Traditional Publishing vs Self-Publishing: Which Is Right for You?

You’ve written and revised your book, and now you’re ready to see it published. But which path to publication should you choose? Both traditional publishing and self-publishing can be viable options for you as an author, so in this video, I break down the factors you need to consider to decide which publishing option is best for you and your book.
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MORE WRITING AND PUBLISHING ADVICE:
The Art of the Book Deal (and How Much Money You Can Expect): • The Art of the Book De...
Worst Genres for Traditional Publishing: • Worst Genres for Tradi...
Traditional Publishing Pros and Cons: • Traditional Publishing...
Self-Publishing Pros and Cons: • Self Publishing Pros &...
5 FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING TRADITIONAL OR SELF-PUBLISHING:
01:56 - Your goals
03:56 - Costs
06:34 - Timeline
08:03 - Genre and audience
10:30 - The role you want to play
ABOUT ME:
My name is Alyssa Matesic, and I’m a professional book editor with nearly a decade of book publishing and editorial experience. Throughout my career, I’ve held editorial roles across both sides of the publishing industry: Big Five publishing houses and literary agencies. The goal of this channel is to help writers throughout the book writing journey-whether you're working on your manuscript or you're looking for publishing advice.
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[@BeneficialCuts]

Just speaking as a Bookseller.... Self-published books are the bane of my life. Getting hold of them for customers is often almost impossible, and self-published authors often advertise without clarifying for people where their books are actually available. If you want your book to be stocked by bricks and mortar bookshops you will almost always need a traditional publisher to advocate for you.

[@t0dd000]

Use a traditional publisher ... Or just self-publish correctly so that your books are widely available. So many authors lock themselves into the Amazon ecosystem. It's not a self-publishing issue. It's an ignorance issue.

[@toddfoolery1701]

I used to think self-publishing would be the best option, but then I watched indie authortubers videos breaking down how much they spent on a single book and I realised I've never had that much money and I don't know if and when I ever will

[@futurestoryteller]

I like that you said you owe it "to your book" not your audience. Not that the audience isn't deserving of respect, but I feel like for a lot of authors it's all about themselves, or all about the audience instead of about the writing. To me thinking as if there is only one "objectively" good version of this story, and striving for that is a good grounding mechanism.

[@christrites4251]

All good advice. Fortunately, I do not need to rely on sales and only started writing full-time after I retired. I use KDP and enjoy it. I had to learn about marketing, digital editing/cover art, editing, etc. I enjoy it and have the time; some may not. 80% of my orders on KDP I give away for free, which I imagine many writers who watch this would not want to do. Being selected by one of the big publishing companies is likely every writer's dream, but akin to winning the lottery. Not that it can't be done, but new writers need to know the odds of that happening. Maybe you should do a video on the number of submissions against the number selected. This would give new writers the information they need to make informed decisions. Like most things in life, it is best to go into it with your eyes wide open and with as much information as you can find on the subject. Have a great day.

[@johnparnham5945]

I will be like you in that I will retire in a year and I will have to make decisions.

[@akashajoti6456]

Really Good Point!!

[@teresajones5973]

I’m a hybrid author and will never give that up. I love both worlds. Depending on the story is how I make the decision on which route to go.

[@t0dd000]

Explain how you are hybrid please. Hybrid means a lot of things.

[@lexietalionis]

Great breakdown! But I do want to say to anyone thinking of the self-publishing route: please don't let a lack of resources in the beginning stop you. Indie authors vary widely regarding how much they invest upfront. For myself, my 'big' initial investment was just Vellum, as it handles formatting better than anything else I know. Line editing would have been great, but the marginal benefit wasn't worth the significant cost. Now that I'm more established, I may eventually brush up my current works. But they sell well regardless. And ultimately, whether traditional or indie, that is what will make or break you: are readers buying your work?

[@maliacortez]

This is great advice! Thank you! Finances is a huge part of why I'm trying to get trad published, and not having a good mind for the business and marketing side of things. But if I can't find an agent I want this story published and would be willing to try self publishing. My story is a series though so that's why I struggle with self publishing. If I don't do well with the first book, I could be responsible for tanking the whole series! That's why I feel a trad publisher would suit me best.

[@t0dd000]

Are your readers even finding you. And if so, how?

[@rowan7929]

To this day I still wish I could retract my books i self published and pretend it never happened. How I thought this path would suit me by having all the freedom, but the work involved was just too much and not worth the time and money I lost in it. Regardless doing newsletters, promotions, ads, etc. I only lost money with hardly any sales. I was fatigued and frustrated. Although I still haven't gotten an agent yet, since I quit the self path, I make more money than when I tried to sell them. Also happier. I rather go through the hassle on getting an agent and when I do, deal with them than wasting a single cent in the self path. Worst mistake I have ever done for my books. 5000AUD I will never get back.

[@lilysoltani2975]

I have just published my debut novel by a rather small publisher, so I have begun my own marketing and publicity and feel already exhausted. I also think. for the next book, I need an agent no matter how long it will take.

[@rowan7929]

@@lilysoltani2975 Exactly. Although still frustrating getting one but learned a lot too.

[@cynthiaking5308]

Indie is hard, but manageable after you do it. It all comes down to two factors: first my age. By the time I hear back from an agent, it might need to be in c.o./ St. Mary’s Cemetary, and two, I could compete for a reader or an agent. I choose reader. I spent a lot of money learning to do it correctly and why waste it by giving up? The trad-pub is the Holy Grail. Yes, I read on Twitter all the people who get agents, and good luck to all. May the reader win.

[@rad4924]

I'm glad you posted this because I've been agonising over whether to self publish or trad publish and until now I'd been planning to decide with a coin flip.

[@hikersynthesizer]

After four years of querying agents, I'm leaning more toward self-publishing. My editor loves my book and was shocked when she read it. She mentioned my word count of 150,000 words being off putting to agents since it exceeds the recommended 80,000 words for a first novel, but if that were true then many authors including Diana Gabalden, Donna Tartt, etc, would have been missed. So here we are.

[@dobanator4501]

That is a really big word count. Were those aurthors first books that big?

[@hikersynthesizer]

@@dobanator4501 yes, they were bigger. Some are even double and triple that.

[@dobanator4501]

@@hikersynthesizer you do what you think is best for your book! If you ever self publish, let us all know so we can pick one up

[@eternal_napalm6442]

That is the key. Never compromise your vision trying to appease a publisher.

[@johnglynhughes4239]

Recommended 80,000 words? I wonder what Hemingway would have thought about such guidance...

[@AngelaKHarrell]

Although I originally felt I would go the indie route because of my age, I've changed my mind and will now do traditional publishing. All for the reasons you stated earlier. I would also like to see my books eventually used in classroom settings. Thx for the video!! 😊

[@AlyssaMatesic]

You're so welcome! Good luck with your traditional publishing journey!

[@maliacortez]

I constantly grapple with these two choices. I want my book traditionally published, since the business side of self publishing is too overwhelming for me. But I also want my book to actually be published, so if I don't have luck with the traditional then self publishing will have to be the next best thing... But I don't really want to do that so I just feel stuck and frustraited with it all. Lol.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

I totally understand - it's not always an easy choice to make! Both options can be viable paths forward, so it really just comes down to your own goals and preferences. ♥️

[@maliacortez]

@@AlyssaMatesic Which is why I will continue to query agents for now. Lol. 🙏🤞❤️

[@sophiestj]

The very question I keep asking myself.... Thank you so much!

[@AlyssaMatesic]

You're so welcome! Good luck with whichever path you choose!

[@jamesstolpa9442]

All signs point to the traditional publishing route.

[@JohnSmith-tl8pq]

That's if you can even get representation. I live in Australia, and there are only like 20 literary agencies, and none of them represent science fiction or fantasy, which is what I write. So it is 100% impossible to be traditionally published here for what I write.

[@jamesstolpa9442]

@JohnSmith-tl8pq that makes things more complicated. I've been researching agents here in the US using Querytracker. My novel is commercial/ contemporary fiction. Once I'm finished editing, I'll be diving into the murky waters of querying. Best of luck to you!

[@AngelaKHarrell]

​​​@JohnSmith-tl8pq Don't give up! Start to look for an agent outside of Australia that handle English speaking authors (United States, Canada, Great Britain).

[@Britta_no_filter]

@@JohnSmith-tl8pqCould you submit to agents outside of Australia? Maybe some agents in NYC or LA?

[@authorservicesaustralia]

Thanks for doing this video to help new authors choose the right publishing path for them and their books.

[@pablodc8317]

I'd like to know from you as an Insider or former Insider, what sort of "Marketing Efforts" should an author expect from the Publisher (on average). How does that look like? It's been always kind of vague in my mind, but as an author myself, I believe that's where my choice hinges from. I have read somewhere that in the Simon-Random merger antitrust trial, it was disclosed that out of 58,000 published titles in a year, 50% sold less than a dozen books, and 98% of 2020’s books sold less than 5,000 copies. If these numbers (that seemed to be under the wraps for the everyday author) are real, the added value of trad pub is even less than what one imagined, is that right? Anyways, keep up the good work on YT!!! You have a great channel.

[@Al-rn5qy]

I like your balanced approach to publishing. Though you come from a traditional publishing background, I like how you point out the pros of self-publishing an vice versa. I agree: there is no one correct way to publish. The correct way is the one that works best for you!😉👍

[@rameshnybergauthor]

As usual Alyssa come through! Great insight and a very sound overview of the industry

[@andyclark3530]

Thanks Alyssa. Very practical and sound advice. Know thyself! Perhaps challenging for writers who make up characters to get away from themselves. Who me? No, not at all, but let's not was time on that when we could discuss about my MC's subconcious goals.

[@kathrynp7595]

Does traditional publishing work with libraries to get your book on the shelves? 🙏 I would appreciate a response, thanks Alyssa

[@RobinBermel]

Yes. Absolutely. They have library contacts, attend library shows, and promote through library channels. Libraries are an important segment for publishers.

[@tompike6045]

Hi everyone. Is anyone here a middle grade fantasy author? I recently made use of Alyssa's editorial review service for my opening chapters. Not only did she identify several issues that I was unable to recognize, she was also nice enough to let me reach out to others in her comments section. I am looking for beta readers to read the current version of my opening chapters. It would really help to have readers, who know the genre, evaluate how effectively I have addressed the issues that she brought up. I'd be so grateful if any of you amazing people could help me with this. Have a great day.

[@IlseMulAuthor]

Right now I'm thinking about taking the traditional publishing road once my first book of the series is completely finished (and I have at least the first draft of the rest of the books finished). If that doesn't work out, I'll self-publish, even though I might have to go through crowd-funding to cover the costs :D Thank you for all the insights, Alyssa! It was a very interesting video again :)

[@cerielvanarneman9399]

I’m an author of a photography book. I’m an international book excellence awards winning author. I wrote a unique book that no one in the world can write. Books that received a book excellence award have been recognized for their high quality design, writing and overall market appeal. The idea of writing a book that came from my wife, my wife always wanted my book to be in the libraries. I was married for 39 years, and my wife passed away tree years ago. One night before she died she told me don't worry the book will come in the library. That is a dream of many authors to publish a book with major publishing houses, for an opportunity with major publishing houses an auteur must first find a literary agent. There are authors who have been searching for years to find a literary agent and they never find a literary agent. I’m a self publishing author and I think I never go to find a literary agent for my book. To find a literary agent is like a miracle that has to happen and I don't believe in a miracle. I think my book is not the right fit for an agency, but its fun anyway to read my book and know about me and my photography.

[@ladyjatheist2763]

here's a question... in one of your other vids you expressed doubt that traditional publishers will accept someone who's already self published. Does their "success" matter as to whether a trad pub will look at their work for representation? Obviously, if one has already self published, one would most likely be required to de-list their books so as not to compete with the publishing house. Quite frankly, as someone who's spent their life working a daily just to keep ends met, and doesn't have a "sugar" someone paying the bills and willing to fund for marketing... success has been crushingly elusive. So... what would be the use of even trying (yet again), to solicit the attention of a publishing house if they're so biased against self-published authors? Asking for someone on the fence about whether or not to possibly "waste" the energy to hope for any kind of success again.

[@johnparnham5945]

I have two books that are self published. But I have no problem with traditional publishing. It's quite expensive to self publish. There are many self published books that are equally as good as traditionally published books. If you have already self published you will have built up relationships that will be lost if you traditionally publish.

[@OtakuOG]

YEA! NEW VIDEO! I'm going self-publishing on D2D. I researched a lot on this and Traditional Publishing just seems scary because of all the gatekeepers. AND I don't have CONTROL over my book. D2D/KDP seems to have a decent reach minus the bookstores. Plus I hear you can go self-Publishing then if a Publishing House wants you, it's still an option.

[@azia3337]

I am going with traditional publishing already sent ny book out to some people

[@dobanator4501]

You do not lose control over your book with trad publishing. And you have to already be successful with self publishing before a publishing house will pick you up.

[@dueling_spectra7270]

It's not that it never happens, however, it's so much the exception, that we could probably all this the same ones it's happened to: like JK Rolling or Colleen Hoover. By the time you're selling that many books, does it really make sense to hand it over to a publishing house and take a smaller cut of royalties?

[@Aluenvey]

One major factor that made me consider self-publishing as the main route, while other works trade published: my main work is in a genre that's currently seen as a dead trend in YA. Even though technically in practice in closer stylistically to contemporary fiction or slice of life than Dystopian in the traditional sense. More specifically: even though it is kind of YA Dystopia, it's structured more like what you'd expect from a TV show rather than a movie. A collection of short stories that build toward a novel. It overlaps also with Gothic Fiction, which can be confused for Paranormal Romance. The other is that until recently I've seen my books more as a stepping stone into other writing careers, rather than the main revenue source: for example, a portfolio for writing for television or as a portfolio for game design and web comic creation. And sense I'm also a poet and musician, I've considered the idea of serialization in songbooks.

[@mechtime]

Well, trad published my first thriller with an smaller imprint. $5K advance which I blew on promotion as the company didn't do much. Didn't sell. They stopped all efforts on it and weren't interested in my second thriller as first didn't sell. Self published second and made $20K on it back when Amazon hadn't gamed their system against self-pubbed writers. Neither route was a breakout. But I liked having control and made 4x what trad. publishing gave me. Of course, now Amazon has made it much harder to make the money so that advantage is gone. I have, however, gotten thousands of reviews on my self-published efforts and less than 100 with trad published, so I got my stories in front of more people with self-publishing (thrillers average nearly 4.5 STARS on Amazon, sci-fi efforts around 4). Besides money, the other thing most authors want is people to read (and hopefully like) their stories. Of course, if I could ever land a big 5 with a big marketing push (haha), I'd love to give that a go.

[@latenightdriver9680]

I've been sitting on a manuscript of 118,000 words for a few years now. Ive been a little discouraged about self publishing online when people are pumping out 6-8 novels of maybe 50k words in genres that arent mine, selling for $10 and making maybe a dollar or two off each sale. But waiting 6 weeks minimum for an agent rejection (if you get the rejection) is pretty bleak, especially having to research, write, and craft a compelling indvidualized query letter for each. Im poor, a no name for sure, but I get nothing but glowing reviews from complete strangers when they read my stuff, especially from successful authors I know. So I believe I have something, I just dont know which publishing medium it can shine best in. Frankly I suck at marketing, my flair is entirely concentrated on the story and that's it. I guess Im wondering if anyone is or was in a similar boat? I write character driven horror. Anyone find success self publishing long novels in this genre?

[@t0dd000]

I'm friends with many authors. Both traditionally published authors and self-published authors. And authors who have done or still do both. I'm torn on the two models. I've one the biggest advocates for self-publishing in my friends group started as a successful traditionally published author. She says she's disgusted at how little per book she makes. That being said, only about 25% of all trad. authors ever earn out their advances. I.e. most authors never make substantial money anyway, so … it kind of seems it doesn't really matter much which route you take EXCEPT with the traditional route you lose control of future publishing options. So, at the moment, the self-publishing argument is winning out for me.

[@Exayevie]

I imagine I'm going to get a ton of hate for this, but the fact is, I've never read a self-published book that's as good as a traditionally published title.

[@LordOz3]

You left out small press publishing.

[@spectraphantom1083]

What does that entail?

[@LordOz3]

@@spectraphantom1083 Small press publishers often don't require agents (hence agents and gatekeepers don't like to talk about them). They won't have the reach of a trad publisher, nor the marketing power (though it seems like trad only markets their big dogs since they have a bigger investment in them). They also - in my experience - don't do advances. However - never go with a small press that asks you to pay for editing and the cover. If they are taking money from you, odds are they are a vanity press and/or a scam.

[@eruvandib.676]

I adore my indie friends and love supporting them, but after much research and thought I feel strongly that trad is best for me, my personality, and my resources (or lack of resources, LOL). I've always been a good team player and the mere idea of having a team of experienced professionals behind me helping me make my dream a reality takes so so SO much anxiety off my mind. I also plain can't afford to indie publish, not to the level of quality that I would insist upon, and certainly not without the guarantee of making that money back. Now, I don't have any problem with the idea of possibly hybrid publishing if I someday have a book idea that I'm passionate about that just doesn't fit with trad. But I feel strongly that it would be wisest for me personally to go trad first and foremost.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Sounds like you've really thought it through! That's great. Good luck on your traditional publishing journey!

[@dueling_spectra7270]

I'm going indie. Way tooooo much of a control freak to let anyone else do my marketing. 😅 You did miss two big factors when it comes to marketing. Trad likes to do a big(?) marketing push when books are initially released to see what takes, then reallocates to put more behind what's moving this year, and next year will have a new crop of books to promote. With indie publishing you can continue to promote your back-list, which is comprised of your older books and series. Utilizing your IP rather than letting it lay fallow. Which brings me to factor #2. As an indie, you have much better data. You cans see a spike in sales from a tic toc that went viral or use attribution links to measure whether facebook ad #1 or #2 is driving sales. (Or if it's mostly coming from that social post?) You can improve on what's working, change what's not because you can see the results within days, rather than posting blindly and getting the results in 6 months when you get your royalties. You can cut that down lag by selling direct from your own website and see sales in real time, without the two month wait for royalties that you get with KDP. I like that the indie model is about gradually building a sustainable readership over time, where if executed judiciously the success of each book builds upon the foundation set by the previous, and each new reader recruited into your current book or series in encouraged to go back and consume your previous works.

[@BonnyRigg-qj8wn]

That sounds right.

[@gordonsheaffer1228]

"Commercial appeal." This should have been the first point. The general feeling I get is that book deals are contingent on producing popular manuscripts- whatever the hot sellers are. Example, historical fiction better include hunky highlanders or WW2 submarines. Self-publishing is where the rest of us go.

[@Kintaro0e]

Can a first-time author who is seeking representation from an agent self-publish different novels under a different pen?

[@xChikyx]

tbh thr trad way feels like a monopoly with the big ones, really easy to push an agenda

[@kellysooth602]

Everyone is selling, even this girl. Just publish yourself and keep expectations low. Write more, and hone the craft. Art is not that valuable