Traditional vs. Indie with Jansina

Hello! I have Jansina here with us today to talk about the difference between traditional and Independent publishing!

Find her on the Interwebs!

Blog~Amazon~Goodreads~Facebook~Twitter

Rivershore Publishing

Traditional Publishing vs. Indie Publishing

As I'm sure you've noticed if you've been following the publication stories this week, there are a variety of ways to publish a book. There is no "right" path; rather, authors find the path that's right for them. 

There are two very general terms we use when describing publishing routes: traditional and indie. While I opted for the indie route and have no regrets, I can see the pros and cons of each. 

Cons of Traditional Publishing:

-It can take years from start to finish. 

-Some publishers require authors to hire an agent to present the book to the publisher. 

-Rejection letters are a thing. Although I don't have the numbers, I suspect the number of rejection letters is higher than the number of acceptance letters. (If you receive one, don't give up. Many brilliant authors were rejected initially.) 

-Depending on the publisher, you may have little to no creative input. 

-Sometimes editors require changes in your book that you disagree with. 

-Publishers often take a large percentage of the royalties (I've heard some take 95%).

-You may be required to give the publisher the rights to your book. 

Cons of Indie Publishing 

-You're, essentially, on your own. It can be overwhelming and isolating.

-There are specific skills needed (e.g., graphic art for the cover) so you either need to hire others or learn them yourself. 

-Hiring others can become expensive; learning on your own takes time. 

-Indie books have an unfortunate reputation of being poor quality, so yours will need to stand out as an exception.

-Marketing the book is completely on your shoulders. You can of course hire this, if your budget allows it. 

-Indie books are considered successful if you sell about 500 copies. Most don't. If you do, you'll likely earn about one or two thousand...not enough to live on. 

I brought up the negative aspects first so I could leave you with the positives.  

Pros of Traditional Publishing

-You have a support team for every part of publishing. 

-There is no initial cost to publish; you're paid a portion of the royalties. 

-You have help with marketing (exactly how much depends on the publisher).

-Traditionally published books have a reputation for being high quality. Once you receive your acceptance letter, you have very little left to prove.

Pros of Indie Publishing 

-Books can be published in as little as a month (though I do recommend taking your time in favor of quality). 

-You retain creative freedom. No change is made to the book or the design without your consent. 

-You keep 100% of the royalties. 

-You keep all of your rights to your book. 

Publishing a book is a rewarding experience. While I want to give realistic expectations, I wouldn't dissuade anyone from pursuing it. Although fame and fortune from publishing are unlikely, there are intangible rewards. Publishing a book gives a sense of accomplishment like nothing else can. Fan mail is always a delight. And seeing your words in print is an indescribable moment. 

Whether you publish traditionally or independently, I'm excited for your journey. I would love to help if you have any questions along the way. Feel free to contact me at Info@rivershorebooks.com. 

Jansina's Publication Story + Q&A

Books have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My parents read to me as a baby, and as soon as I learned I started reading on my own—every book, every paper, and every sign I found. I was the kind of kid who pulled out grammar books in the summer and wrote research papers "for fun." (No joke.)

When I was around eight years old, I finished my first story: a short one, about a monkey and a gorilla (you can read it here if you really want to). I added clip art photos, my mom had it bound into a "real" book (okay, she stapled it together), and I showed it off to everyone I knew.

My dream was to be a published author. As with most of my dreams, I had a well-thought-out plan. I would write Christian romance and would submit it to a local Christian publisher that specialized in that genre.

As, thanks to NaNoWriMo, I neared the end of my first complete novel, I learned that "my" publisher had changed their policy: No outside submissions would be accepted. 

When my plans are changed by outside forces, I reevaluate them entirely. Although I could have chosen a new publisher, instead I began to research whether traditional publishing was the route I still wanted. 

It wasn't.

For a variety of reasons (freedom of creativity, larger royalty share, unlimited print run), I chose to self publish via CreateSpace. I learned to format, used my graphic art hobby to create the cover, and published within the year.

For me, the "I'm a published author" moment didn't happen. I expected it to when I hit "submit" on CreateSpace. I expected it when my first copy arrived. I expected it when I pushed the book out into the world, and then when I had my first sale, and then when I had my first fan mail. The realization didn't hit all at once. But, at some point, it was there. 

Now, I've published three novels and two short stories, and I have several more in progress. All my novels and short stories (with the exception of Life is Crumbly) are within the same "world" and share many of the same characters.

After journeying the publishing landscape alone, I began my editing and publishing business, Rivershore Books, in 2012. My ultimate goal is to continue the publishing aspect but also create a physical location: a bookstore and coffee shop; an inspirational haven for my fellow authors.

So many steps led to where I am now, and I truly feel it's what Papa (my affectionate name for God) wants me to be doing. My goal is to honor Him in my writing and encourage other authors to do the same with their own.

Q&A Time!

I would like to open the floor now for questions. Feel Free to ask Jansina any questions you might have about writing, her writing, her writing process, her publishing company, or anything else you can think about. She'll be around sometime today to answer them!