In a previous article, we covered the pros and cons of self-publishing. If you don’t want to deal with the logistics of publishing your own book, then traditional publishing might be for you. In this article, we cover the pros and cons of traditional publishing so you can make an informed choice.
Pros and Cons of Traditional Publishing
Going the traditional route may be the ‘safe’ option if you’re new to the book-publishing game.
With traditional publishing, an author works with a publisher to release their book. The publisher manages the entire process, from editing to cover design and marketing. They then release the book through one of their imprints and pay the author a small percentage of the sales in royalties. The author no longer has complete ownership; however, the trade-off is that everything is taken care of! In a nutshell, the author exchanges the product (their book) for the publishing house’s services and their connections within the industry.
Pros of traditional publishing:
- Your book will be distributed to physical bookstores. For some authors, this is important; it makes them feel accomplished to see the fruits of their labour in print and on the shelves.
- You’ll have the full support of various teams, including editing, design, and marketing.
- The publishing house pays the production costs, not the author.
- Many prestigious literary awards are only available to traditionally published books.
- If you’re looking for mainstream reader exposure, then this is the route to go. Your book will end up on the ‘new arrivals’ shelves of bookstores. Publishing houses have connections with bookstores for distribution and magazines and newspapers for reviews, so it’s easier to get your name out there with the help of a publishing house.
- You may get an advance on royalties if a publisher accepts your book.
Cons of traditional publishing:
- As a new author, your manuscript may be rejected several times before a publishing house accepts your draft or proposal. There are many cases of bestsellers that were first rejected several times by publishers before going to print. Eventually, these books were either accepted by a publisher with vision or self-published. Tim Ferriss’s book The 4-Hour Workweek has been a New York Times and Wall Street Journal Best Seller for several years, selling nearly 1.5 million copies. It has been translated into 35 different languages. The book was rejected by the first 25 publishers it was presented to.
- You do not have total control over the design aspect of your book, although you may have some input.
- You earn considerably less per book than with self-publishing. However, you don’t have to front any money – so you may prefer this as the ‘safer’ option.
- The publishing timeline is not in your control. The publisher may choose to delay a launch if they have a similar book launching or want further editing.
- You’ll need the permission of the publisher if you want to sell add-on products to your book, such as merchandise (for a cookery book, for example), or a course that supplements the book. The publisher will be involved in future products or business ideas related to the book.
It’s a big decision. Which form of publishing is right for you? If you’ve written a novel or a non-fiction book and want to self-publish, we have a course that takes you from manuscript to publishing you work on Amazon, guided step by step by an award-winning author. Explore the Self-Publish Your e-Book Course here.
