The critical role of editing and proofreading services, along with book proofreading services UK, in getting your book published is well-known, even among many of the world’s most famous fiction and non-fiction authors.
However, despite the value of professional editors and proofreaders in helping you to prepare your manuscript for publication, they often cannot help you to decide how best to get your book accepted by a publisher.
At the same time, editors and proofreaders are usually unable to offer advice about what the best route to publishing your book actually is. In particular, when you’re deciding between traditional publishing or self-publishing, even the best editor in the world cannot offer clear guidance.
So, assuming that you’ve already edited and proofread your book – whether you’re using book proofreading services UK or any other reliable and high-quality process – this article outlines the strengths and weaknesses of the traditional route to publication.
Strengths of traditional publishing
1. Validation
Almost all authors experience self-doubt; they often wonder whether their work is of a sufficient quality to be accepted by readers. Therefore, one of the defining strengths of traditional publishing is that it can give authors the important validation they may need to continue working.
This is because, when a manuscript has been received by an agent and approved by a publisher, this acceptance functions as a kind of stamp of approval. Even if, after all this, your book doesn’t reach the bestseller list, the validation you received can usefully spur you on for future projects.
2. Opportunities to work with professional teams
As part of the contracts that book authors sign with traditional publishers, authors typically receive input from editors, formatters, marketing professionals, and cover designers. The writers who just want to write and not have to think about anything else, this is a tremendous strength.
3. Easier to win prizes
A considerable number of prizes for literature aren’t open for self-published authors. For this reason, even if you’ve written an engaging book that you believe will sell well through the self-publishing route, opting for traditional publishing may be a better option if you’re seeking literary prizes.
Weaknesses of traditional publishing
1. Control restrictions
Many authors find that when they go through the traditional publishing route, they lose creative control over their book. This is because, in order to sign with certain publishers, authors are required to give up the right to the book title, cover art, and marketing angles.
2. Low royalties
Since publishers make their professional teams available to authors, they have to make their money back somehow. For this reason, authors who opt for the traditional publishing route usually only receive between 5% and 25% of the funds earned from the book.
3. Length of the process
Compared to self-publishing, getting your book published with a traditional publisher can feel like it takes an age. For example, finding an agent for your first book can take one or two years, after which the publisher won’t be able to complete the launch for another 6 to 12 months.
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