Traditional Publishing - Pros and Cons

 

First...I did a thing...I signed up for TikTok. I didn't think I ever would, and have said as much, but I guess it's true when they say to "never say never," cuz I took the plunge.

Are you on TikTok? Follow me! I'll follow you back!

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NOTE: This post was originally a vlog (video), but I have updated it (2022) to be the script from that presentation instead. It's long but informative.

Why Might A Writer Choose to Publish Traditionally?

Well, there’s several reasons.

For me, I can say that I chose to traditionally publish because I can’t afford to self-publish, which can get quite expensive if you don’t have the means. The other reason I’ve decided traditional publishing is right for me is because I like having a team behind me, helping me every step of the way. While I don’t have money, that is priceless to me.

What Is Traditional Publishing?

Traditional publishing is when you acquire a book deal from a publisher through the process of submitting your manuscript to agents and or publishers.

Self-publishing is when you do everything yourself, meaning you're the publisher. Self-publishers are also called indie authors. Short for independent authors.

Hybrid publishing is when you use both paths depending on the project. You might self-publish one project or traditionally publish another one.

All publishing paths are valid though they have differences one is not better than the other which route you choose is always and only up to you. 

Every Author's Path Is Their Own

I wish my January post was cheerier, but I have some stuff I need to purge. Therefore, this is long. What can I say? I’m a wordy blogger.

Social media is TOXIC. (Raise your hand if you agree.)

I’m not going to reiterate about what’s been going on with Romance Writers of America or comment on the authors involved or the shit-storm that followed. What I will say is that I’m glad I never had the money to join RWA (I always wanted to because wasn’t it what all romance authors did?), never had the money to enter their RITA competition (and I had really wanted to enter Tsunami Crimes for years), and never had the money to join a chapter (because I’d found a local one). Yup, I am glad!

On to another topic…

Recently, in our own FB group for IWSG, I saw a post about the daunting statistics of signing with an agent, and the comments took off to say things like “trad querying is a waste of time” and how you realize what a “bullshit racket it is and self-publish.”

Comments like this bother me, but I never respond because social media drama gives me anxiety. (I’m even nervous about this blog post.)