Is Assisted Self-Publishing Better Than Traditional or Self-Publishing?

If you’ve already written your children’s book—maybe you’ve revised it, maybe you’ve even had it edited—your next big question is usually this:

How do I actually get this published?

You’ve poured your heart into your manuscript, you believe in the message, and you can picture it in a child’s hands.
Now you’re wondering what comes next.

I’m going to walk you through the three main publishing options available to you, the pros and cons of each, and how to decide which path fits your goals best.

We’ll Cover:

• The Three Ways to Publish a Children’s Book
  
• Traditional Publishing: What You Need to Know
  
• Self-Publishing: Full Ownership, Full Responsibility
  
• Assisted Self-Publishing: A Guided Approach
  
• What If I Want to Publish Quickly?
  
• My Personal Experience With Both Routes
  
• What About the Cost & Risk?
  
• How to Decide What’s Right for You
  
  

The Three Ways to Publish a Children’s Book

There are three primary paths available to aspiring authors:

1. Traditional publishing
2. Self-publishing
3. Assisted self-publishing (working with a publishing partner)

Each path leads to a published book. But the journey, the timeline, the ownership, and the financial structure look very different.

Let’s break them down clearly.

Traditional Publishing: What You Need to Know

This is the path most people are familiar with.

You submit your manuscript to a publishing house (often through a literary agent). If they accept it, they purchase the rights to your book and handle the production process.

Here’s what that means:

• The publisher pays for editing, illustration, design, printing, and distribution.
• You receive either an advance, royalties, or both.
• The publishing company owns the rights to your book.

That last point is important.

When you traditionally publish, the publisher controls the final decisions. You may have input, but you do not have final say. And the timeline? It requires patience.

You send out submissions, and you may receive many rejections before hearing a yes. Even once accepted, it’s common for the book to be published two to three years later.

Traditional publishing can be wonderful, but it can also be slow and highly competitive.

Self-Publishing: Full Ownership, Full Responsibility

Self-publishing is the opposite end of the spectrum–you are in charge of everything.

That means:

• You hire your own editor and illustrator.
• You coordinate design, layout, printing, and distribution.
• You cover all expenses.

Because you are investing in the book, you own the book. The rights are yours. The revenue is yours (minus retailer percentages, such as Amazon or bookstores).

It becomes your business.

This path offers speed and ownership. But it also requires knowledge, organization, and discernment. Quality matters deeply in children’s books, and without experienced professionals guiding the process, the final product may not meet industry standards.

That’s the part I encourage authors to think carefully about.

Assisted Self-Publishing: A Guided Approach

This is the model I personally love most.

Assisted self-publishing, sometimes called a self-publishing partner, means you invest in your book, but you do not do it alone.

You work with experienced publishing professionals who:

• Help refine your manuscript
• Connect you with high-quality illustrators
• Guide design and layout
• Oversee printing and production
• Walk with you from idea to finished book

You pay a flat fee for services, but at the end:

• You own the rights
• You have final say
• You keep your profits

You maintain control, while benefiting from professional expertise.

For many aspiring authors—especially those who want both quality and ownership—this is a beautiful balance.

What If I Want to Publish Quickly?

Sometimes authors tell me, “I feel so excited. I just want my book published right now.”

If speed matters to you, traditional publishing is usually not the best fit. The timeline alone can stretch years from submission to release.

Self-publishing can move more quickly, but again, quality is critical. You can move as fast as you want to with self-publishing, but you run the risk of putting out a book that’s not up to standard.

In my experience, assisted self-publishing tends to be the most efficient route to market while still maintaining professional standards. It allows you to move forward with clarity, support, and structure, retaining quality while also being timely.

My Personal Experience With Both Routes

I have walked both paths.

I self-published my first three books. Each one took about nine months from writing to publication.

Later, I traditionally published two books. One of them took five years from the moment I wrote it to the moment it was published.

There are pros and cons to both approaches. Traditional publishing carries prestige and infrastructure. Self-publishing gave me speed and ownership.

If I were starting today, knowing what I know now, I would absolutely choose to work with a strong self-publishing partner. Not because it’s easy—but because it allows authors to create a high-quality book while retaining control.

I learned so much through my journey, and I am grateful for it. But today, there are better-supported pathways available than when I began.

What About the Cost & Risk?

Yes—self-publishing and assisted self-publishing both require investment.
But I encourage authors to reframe this.

When you create a book, you are creating a product. And every product requires investment at the beginning.

The key question becomes:
Do I believe in this book enough to build it well?

Another important truth I share openly—no matter which publishing route you choose, the marketing will come back to you.
Even traditionally published authors are expected to promote their books. That means school visits. Speaking engagements.

Community connections. Online presence.

When I teach authors how to market their books, I focus heavily on schools. Schools are full of children—your target audience. Authors can speak, inspire, and sell books directly where readers are gathered.

A book opens doors. It creates opportunities to speak, to connect, to teach, and to serve.

Marketing is not about pressure. It can simply be you sharing your excitement about your book

How to Decide What’s Right for You

Here are a few gentle questions to ask yourself:

• Do I want full ownership of my book?
• Am I willing to wait several years for traditional publication?
• Do I feel equipped to manage publishing on my own?
• Would I benefit from professional guidance?
• Am I prepared to market my book, regardless of the path I choose?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer.

What matters most is that you choose intentionally.

Your book deserves thoughtful stewardship. You deserve clarity.

Publishing is not just about getting a book printed. It’s about building something meaningful—something that reflects your heart, your message, and your standards.

Whichever path you choose, choose it with your eyes open, and build your book with excellence.

Remember: You can do this.

If you feel like the assisted self-publishing route is right for you, I would love to have you join my Publishing Mastermind  program. Publishing Mastermind will walk you through every step of the process, from writing and editing to publishing your children’s picture book and getting it out into the world in just 12 months.

 
You retain all rights and royalties, and we provide you with professional editing and book design services. You’ll also be connected to a community of like-minded authors who can share in your journey, because I believe that community is one of the most important things for a writer to have.

If you’re interested in joining Publishing Mastermind , you can check it out HERE. Your book is waiting to be written, it’s just up to you to take the leap.

You do not have to figure this out alone.

I believe in you.