Finishing a book is a major accomplishment, but once the manuscript is complete, another big decision appears: How are you going to publish it?
For today’s authors, there are two primary paths—traditional publishing and self-publishing. Both can lead to successful writing careers, but they offer very different experiences when it comes to creative control, money, timelines, marketing, and responsibility.
There is no single publishing path that works for every writer. The best choice depends on your goals, your personality, your financial situation, and how involved you want to be in the publishing process.
Here is a closer look at traditional publishing vs. self-publishing to help you decide which path may be right for you.
What Is Traditional Publishing?
Traditional publishing is the route many people picture when they think about becoming a published author.
Typically, an author writes a manuscript and then attempts to find a literary agent. The agent submits the manuscript to publishing houses on the author’s behalf. If a publisher purchases the book, the publisher handles much of the production and distribution process.
Depending on the publisher and contract, this may include:
- Editing
- Cover design
- Interior formatting
- Printing
- Distribution
- Some marketing and publicity
The author usually receives an advance against future royalties and then earns royalties once the book has earned back that advance.
Advantages of Traditional Publishing
One of the biggest advantages of traditional publishing is that you usually do not pay the upfront production costs.
The publisher assumes the financial risk of producing the book. Professional editors, designers, and other publishing professionals are typically involved in preparing the manuscript for publication.
Traditional publishing can also offer stronger access to physical bookstores, libraries, media outlets, and industry reviewers.
Another advantage is credibility. While self-publishing has become increasingly respected, having a book selected by an established publishing company can still open certain doors within the industry.
Disadvantages of Traditional Publishing
Traditional publishing can be extremely competitive.
Finding an agent may require sending dozens—or even hundreds—of queries. Even after signing with an agent, there is no guarantee that a publisher will purchase the manuscript.
The process can also take a long time. Months or years may pass between completing your manuscript and seeing your book available for readers.
You may also have less creative control. Publishers often have significant input regarding:
- Book titles
- Cover designs
- Editing decisions
- Release dates
- Pricing
- Marketing strategies
For authors who have a very specific vision for their books, giving up some of that control can be difficult.
What Is Self-Publishing?
Self-publishing allows the author to become the publisher.
Instead of submitting a manuscript to publishing companies, the author prepares the book and publishes it directly through platforms that make books available to readers.
As a self-published author, you are responsible for nearly every aspect of the publishing process—or for hiring professionals to help you.
That includes things such as:
- Editing
- Proofreading
- Cover design
- Formatting
- Uploading the book
- Pricing
- Marketing
- Advertising
While that may sound overwhelming, it also gives the author tremendous freedom.
Advantages of Self-Publishing
Perhaps the biggest advantage of self-publishing is creative control.
You decide what happens with your book.
You choose the title, cover, formatting, pricing, release date, and marketing strategy. You can also revise your book or update its cover whenever you choose.
Self-publishing can also be much faster than traditional publishing. Once your manuscript is professionally prepared, you can release the book according to your own schedule rather than waiting for a publishing company’s timeline.
Authors also generally receive a larger percentage of the sale price of each book, although your actual earnings depend on pricing, production costs, retailer fees, advertising expenses, and sales volume.
Self-publishing can be especially appealing to authors who want to build a business around their books and release new titles regularly.
Disadvantages of Self-Publishing
Freedom comes with responsibility.
When you self-publish, no publishing company is managing the process for you. You either need to learn how to complete each step yourself or pay professionals to help.
Quality editing and professional cover design can require a significant investment.
Marketing also becomes largely your responsibility. Simply uploading a book does not guarantee that readers will discover it.
Self-published authors often need to learn skills that have very little to do with writing, including:
- Email marketing
- Social media marketing
- Advertising
- Website management
- Keywords and book metadata
- Graphic design
- Launch planning
For some writers, those activities are exciting. For others, they can take valuable time away from writing.
Traditional Publishing May Be Right for You If…
Traditional publishing may be the better choice if you:
- Want to work with an established publishing team.
- Prefer not to manage every part of book production yourself.
- Dream of seeing your books widely distributed in physical bookstores.
- Are comfortable waiting through a potentially lengthy publishing process.
- Are willing to query literary agents and deal with rejection.
- Do not mind giving up some creative control.
- Want to pursue certain industry opportunities that may be easier to access through traditional publishing.
Patience is especially important if you choose this route. Traditional publishing often moves slowly, and rejection is simply part of the process.
Self-Publishing May Be Right for You If…
Self-publishing may be a better option if you:
- Want complete creative control.
- Enjoy learning about the business side of publishing.
- Want to release books on your own schedule.
- Are willing to invest in editing, design, and marketing.
- Want greater control over pricing and promotions.
- Plan to publish books frequently.
- Enjoy building a direct relationship with readers.
Self-publishing works particularly well for authors who are comfortable viewing their writing career as both an artistic pursuit and a small business.
Consider Your Publishing Timeline
Ask yourself one important question:
How quickly do I want this book available to readers?
If you are willing to spend a year or more pursuing agents and publishers, traditional publishing may be worth exploring.
If you would rather create your own publication schedule, self-publishing gives you much greater flexibility.
Neither choice is automatically better. Your timeline simply helps determine which path fits your goals.
Consider How Much Creative Control You Want
Some authors want complete control over every detail.
They want to choose their cover artist. They want to determine the title. They want to decide exactly when the book will launch.
Others are happy to collaborate with experienced publishing professionals and accept changes that may make the book easier to market.
Before choosing your publishing path, think about how you would feel if someone else wanted to change your title, redesign your cover, or suggest significant revisions.
Your reaction may tell you a great deal about which publishing option would make you happier.
Consider the Financial Side
Money works differently in each publishing model.
With traditional publishing, the publisher typically covers the cost of producing the book. Authors may receive an advance and later earn royalties based on their contract.
With self-publishing, authors usually pay production expenses themselves but retain more control over their royalties and pricing.
However, higher royalty percentages do not automatically mean higher income.
A traditionally published author earning a smaller royalty percentage on a book selling thousands of copies may earn more than a self-published author keeping a larger percentage but selling fewer books.
Publishing success depends on far more than royalty rates alone.
Consider Whether You Want to Run a Business
Self-publishing requires an entrepreneurial mindset.
You are not simply writing novels. You are creating products, developing a brand, attracting readers, studying sales results, managing expenses, and making business decisions.
For some writers, that is part of the fun.
For others, it sounds exhausting.
Traditional publishing does not eliminate the need for authors to market themselves, but the author generally has fewer publishing responsibilities than someone managing an entire independent publishing operation.
You Don’t Have to Choose Only One
There is another option many writers overlook.
You can do both.
Some authors become hybrid authors, publishing certain books traditionally while independently publishing others.
You might traditionally publish one series while self-publishing another. You could submit one manuscript to agents while independently publishing a different project.
Your decision does not have to determine the rest of your writing career.
Every book can have its own publishing strategy.
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Deciding
Before choosing your publishing path, ask yourself:
- How important is creative control to me?
- How patient am I willing to be?
- Do I want to manage the business side of publishing?
- Am I willing and able to invest money in professional publishing services?
- How important is physical bookstore distribution to me?
- Do I enjoy marketing and building an author platform?
- How frequently do I want to publish?
- What does publishing success look like to me?
Your answers will probably point you toward one option more strongly than the other.
There Is No Wrong Way to Become an Author
The debate between traditional publishing and self-publishing sometimes makes writers feel as though they must choose the “correct” path.
There isn’t one.
Traditional publishing isn’t automatically more legitimate, and self-publishing isn’t automatically easier.
Both require hard work.
Both involve uncertainty.
Both require authors to build relationships with readers.
And both can lead to rewarding writing careers.
The question isn’t Which publishing method is better?
The better question is:
Which publishing method gives me the best chance of building the writing career I actually want?
Once you answer that, your decision becomes much easier.
Whether your book eventually carries the logo of a major publishing company or the name of your own publishing imprint, the most important thing remains the same: you wrote the book, you believed in it, and you found a way to put it into readers’ hands.
