Updated: The Key Book Publishing Paths in 2015 [Chart]

In 2013, I created an informational chart about the key publishing paths, which was far more popular than I anticipated. I still get many requests to distribute it at conferences, plus interview requests to discuss it.

Given the pace of change, it was time to update it. Read on for an explanation of what’s changed or download now.

One of the biggest questions I hear from authors today:

Should I traditionally publish or self-publish?

This is an increasingly complicated question to answer because:

There are now many varieties of traditional publishing and self-publishing—with evolving models and varying contracts.
You won’t find a universal, agreed-upon definition of what it means to “traditionally publish” or “self-publish.”
It’s not an either/or proposition. You can do both. (See this interview with CJ Lyons.)

There is no one path or service that’s right for everyone; you must understand and study the changing landscape and make a choice based on long-term career goals, as well as the unique qualities of your work. Your choice should also be guided by your own personality (are you an entrepreneurial sort?) and experience as an author (do you have the slightest idea what you’re doing?).

My chart divides the field into three identifiable forms of traditional publishing and three identifiable forms of self-publishing.

Traditional publishing: I define this primarily as not paying to publish. One of the growth areas you’ll find here are no-advance deals and digital-only deals that offer a low advance, if any at all. Such arrangements reduce the publisher’s risk, and this needs to be acknowledged if you’re choosing such deal—because you aren’t likely to get the same support and investment from the publisher on marketing and distribution. The digital-only category is best described with the Wild West cliche: You’ll find very new presses here who don’t know a thing about publishing, as well as established New York houses launching innovative imprints.
Self-publishing: I define this as paying to publish or publishing on your own. Compared to the earlier version of this chart, I’ve gone into more detail about full-service and assisted models. This is where significant growth and innovation is happening. The AuthorSolutions star is fading fast (especially with the pending lawsuit), and more companies are entering the field with premium services and the promise of quality selection or curation. However, there’s still a very high risk of paying too much money for basic services, and also for purchasing services you don’t need. If you can afford to hire a company to help you self-publish, use the very detailed reviews at Independent Publishing Magazine by Mick Rooney to make sure you choose the best service for you.

Feel free to download, print, and share this chart wherever you like. (It’s formatted to print perfectly on 11″ x 17″ or tabloid-size paper.) I will keep developing it as the publishing landscape changes, so leave a comment if you have suggestions for how to make it more helpful.

For more information on getting published, visit these posts:

Start Here: How to Get Your Book Published
Start Here: How to Self-Publish Your Book
How to Publish an E-Book: Resources for Authors
10 Questions to Ask Before Committing to Any E-Publishing Service

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