What's the Difference Between Self Publishing vs Traditional Publishing?

So when it comes to publishing, your probably asking yourself...which is best?

Traditional publishing or self-publishing?

The answer? 

It totally depends on the individual. Each path has its own set of pros and cons, and understanding them can help you make the best choice for your book.

What is the Difference Between Self-Publishing and Traditional Publishing?

Traditional publishing involves submitting your manuscript to a publishing house, where it is reviewed by editors who decide whether or not to publish your book. If accepted, the publishing house will take care of editing, designing, printing, and distributing your book, as well as marketing it to readers.

Self-publishing, on the other hand, gives you more control over the publishing process. You are responsible for editing, designing, and formatting your book, as well as distributing and marketing it. Self-publishing platforms like Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark have made it easier than ever to self-publish your work.

Pros and Cons of Traditional Publishing

Pros:

• Access to professional editing, design, and marketing services.
• Higher likelihood of getting your book into bookstores and libraries.
• Prestige associated with being published by a traditional publishing house.

Cons:

• Longer publishing timeline, as the process can take 1-2 years or more.
• Less control over the creative and marketing aspects of your book.
• Lower royalties, typically ranging from 5% to 15% of the book's retail price.

Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing

Pros:

• Faster publishing timeline, allowing you to get your book to market more quickly.
• Greater creative control over your book's content, design, and marketing.
• Higher royalties, often ranging from 35% to 70% of the book's retail price.

Cons:

• Requires more effort and expertise in areas like editing, design, and marketing.
• May be more challenging to get your book into brick-and-mortar stores and libraries.
• Lack of prestige associated with self-publishing, as some readers may perceive self-published books as lower quality.

Both traditional publishing and self-publishing both in the end with you publishing your book and putting it into the world. This is a success in its own right, but as someone who has personally had a lot of reward by  being a self-published children’s author, the risk is definitely worth the reward.