In part 1 of ‘How To Get Published,’ I talked about why winning prizes isn’t a guarantee of getting a publishing deal and why it’s important to query the right literary agents and the ways in which to catch their attention quickly, when they are perpetually busy.

This post is a continuation of ‘How To Get Published’ but moving on to the myriad of options available to you, when it comes to the publishing of your book.*  Again this is where the panel of experts posed a question back to us. When you think of your book being published, would you love for it to be a massive blockbuster hit or would you rather start with a small print run first?  The answer to this question should align with your goals as a writer and the kind of career you want to build and therefore the type of publisher you go after, because different types of publishers offer differing levels of support, creative control, and market reach.

Here’s a breakdown of the main types of publishers and how they might suit different career paths:

1. The Big Five

The big five who dominate the industry are Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster and Hachette. These are publishers with big budgets and major clout with extensive distribution networks, professional editorial services and big spend behind marketing and PR. They are the ones who can get your book into major bookstores and will have the connections to secure high-profile reviews and awards.

But of course this means the process is highly competitive and because they are risk-averse by nature, they’ll probably be unlikely to go with an unknown, unpublished author, with a small social media following. You will also have much less creative control over things like cover designs, marketing etc and because of the sheer size of these organisations, the whole decision-making process can be a lot slower.   Something else you might want to consider is that while advances are common, royalties are usually smaller.

This route is best if you want a wide-reaching, commercial career and are willing to navigate a competitive and sometimes long process.

2. Mid-sized and Independent Publishers

These are smaller companies with big reputations such as Graywolf Press, Soho Press who often focus on quality and author support through more personalised attention. These publishers can be more flexible in terms of niche genres or experimental work, however they will have smaller budgets for marketing and distribution and advances may be small or nonexistent. This route is best for writers who want close collaboration and value literary prestige over mass-market appeal.

3. Small Presses

Small presses often focus on specific genres or literary fiction and operate with far less resources. Here you’ll find a supportive environment, with a more risk-taking attitude towards unusual projects. You’ll have more creative input and quicker turnaround times too which may suit you better.  However given low budgets this will mean limited distribution and marketing resources and as a result, sales may be lower.

If these three options still don’t feel right, then you might want to consider the indie crowdfunding publisher Unbound.

4. Unbound is a unique publishing platform that was founded in 2011, by three British writers with the aim of giving authors more creative control and readers a direct stake in the publishing process, by merging the power of crowdfunding with traditional publishing. Offering a new avenue for authors to get past risk-averse gatekeepers and bring their work to the world.

On this platform, authors pitch their book ideas against a funding target and if readers find the project compelling, they can pledge money to support it. The financial target will be enough to cover the costs to Unbound for editing, design, production, and distribution. Through this innovative solution, readers aren’t passive but fully engaged and invested in the author and their book’s journey and in return they might receive rewards. Such as their name being printed in the book, exclusive editions, and behind-the-scenes updates from the author.

The biggest advantage to this type of solution, is that unlike the other routes where authors may receive only a small percentage of royalties, Unbound authors keep a much larger share of the profits (up to 50% of the net profit after costs).   The other advantage is that Unbound publishes a wide range of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and graphic novels, giving voice to diverse and unusual projects, that might not find a home with traditional publishers.

Unbound is part of a larger trend towards democratising publishing, where readers can directly influence what gets published and authors are empowered to bypass the traditional industry gatekeepers. There is also a strong community of engaged readers and writers who share a mutual interest in the success of the books they love and therefore a ready-made audience.

But if you are thinking of going down this route, know that crowdfunding can be unpredictable, and not all projects meet their funding goals. Also the responsibility of marketing will fall heavily on you, much like the self-publishing route and that means you’ll have to actively work to engage your personal and professional networks for support.

I hope this guide has been helpful for you and I’m going to end on a big piece of advice that really resonated with me. Know that this is going to be a hard process and that it will be challenging, but remember this doesn’t mean your goal isn’t achievable. Grow a thick layer of skin and do not take it personally. Most importantly find a community who will support you through this process and where you can also give back.

I would love to hear your stories so please do get in touch. Until next time, love the journey and enjoy the ride.

X

*As a side note and a ‘call to arms’ of sorts, let’s try to use language that assumes a publishing deal will happen. If you’re anything like me, my voice of doom is always ready to pounce, so I find this a useful way to push those thoughts aside.