This is an author's overview of the publishing market. If you are developing a story and have questions about how publishing works, you should start by determining if you will pursue self publishing or traditional publishing.
There are a few main differences between Self Publishing and Traditional Publishing. If you pursue self publishing, be ready to pay for all expenses, oversee all aspects of production, and own all of your rights. If you would instead pursue traditional publishing, the publishing house that chooses your book will handle all costs for you, but you will give the rights to the book to said firm for the amount of time listed in your contract. Each option has its benefits, each had its setbacks. It is up to every person how they will produce their book.
I have tried both methods. I used a self-publishing firm to produce my The Fated King trilogy. I paid the costs out of my own pocket. I was able to work with them to design the layout of my book to my specifications. I was able to mange:
The Cover Design
Interior Layout
Design of the Chapter Emblems.
Font Types
Pricing in Distribution
Editing
The benefit of this approach is the control you have over your book. You can make it into the exact product you want. The downside is the pressure this places on you. It is your book. You control everything. This includes marketing your book.
It's a big job, and should not be taken lightly. People are counting on you to get that book out. So, do it to the best of your ability!
Whereas self publishing gets hard on the tail-end, traditional publishing is hard at the beginning. Traditional publishing firms will pay you for your book and give you a percentage of the profits once you sign on with them. They pay you, because they want your book. That's the hard part. In order for them to like it, you need to get it to them.
Some firms will accept unsoliceted manuscripts (manuscripts directly from authors like you and I) but most major firms (Penguin Random House, Simon & Suchster, etc.) do not.
You'll first need to find an agent who can take your manuscript to publishing firms on your behalf. Agents require you to fill out a query form to submit a small portion of your book for review. If they like it, they will ask for more. If they don't, try again! I will cover this in detail in another post later on.
If all works out for you and you get an agent and a manuscript contract, you'll be passed the hard stuff! Your traditional publishing firm will handle many aspects of production and marketing for you. They may require you to edit the manuscript here and there, but overall you will be set.
Either way you go with your publishing journey, just know that it is not all going to be easy. There will be hard times on both roads. You will meet times when you feel like giving up, but don't. do it for your readers. There is someone out there in the world who wants to hear your story. So get it to them!
Best wishes for your journey,
The Snodster
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