Not long after I graduated from fashion school, I was teaching myself to knit and I started an arts and crafts blog. This was back in the mid-2000s, when blogging was still a very new thing. I was offered the opportunity to write a series of knitting patterns for a publisher. That was my first exposure to the publishing world. I don’t regret the experience, but I also wouldn’t choose to be traditionally published now.
Traditional Publishing Has Changed
Publishing has changed a lot since then, and the requirements for traditional publishing are much higher now. With the rise of social media, it’s expected that authors have a large online following. Publishers want to know that you’ll bring a built-in audience for your book. In essence, it’s become more of a popularity contest than a measure of whether you have something interesting to say.
The Timeline Is Long and the Pressure Is High
When you work with a publisher, it’s about two years from the date you sign the contract before your project reaches retail shelves. You’re expected to follow their timelines. If your project wasn’t completed before getting the deal, there can be immense pressure to meet deadlines—followed by long periods of waiting to hear back from your editor. You have to be flexible with your time, but also hand things in on time. Sometimes that means not doing your best work because of the pressure or the time constraints.
Creative Control Is Limited
The part I disliked most was the lack of creative control. Publishers might have a different vision for your cover, your target audience, and how your book should be marketed. Most often, the author has little say in the cover design or the artwork selected. For someone like me, with art and design training, this is a strong point of irritation. I want my books to reflect my style. It has to feel like me.
You might also be asked to change the content of your book. There will be a long editing process where the work evolves into its final form, but there may be more pivotal changes you’ll be asked to make—either to suit the target audience better or to reflect the opinions of the editors. Some say you don’t have to follow, but depending on what it is, it can cost you the entire book deal.
The Gatekeepers Are Few
Whether or not you choose to be traditionally published is a personal choice. And it may be that you don’t have the option at all. Publishers are bombarded with proposals. To get your foot in the door, you first have to get the attention of a literary agent to get your project in front of a publisher. And the reality is that there are only the major five publishers left, because they’ve bought up all the smaller ones.
Self-Publishing Is a Business—But It’s Yours
Self-publishing is a lot easier than it used to be, now that there are so many options available for independent authors. But at the same time, you become responsible for every aspect of your book, and it becomes a business. You’re the one in charge—paying for everything and doing all the work. But at the end of the day, it belongs to you.
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