First of all — congratulations!

Writing a book is a huge accomplishment. Whether you’ve written a novel, a children’s book, a memoir, a family history, poetry, or something completely different, getting those words from your head onto the page takes time, courage, and a whole lot of determination. At River Reader Books, we hear from aspiring and local authors quite often who ask the same question: “I finished my book. What do I do now?” The next step is figuring out how you would like to publish it. There are several paths available, but most authors will choose between traditional publishing and self-publishing. You may also hear about hybrid publishing, which falls somewhere between the two. Before you choose any of them, though, there is one very important step: Edit your book. Then edit it again. Read it yourself. Ask trusted readers to give you feedback. And, whenever possible, consider hiring a professional editor before publishing. A great story deserves the chance to be the very best version of itself.

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Traditional Publishing

Traditional publishing is probably what most people picture when they think about becoming a published author.  For many authors, the first step is finding a literary agent. An agent represents you and your work and submits your manuscript to publishers they believe may be a good fit.  Finding an agent can take time. You may send queries to quite a few agents before finding the right one — and rejection is a very normal part of the process.  Some smaller and independent publishers also accept manuscripts directly from authors without requiring an agent, so it is always worth researching publishers that specialize in your genre.  If a traditional publisher accepts your book, they generally take responsibility for things like:

• Professional editing

• Cover and interior design

• Printing

• Distribution

• Some marketing and publicity

The publisher pays the costs associated with producing the book, and the author earns royalties from sales. Depending on your publishing agreement, you may also receive an advance, which is money paid against future royalties.

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One Important Thing to Know

With traditional publishing, the publisher generally does not require the author to pay to have the book published.  If a company offers to publish your book but requires you to pay thousands of dollars for editing, production, printing, or marketing packages, take some time to carefully research the company and understand exactly what you are purchasing.

There are wonderful publishing services available to authors — but you should always know whether you are working with a traditional publisher, hybrid publisher, or self-publishing service before signing a contract.

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Self-Publishing

Self-publishing has opened the door for more authors than ever before to see their books in print.  And yes — self-published books are real books!  With self-publishing, you are essentially becoming both the author and the publisher.  That gives you much more control over your book, including:

• Your cover

• Your title

• Your editing

• Your formatting

• Your retail price

• Your publication date

• Your marketing

It also means that you are responsible for the costs and work involved in producing and promoting your book.  Some authors hire professional editors, graphic designers, and formatters. Others learn how to do much of the process themselves.  Companies such as IngramSpark and Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) allow authors to make books available through print-on-demand services, meaning a book can be printed when someone orders it instead of requiring the author to purchase hundreds of copies upfront.  For authors hoping to see their books carried by independent bookstores, it is especially important to understand distribution, wholesale pricing, and returnability.  A book being available online does not automatically mean that a bookstore can easily order or stock it.

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What About Hybrid Publishing?

Hybrid publishing combines pieces of traditional publishing and self-publishing.  With a legitimate hybrid publisher, the author generally contributes financially toward producing the book while receiving professional services such as editing, design, production, and sometimes marketing or distribution.  There are reputable hybrid publishers — and there are also companies that make very big promises to hopeful authors.  Before signing anything: Do your homework. Ask questions. Read the contract. Find other authors who have worked with the company. Understand exactly what you are paying for, what rights you retain, and what happens to your book after publication.  If someone guarantees that your book will become a bestseller simply because you purchase an expensive publishing package, that is a good reason to slow down and ask more questions.

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Want Your Book in Bookstores?

This is one of the biggest questions we hear from local authors.  Getting your book published and getting your book onto bookstore shelves are actually two different steps.  Every independent bookstore has its own buying policies. Some purchase local books through distributors, while others work directly with authors through a consignment program.

When approaching a bookstore, it helps to have:

• A professionally edited book

• A professional-looking cover

• An ISBN

• A clearly printed retail price

• Information about where the book can be ordered

• Wholesale pricing

• Returnability information

• A short description of your book

• A brief author biography

• Your contact information

• Information about your connection to the local community

And please remember — booksellers want authors to succeed!  The easier you make it for a bookstore to understand your book, order it, sell it, and restock it, the easier it is for us to say, “Yes, we’d love to take a look!”

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A Note About Amazon & Bookstore Distribution

Amazon KDP is one of the easiest ways to self-publish a book, particularly for authors who plan to sell primarily through Amazon.  However, authors who hope to have strong relationships with independent bookstores may also want to consider wider distribution options.  Independent bookstores purchase books differently than individual readers do. Things like wholesale discounts, returnability, printing costs, and distributor availability can all affect whether a bookstore is able to carry a title.  Before choosing your publishing platform, think about where you ultimately want your book to be sold.  If seeing your book on the shelves of independent bookstores is one of your dreams, research bookstore-friendly distribution before you hit that final Publish button.

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Helpful Resources for Aspiring Authors

There is a lot to learn, and you certainly don’t have to figure it all out in one afternoon.  A few places to start include:

• IngramSpark — information about self-publishing and book distribution

• Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) — Amazon's self-publishing platform

• The Authors Guild — resources and information for writers

• Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) — resources for independent and self-published authors

• Writer’s Digest — writing, querying, publishing, and marketing resources

• Jane Friedman — extensive information about the publishing industry and author business

And of course, one of the best things you can do is read books in your genre, visit bookstores, attend author events, talk with other writers, and learn how books make their way from an author's desk to a reader's hands.

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From One Book Lover to Another…

Publishing can feel overwhelming.  There are ISBNs and distributors and royalties and contracts and wholesale discounts and editing and covers and approximately 847 things you had no idea you needed to know when you innocently decided: “I think I’ll write a book.”  But don’t let all of that takeaway from what you have already accomplished.  You wrote a book.

That’s pretty amazing.  Take your time. Ask questions. Research your options. Protect your work. Find the publishing path that fits your goals.

And when your book finally arrives in your hands for the first time?  Celebrate the heck out of it.  There is nothing quite like holding a book that once existed only as an idea.

Happy writing — and happy publishing!