A Goodreads user asked Rick Riordan:

Do you truly believe it would be hard to self-publish and be just as famous as you are now? What publishing company should I use for my book? Its not mythology, but its style is inspired by you! Take care, Mr. Riordan :)

Rick Riordan I was first published in 1997, when self-publishing meant something VERY different than it does now, so I have no idea what would've happened. It's also been so long since I broke into publishing that the entire business has changed, so it's difficult for me to give any helpful advice. The advice that remains true is this: write the absolute best book you can. Make it as polished and excellent and finished as it can be. Then and ONLY then try to get it published.

The rest of my advice is my best guess, but I could be wrong! Traditional publishing has advantages. The publisher does your editing, your marketing (sort of), your distribution, your graphic design. They can give you a better chance of getting your book noticed and into bookstores. BUT it's still an incredibly long-shot to get published, then another even longer shot to get noticed, then another long shot to become successful, and even if you manage all that, the publisher and bookseller take most of the profits. Last time I checked stats, only one in ten published books ever makes a profit. If you self-publish, you have do to literally everything, from design to marketing to distribution to editing, but if you manage to succeed (again, a huge long shot) you will get a much larger share of your sales. If you are famous for something else, like you are an influencer with a massive following, you might find self-publishing more doable? If not, you will find it very difficult to get attention all on your own.

I don't say all this to discourage you, but go into it with your eyes open. I started trying to get published when I was twelve years old, in 1977. It took me twenty years before I got my first book published. Even after that, I had to write and publish eight more novels before I wrote Percy Jackson and became a full-time writer. Your path may be different, but the one thing you will absolutely need is determination not to give up. Which publishing company should you solicit? Look at the companies that publish books you enjoy, and the kind of books you want to write. That is the best place to start. Good luck!

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