06 Jan Decoding Publishing
by Tiffany Harelik
There are two main routes to consider: traditional publishing, and indie publishing. There is not a one-size-fits-all model, and there are pros and cons to each of the two main routes. To determine which route is best for you:
- define your goals
- create your budget
- create a business plan for your book (including sales projections, your break-even analysis, and marketing plans)
- know your genre and audience
Option 1: Traditional Publishing
You will start this process by querying a literary agent. Here is a great query template for you! You can find literary agents by looking at the acknowledgment section in books that are comparable to the title you are pitching, or through industry associations. Once you have contracted with a literary agent, they will start the search for your work to get picked up by a traditional publishing house. This process can take several years. In my opinion, it’s a great fit for people who are writing fiction and have a strong online presence/following.
You will need to be flexible with your content. Certain publishers will want more creative control and may reframe your voice, and your work.
This is how the traditional publishing process typically works:
- You must have a full manuscript before starting this process.
- Submit a query to literary agents (note: agents take 15%).
- Once under contract with you, the agent will submit to various publishers with whom they have existing relationships. You can hope to end up with an advance plus 1-2% of sales in royalties. The agent’s 15% comes from your 1-2%.
- In lieu of submitting to a literary agent, certain middle range publishers accept submissions directly from authors. Proper research will help you identify if there is a mid-range publisher in your genre that accepts author submissions.
- Royalties are often paid annually.
- You will get wider distribution, but earn a smaller percentage.
Option 2: Indie Publishing
In this model, authors make a higher royalty, but aren’t guaranteed distribution and sales. Independently published authors pay for publishing services through professionals who publish and market their books.
Spellbound is an indie publisher, but we are different. We publish your book – under your brand. This means you’ll retain 100% of your royalties, own your content and intellectual property, and have your very own publishing label.
When you are shopping around for independent publishers to produce your book, consider their policies and pricing around editing, cover design, book layout, ISBNs, copyright, uploading to Amazon, distribution, printing on-demand or in bulk, sales, and marketing. With most indie publishers, you’ll be able to choose which services you want, and won’t be responsible to pay for services you don’t need.
If you are feeling Spellbound is right for you – we would love to have you! Here are some FAQ’s – please read before emailing.
I want to be in the Spellbound Portfolio – what do I do?
We are flattered! In order to provide a production quote, please send your completed manuscript in a word document or google doc to [email protected]. If your work is selected, we will hold a complimentary phone consultation. Here’s what you can expect on the call!
- Manuscript Deadlines for the Spring launches: January 31.
- Manuscript Deadlines for the Fall launches: May 31.
- You receive your royalties monthly – 100%!
- We include full-spectrum editing, publishing, and marketing services.
- We will schedule a call after the manuscript has been received. Here is what we will review on your call.
I want Spellbound to produce my book for me, but I don’t know what it means to have my own publishing label – help?
Congratulations on taking the next step with your book! Having your own publishing label is known as an imprint. You do not have to have an LLC or set up a business to own a publishing imprint. All you need is a checking account so that you can receive a monthly deposit of royalties!
I have a lot of contacts and am thinking of doing this myself – what do you think?
If you’re handy with current technologies and feel that you have a strong sales plan, you can publish your books yourself online through options. However, if it’s your first book, I strongly recommend working with a publishing professional to help you get your bearings in the field and make sure your documents are edited properly, sized correctly, and loaded in the proper format. We offer publishing coaching at $125/hr to help people who want to do the work themselves and just need a little direction along the way.
Regardless of which route you choose, make sure your publisher will list your book in the Ingram system. Ingram is the world’s largest book distributor. With Ingram, all of the bookstores in the world will have access to be able to order and carry your books. Additionally, they work with a print-on-demand model, which means your books won’t be printed until your customers (or bookstores) order them. This model works great because there are no up-front printing costs to the publisher or the author. One limitation of using Ingram is that they do not produce glossy pages. If glossy pages are important to your project, you may wish to price printing your book with a local, offset printer and purchasing a bulk order.
Protip: If you’re doing this on your own, be sure to play with Ingram’s royalty calculator to make sure the size and style of your book put you in the black instead of the red.
I actually need help writing my book – can you help?
This is wonderful! We offer ghost writing services to help you get your content out of your head and into your hands.
Any more tips on which publishing model is best for me?
I suggest mapping out your project in a writing calendar and setting practical goals to be able to complete your book. Once you are clear on your goals, your message, and your audience, the path will become more obvious to you as to whether you want your book to be traditionally published, or self-published.
Standard Order of Operations for Publishing a Book
Once a publisher says yes, and your contract is complete:
- Complete the manuscript to the publisher’s specifications
- Editing commences
- Cover layout
- Design/layout of the interior is finalized
- Sales/distribution/press channels are notified
- A marketing/sales strategy is implemented
- Discuss printing options and order books
- You’re ready to launch your book!
Still have questions? Please email [email protected]
