For an author, this is the great dream-to see your book on store shelves or downloadable all over the world. But before you sign that contract with a professional book publisher, understand what you are getting yourself into.
Publishing isn’t just about printing a book; it’s about building your career, fathoming complicated agreements, and partnering with an organization that will help you grow. In this blog, we take a look at what authors should know before signing on with professional book publishers.
Whether you’re a first-time author or someone with a few books under your belt, this guide will walk you through some crucial considerations to make sure your decision to sign with a publisher is the right one. We look at what factors will impact your writing career, what contract terms you should know about, and how to build a successful partnership with a professional book publisher.
1. Understand Professional Publishers’ Roles
First and foremost, one should clarify what is meant by the term ‘professional book publishing.’ In contrast to self-publishing, which puts quite a load on the distribution, marketing, and generally on the promotion of books upon the author’s shoulders, professional book publishing offers considerable service to authors.
The publishers professionally undertake editing, design, printing, and distribution of your book. Their role is far from over:
professional book publishers can offer extensive knowledge in the fields of marketing, publicity for your book, and maintaining sales channels for it. Basically, they help you turn a manuscript into a marketable product. That is where the publishers do their job of making your book reach every reader, taking care that your author career grows with time.
However, all publishers are not created equal, and services offered may vary wildly. Some will give much more significant support to marketing and promotion, whereas others will focus on the logistical and distributional areas. Before signing anything, you should know what the publisher is responsible for and what your responsibilities are.
2. Understand the Publishing Model:
Traditional vs. Hybrid vs. Vanity It is important to know what kind of publishing model the professional book publisher follows. There are numerous different approaches publishers take, and these can be confusing if you are not familiar with the terms. Following is some of the most common types:
Traditional Publishing: This model constitutes what most authors would aspire to when dreaming of working with professional book publishers.
In this model, all the expenses of printing, distributing, and marketing are provided by the publisher. You also usually receive an advance on royalties, an amount to you against your book having earned it in royalties and then royalties on each sale, and sometimes other subsidiary income. Your publisher will publicize your book, although what is expected of you as their partner can vary.
Hybrid Publishing:
This model is a mixture of both traditional publishing and self-publishing. The authors may pay some of the services themselves, with the publisher providing distribution, printing, and some level of promotion in return. Hybrid publishers most often give authors more control and higher royalties and expect an upfront investment from an author.
Vanity Publishing:
This is a model wherein the author pays the publisher in advance for services, including printing and sometimes marketing. These publishers may claim to offer professional services but often do so without any real commitment to promoting the book or getting it into stores. Vanity publishing is to be approached with caution because it often favors the publisher’s profits over the author’s success.
It’s a good idea to understand which model the publisher follows so that you are making an informed decision. You’ll be most likely dealing with a traditional publisher when signing with a professional book publisher, but it doesn’t hurt to know exactly the details.
3. Check Terms of the Contract
Before you sign any contract with a professional publisher of books, you need to be sure you read the fine print. Publishing contracts are typically quite long and often pretty complex. They also normally carry terms that could dramatically affect your career as an author. Here are several points of emphasis when it comes to reviewing contracts:
Rights:
A publishing contract is primarily concerned with the rights you are selling to the publisher. Are they going to have the rights for various formats of your book, such as print, e-book, audiobook? Do they hold international rights? Can they license your book to third parties? It is very important to understand exactly what rights you are giving up and whether you are comfortable with that.
Royalties:
If anything, the contract should outline how one will earn from the copy sales. Royalties of publishers vary, and therefore, it may again depend on the publisher and sort of book-hardcover and paperback, digital. Guarantee that you comprehend the rate paid, whether it is relative to the retail price or determined after discounts, and statement frequency.
Advances:
Some publishers may offer a certain advance-a lump-sum amount against future royalties for you. While it is common among traditional publishers, not all firms offer this advance. If they happen to offer, make sure they spell out how the whole thing works and when you expect the amount.
Marketing and Promotion:
Most publishers will have a clause on marketing and promotion. Some publishers are quite active when it comes to marketing, while others may leave you to do much of the work. Ask about the publisher’s track record when it comes to promoting books and be sure you are comfortable with the level of involvement they expect from you.
Termination Clauses:
Check what were the terms under which the contract is allowed to be considered voided. What if it turns out the book wasn’t selling that well? You would like to make sure you have a legitimate route by which to remove your book from this publisher. Pay particular attention that all terms should be fair.
Having a lawyer or literary agent review it is always well and good; they’ll point to various pitfalls which may change your mind in either way.
4. Reputation of Publisher/ Track Record
Research the publisher’s reputation and track record before signing with a professional book publisher, by looking at the books they have published, read reviews of their books, their website, and their social media presence.
You want to make sure that you are working with a publisher that has a history of success, helping other authors build sustainable careers. If the publisher is new, or doesn’t have much public presence, you may want to proceed with caution.
And also-if at all possible-talk with other authors who have engaged the publisher. They could provide insight into the issues of the publisher’s communicational style, marketing, or professionalism in general. It has to be asked if these authors are happy with publisher’s support and with the real success of a book, they will have published.
5. Realistic Expectations
When signing with a professional book publisher, one has to have realistic expectations. Success in the publishing world is not guaranteed even with the backing of a reputable publisher. Of course, marketing and promotion are necessary in the success of any book, but the content, the timing of the release, and the overall market conditions all play important roles as well.
As an author, you need to be ready to put in the effort as well. Even with the publisher’s support, you’ll still need to be involved in promoting your book through social media, book signings, interviews, and other promotional efforts.
Bear in mind at the same time that a professional book publisher wants your book to be successful. A publisher is in it for the long haul and they want you to succeed, but it is about working together in order to achieve your goals.
6. Establish Long-Term Relationship
Signing with a professional book publisher isn’t just about your current book; it’s about the building of a relationship that can last long. The right publisher will support your growth as an author, continue to help you with your future projects, and give you the tools you need to keep working your way up in your writing career.
Not only consider the immediate benefits of signing on with a contract but think about the long-term opportunities that a professional publisher can bring: a loyal reader base, extending your book into new markets, and further titles.
Conclusion
Signing with a professional publisher is a big decision that has the potential to have lifelong implications for your career as an author. Understanding the model of publishing, understanding terms in the contract, performing some due diligence on their reputation, and setting realistic expectations will put you in the best position to make the right choice. This is your partner, and they should care about your success as much as you do. Take your time and do some research to make sure the publisher you choose is going to be suitable for you and your work.
