When I started writing books, I felt like I was on a blindfold. Luckily, I found the right publishers at the right time. I wish more writers would look for the right publisher at the right time.
To find the right publisher, check their previous track record, royalty system, whether they have an editor, their preferred genre, and the terms of the agreement.
How to find a right publisher?
First, check whether the company is an established business with an established reputation in the industry. It should also have a website, LinkedIn page, and at least one credible reference, as well as an active website.
Secondly, look for reviews and feedback. Find reviews that recommend the company for publishing as well as feedback from clients. Find proof of how many books they have published.
Thirdly, check whether they have an established track record in the industry. Check how many books they have published and whether the business has a reputation of quality. Also, find out if they have an in-house editing company.
Lastly, find out if there are any common mistakes that you should avoid. It is advised to ask this question if you have a budget.
If this is your first book and you want to publish it, you need to contact a well-renowned publisher. Without the right publisher, you will not be able to gain much popularity, and also cannot sell many copies.
This is why choosing the right publisher is essential, especially for new writers. Although you can publish a book without a publisher, getting one will provide you with great benefits.
Table of Contents
Benefits Of Working With A Publisher
Here are some benefits a publisher has for beginner writers.
Helps You With Marketing
If you have a publisher, they will be the ones to market your book. You do not need to spend a single penny and your publisher will do everything for you.
Printing The Book
You will spend a great deal of money if you want to print many copies of your book. But if you have a publisher, they will print the book for you.
Protect The Authority Of the Book
A publisher will also protect the copy-right authority of the book. Should there be any copyright issue or any other problem; the publishers will take legal actions.
Distribute The Book
Being a self-publisher will be difficult for you to sell the books and reach out to a large audience. You will need to constantly travel to different places to sell the book. But if you have a publisher, they will distribute the books for you.
Even though the internet has allowed small writers to publish and sell their books online, having credible publishers like Palmetto Publishing handle the online technicalities and distribution makes your work much easier.
How To Choose The Right Publisher
It is natural for beginners to be confused when looking for a good publisher. But before choosing one, make sure to consider the following points-
1. The Previous Track Record Of The Publisher
The first step is to check the history and background of the publisher. Almost all publishers have a record of how many books they have sold and how much success they have in this field.
Publishers who are in the business for at least two to three years know the ins and outs of publishing a book and will be of big help to you. So go with a publisher who has a good amount of experience.
2. The Royalty System Of The Publisher
Of course, the publishers will not be giving you all the benefits for free. There is a price to pay for the services that you will get from the publisher. This is known as book royalty, where the publisher pays royalties to the author as they sell the book.
In short, if the royalty for your book is 10% and your book is being sold at $20 by the publisher, then the publisher will pay you $2 for each book sold.
And if a thousand copies are sold, the publisher will pay you $2,000. So check the royalties. A publisher with a higher royalty will pay you more for each book sold. So go with a publisher who provides better royalty.
3. Check If They Have An Editor Or Not
If you are to publish a book, then an editor will be of big help to you. Normally you can hire an editor for yourself, but that is expensive. There are publishing companies that have their own editors.
They edit any silly errors and make the whole book more readable. If the editor can understand the author’s writing pattern, then he can improve the readability of the book even more.
So check if the publisher has a good editor that can match your writing style and understand the purpose of your book.
3. The Type Of Book The Publisher Sells
Next, you need to check the type of book the publisher sells. There are different types of books, each having its own genre. There are thrillers, action, romance, comedy, tragedy, melodrama, and many more.
If you see that the publisher is good at selling the genre of books that you write, then you should choose that publisher. Because they will know the best way to sell a large number of your books.
4. The Cover Design
The cover design is just as important as the book itself. The cover attracts the customers, and if it catches their attention, they will be interested to buy that book. Check out some cover design patterns of the publisher.
Now consider the type of book you will be selling. If you feel that the cover design made by the publishers perfectly complements the story and the theme of your book, then you can choose that publisher.
5. The Terms Of Contract With The Publisher
The next step is to check the terms of the contract with the publisher. There will be many details in the contract. One such detail will be the royalty rate which we discussed earlier.
Other information will include how long will the contract last (usually 12-36 months), what additional benefit will the author be receiving such as promotional benefits, and many more.
Contact your publisher to see what type of benefits you will be receiving and get a better idea about which publisher you want to go with.
Some Drawbacks Of Getting A Publisher
Just as there are some benefits, there are some drawbacks to getting a publisher as well. For example, the biggest drawback of a publisher is getting one in the first place. Most publishers will not be willing to go on a contract with a new author.
Getting a publisher also means you lose complete ownership of the book. The publisher now becomes the owner of the book, and you will be paid for each book they sell.
Final Thoughts
Even though there are some drawbacks, getting a publisher would be the right choice, especially if you are a new author. You will not be able to get every positive benefit from one single publisher. Check out a few and see which one works best for you. And based on that information, select a publisher and provide your books to them.