When Would Traditional Publishing Be a Better Option for Your Book Project? Consider These 4 Factors

1. You’re prepared to handle rejection.

“Thank you for submitting your work. Unfortunately, it does not meet our needs at this time.” This line, or something similar, has stung many a writer.

It’s important to remember that a rejection has nothing to do with you personally, but with your work. Perhaps your work needs improving. And what writer, no matter how talented, couldn’t improve her manuscript?

A rejection might not be about your work, either. Perhaps your publisher already has published a book on your topic…or a related manuscript is presently working its way through the publisher’s editorial department.

All writers get rejections. It’s part of the business. Even the most famous writers have received rejection notices. It’s nothing personal.

2. You’re prepared to wait in line.

If you are invited to submit a proposal or manuscript, even with a smaller publisher, you’ll find that the turnaround time can be days, weeks, months, or even years. Your work, important though it is to you, isn’t likely atop the publisher’s priority list.

It could also be that your acquisition editor—the editor who asked you to submit your proposal or manuscript—has left the publisher, which can mean that your work will end up in the hands of a new editor who doesn’t know you, and with whom you’ve not been in touch.

The publisher will get to your work. Be patient.

3. You’re prepared to relinquish control of the project.

With self-publishing, you do it all. You are the king (or queen) of the realm. This isn’t the case with traditional publishing, where the publisher makes the decisions about book design, layout, production, and distribution. Often the publisher will have ideas about how to promote your work, though usually the author has primary responsibility for getting the word out.

4. You’re prepared to accept or act upon publisher suggestions.

Your editor shares your interest in a successful product. To that end, she will expect you to at least consider her suggestions with an open mind.

She will expect you to offer some ideas, as well. On my book Spring Branch, my publisher asked me to submit five or six photos, with appropriate captions, that would be considered for the book cover. I was asked to make a recommendation and say why I felt as I did.

My publisher agreed with my recommendation, and the photo used for the cover was my selection.