A Goodreads user asked Ron Scheer:

How do you go about getting your novel published? I'm typing it in the manuscript format that publishers like to see, but is it difficult to send in your novel? Does it cost money?

Ron Scheer Actually sending in a manuscript for submission to a publisher should only cost you postage. If a request is made for payment, this is either self-publishing, or a scam. Actual publishers don't charge to view manuscripts. HOWEVER, this is a double edged sword. The big name publisher won't even look at a manuscript that isn't represented by a publishing agent. And it's just as hard to get an agent as it is to get published. In fact, from what I understand, it's pretty much the same process. (I don't have an agent) There are smaller publisher out there, like mine, Museitup that don't require an agent, but there's almost always a tradeoff of some kind. In my case my publisher doesn't have a promotion budget for their books. So I'm forced to self-promote. It's a good tradeoff for a new writer because It doesn't matter if your published from one of the big name houses, or one of the small ones, published is published. (This isn't true for self-published authors-sorry)

So what's the difference between published and self published?
If you're published, the publisher pays for everything from the editing to the cover and everything in between. The author may or may not get an advance depending on the contract, but will certainly get royalties on whatever amount of books are sold.
A self-published author pays for everything, but collects all proceeds after the costs to the seller have been paid (i.e. amazon, barnes and nobles self publishing site, I think it's called pubit, or somethingl like that)

hope this helps

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