Have you ever felt like the publishing world is a maze with too many doors? Traditional publishing, self-publishing – it's enough to make your head spin! But there's a new option in the industry that's been turning heads – hybrid publishing.
In this blog, we're diving deep into the world of hybrid publishing. We're talking about what it does best, what you should know before signing any hybrid publishing contracts, and what it could mean for you.
If you're a seasoned writer thinking about switching lanes or a newbie dipping your toes into publishing, stick around. This is your crash course in understanding the pros and cons of hybrid publishing.
What Exactly is Hybrid Publishing?
Hybrid publishing is what happens when you take the best parts of traditional publishing and the best parts of self-publishing and put them together.
It’s a publishing model focused on assisting the writer as they work on their book by providing professional services such as editing, book design, etc., for an upfront cost. Every company offers different services. No two hybrid publishers are exactly the same.
As a hybrid publisher myself, I can only speak to what we do here at ML Publishing. From here on out, we’ll cover the pros and cons of hybrid publishing according to our business model.
You can check out our hybrid publishing program HERE.
Pros and Cons of Hybrid Publishing
The Pros
Maintain Creative Liberty
When you work with our hybrid publishing company, you maintain creative control of your book. You decide what the illustrations will look like, where everything goes inside the book, whether it will be hardcover or paperback, and so on.
The advantage to using your creative control with a hybrid publisher vs. self-publishing is that hybrid publishers provide professionals to follow through on your vision.
At ML Publishing, we listen to your preferences and pass them on to our editors, book designers, and publishing team to make sure the book looks exactly as you want it (without you having to endure the headache of setting it all up). Which leads us into the next of these pros and cons of hybrid publishing…
You Make the Decisions
At ML Publishing, your freedom to make decisions is not limited to the creative stuff. We give you full control over your book. If you want to publish the book in a particular way, we’re there to support you. If you have a particular marketing strategy you want to implement, you can absolutely do that. And so on.
We always want our authors to be in control of their books. That’s why we love hybrid publishing — your book is completely reflective of your vision.
The Book is 100% Yours
One of the most common complaints I hear from authors looking into traditional publishing is that traditional publishers take ownership of their book. That is not the case with hybrid publishing.
ML Publishing allows authors to keep 100% of the rights AND 100% of the profits from their book. We’re just here to help you bring your vision to life.
Quicker Turnaround Time
When I traditionally published The Big, Bad Bully, it took around five years to see the final product on shelves. Hybrid publishing offers flexibility so you can publish your book much quicker. And since you’re not doing everything on your own, it moves much faster.
In Publishing Mastermind (our hybrid publishing program), it takes authors anywhere from eight to twelve months to publish their books, which is a much shorter ETA than other methods.
You Get Professional Assistance & Guidance
One of the most defining of these pros and cons of hybrid publishing is that, with hybrid publishing, you get professional assistance and guidance.
What’s different about ML Publishing is that we not only do some services for you, but we also teach you how to write, publish, and launch a children’s book.
Unlike self-publishing, where you have to figure it all out on your own, or traditional publishing, where they do everything for you, hybrid publishing offers the perfect balance: we do some things for you, but we teach you how to do them so you can go on to publish more books if you’d like.
We’re all about empowering people, both authors and readers alike. But of course, hybrid publishing isn’t perfect.
The Cons
Hybrid Publishing isn’t Free
As much as we wish we could make our hybrid publishing services free for everyone, we do put a significant amount of work into each book we publish, and those services come at a cost.
Hybrid publishers almost always request an upfront fee in exchange for their services and guidance. You can learn more about our hybrid publishing program on our website.
You can also learn more about how to minimize costs while publishing HERE.
You Must Do Research Before Signing Any Contracts
Since every hybrid publisher is different, you really need to do your research before signing any contracts to make sure their services meet your needs.
Here are some things to check for (and our answers at ML Publishing):
Have they published previously? What books have they published? Yes! You can find all the books we’ve published HERE.
Do they take any royalties on book sales? With our Publishing Mastermind: Nope! You keep all the profits.
How long do I have access to their services? Publishing Mastermind runs for 12 months, which we’ve found to be a great time frame for most authors.
Who gets the rights to the book once it’s published? With ML Publishing, you keep ALL the rights!
What This Means for You
There you have it — we've uncovered the pros and cons of hybrid publishing and taken you on a journey that's all about finding your literary path.
As we wrap up this adventure, it's clear that hybrid publishing isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. It's like a versatile tool in a writer's toolkit, offering the chance to wield creative control while also tapping into the expertise of industry insiders. The idea of reaching a broader audience and skipping the DIY self-publishing process has certainly enticed many authors. And let's not forget the satisfaction of holding your book, your creation, in your hands.
However, hybrid publishing has its bumps and detours. The financial investment and the need to thoroughly vet publishing companies are important. It's not a shortcut to success, but rather a path that requires dedication, research, and a willingness to embrace both the highs and the lows.
But always remember that your journey is uniquely yours. Your story, your goals, your dreams – they all play a pivotal role in the decision-making process. The most important thing is to make an informed choice that aligns with your aspirations.