay: Author & Guide, https://www.laurenkaywrites.com/. Accessed 21 March 2024.
Alyssa Matesic | Professional Book and Novel Editing, https://www.alyssamatesic.com/. Accessed 21 March 2024.
Follow Milica on Instagram @the.writers.guide
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