Self vs Traditional Publishing: Which Really Leads to More Sales + Profit (from a 6-Figure Author)

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If you are wondering whether to self-publish or traditionally publish your book - these are the top 5 factors you should consider.
Want to read through some of the facts & figures I reviewed while creating this video?:
* bookriot.com/how-much-do-auth...
* janefriedman.com/how-much-do-...
* maryadkinswriter.com/blog/how...
* www.tonerbuzz.com/blog/how-ma...
* wordsrated.com/odds-of-gettin...
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* www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...
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Опубликовано:

25 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 21

@colofthedead6101 5 месяцев назад

I spent 10+ years writing an epic fantasy novel, then decided it wasn't unique enough for traditional publishing, so I self-published. It has good reviews on amazon and goodreads. But I have lost money on it, barely recouping the costs for the editing, cover art, paid reviews, and production of the map. The only way to have it sell copies is to sink money into Amazon ads or 'cheap book' mailing lists... and this comes at a loss. I believe the only way to make money via self-publishing is to have a large number of books available (series, smaller romance novels) so people will buy one book and then get the rest. It's not going to work if you just have one big doorstopper.

@laurenkaywrites 4 месяца назад

This is a great point! Thanks for sharing your insights. It's tough out there when you're marketing everything yourself!

@Blackfoxparadox 8 дней назад

Im also on a big novel. will be about 300k at the moment planning on splitting it to three wondering whether i should split it down more

@eruvandib.676 6 месяцев назад

Thank you so much for this fair and balanced breakdown. Just this week I shared with someone that I have a hope of having my books traditionally published for the reasons you mentioned. I really need a publisher to take the financial risk for me, and I also love the idea of having a team behind me so I'm not having to wear all the hats. (I'm very impressed by people who can do it all themselves, I'm just not that person. :)) The individual I shared my hope with kind of treated me like I don't know what I'm doing and also saying things that I know for fact were misinformation. It hurt for them to act like that, so it was encouraging to watch your positive video and see that there are people out there who do respect both publishing paths and can break down the pros and cons without putting anyone down for preferring one or the other. I'm so glad we have options so that everyone can choose what's best for them and their books!

@laurenkaywrites 6 месяцев назад

You're so welcome. Although traditional publishing is 100% a tough industry, for MANY people it is well worth it. Myself included. Wouldn't have self-published. I just am not a marketer like that!

@BruceWBishop 6 месяцев назад

Hi Lauren - I listened carefully to your video. Disclaimer: I'm 65, and have been a published freelance journalist for many years. I decided to self-publish my first novel in 2020 mostly because of the uncertainty of the pandemic (no one at the time knew how much it would affect society and the future). I agree with you 100% that it is a ton of work to self-publish a quality book that has to compete with all of the traditionally published ones in your genre. I was fortunate that my debut novel did OK in sales - enough so, that I followed it up with two more in a trilogy. All were self-published and the biggest expense was the book cover designer in each of the three cases. The biggest benefit to me in all this was learning more about how to be a better novelist. I know my work has improved since 2020. Now I'm almost ready to begin to query literary agents for my fourth book - the first draft of which is almost complete. Then I'll have alpha and beta readers look at it, incorporate their feedback, and then pay for a developmental edit from a professional editor *before* the queries go out the door. I'm happy to know of your success and I think it's great you're passing on what you've learned in the process. And yes, I did buy an e-copy of your YA book which I look forward to reading. 🙂

@rebeccamorgan8101 4 месяца назад

Hello Bruce, where did you buy the e- copy of the book from? I can not find anywhere.

@BruceWBishop 4 месяца назад

@rebeccamorgan8101 hi Rebecca - it's on my Kindle: got it from Amazon on Dec. 22/23

@KitchenTableChatsENM 6 месяцев назад

Lauren! Thank you again for another super informative and thought provoking video. I have been checking for it since you mentioned it was in the editing phase. ☺ For those of us that feel marketing is like getting a root canal, I'm excited for maybe some tips and tricks leading up to trying to get an agent or a book deal. Traditional publishing is super appealing to me for so many of the reasons you mentioned, but allowing them to do the bulk of the marketing is the bling on the ring for me. 😂 Thanks again and take care! -Tatiana

@laurenkaywrites 6 месяцев назад

Hi Tatiana! I know ... I definitely am not a marketer -- and at the time I had zero following -- so that made the choice easier.

@amber_m_clarke 6 месяцев назад

Thank you for the encouragement at the end, I totally agree! Don't leave hard work sitting there because agents aren't looking your way.

@laurenkaywrites 6 месяцев назад

100%!

@JanetteGellarRomanceAuthor 6 месяцев назад

Is that $25,000 as a trad pub advance a newer number? I've always heard numbers that were A LOT lower than that like 1/3 of what you mentioned.

@NicholasKeene 6 месяцев назад

Oh wow, this was great to hear! Do you have recommendations for editors?

@laurenkaywrites 6 месяцев назад

Heh -- I'm obviously a bit biased but I'd 100% say one of our amazing editors who're working with me! www.laurenkaywrites.com/developmental-editing

@jamiepeterson5843 6 месяцев назад

I don’t want my IP being under a publisher and don’t want to share profits from books. I also don’t want a literally agent taking their 10 to 20 percent of sales.

@laurenkaywrites 6 месяцев назад

Then traditional publishing definitely isn't for you! Nothing wrong with self-publishing. :)

@danieljulianerickson7737 Месяц назад

I've spent 40 years trying to get traditionally published and have never received more than a form letter rejection. Self-publishing seems like the only route to me. Please don't say "Don't give up!" on traditional publishing. I mean, 40 years! Shees!

@laurenkaywrites Месяц назад

Everyone's publishing journey looks different and it is, of course, essential to recognize when one path may be better than another for you. Wishing you all the best!!

@davidmackie3497 4 месяца назад

I like your "David and Goliath" analogy. The entire point of that story is that David should have been slaughtered. Underdogs almost always lose, badly. So, don't purposely put yourself in that position. (Unless you've got a direct line to the Almighty, or unless a large school is paying you to play them for Homecoming.) Put yourself in a winnable position.

@t0dd000 5 месяцев назад

This is not controversial. If you ever want a chance at making any money on you book, 99% of authors need to pursue traditional publishing. Authors just need to determine how much control of their IP matters to them.