Whether you fancy the traditional publishing experience, complete with an agent, editor and publisher; or prefer publishing on your own, its all within your grasp.
Got valuable insights and stories to share? Then you’re at the right place. For any aspiring author, knowing how to publish a book and translate your ideas from a computer screen into print or online is paramount, especially with the advent of technology; as there are more opportunities now than ever to write, share and publish a story.
Whether you fancy the traditional publishing experience, complete with an agent, editor and publisher; or prefer publishing on your own, its all within your grasp. All you need to know is the differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing; and that’s what we are here for. While there is no definite answer as to which publishing experience is better, there are certainly pros and cons to both publishing routes. And we hope by stating the differences, it may help you weigh your options and decide which one is best for you based on your priorities.
Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing: Whats the Difference?
| Traditional Publishing | Self-Publishing | |
| Definition | Traditional publishing refers to an established system of getting a book deal; whereby the author submits his manuscript to an agent. The agent will then submit it to a publisher, where his work undergoes further edits and improvements before being published. | Sometimes known as independent authors or indie authors, this form of publishing involves doing everything on their own from finding a professional team to create a high-quality, professional product, to marketing and promoting it to an audience. |
| Print distribution | Traditional publishers excel at print distribution and will put your books into bookstores nationwide or even internationally, due to their structured distribution system. | While it is certainly not impossible, getting print distribution in bookstores is a little more difficult for an independent author. |
| Marketing | Authors work with a professional marketing team to promote their book. | Independent authors often double as marketers and entrepreneurs to market their book. |
| Production | Authors work with a professional team of editors and designers provided by the agent and publisher as part of the contract. | Independent authors do the writing and publishing on their own. This usually involves engaging professional help from freelancers, editors and designers to work with. |
| Rights | Once contract is signed, the book essentially belongs to the publisher and the author does not own any rights. | Independent authors retain the rights to their content, hence, are able to sell by any means in any global market. |
| Royalties | Low royalty rates paid to authors (about 7-25%), after deducting discounts, returns, marketing costs, overheads and other costs incurred during book production. | Authors retain 70% royalty if the book is priced between $2.99 and $9.99 on Amazon. If they have a website that generates heavy traffic, they can even sell at a higher price and keep the profit. |
| Process | Incredibly slow process as it may take months or years to get an agent and a publishing deal and to get the book launched. | Faster time to market. Once the books are ready for sale, authors can upload them to any online bookstores within hours.Authors will then get paid 60 days after the end of the month of sale. |
| Creative control | Authors lose creative control when they are traditionally published. Some may even get titles, cover designs and marketing angles that they’re not happy with. | Authors gain total creative control over content and design, as they can work with professionals of their choice and choose the ultimate look and feel of their product. |
Need help publishing your book? Get in touch with us for assistance on design, print and/or e-book production. If you prefer to DIY, then head over to our newly-launched self-publishing platform to “place your order”!