On Friday I asked the question of which publishing option new writers would be willing to consider. As I suspected, the results were overwhelmingly in the favor of traditional publishing models involving agents and either large or small publishing houses. But for those who have tried these methods without success, there are still publishing opportunities available. What follows is a brief discussion of the pros and cons of each option.
Traditional NY publishing
I’m sure we’re all familiar with this variety of publishing: the writer queries an agent, who accepts the work and then works as an intermediary with large publishers, arranging the sale of the book and subsequent contract and legal negotiations. In the past, agents have been able to negotiate large advances (against future royalties), even sometimes for first books.
That model is changing dramatically in more recent years, especially with the current economic climate. Publishers aren’t as willing to take costly risks on newer writers, making the process of finding a large publisher harder on first-time novelists. And if the book is accepted for publication by one of the larger houses, the advance is more likely to be 10,000 or less as compared to larger advances (and even sometimes six figures) of the past.
In addition, many publishing houses are reducing the number of books they publish every season. (Publishing traditionally follows two seasons: Spring and Fall.) With cost-saving measures in effect, sometimes including laying off staff, publishers are opting to stay with known money makers, usually established writers or celebrity tell-alls.
What this means for aspiring writers is that the process is more complicated and the competition for available spots each season is more intense. Acquisition editors are taking fewer risks and demanding higher quality from writers. Agents, in turn, are looking for stellar reads in genres that have been selling well recently. There are always exceptions, but overall the climate is rather intimidating to the uninitiated.
While it may be more difficult for new writers, it is still possible. But the chances of making it big on a first novel are becoming increasingly more difficult.
Small or independent publishing
I work for a smaller independent publisher, so I have a bit of experience with this form of publishing.
Because independent publishers are privately owned, they have more freedom to acquire books they believe in, especially if they don’t follow traditional norms or the current trends. However, there is added pressure during touch economic times for these small publishers to make money as well. So while they will still include more unconventional choices in their offerings, there will be increased competition for their slots as well.
While small publishers have that boutique, personal atmosphere that many authors love, they also don’t have the big marketing dollars that the large publishers do. So with a smaller publisher, expect a first print run of your book to be 10,000 books published or less. The smaller print runs to make it easier for publishers to take risks, though, because if a book is printed at a quantity of 3,000 books and only 2,000 sell within the first year, the publisher obviously loses money, but not at the same rate as compared to a large publisher that prints a first run of 50,000 or 100,000 copies.
But don’t despair about never selling any books if you opt to go with a smaller publishing house. Breakout successes have been known to happen, and any publishing credit to start with is better than none when selling a later book.
Self-publishing
The two previous forms of publishing still follow the traditional model of an editor acquiring the book, and then editing the book before publication. Self-publishing, on the other hand, breaks that tradition by allowing a writer to pay for the publication of their work.
There is generally little to no editorial oversight, and since the writer is paying for the work to be done, design and special features (like special type treatment or photographs or illustrations) are very limited. In general, the cost for self-publishing can run from $2,000 to $10,000 for 1,000 copies of the book (according to Publishing Basics. See http://www.publishingbasics.com/newsletter/aug2005/askron.html for a cost-comparison analysis.)
Personally, I would suggest going this route if you have expended all others, including the two options we’ll be discussing below. It is costly and leaves all of the work, including editorial work, up to you. Self-published books have a bad reputation in the publishing world as being riddled with poor grammar, typos, poor plot and character development, and a host of other issues. While it may be untrue in some cases, that is still the perception. If you have gone this route previously, I would advise you not to advertise it when you do shop around for an agent of publisher.
There have been relatively few success stories, though they are there. But before you invest your money, research carefully and consider wisely.
POD (print on demand)
Print on demand is a newer form of publishing that is getting a lot of attention because of the ability of the publisher to take more risks on books with less opportunity for lost revenue. How does that work? By printing only a few copies of a book when they are requested at a decreased cost, the publisher is able to acquire books they don’t think will sell in large quantities while still publishing the book. The upfront costs of producing the book (design, layout, editing) will still be there, but the large investment in printing thousands of copies overseas is eliminated.
Now, many self-publishers use POD technology for printing books, but traditional publishing houses are considering or already using this option to print older titles less expensively. Many haven’t made the switch to using the technology with newer books, but that may change in the near future as the technology advances.
e-Publishing
If any of these forms of publishing can be considered the new buzzword among the publishing industry, this is it. E-readers like the Kindle 2 and Sony Reader are making waves in the literary world as more readers switch to the format. New advances in technology make these devices easier on the eyes for extended reading, and the current debate over e-book pricing may end with reduced cost to consumers for new titles.
Anything helpful I could write here about advances and articles on the subject will probably be out of date as soon as I post this, but let me say this: I see this format of publishing with the highest potential for growth and opportunities for new writers. Costs are low because there is no printing or paper, the reduced use of paper helps the environment, and there is always the possibility of going to a printed book if it does well as an e-book.
At the moment, though, there are still problems with adequate advertising and marketing for e-books. There is also the downside of not have a presence
in brick-and-mortar stores so there won’t be sales from browsers in that way. There is, however, the advantage of readers wanting the instant gratification of finding a book online and reading it immediately; no waiting or need to leave the home. Romance and erotica publishers (including Harlequin) are using this to their benefit.
The more I research this, the more I like what I’m reading, especially as far as traditional publishers adopting to the changes in publishing. I think we’ll see more of the big houses exploring these options as production costs become even higher.
New e-publishers are springing up all the time, though, so keep an eye open for the market for ebooks to change. A helpful analysis of e-Publishing can be found at http://www.writing-world.com/publish/FAQ.shtml
Conclusion
The only conclusion I can really make is that you have to follow your gut when it comes to publishing. If you’ve expended all the traditional options, why not consider some of the newer possibilities that are becoming available?
I have sprinkled my opinions liberally throughout, so let me know yours. I’d love to continue this discussion.
