Are you writing a book and sometimes wonder: how will I publish my book?

Or are you someone who feels a tingle down your spine when you think about writing your first book and holding it in your hands?

If you answered “Yes” to one of these questions, then this article is for you.

In this 3-part article, we present the main publishing paths, discuss their pros and cons, and help you answer: how will I publish my book?

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Aspiring authors often ask me: how should I publish my book?

The answer is not straightforward. It really depends on your life circumstances, personal preferences, and more importantly, on your creative goals.

As of 2024, there are 2 ways you can publish your book.

Traditional Publishing

In this option, a publishing house acquires the rights to publish your book.

Such traditional publishing houses have been around for centuries, and till a few years ago, traditional publishing was considered the only viable publishing path.

At its core, traditional publishing is a 2-stepped process, in which you, the author, first finds a literary agent who is willing to represent your book.

Once you sign with that literary agent, they will pitch your book to publishing houses, in the hope of getting it accepted.

When your literary agent’s pitch is successful, the publishing house will offer you a deal to buy the rights to publish your book.

Then, it is up to you and your agent to negotiate that deal and, when you’re ready, you sign a contract with the publishing house.

Self Publishing

The second option is called self publishing or indie publishing, in which authors retain all the rights to their books by publishing books on their own.

The earliest known example of self publishing is Charles Dickens. Dissatisfied with the earnings his publishers gave him, in 1843, Dickens self-published a story called “A Christmas Carol”.

The initial print run consisted of 6000 copies, and even though his book sold well, Dickens barely broke even, having spent all his money on printing and publicity.

Over the next one and a half centuries, self publishing reared its head in fits and starts, but none of the authors found it a sustainable way to earn a living.

However, all that changed with the release of Amazon Kindle in 2007.

Over the next few years, this hand-held device disrupted the publishing industry and led to the robust publication of Ebooks.

In the 20-teens, self publishing went mainstream by embracing newer technologies & practices and extended to formats beyond Ebooks: like paperbacks, hard cover books, and even audiobooks.

In today’s climate, self publishing holds a strong appeal amongst authors, because it has proven itself to be an efficient way to publish books.

The main attraction of self publishing lies in its ability to tear down the barriers that exist between authors and readers in the traditional publishing industry.

If you’re a writer, here’s something you might find useful - My Top 10 book recommendations for creating Captivating Characters and Nail-biting Plots.

With this broad overview of traditional- and self-publishing, let’s dive into their pros & cons and help you decide: Should I publish my book through a publishing house or should I publish my book on my own?

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Thanks for reading & have a great day,

A. David Singh