Four Eyed Giraffe
Beginner’s Guide to Publishing
Are you an aspiring author wanting to know more about the different routes of publishing? This blog will provide a review of the different publishing routes and their pros vs cons.
Self Publishing
Self-Publishing is arguably one of the most popular publishing options for authors. Unlike traditional publishing, the author manages all the publishing work and any freelancers hired to help them. Self-publishing can also be done by anyone who has written a book, unlike traditional publishing which depends on the publisher accepting your book. The book format for self publishing can be digital or physical, although it is common that most self published authors begin their journey on platforms such as Amazon due to the low cost of producing an e-book versus a physical book. However, this method is not perfect as there are many factors to consider which are listed below:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| As a self published author, you own the rights and royalties. | It is time consuming to manage the entire process. |
| Full control of marketing. | If you hire freelancers to help you, it can add additional expenses. |
| As a self published author, you will also have complete control of every decision about the book and its publication. | It is vital that your book is published to the highest standard or it reflects poorly on your reputation. |
| There is a possibility of a higher profit margin due to low expenses. | It can take a lot of time or money before any success is seen. |
| Can write and publish niche books. |
Traditional Publishing
Traditional publishing is most likely the type of publishing we are most familiar with as readers. Unlike the process of self publishing, which can started very quickly by the author, traditional publishing can take a long time for an author. You will need a book agent who will act as a representative on behalf of you to publishing companies. Once you have a book agent, together you will begin pitching your book to publishing companies. If your pitch is successful, the publishing company will offer you a publishing deal and the company will purchase the ownership of the print license from the author in exchange for an advance of royalties. The author will then write the book, sometimes with help provided by the publisher.
Similarly, this method also has pros and cons:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You get an advance at no upfront cost which can help with living costs. | Also impossible to get a publishing deal. |
| Publishers invest money into your book. | No ownership over your manuscript rights. |
| A traditional publishing is likely to be highly professional. | No control over marketing and creative processes. |
| Your print book can reach bookstores more easily being apart of a pubisher. | Will not publish niche books. |
How can Four Eyed Giraffe support authors?
Four Eyed Giraffe will support your editing needs, regardless of your publishing route. Four Eyed Giraffe will edit your book regardless of its format. Four Eyed Giraffe can also help you edit your book proposal if you choose the traditional publishing route. Four Eyed Giraffe can also edit and help you write your story plan so your story can be elevated one step further.
Four Eyed Giraffe understands that outsourcing editing and proofreading services can be expensive, so we offer packages which allow you to only pay for the editing you need. There is also the option to get a customised package, which you can choose from when you fill out the publishing packaging form. For extra support, Four Eyed Giraffe also offers different payment options to choose from: One time payment, Payment plan of monthly payments and deposit fee and final payment at the end of the service. If you want to learn more, click here to go to the publishing package.
