For many authors just starting out, it can be a confusing and overwhelming decision whether to self publish a book or to seek out a traditional publishing house.

When it comes to publishing most people think of traditional publishing where the author completes a manuscript, writes a query or proposal, and submits it to a publishing house in hopes of getting a publishing deal. However, today there is a growing trend among many authors called self-publishing. When it comes to the two options, there is a difference.

With traditional publishing after the author has created his manuscript, turned it in to the publishing house, there is a process that occurs at the publishing house. An editor reads the manuscript, considers whether it is right for the house, and decides either to reject it (leaving the author free to offer it to another publisher), or to publish it. If the publishing house decides to publish the book, the house buys the rights from the writer and pays him an advance on royalties. The house puts up the money to design and package the book, prints as many copies of the book as it thinks will sell, markets the book, and finally distributes the finished book to the public.

All that sound great and simple but there is a down side too. When seeking a traditional publishing house to publish your book, you will soon discover that the book will be published according to the publisher’s timeline. Publishing houses have a set production mandate and books are scheduled for publication far in advance. Often, books are signed on for publication one to three years before they are actually published. With self-publishing, depending on the self-publishing company, an author can literally have a finished book – hardcover or paperback or both – in his or her hands within six months. The only timeline restricting the publication of the self-publisher is their own.

Money and control are also two things that can be a pro and a con when it comes to getting that book published. The control issue can be a biggie is you want to have some say during the publication process. Most publishing houses do not give the author any type of control, unless they are a well known writer or expert in their field. With self-publishing, the author has much greater control over the content of the book, its design and appearance, and where it’s marketed and distributed.

With money as far as publishing goes when your book is accepted by a publishing house then you get paid by them based on sales and also you usually receive an advance. There is no money out of pocket for you other than what you may have lost staying up late and missing a work day as a result.  However, the royalties earned are usually very small for new authors and are often as low as 5% of selling price.

With self-publishing you pay for everything. Sometimes you pay thousands of dollars, depending on the method of self-publishing you choose. In self-publishing, you have to pay for the design, pay for the editing, pay for the printing, pay for advertising, pay for the distribution, get your books into the stores and into people’s houses, all by yourself. There is no one to do it for you, so a lot of time and money is spent. However you get the control and the profit is definitely the biggest argument in favor of self publishing. If you self publish, the profits from your book sales are 100% yours.

For the writer the choice to use traditional or self-publishing must be weighed well before making a decision. As with any other business, you must properly research and plan to fully understand how to publish a book in order to be successful. If you publish the right way, the potential for success and profit is unlimited.