Debunking publishing myths vs facts: Common misconceptions in trad and indie publishing

The "market" in terms of publishing gets spoken about a lot, to the point it becomes an amorphous moving goal post. It makes it hard to know what's true. Person A says one thing while Person B disagrees.

"But they're both publishing professionals!" I hear you cry.

This is true. We also need to take into account who they work for, how they work, and why they might be making certain statements or recommendations against something else. For example, I'm not going to come on here and tell you the only way to publish is traditional because I self-published. So I'd be a liar. But I also have an interest in seeing you make the best decisions for your work.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the same intention.

So, why am I starting with such a gloomy introduction? Because today we're talking about publishing myths vs facts. And while there may be a lot of things that are disagreed upon, there are a lot of things that are true no matter who we're talking to.

Let's get started.

Debunking publishing myths

1. Myth: Traditional publishing guarantees success and wide distribution

   Fact: Many traditionally published books have limited reach without intentional marketing.

   
   

   Traditional publishing is often toted as the "gold standard" when it comes to getting a book in the hands of readers, but there's a lot of nuance that goes into such a statement. For one, there are big publishers and small publishers. Certain publishers offer advances while others offer larger cuts of royalties. Who you're publishing with - and how much they're will to put into marketing - plays a big role in how well a book does. Just because a book is published through a Big 5 doesn't mean it will perform well. Depending on where the markets at, it may only sell a handful of copies. So while traditional publishing often offers authors external validation, just know to set proper expectations in the long run.

   
   

2. Myth: Traditional publishers do all the marketing for you

   Fact: Authors often have to actively participate in promotion even with an established publisher.

   
   

   Marketing budgets vary widely between publishers and titles. It's often true that, since publishers are businesses at their core, their focus is on risk vs. profit. Most of the marketing budgets in publishing houses funnels into authors and books they feel will give them the largest return on investment. Which means that many debut titles will get lost in the weeds when it comes to marketing efforts from the publisher.

That's not to say debut titles can't also receive large marketing budgets. We see that time and time again. But it does mean that those agreements are often few and far between.

3. Myth: Traditional publishing is the only way to validate your work

   Fact: Quality indie books have won prestigious awards and acclaim.

   
   

   First of all, we need to say that the best way to achieve validation for our work is because we're proud of what we've written - not because someone else told us it's good enough. That being said, there is a level of external validation that is relevant to a long writing career. Indie published books win awards all the time. They often end up in libraries, doing in-person events, all those fun things that traditionally published books get paraded around for. Sure, sometimes it may be harder to get a foot through the door, but there are plenty of ways for indie books to be recognized for their quality that don't include getting picked up by a publisher.

4. Myth: Indie authors can’t make significant income

   Fact: Successful indie authors often earn more per book sold than traditional royalties.

   One of the biggest benefits of indie publishing/self-publishing is getting to retain rights and control pricing. If you're a business-minded person like me, I love that control. It allows me to pivot, to take advantage of market trends quickly, to offer discounts I would otherwise be unable to join in on because of a lack of control over my publication. While there is the upfront cost of actually getting the book to print, there are a lot more opportunities to develop a business plan that supports your publishing goals.

   
   

5. Myth: Indie books don’t get reviewed or publicized by media

   Fact: Indie authors can and do get book reviews, podcast features, and media coverage.

   
   

   Depending on publishing goals and energy levels, indie books have just as much opportunity to get in front of different audiences as any other author. There are plenty of podcasts, news outlets, etc. that allow direct pitching. Additionally, there are PR agents and companies that often take on individuals as clients to help foster those opportunities. Making the right connections is possible with a little research and positive interactions. Being polite and professional often goes a long way.

   
   

6. Myth: If you publish through one path, that is the only way you can publish moving forward

   Fact: Many authors publish some books independently and others traditionally.

   
   

   There's this idea out there that once a book is published, all others that follow must be released the same way. In reality, it depends on the goal of each author and book which route might be the best. I know of authors who started out self-publishing and got picked up by publishers. I know other authors who started traditional but published a handful of titles independently while also having more under contract with their publisher. There are so many options, and we're not limited to one path once a decision has been made.

7. Myth: A perfect book means it's guaranteed to do well in the market

   Fact: A book doesn't need to be a literary masterpiece to sell well.

   
   

   I think we can all picture one book that we feel shouldn't have been released but somehow made a huge splash among other titles of the time. That might be one of the trickiest things about trying to predict where the market is moving. Just because a book is well written doesn't mean it will be a bestseller. Just because a book meets all the trends of the moment doesn't mean it will be a bestseller. It's all about finding the right readers who are willing to invest in those stories.

8. Myth: A large social media following guarantees book sales

   Fact: Only 1-2% of followers actually convert to book sales or any follow-through on calls to action.

   
   

   It's been pretty disheartening recently to see big influencers who have never written a book in their life offered book deals out of the blue while the rest of us toil away in the query trenches. That being said, the numbers game doesn't look particularly appealing in this region. Accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers doesn't indicate sales rates. Sure, it might help on the marketing front that they already have an audience, but it doesn't mean they'll suddenly become the next bestseller. The work has to resonate in order to do that.

   
   

How to choose a publishing path

There are some pretty major pros and cons for both methods of publication, but I hope that through this post, there's a little more clarity in what the publishing industry looks like on a factual level. At its core, publishing is a business, and businesses can be built and molded and reviewed to support the outcomes we're looking for.

There aren't a lot of clear cut answers. It depends on what each author's individual goals are that indicate the best paths.

At the end of the day, all we can do is write the stories that resonate with us to the best of our ability and learn to be flexible when it comes to putting them out in the world.

Happy writing,

Erin