The Writer's Guide to Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing: What's the Difference?

The journey of writing is already a long and difficult one, without having to worry about the added stress of how to publish your work. Because after all the blood, sweat, and tears that go into writing a book, the last thing you want is for your work to never see the light of day. So, it's important to understand the difference between traditional publishing and self-publishing, and what each entails as well as the pros and cons of both.

First, traditional publishing is when a writer submits their work to a publisher, who then decides whether to publish the work. If they decide to publish it, they will handle all of the editing, printing, and distribution of the book. The writer will receive a percentage of the royalties from each book sold, but they will have very little control over the final product. And most of the time, they will also market your book for you.

Also, traditional publishing can be a very slow process. It can take months or even years to hear back from a publisher, and if your work is ultimately rejected, you'll have to start the entire process over again with another publisher.

Meanwhile, self-publishing is when a writer takes on all those responsibilities themselves. They will need to find an editor and a printer, as well as handle the distribution and marketing of their book. While this may sound like a lot of work, it does give the writer complete control over their book. They will also receive 100% of the royalties from each book sold.

In addition to that, self-publishing is a much faster process than traditional publishing. Once you have found an editor and a printer, you can typically have your book on the market within a few months.

So, which is the best option for you?

That depends on your goals as a writer. If you're looking to have complete control over your work and keep all the profits, then self-publishing is the way to go. But if you're more interested in having someone else handle the business side of things so that you can focus on writing, then traditional publishing is the better option.

Whatever you decide, the most important thing is to just keep writing. The world needs your story. Choosing between traditional and self-publishing should be the least of your worries.

But of course, consider your options and make the best decision for you and your work.