We live in the golden age of accessibility. The democratization of media has reduced barriers to entry in a variety of industries. With the advent of self-publishing, disseminating literary work has never been easier. The twin splintered ends of traditional and self-publishing offer opposing experiences. Each one speaks to different strengths and personalities. It runs contrary to my impatient nature, but I’m holding out for traditional publishing. This is why.

Finances

An argument I often hear in favor of self-publishing is the larger percentage of sales an author can earn. Yes, it’s true that traditional publishers take a big cut of your sales per book, but self-publishing carries many hidden costs that will be your sole responsibility.

Your book’s publication is not the end of a journey, it’s the beginning. It’s the beginning of marketing, promoting, selling, and distributing your work. If you’re on your own, all those tasks fall squarely on your shoulders and wallet.

Social media and other free promotional opportunities can only go so far. At a certain point, if you’re looking for exposure to a larger audience you will need to support that pursuit with monetary investment, via advertising, travel, etc. Therefore, any financial gains made by netting a larger percentage are forgone.

Machinery

Even though publishing is an industry rooted in creativity and artistry, it is an industry nonetheless. As such, there is machinery in place to ensure that it continues to be profitable. There are whole departments full of professionals dedicated to creating cover art, marketing, editing, accounting, and many other aspects of publishing that wouldn’t occur to a person from the outside.

These are experts in their field, with knowledge honed by years of experience. They are necessary when appealing to a broader audience and ensuring that your book is as successful as it can be.

Think of the release of your book like an orchestral performance. Rather than trying to play all the parts as a one-woman-band—playing instruments I’ve just picked up—I would rather have a whole, well-tuned orchestra supporting my song. This translates into the distribution aspect as well. Traditional publishers have the connections and infrastructure in place to allocate your work widely and correctly.

Prestige

This is last on the list because I wish it didn’t matter, but the truth is that there is a certain stigma still attached to self-publishing. Whichever route you choose, income is not guaranteed. And when presenting yourself as an authority, whether it’s for a speaking engagement, academic position, or other related endeavors, traditional publishing will garner more respect.

Whether that should be the case or not is moot. Regardless of personal feelings, this is the reality that authors must contend with, a certain legitimacy is immediately conferred upon traditionally published writers that eludes the self-published.  For me, there is also a level of validation and vanity that can only be satisfied by the older format.

Every writer is different, and I don’t pretend to know what will be right for each of you. However, keep in mind that there are no shortcuts in writing. You will always have to do the work, one way or another. I rather do the work without unduly taxing my bank account and while supported by a team of experts who lend legitimacy to my pursuits. But that’s just me.