There are three major types of publishing: traditional, self, and hybrid. If you’re okay taking the scenic route, traditional and self-publishing are the way to go. But if you want to fast-track your first children’s book and see your name in print sooner rather than later, you’ll need to pursue hybrid publishing. Here’s why.
How to Fast-Track Your First Children’s Book with Hybrid Publishing
You don’t have to wait for any acceptance letters.
If you go the traditional route, you’ll need to hire a literary agent, submit your manuscript to traditional publishers, and wait for the winning deal.
Traditional publishers receive thousands of submissions every year, which means tradtional publishing is not only super competitive, but super slow too. It could take years before you finally get to hold your book in your hands.
This leaves you with two options to consider if you want to get your first children’s book in your hands quickly: self-publishing and hybrid publishing, neither of which require any acceptance letters.
But depending on your experience and knowledge of how to publish, self-publishing might not be the best choice for you.
You don’t have to work alone.
If you choose to self-publish your first children’s book, you need to work as a lone wolf. This means you do everything from writing the first draft to hiring a printer. You’ll be responsible for each and every decision, big or small.
In addition to assembling your own team and doing everything on your own, you’ll also have to do all the research. You need to know who to hire, how to hire them, and keep your bases covered when it comes to any legal concerns. (E.g., will you own the rights to the illustrations when all is said and done.)
Some writers want to be involved in every step. If that’s you, then self-publishing could be a great option (just not the quickest). But everything will fall on your shoulders.
If the sound of being responsible for all that and more freaks you out, take comfort. Hybrid publishing might be the happy medium you’re looking for.
With hybrid publishing, you can work with a team of professionals to figure out which decisions are best for your book. You'll receive expert advice and still maintain creative control over the fun stuff.
In other words, hybrid publishing is the perfect option for any writer who wants to decide things like what kind of illustrations they want but doesn’t want to deal with the pressure of doing all the research.
Why Hybrid Publishing is the Key to Fast-Track Your First Children’s Book
Simply put, hybrid publishing will get you the best results quickest because:
- Like self-publishing, you don’t have to wait for any acceptance letters
- Unlike self-publishing, when you hybrid publish, you can rest assured that your book will meet professional standards. A team of experts will work alongside you and provide resources to make the entire process smooth sailing
Of course, every hybrid publisher provides different resources and services. In Publishing Mastermind*, myself and the MLP Team will provide a professional editor, book designer, and advice about how to work with both an illustrator and printer. We also offer significant assistance with launching and marketing.
*To learn more about what Publishing Mastermind includes, click HERE.
Simply put, hybrid publishing is a great option for first-time writers. It's the happy medium every first-timer needs to fast-track their first children’s book.