The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing vs. Hybrid Publishing: Making an Informed Decision

After completing your piece, the next step is sharing it with the world. Are you confused about choosing between self-publishing and hybrid publishing? Let's look into these publishing processes and their advantages and disadvantages to help you make the right choice.

What is self-publishing and how does it work?

Simply put, Self-publishing is the process of authors independently publishing their written works, without having to involve a traditional publishing company or press. In this case, a company won't be responsible for publishing processes such as editing, formatting, marketing, etc., the author would.

Recently, the rise of platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and Ingram Spark, have made self-publishing easier, giving authors unparalleled control over their work, they have the autonomy to set their deadlines, prices, and marketing strategies. Authors may be flexible with how their content is created and distributed.

One of the most appealing parts of self-publishing is the possibility of earning higher royalties. In the absence of a middleman, authors get to keep a larger portion of their earnings per sale. In addition to that, Self-publishing bypasses the lengthy process of querying agents and traditional publishing houses, so should they wish, authors can publish immediately or whenever they want.

Self-publishing, however, is not without its challenges. Authors must shoulder the finances and other publishing responsibilities. Without the support of a traditional publishing house, it can be very difficult to build an audience from scratch. Getting your book into physical retail outlets, i.e. bookstores, will be a personal assignment as well.

What is Hybrid-publishing and how does it work?

Hybrid publishing, safe to say, is a mix of traditional publishing and self-publishing.  In this model, authors partner with a publishing company that provides publishing services while still giving the author control and ownership of their work. You still get to call the shots, but you also get some help from a publishing company.

One of the key benefits of hybrid publishing is that it affords you access to professional expertise. You can be rest assured that your book will be of good quality and will meet industry standards. More so, hybrid publishers often have established distribution channels, so you won't struggle with the visibility and reach of the book.

However, hybrid publishing may come with upfront costs, you as an author are expected to pay a fee or agree to a profit-sharing arrangement with the publisher. The terms of these agreements vary depending on the level of services provided and you should carefully examine the financial implications before signing a contract.

You should Self-publish if you want to be totally in charge of the publishing process and you have the time, effort, and financial investment needed to produce a professional-quality book and market it effectively. Although hybrid publishing offers the benefits of traditional publishing while you can still keep creative control and a greater share of royalties, it can be more expensive than self-publishing and you have to do some checks to ensure that you are choosing the right publisher.

Deciding between self-publishing and hybrid publishing depends on what matters most to you. Are you simply looking to make a profit, or you are more about expanding your readership? What works for you is mostly unique to you.