One of the most common things people say when they find out I’m an author is, “I have a book idea, too,” or, “I’ve started writing a book myself, but I don’t know how to get it published. Can you tell me what to do?”
If you’re an author who regularly receives questions about publishing, this post may be a useful resource to share. Most of us are happy to encourage aspiring writers, but answering “How do I get my book published?” can turn into a much longer conversation than someone may realize—especially at a book signing, conference, or other event.
Sometimes people have carried their book idea around for years and I totally get that. I’m here for it. And I genuinely love that people are still writing books!
Over the years, I’ve published my books independently, with a hybrid publisher, and through a traditional publisher (small press). In fact, a small press was my first path to book publication back in 2016. (Before that, I’d worked professionally as a freelance writer for decades.) Each experience came with advantages, frustrations, expenses, and lessons. I’m grateful for all three paths, but I wouldn’t recommend the same one for every author or even for every book.
Before contacting publishers, paying for an expensive publishing package, or asking an author to introduce you to an agent, it’s important to take some time to understand your options. I put together the below info to give you a quick overview of your publishing options. Of course, this is in no way comprehensive! Click on the resources linked for more information.
First Things First: The What and Why Behind Your Book
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitment of getting your book out into the world before you’ve even completed the manuscript. (And based on a few conversations I’ve had, sometimes before you’ve actually started writing it!)
Ask yourself these questions about your book:
- What’s the ultimate goal for your book?
- Who’s the intended reader?
- What recently published books are similar to it?
- Is the manuscript finished? For fiction and memoir, you’ll usually want a completed manuscript before querying agents or small publishers. Many nonfiction books are pitched with a proposal, outline, and sample chapters.
- Has anyone outside your family or close friends read it?
- Are you willing to revise it—probably several times? You’ll need to like the concept or story enough to read it over and over and over as you work on it.
Your goals also matter. Are you hoping to build a long-term writing career? Sell books in physical bookstores? Support a business, speaking, or ministry platform? Maybe you simply want to preserve a family story and get a few copies into the hands of the people you love. Others hope to make some money as a writer. These are all perfectly good reasons to publish a book!
Knowing what you want will help you decide how much time and even money you’re willing to invest, because unless you land a deal with a traditional publisher, you’ll pay some costs for publishing. And knowing what you want will help you decide how quickly you want the book published and how much creative control you hope to have.
Common Book Publishing Options
Traditional Publishing
In traditional publishing, the publisher is responsible for and pays for all the details of putting out a book: editing, cover design, formatting, production, and distribution. Depending on the contract, the author may receive an advance and royalties.
A legitimate traditional publisher doesn’t charge the author to publish their book.
Many large publishers accept submissions only through literary agents, although some small, independent presses accept manuscripts directly from authors. More on those in a moment.
Traditional publishing may appeal to you if you:
- Want an established publishing team.
- Are willing to wait through a lengthy submission and production process.
- Understand that rejection is part of the process and that there’s no guarantee you’ll even land a publishing deal.
- Are comfortable giving up control over the title, cover, price, and release date.
- Have a manuscript or proposal that fits what agents and publishers are currently looking for.
Realize that you could spend months or years querying agents and still never have your manuscript accepted. Even after signing with an agent, there’s no guarantee that the agent will sell your book to a publisher. If you do receive a publishing contract, expect another lengthy wait. It can easily take a year or more from contract to publication.
And yes, traditionally published authors must still market their books. The publisher should provide publicity, distribution, and launch support, but authors are also expected to help connect the book with readers.
Where to Research Literary Agents
- The Association of American Literary Agents provides a searchable directory of member agents.
- QueryTracker is set up for writers to research agents and track submissions.
- Manuscript Wish List helps writers find agents and editors interested in particular genres and topics.
- Poets & Writers maintains a searchable Literary Agent Database.
- Publishers Marketplace is a paid resource that allows writers to research agents, agencies, imprints, publishers editors, publishers, deal history, and even marketplace performance. This is useful when you want to know whether an agent is actively selling books in your genre.
Always double check current submission instructions on the agent or agency’s website. Agents change agencies, close to submissions, and update what they’re looking for.
Following an agent’s submission guidelines is one of the easiest ways to show that you’ve done your homework. Not following them is one of the easiest ways to have your submission deleted before anyone gets far enough to even read your manuscript.
What About Small and Independent Presses?
Small presses are an option writers sometimes overlook. Many operate under the traditional publishing model, though advances and contract terms vary, including no advance at all but perhaps a higher royalty share. Others specialize in a particular genre, region, faith market, or academic field (such as a university press). Many small presses accept submissions directly from authors without a literary agent.
As I mentioned, a small press was my first publishing path. In 2016, my first book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse, was selected by InJoy Publishing through a writing contest. That led to my first publishing contract and gave me the chance to learn the process from the inside rather than trying to figure out everything on my own.
Years later, I received the rights to the book back. In 2022, I had it re-edited, hired an artist for new cover art along with a book formatter, and independently published a second edition. That experience is a good example of why publishing paths don’t have to be permanent, or even particularly tidy. A book can begin with a traditional or small press and later become an indie title, depending on the contract and what happens to the rights.
Small presses can offer more personal attention and be willing to consider books intended for a more specialized audience. However, their budgets, print runs, distribution, and marketing support can be more limited than those of a large publisher.
Check whether the small press:
- Is currently accepting submissions.
- Publishes your genre or type of book.
- Charges authors any fees.
- Has books you can find through ordinary retail channels.
- Provides clear contract and royalty information.
Look at its recent titles, covers, editing quality, and reputation. And if it calls itself a traditional publisher but requires you to pay thousands of dollars to be published, dig deeper. That’s considered a hybrid publisher.
Remember, a professional-looking website doesn’t automatically mean a company is reputable.
- The Poets & Writers Small Presses Database is one place to begin researching presses and their submission requirements.
- The Community of Literary Magazines and Presses Directory includes information on hundreds of independent literary publishers.
Read some of the press’s books before submitting, too. Make sure your manuscript genuinely belongs on its list rather than sending it out to everything that sounds good and hoping something sticks.
Self-Publishing (DIY)
Self-publishing gives the author the most control, along with the most responsibility! You choose everything, and I mean everything: the title, cover, release date, pricing, formats, and publishing platforms. You can update the book, change the cover, adjust the price, or publish a new edition whenever you want.
But you’re also taking on all the responsibilities of the publisher. That means you’re on the hook to make sure the book is edited, proofread, designed, and distributed professionally.
Why Choose Self-Publishing?
Self-publishing is sometimes treated as the option authors choose only after their book is rejected by traditional publishers. That certainly happens, but plenty of authors choose indie or self-publishing on purpose and even make careers out of it.
You might choose self-publishing because you:
- Want to keep control of all the details of your book.
- Don’t want to wait years for your book to reach readers.
- Are writing for a small or specialized audience.
- Plan to release several books or an ongoing series quickly.
- Want the ability to update nonfiction as information changes.
- Prefer to assemble your own publishing team.
- Are willing to treat publishing as both creative work and a business.
- Want the ability to sell physical books yourself through your website or in person.
Self-publishing can also work well for books with strong regional, family, professional, or niche appeal. A book doesn’t have to sell tens of thousands of copies to accomplish what its author intended. For me, one of the greatest advantages of self-publishing has been flexibility. I can make decisions about my books without waiting for a company’s approval or production calendar.
The tradeoff is that every expense is also mine.
What Professional Self-Publishing May Require
Depending on the book, you may need help with:
- Developmental editing
- Copyediting
- Proofreading
- Cover design
- Print formatting
- Ebook formatting
- ISBNs and publishing information
- Advance reader copies
- Distribution
- Launch planning
- Ongoing marketing
Uploading a book file to a publishing platform like Amazon KDP is relatively simple. Publishing a book that looks and reads like it belongs beside the other books in its genre takes a lot more effort.
I recommend hiring, at the very least, a professional editor and a book cover designer before putting your book out. Your book will be compared to others in its genre, and you want to give it a fighting chance. Genre expecations matter, and that starts with the cover. And if your cover is great, but the book itself is rife with typos/errors and obviously didn’t go through any kind of editing process, most readers won’t stick around to finish it.
Self-Publishing and Distribution Options
- Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) allows authors to publish ebooks and print books through Amazon.
- IngramSpark offers print-on-demand and distribution services that makes books available to bookstores, libraries, and online retailers.
- BookBaby is a full-service self-publishing company offering services such as editing, cover design, formatting, printing, distribution, and marketing. Because it offers packages rather than only a publishing dashboard, carefully compare the services and prices with the cost of hiring your own publishing professionals. (See the end for more design and editing options.)
- Draft2Digital gives authors ebook and print publishing tools. It also distributes books to a network of retailers, subscription services, and libraries. It can be useful for authors who want to distribute ebooks beyond Amazon (termed “going wide”) without managing a separate account for every retailer. D2D has recently expanded some of its offerings, so compare it against other platforms, as it’s very much set up for independent authors.
You don’t have to use the same company for every book format. Some authors publish directly through Amazon, use another distributor for wider ebook sales, and use an option like IngramSpark for print distribution.
Important: realize that making a book available for bookstores and libraries to order isn’t the same as getting it placed on their shelves.
Hybrid Publishing
Hybrid publishing falls somewhere between traditional and self-publishing.
The author pays some or all of the publishing costs, while the publisher provides services such as editing, design, distribution, and project management. The author often receives a larger share of the book’s royalties than they would under a traditional publishing contract.
A reputable hybrid publisher is also different from a “vanity press” or predatory publishing operation. The fact that an author pays for publication isn’t, by itself, what makes a company questionable. Look instead at whether the company vets author submissions (they absolutely should), produces professional looking books, is transparent about fees and royalties, provides meaningful distribution, uses fair contracts, and is clear about the rights the author retains.
I published Milspouse Matters: Sharing Strength Through Our Stories with W. Brand Publishing, a boutique hybrid publisher. I had a positive experience with W. Brand and would recommend that authors whose books fit its areas of interest research the company for themselves.
That experience resulted in a professionally produced book that has gone on to receive multiple awards. I’m proud of the book and grateful for how readers and industry professionals have responded.
One important financial consideration: hybrid publishing can require a substantial upfront investment, and a beautifully produced book doesn’t guarantee you’ll earn that money back through book sales. Be clear about how this will work for you and your goals before signing anything.
If you’re considering using a hybrid publisher, ask:
- What exactly is included in the price?
- Who owns the publishing rights?
- Who owns the finished files?
- What’s included in the publishing package?
- What kind of editing is included?
- How are royalties calculated?
- What does the company mean by “distribution”?
- What marketing is included?
- Will there be any additional costs?
- Can you speak privately with authors who’ve used the company?
- What happens if you want your rights returned?
The Independent Book Publishers Association’s Hybrid Publisher Criteria explains what a professional hybrid publisher should provide.
Don’t sign a contract simply because someone says they love your book. A publishing offer can feel exciting and validating, especially after you’ve worked on a manuscript for years. Give yourself time to ask questions. You may even want to have the contract evaluated by someone who understands publishing agreements.
Book Publishing Professionals I’ve Used and Recommend
Even if you decide to self-publish, you don’t have to do it alone! There are so many resources out there and people who’ve pavedThese are people or companies I’ve personally worked with and would recommend researching for your own book project.
Hybrid Publisher: W. Brand Publishing
As mentioned above, I worked with W. Brand Publishing to publish Milspouse Matters: Sharing Strength Through Our Stories. I appreciated the guidance throughout the publishing process and the professional quality of the finished book.
Book Cover Designer: Sarah Flood-Baumann Design
Sarah Flood-Baumann is an experienced designer who created the beautiful cover for the second edition of You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse. I appreciated how she understood the tone and audience for the book. She gave me multiple options to choose from before we finalized the design, along with an audiobook cover and other images for my website and social media.
Developmental Editor: Terri Barnes
Terri Barnes is the developmental editor for both my second book and the one I’m currently writing. She’s helped me look at the manuscripts as a whole, including structure, organization, pacing, and overall message. A good developmental editor helps you see what the book still needs…and what needs to be cut!
Book Formatter: The Self-Publishing Coach
The Self Publishing Coach, Alexandra Amor, formatted the print and ebook manuscripts for my second edition ofYou Are Not Alone. She also offers other services as a publishing coach, which are all very reasonably priced. Many indie authors learn to do book formatting themselves, but it was important to me to have my books professionally formatted so they look polished and are easy to read.
Disclaimer: Someone who was an excellent fit for my book may not necessarily be the right person for yours. Also, services and pricing change, so make sure to research anyone you use for your book. Review samples, ask about experience with your genre, confirm what’s included, and get pricing and timelines in writing before you pay anything.
Protect Yourself Before Hiring a Publishing Service
Even when a publishing professional comes highly recommended, always always do your own research before signing a contract or paying a deposit. (Seeing a theme here?)
The Alliance of Independent Authors’ Best and Worst Self-Publishing Services list is a great place to start, though just because a company or service isn’t listed doesn’t mean it’s not trustworthy.
Watch Out for Publishing Scams
Authors are often approached by bad actors who take advantage of the fact that writers so badly want their books to succeed.
Be wary of unsolicited messages claiming someone has discovered your book and wants to turn it into a movie, place it with a major publisher, or make it a bestseller—for a fee, of course. (I still get these sorts of emails every. single. day.) Before responding to an unexpected offer, contact the supposed agent, agency, publisher, or company through the contact information on the company’s official website to verify, not through the email sent to you (these are often sent through gmail or other free email accounts).
Writer Beware, the Authors Guild Publishing Scam Alerts, and the AALA Literary Agent Scam Alerts provide more information about questionable companies and schemes targeting authors.
Also, take a look at ALLi’s free guide to spotting publishing scams.
My Favorite Resources for Writers
There are more writing resources out there than any one person could possibly use. You don’t need all of them! Choose resources that help with a specific part of your writing or publishing process. These are some of my favorites.
ALLi’s Self-Publishing 101
The Alliance of Independent Authors’ free Self-Publishing 101 is an excellent starting point for anyone considering indie/self-publishing.
It walks authors through the seven core parts of the process: editorial, design, production, distribution, marketing, promotion, and rights licensing. Even if you choose another publishing route, it’s helpful to understand how all the different steps of producing and selling a book.
Independent Book Publishers Association
The Independent Book Publishers Association provides resources and advocacy for independent publishers and authors.
Take a look at its free IBPA Publishing MAP. It compares several publishing models and helps authors understand their options.
The Creative Penn
Joanna Penn’s The Creative Penn covers topics like working as an author, writing craft, indie publishing, book marketing, creative entrepreneurship, and changes in the publishing industry.
Joanna has been sharing information with writers for years, and I appreciate that she approaches authorship as both creative work and a long-term business. She also has a longtime podcast by the same name.
Publisher Rocket
Publisher Rocket helps authors research Amazon keywords, categories, competing books, and advertising terms.
I’ve found it helpful for understanding how readers may search for a book and where a book fits in the Amazon marketplace when creating a book description and its metadata.
BookFunnel
BookFunnel provides a platform for authors/publishers to deliver files to readers, such as beta readers and ARCs (advance reader copies), ebooks, audiobooks, samples, and reader magnets. It also offers tools for author promotions and newsletter building.
AutoCrit
AutoCrit is an online manuscript-editing program that can help identify issues with your manuscript. You can select the genre of your book to compare it against expected conventions and expectations.
It doesn’t replace a professional editor, but it can help you clean up a manuscript before handing it over to one.
Scrivener
Scrivener is a program that helps writers organize chapters, scenes, notes, research, character details, and other details all in one place.
Though I do tend to always gravitate back to good old Microsoft Word, I appreciate it for keeping a complicated book project from becoming an even more complicated mass of documents on my laptop.
Jane Friedman
Jane Friedman is the creator of one of my favorite resources. She reports on the publishing industry and provides straightforward and practical information for authors about the business side of writing. Don’t miss her resource list.
Reedsy
Reedsy has free articles, courses, and writing tools. It’s also a marketplace where authors can find editors, designers, marketers, and other publishing professionals. As with any online marketplace, research each person carefully before hiring.
The Social Media Suite by Shelby Leigh
The Social Media Suite by Shelby Leigh (an author herself) provides a year of social media content specifically created for authors, artists, and other creatives.
It is reasonably priced and includes customizable Canva graphics, caption templates, content and video templates and ideas, and more. It gives authors a starting point for marketing their book, without having to create every social media post from scratch.
You should revise any templates/captions so it sounds like your own voice and reflects your brand.
My Favorite Podcasts for Writers
Podcasts have been one of my favorite ways to continue learning about writing and the realities of book publishing and marketing. Rather than repeat the entire list here, I’ve gathered the shows I listen to and recommend in My Favorite Podcasts for Writers.
Yes, You’ll Have to Market Your Book
Writers sometimes assume self-published authors do their own marketing while traditional publishers handle everything for their authors. That’s rarely how it works.
Authors on every publishing path usually need to participate in marketing. That can include maintaining a website, building an email list or newsletter, posting on social media, appearing on podcasts, writing articles, attending events, requesting beta readers and reviews, speaking to groups, or connecting with readers in other ways. You don’t have to do every possible marketing activity. Trying to be everywhere can quickly become exhausting.
You will need to answer one basic question: Who is this book for, and how will those readers hear about it?
Remember: “Everyone” isn’t a target audience.
Some Author Etiquette: How to Ask an Author About Publishing
Most authors understand why new writers have questions. We had questions, too. But timing matters.
A book signing isn’t the best place to ask an author to evaluate your book idea, recommend you to an agent, or explain the publishing industry while other readers are waiting.
This may sound a little blunt, but a signing is primarily about the author’s book and connecting with readers. The author is there to meet readers, sign books, and support the bookstore or organization hosting the event. There may be a line waiting, and the event is probably running on a schedule.
A brief question is usually fine:
- “Is there one publishing resource you’d recommend for beginners?”
- “Do you teach workshops about writing or publishing?”
- “What is one thing you wish you’d known before publishing your first book?”
Then thank the author and allow the next person to have a turn. Please don’t hand an author your manuscript unless they’ve invited you to do so, and don’t email it to them afterward. Also, don’t request an introduction to the author’s agent or publisher or ask an author to recommend work (yours) that they haven’t read.
Remember that while some authors provide professional editing, coaching, or consulting outside an event, it doesn’t mean they’re obligated to provide those services for free. Ask whether they offer consultations rather than assuming they’ll read your work or advise you privately.
An author Q&A, writing conference or workshop, or scheduled consultation is a much better setting for detailed questions. You’ll also receive a more useful answer when your question is specific. “How do I publish a book?” could take hours to answer. “How can I tell whether a hybrid publisher is reputable?” is much more manageable.
A Simple Publishing Research Checklist
Before spending money to publish your book or submitting your manuscript to agents or publishers:
- Finish and revise your manuscript, or, for many nonfiction projects, prepare a polished proposal, outline, and sample chapters.
- Identify the book’s genre, intended reader, and comparable titles (“comps”).
- Read recently published books similar to yours to be clear on genre expectations.
- Decide what you want from the publishing experience.
- Compare traditional publishing, including small and independent presses, with hybrid and self-publishing.
- Research every publishing professional you’re considering.
- Get contracts, services, costs, and timelines in writing.
- Learn how rights, royalties, distribution, and marketing work before signing anything.
- Plan to participate in promoting your book, regardless of the publishing path you choose.
- Be willing to slow down rather than make an expensive decision out of excitement.
Keep Writing!
There are so many options for book publishing these days—a wealth of choices! The best one for you depends on your goals, budget, and timeline, and only you can determine that. Take the time to understand your choices, ask questions, and don’t let excitement rush you into an expensive decision.
Publishing can get complicated pretty quickly, but the most important part still starts in the same place: write the book, make it as good as you can, and keep going.
Then get back to the most important part: writing!
