Maintaining Creative Control of Your Book
Maintaining Creative Control of Your Book
Completing a book is a proud moment for every writer. You likely had to overcome many obstacles to create and complete your work. Now that it’s finished, you’re faced with the next challenge: publishing your book.
In the past, the only way to get your work out into the world was through a publishing company. Now, we’re in the digital age, and self publishing is a more viable option.
So how do you choose which avenue to take? Which one’s better?
Publishing Companies vs. Self Publishing
Publishing companies bring the benefits of having an experienced team, becoming a brand, and avoiding overhead costs. There are pros and cons to both traditional publishing and self-publishing.
When it comes to creative control, though, things can be very different depending on the route you take. Self-publishing allows you to be your own boss, retain most of the profits, and you’re often guaranteed to get published.
Traditional Publishing Companies and Creative Control
First of all, finding a publishing company willing to publish your book can be a complicated process all on its own. It can take years to get a publishing deal.
Oftentimes, to get a publishing deal, the author ends up losing creative control. You could potentially lose control over the title, cover design, Book content, and marketing angle.
You’ve probably spent months or years developing your content. It can be extremely disheartening to have your work picked apart and reworked by a publishing company.
Your book could end up spending months or years in the editing process because the publishing company wants you to make a lot of changes — changes you may not agree with or even like.
In the end, they can choose to not publish your book at all.
Self Publishing and Creative Control
Self-publishing brings its own benefits. One of the biggest ones is being able to maintain creative control. This means publishing your book the way you envision with a cover design that conveys your message to the reader and content that is authentically yours.
When you self-publish, you’re responsible for doing all of the work or sourcing professionals to assist. You’ll potentially need a designer, illustrator, editor, marketing team, distributor, and printer.
Thankfully, there are self-publishing companies available to help you through the process by offering professional support. When self-publishing, you’ll incur some upfront costs, so it’s crucial to research and establish a budget.
If you choose to use a self-publishing company, make sure to read over their terms of service carefully. Be wary of self-publishing companies that offer free services. Some companies might want creative control rights and royalties in exchange for services.
Self Publishing with Palmetto Publishing
Palmetto Publishing has knowledgeable and experienced staff members available to assist you in every aspect of self-publishing your book. When you use our services, you’ll retain 100% creative control of your work and keep all of your royalties.
We can assist you with book design, interior formatting, illustrations, editing, printing, and marketing. For more information, schedule a time to chat with one of our friendly professionals.