Nowadays, more and more authors are moving from traditional publishing and self-publishing to pursue a new and exciting alternative: hybrid publishing. So what exactly is hybrid publishing?

SparkPress operates under the hybrid publishing model in which authors receive the best of both worlds: the support of traditional publishing with the freedom and flexibility of indie publishing. Still unsure? Here are 8 reasons to choose a hybrid publisher for your next novel.

 

  1. A More Inclusive Submission Process

Many traditional publishing companies only accept manuscripts solicited by a literary agent, which lets many amazing books and potential stories go to the wayside. Most hybrid companies accept unsolicited manuscripts, which cuts out the middleman as far as agents go. All you need is passion and a strong belief in your work! Here’s how to submit to SparkPress.

 

  1. Creative Ownership

More often than not, when a traditional publisher picks up a novel for a book deal, they also acquire and maintain the rights to just about every aspect of the process. With a hybrid publisher, authors generally maintain ownership over packaging, marketing, design, distribution etc. This is important because it provides the author more creative control in how their book is presented, more money in the pocket, and the flexibility to move their book elsewhere in the future if desired.

 

  1. Creative Flexibility

Gone are the days where you need to worry about following literary trends or trying to change your artistic vision in order to impress a publisher! With hybrid publishing, you get a similar creative freedom to indie publishing in that your artistic vision remains intact.

 

  1. Higher Royalties

With a traditional publisher, authors normally only retain about 7-10% of the royalties from their books. But with a hybrid publisher, royalties can be as high as 70%, depending on the company. More money for your words?! What more could you ask for? This is often one of the most appealing parts of working with a hybrid press.

 

  1. Marketing and PR Support

Although the last four points could also be accomplished via indie publishing, this is where hybrid publishing really begins to come in clutch: marketing and PR. Many hybrid publishers offer the same kind of marketing treatment that a traditional house offers, such as review copies, press releases and relationships with booksellers, all of which would fall on the shoulders of the author in the world of indie publishing.

 

  1. Direct Communication

When you work with a hybrid publisher like SparkPress, your publisher, editorial team, and publicity team work hand-in-hand. This means that you receive direct, prompt communication concerning your work that can sometimes be tricky to come by with a traditional publishing house. You are also often more likely to receive more personalized PR campaigns.

 

  1. An Editorial Team That Works With You

When publishing independently, you are your own editor. But when publishing through a hybrid publisher, you are equipped with an editorial team that will work with you in order to make your novel come to life! They also keep you very involved in the process, which may or may not happen with a traditional publishing house, depending on the company.

 

  1. Longer Market Time

Sometimes, traditional publishers will only allow a book to remain in the market period for 3-6 months. With many hybrid publishers, your book stays in the market longer, meaning more opportunities for sales, publicity and future book deals!

 

Ready to see your book in print? Explore our publishing packages here.