You’ve written your book. The hard part’s done, right? Not exactly. Now comes the decision every author faces: self publishing vs traditional publishing. Both come with their own set of perks and problems, and the best route for you depends on what kind of writer you are, what your goals look like, and how much control you want to have.
Let’s break it all down so you can stop stressing and start planning your next move.
Understanding the Two Models
1. Traditional Publishing
This is the old-school route. You query agents, pitch your manuscript, and if you’re lucky, land a deal with a publishing house. They handle everything from editing and design to printing and distribution. You might even get an advance, depending on the publisher.
But here’s the thing, control is limited. They call the shots on your book formats for genres, titles, cover, and release dates. You’re often expected to do your own book marketing, and royalties can be slim. For some authors, though, having that stamp of approval and support is worth it.
2. Self-Publishing
This route has grown massively thanks to platforms like Swift KDP and IngramSpark. You skip the gatekeepers, publish your book yourself, and keep a bigger slice of the profits. More importantly, you’re the boss. You choose your cover, your price, and even your audiobook narration styles.
The trade-off? It’s all on you. Editing, formatting, marketing, and distribution, you’ll either need to learn it or hire people to help. That’s where teams like Swift Book Publishing come in. They guide authors step by step through the self-publishing process, making sure you’re not doing it blind.
Pros and Cons: Side-by-Side
1. Control and Creative Freedom
Self-publishing gives you total control. Want to use bright neon fonts for your title? Go for it. Prefer a cover that breaks the rules? You’re the decision-maker. With traditional publishing, your manuscript goes through a lot of hands, including editors, marketers, and sales teams, before hitting shelves. That can mean your original idea gets diluted along the way.
If you’re picky about your vision, or you’ve already worked with a team for working with a book editor and ebook cover design vs print cover, self-publishing will let you keep things exactly how you want them.
2. Time to Market
Traditional publishing is a waiting game. It can take months or years from the moment you sign a contract to the day your book hits the shelves. Self-publishing? You could have your book out next week if you really wanted.
That kind of speed is a big plus, especially if you’re creating a series or responding to a timely trend. It also makes repurposing book content for blogs, guides, or social media much faster when you’re in charge of release timing.
3. Costs and Earnings
Traditional publishers front the costs, editing, printing, and design, but they also take a larger cut of the profits. You’ll likely earn 5-15% of your book’s retail price.
With self-publishing, you foot the bill up front but take home 70% or more per sale. If you’re serious about turning writing into income, that extra margin adds up. Just remember: you’ll need to budget for line editing vs copy editing, ISBNs and barcodes for books, and promotional tools like a book trailer script or author bio writing.
Who’s Better Suited for Each?
Self-Publishing Might Be for You If:
- You want full control over your work
- You’re comfortable managing the publishing process or outsourcing it
- You want to get your book out quickly
- You have a niche audience or are building your own following
Traditional Publishing Might Be Better If:
- You’re looking for validation from the industry
- You want someone else to handle the production side
- You don’t mind waiting or giving up some creative control
- You prefer focusing only on writing
How Swift Book Publishing Supports the Self-Publishing Journey
Many authors want the perks of self-publishing without the stress of doing everything solo. That’s where Swift Book Publishing fits in. From fact-checking nonfiction books to author platform building, Swift helps authors manage every step of the process without getting overwhelmed.
Whether it’s polishing your manuscript with editing, finding the right illustrator to collaborate with children’s book illustrators, or making sure your book is properly set up for distribution, the goal is simple: help you launch your book with confidence.
Even things like book metadata, the stuff that helps your book show up in search results, are handled properly so you don’t miss opportunities to reach readers.
Blending the Two Paths
Some authors start with traditional and move to self-publishing for future books. Others do the reverse. Hybrid publishing is also an option, where you hire professionals for parts of the process while keeping creative control. The point is, there’s no rule that says you have to stick to one route forever.
You can also explore multiple formats at once, print, eBook, and audio, especially if you want to play with different audiobook narration styles or tweak your eBook cover design vs print cover.
Conclusion
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the self publishing vs traditional publishing question. It all depends on what you want, what you’re comfortable managing, and how much time and money you’re willing to invest.
If you’re keen on learning the ropes, taking charge, and making quick decisions, self-publishing might just be your thing. If you’d rather hand off the logistics and work with an established team, traditional might suit you better.
Whichever route you go, just know that you’re not alone, and services like Swift Book Publishing are here to help if you need guidance.
Oh, and by the way, if you’re still weighing your options, it’s also worth checking out our post on types of book editing. It might help you figure out what kind of support your manuscript really needs.
