While we love writing for the sake of creativity, we can’t fool ourselves or anyone else. Most writers want to be published. They want to be read and seen and adored. They want to connect with their readers and share their stories and characters.
The debate of self-publishing verses traditional publishing has officially entered the chat.
Self‑publishing isn’t “easy,” and traditional publishing isn’t automatically better. They are not rival camps. From my perspective, the “right” path for any writer is far more strategic and situational.
Let’s break it down.
Disclaimer: The information in this post is a summary of my 15+ years of experience in the industry. I’ve also hyperlinked sources where needed. Every author’s path will be different, and your experience may not be reflected here.
Self‑Publishing = A Full‑Time Job
The biggest myth about self‑publishing is that it’s an “easy” way to get published. Yes, you can publish fast (weeks instead of years), but you also take on roles that a traditional publisher would handle for you: editing, cover design, distribution, and marketing.
Self‑published authors often invest thousands of dollars upfront on professional editing, cover art, formatting, and marketing services before they ever sell a single copy.
Here’s an idea of price breakdown:
Editing: $1000-$5000, depending on scope of services and word count
Cover design: $300-$800
Formatting: $100-$500
Example: An author who spends $4k on editing and design must then sell enough copies to recoup those costs before real profit begins. Without a strong platform or marketing skills, many self‑published books struggle to reach even modest earnings.
I usually recommend spending at least 10% of your monthly profits on marketing. Many authors I know budget between 20-30%. But again, this assumes you’re selling copies.
Another marketing option is social media, like Instagram, BookTok, and Substack. You can promote your own work, or you can hire “influencers” to read your book and share it on their pages. Some authors love this; others really dislike this approach. It is a personal preference. Follow your heart.
Important: Both Amazon and Goodreads prohibit buying reviews. This goes against their Terms of Service and can lead to account termination and even legal action. Don’t do this!
Writers who succeed indie do so because they see publishing as a business, not just a creative act. It is not easy to run your own business (trust me; I’ve had three).
And for those of who can’t afford professional editors and designers (you are not alone if you fall into this category!), that means you have to do things yourself, which adds another layer of stress.
You are essentially learning as you go with self-publishing. You have to dedicate time to understanding the nuances of this approach.
If you have some flexibility in your budget and you’re open to teaching yourself how to succeed, this might be the path for you.
Traditional Publishing Carries Weight but Has Challenges
Traditional publishing offers what many people value: validation by an industry gatekeeper, often an agent, then a publisher. That still matters for bookstores, media attention, and awards consideration.
A publisher typically covers all production costs, so you don’t pay upfront. That will save you thousands of dollars.
But the trade‑offs are real:
- Time: It can take 1-3+ years from contract to release.
- Creative Control: Publishers often decide the title, cover, pricing, content revisions, and sometimes even that narrative arc and story details. This will all be part of the negotiation process. Study and learn what you don’t know. This is not optional.
- Rights: Publishers may demand exclusive publishing rights and/or “all rights,” which prevents authors from using their material elsewhere. Everything is up for negotiation, but these points are usually firm or semi-firm with most traditional publishers.
- Royalties: Traditional royalty rates remain low, often ~7%-15% on print and ~25% on ebooks (before agent cuts).
Many authors celebrate landing a deal, but in reality, a deal doesn’t guarantee sustained income.
In fact, industry surveys estimate 70%+ of books never “earn out” their advance, meaning the author earns no additional royalties beyond what they were paid upfront.
So tradition is powerful, but it does not promise long-term financial success. You will likely also have to accept compromises that strip away your creative freedoms. This doesn’t even include all the rejections you have to deal with before you get that “yes.”
Make sure you’re ready for that.
Royalties & Earnings
Let’s chat about royalties and long‑term earnings. Many authors don’t have visibility to this, and I don’t want you to feel blindsided.
In traditional publishing, royalties are relatively low and filtered through the agent. As I mentioned above, overall effective earnings per unit can be under 10% of the retail price after agent cuts.
Self‑published authors selling ebooks on major platforms often retain 35-70% of retailand in some direct channels up to 90-95% of net.
Example:
- A traditionally published author selling 6,000 copies of a $9.99 ebook might receive roughly ~$8,900 in royalties once the advance is earned out.
- A self‑published author selling the same number of copies could earn $35,000+ from that ebook alone.
Now, let’s be real. Many indie authors don’t sell that many books, but the potential for higher lifetime earnings is significant and scales with audience growth… which comes back to marketing efforts and how you approach that side of the biz.
Time to Market & Career Control
Traditional deals can feel like the ultimate goal for some writers, but the timeline is so slow. Querying agents, signing deals, another round of edits, and publishing schedules can easily stretch 18-36 months before any book is on shelves. And remember, all this happens after you spend months or years writing and editing the book.
A quick note on publishing schedules: you will negotiate your visibility and priority spot during contract signing. I had a client sign a traditional deal without understanding what this meant. Her book is a “low priority,” meaning her books get less marketing resources and less favorable publishing dates. Educate yourself before contract negotiations so you can avoid newbie mistakes. Learn, study, and advocate for what you want and deserve.
Now, compare that timeline to self‑publishing, where a finished manuscript can be formatted, uploaded, and live within weeks or months.
This matters for career momentum and, candidly, for your creative spirit. Fast release schedules help authors build audiences faster, particularly in genre fiction and serial publications.
Distribution & Discoverability
Traditional publishers historically have superior bookstore connections because retailers trust established imprints and return unsold stock, something many indie authors simply can’t offer.
For indie writers, there are many avenues for digital distribution, and discovery through algorithm features, ads, and mailing lists can be really powerful. Amazon KDP is one of many, but it’s the most popular, with over 90% of self-published authors using KDP.
Getting into physical bookstore chains remains a huge challenge without a publisher’s sales force, but even traditionally published authors are not guaranteed prominent placement, as mentioned in the previous section.
Insider tip #1: If you’re going the indie route, chat with locally-owned bookstores. Often, they will be more than happy to put a few copies on the shelf and even offer an evening book signing.
Insider tip #2: Libraries are an overlooked opportunity. Many indie authors assume they can’t go this route, but libraries increasingly acquire self-published books, especially if there’s local interest or strong reviews.
Epilogue
Unfortunately, the choice between self-publishing and traditional is not easy. Each path will have headaches, meltdowns, wins, and compromises. A writer’s goals, experience, and personality are all important factors to consider and weigh evenly, in my opinion.
If you’re struggling with this decision, drop a note in the comments and let’s involve others in the discussion. If you’d rather chat privately, reach out. I’m here for you.
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