Are you on the hunt for a good publisher who will take your book through the soaring skies of publishing? Buckle up, for you may need some assistance! I’m sure you’ve done basic research, but you’re still confused about what to do and who to reach out to. Therefore, let me help you and make this easier for you.
So, you want to get your book published, and it is overwhelming to see so many choices – fair enough. When I first started, it wasn’t very clear to me as well. It’s all normal. So, you can knock on traditional publishing’s door or self-publishing; both require effort. After all, this is your introduction to the literary world. You should make it special and go with what you feel like doing.
The Different Types of Publishing Routes
Publishing your book requires complete attention and focus because you are supposed to make many choices. First of all, you find a publisher who follows your thoughts and preferences. Plus, understanding the big picture of publishing may also help you get along with the publishers better. You can choose from several publishing routes: Traditional, self, and hybrid.
Let’s familiarize you with them:
- Traditional Publishing:This is what you have been seeing from the start – the typical and mainstream publishing voyage. You land a deal with them, and they handle everything. The editing, design, distribution, and marketing. However, not everyone gets to be their partner or publish a book with them. To reach them, you may have to get a hold of a literary agent first. Plus, they also publish a limited number of titles. You also won’t have much control over the process. But hey, if your goal is to see your book on the shelves of major bookstores, you choose them.
- Self-Publishing:This method is pretty self-explanatory. You write, edit, design, distribute, and market your book yourself. In this route of publishing, you hold the reins. However, you can go down a cliff if you make one wrong turn. Yes, as they say, with great power comes great responsibility. You may prepare yourself for a hectic journey as you do everything yourself – and reap the fruit of your efforts all by yourself.
- Hybrid Publishing:This is the combination of both routes of publishing. You take a bit of traditional publishing and mix it with self-publishing. So, in this way, you get the same things as traditional publishing (editing, designing, and marketing), but you must contribute financially, or vice versa. It’s like a middle ground meeting each party’s requirements. This option can be great if you want a bit of both worlds.
How To Make Sure You Know Your Publishing Goals
Since you know the publishing routes and are clear about them, don’t go knocking on their door yet. First, you should take a moment to consider your publishing goals. What do you want out of publishing your book? Is it the money you’re after? Or the fame? Or to be a literary legend? Honestly, it’s so important that you are clear about it because it will impact your choices when you sign a deal with a publishing house or platform later. So, here’s a checklist. Make sure you’re done with these things before you hunt for a publisher:
- Define your goal:List what you want to achieve by publishing a book and point a pin at it.
- Know your audience:It becomes easier to publish when you’re aware of which audience your book is targeting.
- Break down the science of your book:Define what genre and how your book looks like. Thriller or romance? eBook or paperback?
You should select a publisher when you’ve checked all these boxes. Now, your journey will be smoother because you know what you want. This way, you will find a publishing partner who understands what you want. Instead of them leading the way, you both do.
Dig Deep For Potential Publishers
Now, roll up your sleeves and get to work. In this step, you search online for publishers in your region that will help you in your publishing journey. It can be daunting—I know—but this is something you must do for your peace of mind. When you have a systemic approach, it gets much, much easier.
- Shortlist potential publishers:You might want to search the internet and search for as many publishers as possible. Then, you shortlist them by reading their aims, objectives, and reviews. This will help you select the best one.
- Evaluate their credibility:Go through the shortlisted publishers and check their credibility. How many years have they been in business? New publishers also matter because they align with recent changes and audiences. But what you want to look for the most are reviews from other authors who have worked with them. Go on social media, like Reddit, and ask about them.
- Check out their submission process:Every publisher has submission guidelines on their website, so you must check that out as well. They might have crazy guidelines, hence why it’s important to review them. When you find the right ones, pay close attention; this will help you comply with their regulations.
Prepare Questions For Potential Publishers
You may have the top five publishers. You may want to meet all of them or at least get in touch with them. You may want to sit with them and converse. These meetings should be filled with information that could help you. Once this is over, you might get the answers to all your questions (or not!). Of course, you don’t go empty-minded to a meeting, so you prepare the questions in advance.
To help you kickstart your questioning process, here are some examples:
To know about the publishing process:
- How do I submit my manuscript? Do I need a literary agent?
- What types of books do you publish, or do you focus on certain genres?
To know about their experience:
- Which authors have you worked with before?
- Can you show me the recent books you’ve published?
- How many books are published in your company each year?
To know about money and rights:
- How do you handle payment? Do you give advance or just royalties?
- What rights do you keep, and what rights do I get?
- Will you sell my book internationally?
- How long will the contract last? Will I get my rights back after some time?
To know about distribution and marketing:
- Do you work with big stores or smaller ones to sell my books?
- How do you promote new books?
Watch Out for Red Flags
Like any other relationship, all publishing houses may not be just and true to their job ethics. There are many red flags you must be on the lookout for. These are some that I have encountered throughout my entire career:
- They promise you unrealistic claims. Of course, you won’t be a best-seller right away, and what do you mean you’ll get instant fame? You’re new to this, so let’s take it easy. The publishing world alone is unpredictable because with the cancel culture rising, people are quick to cancel any author who may say something out of the ordinary. Therefore, a true publisher will be transparent with you.
- They don’t discuss much with you. Plus, they don’t open up in the first meeting. If they take too long to respond, they’re not worth it. Your book needs someone who is fast and organized with their work – not someone you’d have to beg to be heard.
- Plus, their website, flyers, and other promotional things are not good-looking. It all looks so unprofessional. You can learn most of it by visiting their office. If things look weird and out of place, it’s a sign you need to run away from them.
- They pull a sudden 360 with hidden fees. This was the worst thing I ever stumbled upon. Many publishers would settle on a certain cost, but suddenly, they’d pull the hidden fees card on you in the middle of your publishing journey. It’s a red flag. So, be wary of publishers who ask for payment upfront because a good publisher would give you the service, and then you get to pay for it at the end.
- They also push you, or, in other words, encourage you to enter contests or paid promotions. That’s what we call a ‘cash grab’; it is basically for you to spend money and nothing more. Sure, it may get you some recognition, but it’s better you spend that money while marketing your book – it pays off much better.
The Final Verdict
After so much effort, now comes the part where you arrive at your final verdict. Of course, you can’t get everything you want, but this is where you choose the best from the list you’ve shortlisted. It’s a big decision, so you should be extra careful, and obviously, you must be sure that you want to work with them.
First, you compare the options. Out of the top five, you select the top three. Then, you select the top 2 and move further. Write the pros and cons of each choice and weigh it out. Consider their offerings, costs, timelines, and rights.
Always trust the vibe and your gut feeling. Your gut feeling can sometimes be your best guide. How? It’s a good sign if you feel happier and excited to work with one publisher than the other. Don’t, in any case, ignore your instincts. Remember that this is a partnership, and you want someone who understands your vision.
You can also ask other people around you. Maybe they could help. Ultimately, it’s your call. You must choose someone who you can see and imagine helping your book succeed. Choose the publisher that feels right with you. When I worked with May Green at Illustrative Agency, it was the best decision ever. You can go through the hectic process easily when you have the best support.
The right publisher will make the process feel like you’re floating on a watery surface – so easy, so smooth. Therefore, be as vigilant as you can and always trust your instincts. After all, this is your work that you’ll trust them with, so you have the right to be discerning regarding the publishing.
So, go ahead and take the leap! I’m rooting for you. Good luck!