Have you ever dreamed of seeing your name on the cover of a book? You’re not alone — many first-time writers have the same exciting and overwhelming feeling. But once the idea of writing a book takes hold, one big question usually comes next:
How Can I Publish A Book?
Usually, you have two choices: traditional publishing vs. self-publishing. Each one has its own perks and challenges. Selecting the most appropriate one depends on what you desire.
Self-Publishing Vs Traditional Publishing It’s time to talk about what book publishing services can do for you, and take you step by step into comparing whether one is better for you than the other.
What Is Traditional Publishing?
Sometimes, authors consider the traditional publishing route when considering their dream of being published. This route involves alarge publishing house that does all the editing, layout, printing, and promotion of your book. First, however, you typically must obtain an agent to negotiate a contract for you.
Some of the good things about traditional publishing are:
- Professional editing and cover design
- Your book is being sold in bookstores and libraries
- A better chance at media coverage and awards
- No upfront costs to get your book published
But there are also some downsides:
- It can take a long time (sometimes years) to get published
- It’s very competitive — lots of people want book deals
- You might have less say over the final version of your book
- You earn a smaller share of each sale compared to self-publishing
If you’re okay with being patient and want a publisher to handle the business side, traditional publishing could be the right path for you.
What Is Self-Publishing?
In self-publishing, you make the decisions as it is your book being published. You do not have to wait for an agent and publisher to give you any kind of approval. You can publish your book on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or sites like Apple Books or IngramSpark. Here are some of the reasons why many writers love self-publishing:
- You have full control over the look and content of your book
- You can get your book out much faster (sometimes in a few weeks)
- You keep more money from each book you sell
- You build a direct connection with your readers
But it also means:
- You’ll need to cover the costs for editing, cover design, and marketing
- You’re in charge of getting the word out about your book
- Bookstores might not automatically carry your book
- You’ll need to juggle writing and business tasks
If you like the idea of being in charge and working on your own timeline, self publishing could be a great choice.
Self Publishing vs Traditional Publishing: Which One Should You Pick?
When looking at self publishing vs traditional publishing, think about your personal goals.
Ask yourself:
- Do I want complete control over my book?
- Am I okay with paying for editing and design upfront?
- Can I wait a long time for a publishing deal?
- Would I love having a big publisher’s name behind my book?
- Am I willing to do my own marketing?
There’s no right or wrong answer. Some authors even do both — traditionally publishing some books and self-publishing others!
Book Publishing Services: What They Can Help With
Whether you choose self-publishing or traditional publishing, you might need a little help along the way. Book publishing services offer things like:
- Professional editing
- Cover and page design
- Getting your book on major websites
- Helping you spread the word about your book
- Turning your book into an audiobook
If you’re planning to self-publish, good book publishing services can help your book look polished and professional.
How Can I Publish a Book Successfully?
No matter which path you take, here’s an important thing to keep in mind:
Being a writer is not necessarily about choosing to go between publishing traditionally versus self-publishing — it is about making sure that your book is the absolute best that it can be, understanding your readership, selling your book out there, and getting through tough times when those hit.
Here’s a simple plan:
- Finish your book and hire a good editor.
- Learn about your publishing choices.
- If you want to go traditional, write a strong letter to agents and publishers.
- If you want to self-publish, invest in a great cover and clear formatting.
- Tell people about your book through social media and other creative ways.
Publishing — whether self publishing or traditional publishing — is a big adventure. And it could be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do.
Are you ready?
Start by looking into book publishing services and decide if you want to self publish a book or go the traditional route. No matter what you pick, remember this: the world is waiting for your story.