How long have you been working on that book now? Months? Years? Or you already lost the count because you have been struggling to track your progress? However, you’re still working on it and you have the desire to finish it and check off one of the things on your bucket list.
However long it has been, if you feel that it's time to get it published – and you've done everything in your power to make it worth publishing – then it's time to make the decision of how exactly to get it published.
Each book publication option has its pros and cons that you need to weigh properly. It's basically up to you to decide which would work best for you and your book.
The Traditional Way
Having your work published traditionally is probably one of the hardest methods you can choose to utilize. It'll take quite a lot of effort to have yourself selected as an author, but the good thing about it is that the publisher will be shouldering the financial and creative risks. You're likely to get good media coverage too.
Through Partnership
By partnering with an agent, publisher or author collective, you'll be able to share both the risk and the revenue. There's also a selection process involved so getting published isn't a sure thing, but the good thing about it is that there's less of a risk and you'll get better royalties than with publishing the traditional way.
With Full Assistance
Getting assistance basically means you have to pay a fee for a package of services. There's no selection process involved so that's all you have to do: pay. You're likely to receive better royalties than when you do it traditionally, but you're not likely to make more than what you can get if you go DIY.
Do-It-Yourself With Distributor
This means exactly what it implies: as an author, you'll have to do most of the hard work – though you can hire outside assistance if you need to – and then you'll pass on the final files to the distributor. You may get charged an upfront fee. The distributor will not bind you nor ask you to give up rights.
With this method, you'll have to do everything by yourself (unless you ask for assistance) – from the writing to the publishing, and then you head off to provide retailers with your finished copies of files or books. It takes the most effort to accomplish, but in the end you'll be able to maximize your earnings and get full control over everything.
Whatever you choose among the options, remember that you should decide for yourself and you are ready to step closer to your dream. Put yourself altogether; the passion, creativity, and willingness to tell a story to almost everyone. Good luck and as the Hunger Games said, may the odds be ever in your favor.
About Ellen: She's a dreamer, writer, and a cinephile. She wants to publish a book someday but for the meantime, she needs to struggle with her studies. Ellen juggles her time between school stuff and a freelance researcher for edugeeksclub.com.
[Photo credit: Reuters]
Comments
Contents of the book is important to determine from where you should start publishing!
Did you write anything before ? what was about?