To Self-Publish or Traditionally Publish? Weighing the Pros and Cons

February 17, 2024

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For many aspiring authors, deciding between self-publishing and pursuing the traditional publishing route is one of the most difficult choices they will encounter. While self-publishing has grown in popularity thanks to e-books and Amazon’s self-publishing platforms, traditional publishing still offers advantages that can boost an author’s credibility and reach. In this article, we dive into the major pros and cons of each path.

The Rise of Self-Publishing
Self-publishing has opened many doors for writers by allowing them to get their work out into the world without the approval of agents and publishers. Some of the major benefits of self-publishing include:

Full creative control. The author has final say over everything from the story and cover design to formatting and pricing. There’s no editorial oversight.
Faster process. The book can be published as soon as it’s ready rather than waiting months or years to go through the agent and publishing process.
Higher royalty rates. Self-published authors typically earn 60-80% royalties on each e-book sold compared to 10-15% via traditional publishing.
Keep rights. The author retains full rights to their intellectual property and creative work.

While self-publishing offers faster distribution and higher earnings potential, there are disadvantages:

No advances. Traditional publishers pay advances while self-published authors fund all costs out of pocket.
Prestige factor. A traditionally published book is recognized as meeting professional publishing standards.
Marketing effort. The author must handle all marketing rather than relying on a publisher’s PR team.

The Case for Traditional Publishing
For authors who want the backing of an established publisher, traditional publishing offers advantages like:

Advance payment. The publisher pays an advance to purchase the rights, so the author receives payment upfront.
Professional team. Editors, designers and marketers polish the work to a professional standard.
Wider distribution. Publishers have the print runs, marketing budgets and distribution channels to reach more readers.
Prestige. There’s a validation factor in being chosen for publication out of the thousands of manuscripts submitted each year.

However, traditional publishing also comes with downsides:

Long process. The author must find an agent willing to represent the book and a publisher interested in acquisition. The entire process can take years.
Less control. Publishers acquire the rights and have a say over editing, design, marketing and more.
Lower royalty percentage. Traditional publishers pay 10-15% royalties on print books and 25% or less on e-books.

While traditional publishing offers prestig, professional teams and wider distribution, the process is lengthier and provides less creative control versus self-publishing.

Weighing Your Options
Ultimately, there is no definitive “right” choice when choosing between self-publishing and traditional publishing. Writers must weigh factors like speed, control, distribution and potential earnings when deciding which path best aligns with their goals and priorities. While traditional publishing opens doors, self-publishing offers independence and direct access to readers. As the publishing world evolves, both paths can lead to success with the right combination of exceptional writing, marketing savvy and perseverance.