In today’s post I will give you a publishing overview. Let’s say you’ve written the next great American novel. You’ve shared it with a critique group, applied feedback from beta readers, and had it professionally edited. What’s next? This publishing overview post will introduce three kinds of publishing: traditional, hybrid, and indie (formerly known as self-publishing).
Traditional Publishers
Traditional publishers are businesses that procure, produce, and promote written work. They have
a team of experts for everything from cover design and editing to marketing and distribution. Most traditional publishers work with literary agents who pitch manuscripts that fit a particular publisher’s needs. The author signs a contract with the publisher which lays out specifics such as deadlines and how much the advance will be.
Traditional publishers are not one-size-fits-all. The Big Five have the most 
prestige and pay the largest advances to their authors. Midsize publishers offer all the advantages of the Big Five, but have fewer staff and smaller advances. Small presses may focus on niche markets and provide a more personalized experience for the author. As their name indicates, advances are likely to be smaller than Big Five or Midsize publishers.
Hybrid Publishers
Next in our publishing overview are Hybrid publishers. Their main function is the production of
written work. Each step of the process carries a fee, but the author has greater control over the finished product. Their team of experts get paid based on the services they provide: editing, cover design, formatting, promotion. Many fine books are the product of hybrid publishers. But there are horror stories of poor-quality printing, missed deadlines, and unexpected fees. Always research hybrid publishers before jumping in. Reach out to online writer’s groups for personal recommendations.
Indie Publishers
With indie publishing, the author takes complete responsibility for the project. After writing the next great American novel, the author becomes the team who produces and promotes the book. Based on the author’s level of expertise (and confidence if not competence) s/he becomes the editor, art director, publicity director, and distribution manager, or hires out the jobs s/he feels unqualified to do.
Indie authors can go with a service that offers distribution like Amazon’s
KDP, Barnes and Noble, IngramSparks, and others. Or they can hire a printer to produce a set number of books to distribute themselves. This might be a good option for a family history meant for a select group of individuals without a wider audience.
I hope this publishing overview was helpful. I have recently embarked on my indie publishing journey. I’ll let you know when it’s available! So, how will your work get into the hands of your potential readers?
