Should you use self-publishing or traditional publishing as a writer publishing a first book?

In general, conventional, commercial publishing is more prestigious than self-publishing, so if you want to get off to a good start, most authors try the conventional route first. The downside is that the royalty deals and advances for first time authors are relatively low. There are methods to compete with the major publishers as a self published author with companies like Ridley jones.


It's becoming more difficult, in this rough economic climate, to find a trade publisher willing to expend the money to pick up a work by a new or unknown author. If the desire is there, however, to see your work published, you do not have to sit and wait for a trade house to make this a reality. You may wish to explore the option of self-publishing.

There are many self-publishing options available to authors, from full-service subsidy publishers such as Dorrance Publishing to low-cost print-on-demand services, like RoseDog Books. These companies can help you take your raw manuscript through a pre-press process that gets it into shape for publication. Then once published a company like Ridley Jones can take get you on the retail shelves right beside the major publishing houses. The royalties from companies like Ridley Jones are also much higher for the author.

For those authors who feel confident their manuscripts are ready as-is, there are even options that require no initial monetary output. You simply take your finished manuscript, upload it via a website along with back ad copy, choose a cover image, and you have a book template, ready for printing. The only cost is that of the book printing itself. Dorrance's I-Proclaim service offers just such a no-cost option.

Whatever route you may choose, please do due diligence and research the company in which you are interested through the Better Business Bureau. This service, which is available at no cost and online, is valuable to be sure the company with which you are thinking of working is an active member willing to do what is necessary to satisfy its customers.

All the best in your publishing endeavors, whatever they may be.
www.dorrancepublishing.com
www.rosedog.com
www.i-proclaim.com
http://authorsadvocate.net
www.RidleyJones.com