Submit a book for publishing
How to submit a book to a publishing company
- Traditional Publishing
- Hybrid Publishing
- Self-Publishing
Read more and discover the best publishing route for your book by exploring traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing.
Publishing companies accepting submissions
If you’re an aspiring author, one of the biggest questions you may have is how to submit a book to a publishing company. Navigating the complex world of publishing can be daunting, and understanding the differences between traditional publishing, hybrid publishing, and self-publishing is key to making the right decision for your book.
Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing
When it comes to publishing, traditional publishing and self-publishing are the two main routes. Each has its own unique advantages and drawbacks.
Traditional publishing typically involves submitting a manuscript for publishing to large publishing houses, often with the help of a literary agent. These companies cover the costs of editing, printing, distribution, and marketing. In exchange, they take the lion’s share of the royalties.
Authors can receive advances, but they’re not always large enough to live on, and earning royalties only happens after the advance is “earned out.” While traditional publishers can help boost an author’s visibility through established distribution networks, it can be a very slow process.
In addition, finding a literary agent is challenging. Agents receive hundreds of queries a month, but they can only represent a small percentage of them. Rejection rates are high, and even when you do secure an agent, there’s no guarantee that the manuscript will be sold to a publisher. It can take months or even years before you get a publishing deal, if it ever happens at all.
Self-publishing, on the other hand, puts full control in the hands of the author. It’s an attractive option because you can publish on your own timeline, retain all rights to your work, and earn higher royalties.
Platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) have made self-publishing easier and more accessible than ever. However, the downside is that authors are responsible for all aspects of the publishing process, including cover design, formatting, editing, printing, distribution, and marketing, which can be expensive and time-consuming.
Hybrid Publishing: The Middle Ground
There’s also a third option—hybrid publishing, which blends elements of traditional and self-publishing. Hybrid publishers often offer a range of services, such as editing, marketing, and distribution, but the author typically covers some of the costs upfront. In return, hybrid publishers provide more control than traditional publishers, while also giving professional support that might be out of reach for self-published authors. However, the downside is that you’re still paying for services and splitting royalties, so the potential for earnings can be lower than full self-publishing.
Challenges of Traditional Publishing
One of the biggest cons of traditional publishing is the low royalty rate. After all the hard work of writing a book, it can be discouraging to earn such a small percentage of the profits. In addition, the time to publication can be painfully long. After finding an agent, submitting the manuscript to publishers, negotiating contracts, and going through the editing process, it can take 18 months or more for the book to hit shelves.
The process is competitive, and traditional publishing companies accepting submissions directly from authors rarely happens, meaning most writers have to secure a literary agent. For many, this is a long and difficult process full of rejection letters. Even when a deal is secured, authors often have little say over the final design, cover, or marketing strategy of their book.
The Advantages of Self-Publishing
By contrast, self-publishing offers several major advantages. Authors retain complete creative control, choosing everything from the book’s cover to its marketing strategy. The timeline is much shorter, often taking just a few months from completion of the manuscript to publication.
With self-publishing, you typically receive a higher percentage of royalties, meaning a larger share of the money from each sale. Additionally, self-published books don’t have to meet the approval of gatekeepers, so you can publish any type of content, from niche topics to experimental formats.
But self-publishing is not without its challenges. It requires a strong entrepreneurial spirit, as the author is responsible for managing all aspects of the publishing process. If you’re unfamiliar with things like book formatting, cover design, or marketing strategies, the learning curve can be steep. That’s where self-publishing companies like Dorrance can step in to help.
Why Dorrance Publishing is the #1 Choice
If you’re considering self-publishing but want professional guidance, Dorrance Publishing is the leading choice for authors. With more than 100 years of experience, Dorrance has helped countless authors bring their books to life. Each month, we publish books by 50+ new authors, providing them with the resources they need and want.
At Dorrance, we provide comprehensive publishing services, from editing and book design to marketing and distribution. We take the guesswork out of the self-publishing process, allowing authors to focus on what they do best: writing. We are one of the most respected self-publishing companies accepting submissions, and we offer a personalized approach to each project, ensuring we meet the author’s needs and budget.
In addition to publishing services, Dorrance offers distribution and marketing support to help make your book available to a wide audience. We make sure your book is available on major platforms such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other leading retailers. With Dorrance, you’ll have access to professional services that rival those of traditional publishing houses, without sacrificing your creative control.
Submitting a manuscript for publishing through Dorrance is a straightforward process. You can easily submit your manuscript online and take advantage of our century-long expertise in the publishing industry. We’ll work with you to ensure your book gets the attention and care it deserves, guiding you every step of the way, from manuscript submission to final publication.
Our century-long experience and comprehensive services make us the #1 choice for authors looking to self-publish their work.
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