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Your book’s publishing options

Before self-publishing, it was really tough finding a way to publishing your work. Even J.K. Rowling who wrote the famous Harry Potter series was rejected 12 times from different publishers.  

Sometimes the hardest part about launching a book wasn’t writing the story, but finding a publisher willing to accept your work. The journey of having your book published became a bigger headache. Plus, it could take months or even years before getting your hard work out to the public, so what were the options before self-publishing?

Trade Publishing

Trade publishing is also known as traditional or commercial publishing. When you traditionally publish your books, your publisher manages the entire publication process. This means that they decide who edits, where they distribute, and how much to bulk print. Examples of these publication houses include HarperCollins and Penguin Group. Many of these books become bestsellers because they approach award winning authors and ask them to publish through them.

Academic publishing

Academic publishing includes the publishing of textbooks, theses, journals or simply any kind of books for academia. I have two theses published via academic publishing and also three peer-reviewed journal articles in prestigious journals. Well-reputed universities publish the work of academics.

Professional publishing

This type of publishing is specific to a profession and typically for the medical stream. For instance, these may be books and handbooks for aspiring doctors to read. These are well researched books that contain the most updated information on the industry’s standards and best practices. These typically are published in digital format because they require frequent updates, meaning that reprints can be costly. An example of a professional publisher is John Wiley.

Hybrid publishing

Hybrid publishing is a fusion of self-publishing and trade publishing. This model operates on a different revenue model as compared to traditional publishing, meaning that it is sales and profits driven.

Why is self-publishing still the best option?

 

Self-publishing is the most popular form of publishing for indie authors because it is the most accessible. This is when the author pays for the publication of their book including all services like editing, cover design, formatting, and advertising. 

There are self-publishing companies available too, who would provide you with a package price to get your book to publication. Examples include Lulu.com, Barnes & Noble Press, Blurb, and iUniverse.

The reason why self-publishing is the best approach for new authors is because it is the best way to get your work published and to build your platform. Many successful self-published authors eventually go trade or hybrid publishing, but only after they’ve made a name for themselves in the market.

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