To quote Lord of the Rings, “The world has changed.” While there were once dozens of publishers, now the book market is dominated by five behemoths. The rise of self-publishing gave authors a way to fight against stagnant trends and piddly royalties, but it also allowed the market to be flooded with low-quality drivel. Readers are disenchanted and authors are struggling to survive. In a world where everyone wants to empty your wallet, how can anyone receive a fair value for their writing?

Traditional publishing vs. self-publishing? Which is the best? Each route offers its own advantages and challenges, and the best choice depends largely on an author’s goals, resources, and the type of book they are writing.

Traditional publishing refers to the process of publishing through an established publishing house. This path often begins when a writer submits a manuscript to an agent or directly to a publisher. If accepted, the publisher takes over the book’s production, distribution, and occasionally a significant part of the marketing.

Authors hoping to go through traditional publishing usually start with a process called querying. Authors send query letters and writing samples to agents. When an agent decides to take on an author, they pitch the book to a publishing house. Agents don’t ask for an up-front fee. Instead, they receive a percentage of the royalties. This means it’s in an agent’s best interest to get you the best deal possible.

In traditional publishing, manuscripts are reviewed and selected based on market potential. If a book is fantastic, but there are already too many similar books debuting in a specific year, the author may be passed over or told to wait a few years.

Authors typically receive an advance and royalties. These numbers can vary greatly. Much of the time, authors are expected to spend that advance on marketing costs. While publishers usually do some of the marketing, the author is expected to pick up the slack. Unless an author has previously made the publishing house a lot of money, they tend to focus most of the marketing on books projected to be wildly successful. Debut authors are on their own for things like ads, social media, and author websites.

On the other hand, these publishers cover all costs to bring the book to market. This includes editing, cover design, printing, and distribution. They also have contracts with the largest brick-and-mortar bookstores, allowing your book to reach the shelves of Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, international distributors, and libraries all over the country. For many authors, the lack of upfront costs and professional relationship with bookstores tend to the biggest enticements.

Another benefit of traditional publishing is prestige. Traditional publishers provide validation and credibility. Being accepted by a publishing house signals that your work meets a professional standard, which can carry weight with readers, reviewers, and bookstores.

Publishing houses provide contracted authors with experienced, professional support. Unfortunately, this also comes with limited creative control. Publishers may request significant edits, change your book title or cover, and influence the marketing direction. Authors must often compromise on creative decisions. Your book will have a good, solid cover, but it may not be the cover you always envisioned.

The path to traditional publishing is competitive. It often requires securing a literary agent, and rejection is common, even among talented writers. The barrier to entry is high. JK Rowling pitched Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone twelve times before someone finally agreed to give her a trial run. A Confederation of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, spent over eleven years touring the rejection piles.

Traditional publishing can also take a much longer time than self-publishing. From submission to bookstore shelves, the process can take 12–24 months (or more). The timeline is dictated by the publisher’s release schedule. Worse, the number of books authors are allowed to publish can be limited. Stephen King famously began writing under a pseudonym because his agent refused to let him publish multiple books in the same year.

Money may not buy happiness, but it certainly makes the world go round. Most traditional publishers offer royalties ranging from 5% to 15% of net sales. This is significantly less than self-publishing platforms, though changes in the policies of platforms like Amazon Books means that divide is shrinking. Unfortunately, this change is not working in the favor of authors.

The average advance of a debut author is $5-10,000. Authors only begin earning royalties after their advance is ‘earned out.’ This means the book has generated enough sales to cover the advance payment. Many times, this advance is spent on marketing.

Self-publishing means that the author assumes full responsibility for publishing their book. With the rise of platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark, and Apple Books, authors can publish their work digitally and in print with minimal upfront investment.

The author makes all creative and financial decisions. They decide all aspects of production and marketing, and the inherent risks associated with these costs. Their earnings come directly from book sales. Royalty rates are often higher, but the gap is shrinking as certain companies realize they have indie authors over a barrel.

The advantages of self-publishing align neatly with the drawbacks of a traditional publishing house. Authors have full creative control and they can publish as often as they have books prepare.

Self-publishing platforms typically offer royalty rates of 35% to 70%, depending on the platform, pricing, and exclusivity. Authors earn more per book sold, and they have statistics at their fingertips to inform marketing decisions. Self-published authors have real-time access to sales data and marketing performance, allowing for agile strategy changes.

The biggest benefit of all lies in the very aspect that has created an over-saturated market. Any book can be published. Self-publishing works well for niche genres or topics that may not appeal to traditional publishers but have loyal audiences (e.g., specific non-fiction topics, genre fiction, or regional interest). Some of the most unique, genre-changing writers began their lives as indie authors. Publishers capitalize on popular trends. Indie authors create trends.

Unfortunately, the disadvantages of self-publishing are just as steep as their counterparts. The cost alone can be prohibitive. Authors must invest in professional editing, cover design, formatting, and marketing. These costs can add up quickly if quality is prioritized.

Self-published authors are solely responsible for marketing their book, which includes building a platform, managing ads, securing reviews, and organizing promotions. Unfortunately, these vital acts also require money, which adds to the overall cost. The average indie author spends between $2-4000 to publish their first book, and there is no guarantee of success.

It can be challenging to get self-published books into physical bookstores or libraries, although tools like IngramSpark help bridge the gap. Be sure to read the fine print of every contract you sign. Certain popular platforms have inched their way from helpful to predatory.

Despite growing acceptance, self-publishing still carries a stigma in some circles. Poorly produced books have hurt the industry’s reputation in the past. The rise in AI created books has hurt the market immensely, some readers are becoming overly cautious as a result.

Being a self-published author requires skills in business, marketing, and publishing. Many writers find the learning curve steep and the time commitment significant. If an indie author can succeed on their own, they are almost guaranteed to make more money. Unfortunately, that’s a big if. While traditional publishing saves upfront costs, self-publishing can be more profitable long-term if the book sells well and overhead is managed carefully.

Self-publishing is no longer the last resort it once was. Thousands of indie authors have built thriving careers. Some even have surpassed traditionally published authors in income and reach. Names like Amanda Hocking, Hugh Howey, and Mark Dawson have proven that the DIY path can lead to literary and financial success. Furthermore, many traditionally published authors now self-publish side projects or backlist titles to maximize their earnings and creative freedom.

The answer depends on your goals, timeline, budget, and personality.

Choose Traditional Publishing If:

• You seek validation and credibility from the literary world.
• You want professional guidance and are willing to give up some control.
• You are patient and can endure the lengthy submission and production process.
• You prefer not to manage the business side of book publishing.

Choose Self-Publishing If:

• You value creative control and autonomy.
• You want to publish quickly and retain all rights.
• You’re entrepreneurial and willing to market your book.
• You write in a niche genre or have a platform to reach your audience directly.

Unfortunately, there’s one more option to be discussed: vanity publishing

Some authors pursue hybrid publishing, where they pay a company to handle the publishing process while retaining more rights and royalties than in traditional deals. This model can offer the best of both worlds, it’s legit. Many hybrid publishing companies are actually vanity presses. These companies are designed to consume every dollar an author has while offering little in return. Before signing with any supposedly legitimate business, check for active class action lawsuits, reviews, and horror stories in author-frequented places like writing groups and BookTok.

If you really, really can’t choose between traditional or self-publishing, consider serializing your content on platforms like Wattpad or Substack. If you build up a large enough audience, you’ll be able to take your pick of the litter.

Whether you choose traditional publishing or self-publishing, the key to success lies in producing a high-quality book and connecting with readers. Each path offers unique challenges and rewards. Traditional publishing may bring prestige and support, while self-publishing offers speed and control.

Ultimately, the right choice comes down to your goals as an author. Some writers will thrive in the structure and legitimacy of traditional publishing. Others will embrace the entrepreneurial spirit of self-publishing and carve their own path. In today’s dynamic publishing world, there is no one blueprint for success.