Discover which publishing path offers better royalties, faster time-to-market, and creative control for your book

As an aspiring author, you're faced with countless decisions about bringing your book to life. But when it comes down to the fundamentals, there are really only two paths you can take: work with a publisher or become the publisher yourself.

After helping over 140 authors publish 270 plus titles and navigating our own publishing journey with 20 books, we've seen firsthand how these two approaches can dramatically impact an author's success, earnings, and creative control.

The Traditional Publishing Route: Working with a Publisher

Traditional publishing encompasses several models, including traditional houses, subsidy publishers, hybrid publishers, vanity presses, and boutique publishing companies. While the terms may vary, they all follow a similar structure where you submit your manuscript and either receive a contract with an advance or pay to have your book published under their imprint.

The Pros of Working with a Publisher

Credibility and Recognition: There's undeniable prestige in saying you're published by Simon & Schuster or another recognizable name. This brand recognition can open doors and carry weight in certain circles.

Professional Teams: Publishers typically have full-time professionals handling editing, design, marketing, and distribution. You're tapping into their established systems and expertise.

Bookstore Access: Getting into physical bookstores is often easier with a publisher's backing, as they have existing relationships with distributors and retailers.

The Cons You Need to Consider

Minimal Advances: The days of massive book advances are largely over unless you're already a celebrity. A $5,000 advance paid over two years is now considered generous, and many contracts offer no advance at all.

Lengthy Timeline: Expect 1-2 years from contract to publication. We've seen authors celebrate publishing deals only to learn their book won't hit shelves until two years later.

Loss of Creative Control: Publishers control content decisions, cover design, pricing, and marketing strategies. You may not recognize your own vision in the final product.

Rights Issues: Here's where many authors get burned. Publishers often retain various rights—sometimes international rights, audiobook rights, or even perpetual publishing rights. One author we know discovered her books were selling exceptionally well in Europe, only to learn she'd unknowingly signed away international royalties in a buried contract clause.

High Dropout Rate: 95% of new authors are eventually released by their publishers. If your book doesn't perform immediately, it becomes unavailable, leaving you back at square one.

Low Royalties: Standard author royalties range from 7-15% of the net take. On a $15 paperback, that typically translates to about $1 per book sold.

The Independent Publishing Path: Becoming the Publisher

Self-publishing, independent publishing, or DIY publishing—whatever you call it—means you own and control the entire process. You're not just the author; you're also the publisher, which means you get both pieces of the profit pie.

The Advantages of Going Independent

Higher Royalties: This is where independent publishing truly shines. Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing offers up to 70% royalties on ebooks priced between $2.99-$9.99. On paperbacks, you can earn 35-60% depending on the platform and pricing.

Speed to Market: Once you have an edited manuscript, you can have a published book in less than 40 days. We've helped authors go from final draft to holding physical copies in as little as one month.

Complete Control: Every decision is yours—content, cover design, pricing, marketing strategy, and distribution channels. Want to update your cover to add a book award emblem? Done in a day.

Global Distribution: Platforms like Amazon make your book available worldwide almost instantly, in multiple formats including paperback, hardcover, ebook, and audiobook.

Rights Retention: You own everything. All formats, all territories, all future adaptations—it's all yours.

The Challenges to Navigate

Learning Curve: There's a lot to master—editing, cover design, interior formatting, marketing, uploading, optimization, and more. It can feel overwhelming initially.

Full Responsibility: Your success depends entirely on you and your team. There's no publisher to blame if things don't go as planned.

Team Building Required: While called "self-publishing," successful independent authors build teams. You'll need editors, designers, formatters, and potentially marketing professionals.

Bookstore Challenges: Getting into physical bookstores requires more effort and relationship-building when you're an independent publisher.

The Numbers Don't Lie: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Key Questions to Guide Your Decision

Before choosing your path, honestly answer these critical questions:

1. Do you want creative control over your book's content, design, and marketing?

2. How quickly do you want your book in readers' hands—18 months or 8 weeks?

3. Can you handle or delegate tasks like editing, formatting, and design?

4. What royalty percentage is acceptable to you—10% or 50%+?

5. Are you ready to take full ownership of your publishing success?

The Real Cost of Waiting

Every day you spend waiting for a traditional publishing contract is a day your message isn't reaching readers. Lost time equals lost sales, lost sales equal lost impact, and lost impact equals a silenced message.

Publishing success isn't about waiting for permission—it's about taking action.

Our Recommendation

After over a decade in this industry and helping hundreds of authors, we've seen that most authors who choose the independent publishing path achieve better financial results, maintain creative control, and reach readers faster than those who go the traditional route.

The key is understanding that "self-publishing" doesn't mean doing everything yourself. It means being the decision-maker while building a team of professionals to help execute your vision.

Remember: Ask "who" not "how." Instead of wondering how you'll handle each aspect of publishing, ask who can help you do it better and faster.

Take Action Today!

Your book won't publish itself, and your message won't reach readers while it sits in a drawer or on your computer. The time to act is now.

Action Items for Authors Ready to Move Forward:

1. Schedule a Publishing Strategy Consultation: Set up a conversation with experienced publishing professionals to discuss your specific goals, timeline, and book concept. This initial discussion will help clarify which path aligns with your objectives.

2. Use the Royalty Calculator: Access online calculators to estimate your potential earnings for different book formats, sizes, and pricing strategies. Input various scenarios (paperback, ebook, hardcover) to see real numbers for your decision-making.

3. Build Your Publishing Team: Identify professionals for key roles you'll need: developmental editor, copy editor, cover designer, interior formatter, and marketing consultant. Start researching and connecting with these specialists even if you're not ready to hire them yet.

4. Research Your Rights: If you're considering traditional publishing, have an intellectual property attorney review any contracts before signing. Understand exactly what rights you're retaining versus surrendering, especially international and format rights.

5. Create Your Publishing Timeline: Whether you choose traditional or independent publishing, map out your realistic timeline from current manuscript status to published book. Include editing phases, design work, marketing preparation, and launch activities to set proper expectations and deadlines.

MORE VALUABLE RESOURCES AVAILABLE HERE:

https://www.40daypublishing.com/free-resources

Embarking on this journey alone can be daunting, and that's why we're here to support you. If you're ready to take your independent publishing goals to the next level, schedule a free one-on-one consultation with our expert team. We'll discuss your unique aspirations, challenges, and tailor a plan to help you achieve success in 2025.