One of the main reasons writers get discouraged or disillusioned about getting published is because they leave themselves at the mercy of other people.
I’m here to tell you: you don’t have to.
Here, I take a bird’s eye view of a few publishing options available to us all, how they work, which one I chose and why.
Traditional Publishing
This is the realm of the Big 5: the five major publishing houses that dominate the industry. If you’re aiming for traditional publishing, the first thing you need is an agent. You pitch your manuscript, and if an agent is interested, they’ll request a portion of it—anywhere from 10 pages to 50, or sometimes the full first chapter.
If they like what they read, they’ll ask for the full manuscript. And if they still like it, they’ll offer you a contract. (Time to get excited… cautiously.)
That contract is where things get real. It’s wise to have a literary attorney look it over. You’ll want to know how royalties work, how long the publisher controls your book’s fate, and just how much ownership you’re signing over. Also, don’t say yes to the first agent who shows interest unless they feel like the right fit. This is a business relationship, but it should have a vibe puts you at ease. At least, in my opinion.
Once signed, your agent shops your manuscript to publishers. And then you wait. Sometimes a long time. Sometimes, forever. Some authors get multiple offers. Some get ghosted. It’s a gamble.
If a publisher says yes, great! But know this: they might change your title, and they choose your cover art. They decide how your book is marketed and distributed. And these days, authors are expected to do most of their own marketing. You may get an advance, but it probably won’t be huge, and royalties often go toward paying that off first.
And one last note—if you’re writing non-fiction, you’ll need to submit a proposal, not a finished manuscript (at first). That proposal needs to excite the recipient and entice them to want to take the next steps. A proposal of this kind also must include a marketing plan and three sample chapters.
Small Presses
Still within the traditional realm, small presses offer a more personal touch. You pitch them directly, just like you would an agent. They’ll handle editing, printing, and marketing—but their reach can vary dramatically. Some are amazing. Some… not so much.
A friend of mine got accepted by a small press within half an hour of submitting her memoir. Sounds great, right? But then they skipped the editing process entirely. Yikes.
Do your homework. You probably won’t get an advance, but you might see better royalties and more input on cover art and title. Publishing timelines are usually similar to the Big 5—up to two years.
Hybrid Publishing
Hybrid publishing is exactly what it sounds like: a mix of traditional and indie. You pay upfront (usually $2K–$4K+), and in return, you get editing, design, printing, marketing support, and distribution guidance. You keep more control, but it comes at a cost.
Marketing help can be minimal, or not. The good news is that you won’t be doing any of this completely alone. Some hybrid publishers offer tiered packages so you can choose what support you want.
Self-Publishing vs. Independent Publishing
There’s a subtle but important difference here.
Self-publishing means you do everything yourself—editing, design, layout, printing, marketing. You can use platforms like IngramSpark or Amazon KDP to upload your manuscript, but be careful. A Word doc isn’t enough. Interior layout matters. Your book can end up looking amateurish if you’re not careful.
Independent publishing means you still control everything, but you build your own team—editors, designers, illustrators, etc. You’re the boss, but you’re not alone.
Ali, the founder of Indigo Editing here in Portland, explained this beautifully in a Q&A I attended. With independent publishing, the timeline is shorter—usually about one year—and your book gets the professional polish it deserves.
The Path I Chose
After three years of pitching Miranda’s Garden and receiving two yeses that ultimately didn’t pan out, I decided I was done waiting for someone else to give me permission to publish my book.
I chose independent publishing.
One of those yeses came from a hybrid publisher that wasn’t transparent about their model. They appeared to be a small press, and I didn’t know they were hybrid until I received the contract. They required a $4K investment, which is a reasonable ask, but not when you aren’t up front about it. Not a great way to start a relationship, so I said, “no thanks.”
The other yes was from an agent who loved my protagonist. But… I didn’t see her acceptance email until 10 months later. I was mortified. I reached out, but never heard back. After I regrouped, I chalked it up to Divine intervention and moved on, figuring there’s a better path for me.
This past December, I committed to publishing independently. After that Q&A with Ali at Indigo, I booked a one-on-one with her. She walked me through the process, gave me quotes, which was a big help to get me started with budgeting and planning.
Is it cheap? No. But it’s doable.
And the best part? I get to choose my title. I get to commission original cover art. I’ve already started planning public readings, a crowdfunding campaign, and a book tour. I may not be wealthy (yet), but I believe the right support—and the money—will show up. I have faith.
Miranda’s Garden will be out in the world within a year. And that feels damn good.
Resources
Jane Friedman’s Annual Publishing Path Resource (PDF) – She’s a publishing wizard and offers incredible insight on all publishing paths.
The Business of Being a Writer by Jane Friedman – Highly recommend.
Indigo Editing, Publishing, and More – Based in Portland but available to work with you no matter where you are.
Stay tuned for more updates as I move forward on my path to published.
Watch the YouTube Video.
Follow me on YouTube.
And as always, sending you mad writing mojo…
Happy writing!
Johnnie