There Is No Right or Wrong Answer

Having the full picture is important.

As I make connections throughout the book world, I’m reminded of something that is so obvious to those of us who work in that world, but I think is less clear to those who are first-time authors: the book world is subjective. 

Seems obvious, right? All books are different. 

What I mean is that all parts of the book process are subjective. There are different types of editors, different types of publishers, different types of marketers, and more. And each expert has their own opinion about what makes a good book for a particular genre, and then how that book should be designed, published, marketed, and more. 

Because of this, it’s imperative that you know what your goals are for your book and how you’d like to use your book so you can effectively navigate the process. (It also doesn’t hurt to have a trusted partner helping you through this.)

I want to take this opportunity talk about different considerations that come into play when choosing a publisher. This article could be a whole book in itself, so I’m going to keep it very surface-level. 

Beyond the Type of Publishing

Oftentimes, first-time authors need to be educated on the different types of publishing that are available: traditional, hybrid/independent, and self-publishing. Which route they want to take is the first major decision that needs to be made on the publishing journey and will greatly impact the book process. 

But here’s the thing: that’s not where the publishing variety stops. All of my clients thus far have decided upon what I define as the hybrid publishing path. Speaking of subjectivity, if you ask 10 different publishers to define hybrid publishing, they might give you 10 different definitions. 

Without worrying about a label, what I mean to say is that my clients all pick a partner who helps provide all the resources for editing, layout, design, keywords, loading the book to where it needs to go, etc., without losing ownership, having to figure it out themselves, or hiring 10 different people. Some people would define that as self-publishing. You get the idea. Definitions aren’t even clear. 

Within each branch of the publishing world, there are a variety of different publishers to choose from. Especially in the hybrid world, the types of services, level of support, and opinions on how the process should look will vary vastly. This is why it’s so important to be clear on your intention for the book so you can choose partners that align with your goals. 

Type of Support and Budget

Every publisher will offer different types and levels of support. Some will provide such a variety of potential services that it may be overwhelming. Others will provide the essentials of what needs to be done to get a quality book out into the world.  Some publishers will be very hands-on and do a lot of the work for you. Others will simply provide guidance and consultation. None of these approaches are right or wrong; it depends on your goals for the book and your budget. 

When you go into the selection process, it’s important to be clear on what your goals are for your book, what your publishing and marketing budget is, and what you’re okay doing yourself versus what you’d like to totally outsource. 

Being clear on this heading into publisher selection will help make the process easier because it’s often not comparing apples to apples but rather apples to oranges. 

Process and Timeline

You won’t just want to look at the type of support and cost, but you’ll also want to evaluate each publisher’s timeline and process. 

Let’s start with timeline. If you need to get your book out by a certain date, you’ll want to find a publisher who can meet that date. If many publishers are telling you that they won’t be able to hit that date (say something less than 6ish months), you may need to ask yourself if that date is immovable for any reason or if you can be flexible to get a quality book. Assuming you have a reasonable launch date in mind, you’ll want to ensure your publisher aligns with your goals. 

You’ll also want to find a publisher that is aligned with your working style. Some publishers are very systematic and process-oriented. Others are more customized and go-with-the-flow. Again, neither one is right or wrong. This depends on your goals and personality. 

I’m no publishing expert. That’s why I generally stay in my ghostwriting lane. But it is my responsibility to educate my clients and potential clients on what will be required once they’re done working with me so we can have a smooth hand-off and so the author can have a successful book. These are some common considerations to make going into the book process. 

If you’re considering a book but don’t have the time to write it, request a book consult using the button below.