Choosing the Best Publishing Path for You in 2024 Part I: Traditional Publishing
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I recently returned from giving a couple of seminars for the Lesley MFA program at their January residency. In my seminar on choosing a publishing path, I always say two things:
One, if your dream is to be traditionally published, go for it. Two, there is a lot of overlap between “traditional and indie” - it’s more of a spectrum – and what path you choose may depend on several factors, including where you are in your career, and whether this particular book can find its best home with a major publisher, a small independent press, or through self-publishing.
I was going to write one blog post about this, but then I realized I have a lot to say, and it would be better to break it up a bit.
There are three main ways to seek publication in 2024:
Traditional publishing
Independent publishing
Hybrid publishing
There are many questions to consider as you figure out what path is best:
How involved do I want to be in the publishing process?
How much time do I have to give to research and production?
How soon do I want my book to release?
How much of a factor is spending or making money?
What am I willing to do in terms of marketing and promotion?
What level of creative control do I want?
Is right now the right time for this publishing option?
What is the right publishing option for this book?
What do I want my overall career to look like?
What would define “success” for me (or this project)?
I’m going to start with Traditional, but since there is a spectrum, you can expect some overlap in the terms. Traditional publishing consists of:
Querying an agent
If you get an agent, that person will attempt to sell the book to a publisher (all rights, including print/digital/media)
Author usually receives an advance (average for first-timers is $5,000-$15,000)
The publisher handles the production, release, and distribution
The publisher may assist with marketing but the author is also expected to do a major share
The pros of traditional publishing:
You get everything professionally done (editing, design, distribution, marketing etc.).
You are eligible for some specific awards.
You can focus more on the writing than the business end of things.
There is still, of course, more prestige associated with it as well.
The cons of traditional publishing:
It is more and more difficult to get an agent. Agents are swamped with manuscripts. Querying can be a long and demoralizing process. Most of the time, you will hear nothing at all, or a simple, “thanks, not for me.”
You have no control over any of the process: an agent may not sell your book to a publisher. The acquiring editor may leave the publisher, leaving your book “orphaned.” You don’t get a say in the cover design, production, or release schedule (and it will be 1-2 years between a publisher acquiring your book and it actually appearing on the shelves).
If you don’t earn out your advance, you may not get another contract. Only once you earn out your advance do you begin to receive royalties.
You are more at the mercy of perceived market trends.
Small and Independent Presses
When we think of Traditional, we’re usually talking about the “Big 5” publishers and their various imprints (Penguin/Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group, Harper Collins, and Macmillan).
The Big 5 require an agent – their editors do not accept “unsolicited” manuscripts (i.e., the author cannot submit on their own behalf).
There are many prestigious smaller, independent presses out there. They are generally focused on a particular type of book – literary, science fiction/fantasy, women’s lit, children’s lit, history & culture, regional interest... and there are university presses as well. These function like the Big 5 in terms of professionally editing and producing your work. However, they may not pay an advance; and they may have very little marketing budget, which means more of the burden falls on you. However, you may receive much more personalized attention since they have a smaller pool of authors they work with. And many smaller, independent presses do accept manuscript submissions directly from authors, although they also accept from agents.
If you are querying agents, or independent presses, the name of the game is: do your homework. Some people love the research, others dread it, but you want to target your work as much as possible.
Good places for agent research:
AgentQuery.com: https://agentquery.com
Manuscript Wishlist: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com
Poets & Writers Literary Agents Database: https://www.pw.org/literary_agents
Query Tracker: https://querytracker.net
Good places for small press research:
Independent Book Publishers Association: https://www.ibpa-online.org
Poets & Writers: https://www.pw.org/small_presses
Publishers Marketplace: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com (can be pricey for full access, but many libraries have a subscription)
Publishers Archive: https://publishersarchive.com
Nonconformist published a “Big, Big List of Indie Publishers” who do not require an agent: https://nonconformist-mag.com/the-big-big-list-of-indie-publishers-and-small-presses/
Next time, we’ll tackle Hybrid Presses, and what to consider if you decide to go full-indie and self-publish your work.
If you’re interested in more info on the different ways to publish, Jane Friedman publishes an annual chart of all the different publishing paths (she breaks them up a little differently than I do) and what they entail: https://janefriedman.com/key-book-publishing-path/
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