How is the process of finding a company to publish your book like? How much does it averagely cost to publish your book? How do you promote your book?

Question

I’m very interested in writing and would one day like to publish my own book, yet I’m quite intimated by the cost and the search for finding a good publishing company. I’m also aware you’d have to find a way to promote your book, yet I’m not exactly sure how to do that. Would I have to promote it by myself or would your publishing company do that for you? Is it better to self-publish? What are the steps you’d have to do to self-publish your own book?

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 07 '24 at 21:04

Unless you are self-publishing or working with a hybrid publisher, publishing doesn't cost the author anything. While there are legitimate hybrid publishers -- writer and publisher share costs for editing and publicity -- most of them are scams.

If you want to publish with one of the big five publishers, you have to have literary representation. You get literary representation by sharing your work with agents. If they think they can sell the book, they'll represent you. Other than fedex charges, agents are paid only if they sell your book. The standard rate is 15%. Used to be 10%. There are many many websites listing agents that are accepting new clients. Google is your friend.

Small presses take direct solicitation. Websites like Writers Digest list agents and presses accepting submissions.

There are two differences between traditional publication and self-publication. There are no barriers to self-publishing, anyone can do it. Traditional publishers only buy books that will make them money. Traditional publishers do that marketing and publicity for the novel. This might include asking the author to participate in book readings or interviews but the obligations are defined in the contract. In self-publishing, all the marketing and publicity is up to the author.

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 01 '25 at 07:09

Uploading your manuscript to a distributor like Amazon or IngramSpark is free. The cost would be if you hire an editor, cover designer, and things like that. You can decide how much you want to invest in those.

I have been marketing my books online for sixteen years and I wouldn't go the traditional route at this point. I love the control that self-publishing gives me.

When it comes to promoting anything online, there are four basic types: Inbound Organic Marketing, Outbound Organic Marketing, Networking/Partnership, and Advertising.

I always recommend trying out aspects of all four to find a good combination for you and your audience. Personally my favorite is inbound organic and I've used SEO and blogging to create passive income from my novels.

Here are a few starter ideas for promoting books:

Have a website with a LEAD MAGNET to an email list: A sample short story (fiction) or an impactful sample chapter (non-fiction)
Newsletter swaps
Social media with hashtags related to genre and themes, teaser quotes from the books
Send book to reviewers and bloggers
Host a book signing event with a bookstore or library (if you're taking a vacation, try to take yourself on a book tour and reach out to bookstores there).
Write blog posts about topics related to your books
Amazon ads
Hand out bookmarks and post them around town

How is the process of finding a company to publish your book like? How much does it averagely cost to publish your book? How do you promote your book?

2 Answers2