So You Think You Want to Publish

You've written the best story you know how, and you've made the terrifying and thrilling decision to share it with the world. What's next?

Remember those goals I said you needed? This is where they become vital.

There are three avenues to publish, each with their own pros and cons: traditional publisher, vanity publisher, and self publisher. I'll go into these a little bit, but if you read nothing else, pay attention to this:

Do your research! Not every publisher is a fit for you and your goals. Research publishers and figure out which one best fits your needs.

Traditional Publishers
These are established publishing houses with a history of publishing books and authors who are household names. Publishers like HarperCollins and Penguin. They publish hardback, paperback and online, and they have deals with big box and online stores like Barnes & Noble, Walmart and Target.

If you're thinking about submitting your manuscript to a traditional publisher, here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Many traditional publishers will only deal with literary agents, so you have to sign with an agent before you can sign with a traditional publisher, and sometimes that's as difficult as finding a publisher for your work.
2. Traditional publishing usually pays more than other types. You receive an advance (guaranteed cash) while the book is being produced and royalties if the book sells beyond the advance you made.
3. Traditional publishers will have submissions guidelines you need to follow. This will tell you the genres they are buying, the length of the manuscript and if they are open to new authors.
4. This type of publishing is NOT fast. Your manuscript might sit on a publisher's desk for months at a time before you know if they're interested. Once they say they're interested, it will take several more months to edit and produce the book.
5. You may have little to no say in your book's title and cover art.

Vanity Publishers
These are the companies where you pay them to publish your work. Be very careful with this type of publisher and do your research! Some vanity publishers offer services like cover art design, editing and promotions - so you are getting some support for your money. Some will give you a product without any support or services and will only want to market it to your family and friends.

If you want to use a vanity publisher, here are some things to consider:

1. Compare the costs of the different companies and find out if there is a royalty structure for selling your book.
2. Determine who owns the rights to the book and for how long.
3. Vanity publishing is usually a quicker process than traditional publishing.
   
4. Vanity publishers typically make less than traditional publishers.
5. The publisher may or may not market your book and may or may not have relationships with stores to sell your book.
6. You typically have more control over your title and cover art with a vanity publisher.

Self Publishing
With self publishing, you own the entire process. You decide what you'll do yourself and what tasks you'll hire professionals to do. The quality of your book, marketing and promotions and cover art are all up to you. You determine where your book will be sold, but keep in mind, it probably won't be at a big box store unless you've established yourself as a successful author.

If you want to self publish, keep in mind:

1. Everything is on your shoulders unless you pay someone to do it for you.
2. If you want big sales or consistent sales, you must market, market, market.
3. Self publishing doesn't earn as much as other forms unless you're selling a lot.
4. Each place you sell will have their own commission structure, guidelines and formatting requirements.  Amazon and iBook have different formatting structures, and iBook (at this point in time) can only be published via a Mac.

​No matter which publisher you choose, as long as it's the one that fits your goals, then it's the right one for you. Happy writing, and best of luck on your journey!

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