Traditional Publishing may have been calling the shots on the court all these years. But the rules changed when major players like Self Publishing and Hybrid Publishing entered the bracket. Hybrid publishing has become known as a major game changer, rivaling traditional presses with cutting-edge creative teams, higher royalties, and flexibility. While also still keeping up with traditional distribution through Ingram and top-notch publicity methods.
Check out these 7 stats that show how hybrid publishing compares to traditional and self-publishing routes—then you decide who the winner might be.
Traditional publishing can often feel like that exclusive team who hogs the basketball court and never lets anyone new join in. While that’s not the case with hybrid publishers (as in you don’t necessarily need a literary agent to get signed). There’s still an inclusive submission and manuscript vetting process. This means that it’s easier to submit, but the manuscripts will be thoroughly evaluated so you can get feedback on what’s right for you. If you’ve got the words and the passion, hybrid publishers want to see you join the team.
Hybrid publishing has been embraced by several famous authors who were originally traditionally published. But are now ready to try something new. Examples include Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, bestselling authors of The Nanny Diaries, and Kris Radish, the bestselling author of 12+ books. On the flip side, there are authors who self-publish, move into hybrid publishing, and then are picked up by a traditional publisher (and even signed for a film deal!)—as is the case with bestselling author Colleen Oakes, whose Queen of Hearts series was picked up by HarperCollins and film rights have been optioned by Universal.
Traditional publishing may have deep pockets, but there’s a reason for that. They often keep much of the royalties. Hybrid publishers often allow authors the ability to keep around 60% of their royalties. While still providing an array of professional services like cover design, formatting, printing, distribution, marketing and publicity. Self-published authors often get closer to 100% of their royalties, but that’s because…
Self and indie publishing leaves the editing to the author, so they have to outsource the editing, design, and more. Especially if they want to stand out from the pack in a professional, polished way. Sometimes, that can make them feel like a lone wolf in the game. With a hybrid publishing model, you get a whole editorial team on your side that is dedicated to your artistic vision and making your book great. So you aren’t stuck planning the play-by-plays on your own!
Hybrid publishers often provide different services, like publicity teams tailored to certain genres or authors that are a key element in getting your name out there and selling books. That’s a huge lay-up on independent publishing, which leaves those services to the authors themselves. In traditional publishing, the big houses often provide PR services. But the author’s input on how that creative is used can be slim to none.
Traditional publishers don’t allow for too much time on the court. Which means that your book may only remain in market for 3-6 months. But with hybrid publishing your book stays on the market much longer. Meaning more time for slam-dunks and sales.
When publishing with a traditional publisher, more often than not the publishing house is going to acquire nearly all the rights concerning your novel and become the new head coach. But when you utilize self or hybrid publishing for your novel, you retain these rights, ensuring that in the end, you’re still the one calling the shots.
It’s time for March Madness and while most of the country is filling out brackets and placing bets, we’re taking a look at the MADNESS of publishing. We’re giving you a play-by-play of all the industry highlights you need to know to stay competitive. Swish!
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