5 Things Every Author Should Know About: Traditional Publishers.

This might be a contentious post.

It seems to be every new writer’s dream to be published by a Traditional publishing house. Heck it was mine for several years until I realized that I don’t write what they’re looking for, but during that time, I learned a few things and I want to share them with you. These are all from personal experience and what I’ve read online from other writer’s experiences and in no way is trying to deter you from going the Trad route.

• If you have a trad contract, you have all their extensive resources behind your book.

This has to be the biggest attraction. Knowing all those professionals are behind you and your novel can be a very rewarding experience. Editors, cover artists, distributors, and along with and agent, the author has qualified people to assist them in creating a good novel.

• Good sales equal future book deals.

Because there are so many people behind you, all working to put out the best story you can write, many Trad authors go on to acquire good sales which translates into multiple book deals. Again, another plus for the author.  

• There’s nothing they can do that you can’t.

Self publishing took off roughly fifteen years ago and has taken a big bite out of Traditional Publishers sales since. As self-publishing grew to be more popular, many Trad authors realized they could do everything themselves (or hire people) and keep more of the royalties. Unfortunately, not all Trad authors are picked up for second books, and self-publishing became a option many of them had to follow. It is more work and can be a steep learning curve, but I’ve not heard one complaint from a self-published author.  

• Just because you have a trad contract doesn’t mean your book will be published.

This is a sad reality for the many of Trad contracts. I’ve heard horror stories of authors, who’s books went dead before it was published. I’ve heard stories of publishers dropping an author during the cover design process, or the book languishes in purgatory for several years before the publisher decides that it’s not what they’re looking for. I heard once a writer claim that they cancelled her novel while they were creating the cover. For whatever reason, it’s worth noting that this could be the reason so many manuscripts are rejected.

• It’s harder to achieve a trad contract now.

When I first started my writing career, a Trad contract was all anyone could talk about. It was the end goal of just about all my writing friends. Now, many of them have turned away because the chances of them achieving this goal is out of their reach. Having an agent doesn’t automatically mean a Trad contract either, and it’s harder now for writers to acquire an agent, and I’ve read online of authors being dropped by their new agent, for one reason or another. I’ve even read where authors drop their agents because they were not compatible.

The rise of self-publishing changed the landscape of publishing forever, and whether or not you choose to go for a Trad contract or not, these points are valid, but as I said at the beginning of this post, it’s in now way is meant to deter you from your goal. I just want you to be prepared and understand what could happen.

Good luck!