Indie or Traditional Publishing

So many people have asked me about the pros and cons of publishing. Should you publish your book traditionally or independently? Let's go over some of the pros and cons of each to help you figure out your path.

​First, let's talk about your genre. Publishing an adult fiction book is different than publishing a children's book. In the adult and YA realms you will not be asked if you are an author/illustrator on your queries, if you are submitting to agents or publishing houses. However, if you are trying to publish a children's picture book, you will find it a bit easier to find agents and/or publishers to solicit, if you are an author and illustrator. I am a picture book author and illustrator, so I will base this article from my experience and perspective, as such.
Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinions of any company, brand, or publisher of which I am partnered.
​Let's talk about the pros and cons of traditional publishing first.

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Traditional Publishing

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Pros:

• A variety of marketing resources are available
• Wider distribution of final book
• Author support with conventions, book readings, etc.
• Publisher handles all the details related to book production
• Publisher file copyright, ALA, and commonly submit the book for notable reviews.

Cons:

• The author relinquishes control of final book text and design.
• Profits from sales are split via a percentage.
• Author is responsible for a portion of the marketing.
• The time from query submission to "book-in-hand" can be years.
• Many rejections and few contracts offered.

Since 2020 I have written 10 books and queried six books. My philosophy has been, if the book doesn't get picked up, I will independently publish it . At the time of this writing, I have three books independently published and two books under contract with Histria Books with THE MEANIES set for release in May of 2026.
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In order to gain a contract, I needed to query many agents and publishers. For my books that are currently under contract, I submitted queries to 50 agents and at least five publishers that accept unsolicited manuscripts. (Unsolicited manuscript means a manuscript that is not represented by an agent.) Not all publishers accept unsolicited manuscripts. 

The querying process is time consuming. There is an exact way to write a query letter. You MUST research every agent or publisher to understand what kinds of books they are looking to represent and include that research in your query letter. You must also submit in the exact way the agent or publisher prefers. If any of these details are overlooked, your query is destined for the trash heap.  Agents/publishers get 1000's of queries and are desperate for reasons to get through them all.  Even with attention to detail and the perfect query, you WILL receive more rejections than acceptances. 
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THAT's why I have chosen to independently publish as a back up plan.
Let me know if you want to learn more details in the comments and I will create a BLOG post on querying.​

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Independent Publishing

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Pros:

• ​Complete freedom to decide the outcome of the creative decisions from manuscript editing to illustrations.
• Book can be produced and in-hand in a timely fashion.
  
• Author has complete control on the marketing and presentation of the book to the public.

Cons:

• ​Author finances all assistance to produce the book from editors, illustration, and final file formatting.
• Author handles all aspects of the book production timeline and communication with hired freelancers.
• Author must finance and navigate all aspects of marketing of the book.

You may notice that the PROS and CONS of independently publishing a book sound very similar. Almost every aspect of independently publishing a book is a double edge sword.  For example, you get complete control over the final book's appearance, but you also have to do the research to know what a 'market worthy' book looks like. In the same regard, you get to control how the book reaches your audience through marketing, reviews, and awards. However, you will need a budget to afford marketing your book in the best way. 

If you have a budget and the grit and determination to do the research, you can be successful in producing an independently published book that sells. 
According to Google:
"The average independently published book sells far less than 200 copies in its first year, with some sources suggesting fewer than 100 copies or even as few as five in the first month. Most self-published authors sell under 250 books in total, and many earn no income, with sales being a marathon rather than a quick sprint."

Whether you choose to traditionally publish or independently publish, you will still have to work at marketing your book. There is no easy path to success as an author. But if it is your passion to share your words with an audience, grit and determination will serve you as the best writing partners!

Comment below if there is any part of this post that needs clarification or more detail.
​Also, Let me know if you are an author or an aspiring author.