4 Types of Book Publishing Companies Every Writers Should Know
If you are thinking of publishing a book of your very own, you should make sure that you know every publishing option available. This is especially true if you are a beginner, and you don’t know the first thing about self-publishing.
Remember that book publishing has changed throughout the decades, and traditional publishing is no longer the only way you can publish a book. There are now many types of publishing houses, and you will need to know your publishing options before you start publishing your book.
1. Traditional Publishers
If you have the patience and the connections, it is always a good idea to reach out to the larger and more traditional publishing houses. These companies have been in the publishing business for years, and they have helped a myriad of authors publish their works.
The ‘Big Five’ traditional publishers consist of Simon &Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, McMillan, and Penguin Random House.
Pros: As it was stated earlier, these publishing houses are well-established and have impressive track records when it comes to publishing and marketing their books. So if you manage to get a publishing deal with a large traditional publishing house, you should count yourself very lucky.
You will receive a great deal of help, and you won’t have to spend a lot of money on the publishing process.
Cons: The only setback to publishing with an established publishing house, is that they are notoriously difficult to get a publishing deal with. They have very high standards, so if you are going to send in your manuscript, you should make sure that it is in the best condition.
2. Self-Publishers
If you don’t want to wait for an established publishing house to sign your manuscript, you could always self-publish your book. The only setback to this method is that it is very work-intensive, and you may spend a lot of money during the publishing process.
This is where self-publishing companies come in very handy. These companies specialize in helping writers self-publish their work.
Self-publishing companies offer great publishing packages for a reasonable price.
Pros: Self-publishing companies have become a mainstay in the book publishing arena in the past few decades. Due to print-on-demand services, practically anyone can publish a book.
However, if you go into the publishing process without any knowledge of the subject, you will most likely make mistakes that will cost you a lot of money in the process.
By working with a self-publishing company, you will be given much-needed self-publishing tips and the right platforms to market your book.
You will also have a team of publishing professionals that will ensure your book is published in the best way possible.
Cons: Signing up with a self-publishing company is a good idea. However, they are not as well-known as traditional publishing houses. This means getting your book into traditional bookstores could be difficult.
Most bookstores are wary of self-published books and usually won’t accept them. Don’t worry though, a majority of self-publishing houses have connections to various online retailers, and they will help you market your work as effectively as possible.
3. Mid-Level Publishers
Aside from large-scale publishing houses, there are also mid-level ones. These publishing houses still follow the same publishing methods as larger publishing houses, they are just not as established or well-funded.
Most mid-level publishing houses are funded by larger organizations such as schools and private groups. Some of these publishing houses usually publish in the preferred genre of their sponsors.
Like other traditional publishing houses, midlevel companies are very particular in their choice of books to publish and will only accept veteran authors that have good track records.
Pros: Mid-level publishing houses are a lot smaller compared to the more established ones. This means that they don’t have as many clients. This makes their publishing process a lot less heavy, and you will have a great deal more help in the long run.
Cons: Due to their mid-level status, these types of publishing houses have limited funds and won’t take too many chances on unknown authors. So if you are just starting out as a writer, vying for a publishing deal may not be in the cards.
Their limited budget also prevents them from offering significantly large royalty deals. So if your main goal is to gain a substantial profit from your book, then working with a mid-level publishing house is not really a viable option.
4. Independent Publishers
If you are having trouble getting a publishing deal with more established publishing houses, you could try independent publishing houses. These publishing houses are a good choice for writers who have yet to make a name for themselves.
Due to their smaller size and independent structure, these publishing houses have a more loose and unregimented outlook on the publishing process. They are less averse to innovation and experimentation.
This means that they are more willing to take risks with writers, than their older and more established counterparts. They are also more willing to directly work with the author and open to suggestions.
Pros: Most independent publishers are very open to innovation, and they are willing to take suggestions from the author. This makes them particularly easy and fun to work with. A good number of small publishers are willing to accept simultaneous submissions, which gives authors the option to send out proposals to multiple companies.
This increases the author’s chances of getting a publishing deal.
Cons: The main setback for working with a publishing house, is that they are not as well-funded as other publishing houses. This means that their book marketing reach could be a bit limited.
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