Overview

Publishing a book can be intimidating but BRIO can take the fear and worry out of your first publishing experience. Self-publishing is now easier than ever, but the choices are endless.  BRIO wants to help you make the right choices for your book, point you in the right direction, and highlight the 3 major differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing.

1. Time: With traditional publishing, a manuscript can take years to become a book. First, an author may have to submit the manuscript to several publishing companies before it is selected. The larger companies can take up to eight months to work through the massive amount of submittals on editors’ desks to get to your manuscript, and most authors submit to dozens of publishing companies before they get one to show interest.  If a publishing company does decide to distribute your book, the actual process of publishing the book can take at least another year. With self-publishing, it is common that a manuscript can be edited, and a book can be designed and printed all within a year.

2. Money: With self-publishing, the cost of editing, design, printing, marketing, and distribution is the responsibility of the author. In contrast, with traditional publishing, you are paid an advance on royalties; however, many times, public relations costs must come out of the author’s pocket. In traditional publishing, the publishing house, with its enormous capital, experience, and contacts, vigorously promotes your book.  This is why very few new authors can seize the attention of the traditional publishing company.

3. Control: Frequently, an author’s delight at selling a manuscript turns into gloom when an overzealous editor at a publishing house tears apart the manuscript into unrecognizable shreds. Publishers might refuse to publish a book because it is too controversial, doesn’t fit the company’s list, or simply because it won’t sell. With self-publishing, the author has much greater control over the content, layout, and design, as well as how and to whom the book is marketed. The links below will point you in the right direction as you are starting your self-publishing endeavor. Questions? A BRIO representative is also happy to help. You can fill our Service Estimate form to tell us more about your project or our Print Estimate quote request form to receive a custom print estimate.