Publishing Paths: Indie vs. The Big Five

By: Melissa Lee

12:30p.m., April 17, 2024

New authors have decisions that can make or break who they are. Authors go through a series of critical decisions, one of which is selecting the publishing path to pursue. They can either pursue a traditional publishing path, such as one of the Big Five publishing houses or they can pursue their independent publishing path, and go towards indie publishing. Before looking at the pros and cons of both of these paths, its essential to know what these publishing houses entail and the process that are involved with them. 

Understanding Indie and Big Publishing Agencies

Indie publishing is just short for independent publishing. This is the process of where authors self-publish their work without the involvement of traditional houses. According to Marie on kotobee blog, independent publishers make their own decisions that are not based on profit or quantity but they go for quality. When an author chooses the indie route, they are their own proofreader, editor, marketer and everything that goes into publishing a book. Usually, the indie publisher will help guide the author along the way.

On the other hand, big publishing houses are traditional publishing which refers to the established system of submitting a finished manuscript to agents with the goal of getting a book deal. With traditional publishing, authors work with publishers to edit, produce, and distribute your book. This publisher will also help your book make it to the hands of readers.

Pros and Cons of Indie Publishing

Pros

· Author has more control on their book. Indie authors remain the soul creator of their book and have the final say upholding their vision and creative goals.

· Book will get published faster. Indie publishing is a streamlined process, which can move the authors book more quickly.

· Authors earn a larger percentage of their book sales. Authors maximize their potential earnings by not having to pay the big company

Cons

· Authors are their own proofreader, editor, marketer, etc. This makes it where the author has more tasks to complete by themselves before the book is ready to be published.

· Authors have to pay for this out of pocket. Financial investment is needed upfront to cover expenses for editing, cover design and marketing.

· Authors have to reach out to get their book into readers hands. Authors need to promote their own sales, usually through digital media.

Pros and Cons of the Big Five Publishing Houses

Pros

· Publishers reach out to bookstores to make sure your book gets into readers hands. Big Five publishers already have leverage to networks to ensure books get to bookstores and libraries.

· Publishers give you a team to work with. Authors will receive experienced publishing professionals to help edit, market, and control digital media.

· Publishers pay the up-front cost. Big five publishers will cover the cost for upfront expenses, but the author will not get paid until they “pay back” what was lent; which happens during the sale of the book.

Cons

· Publishing is a slower process. Authors will go through slower process time due to the book needing to be seen by multiple people within the publishing house.

· Authors receive less pay for each sale. These publishers need to get paid for expenses and royalties before they pay the author.

· Authors give up control over their book. Authors have to give full control to their publishing team where they will pick editorial decisions, cover design and marketing strategies.

Conclusion

The decision to pursue traditional publishing with a Big Five publishers or pursue the indie publishing route depends on many different factors that are ultimately up to the preferences of the author. The author will need to weigh the pros and cons to choose their correct path. Whatever path the author may choose, traditional and indie publishing offers a unique experience with opportunities to be successful.