Before I assess Michael Allen's book, I'll explain the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing.
Self-publishing vs Traditional Publishing
To distribute with a major distributing business, you must present a question letter or a proposal alongside your original copy. When a distribution business receives this bundle, an editorial manager will read it and decide whether to give the creator a deal.
Book bargains frequently include the house purchasing the rights to the book from the author. In exchange, the inventor will receive eminences and a stake in future sovereignties. The distributing house and the creator (and the creator's expert, if they have one) set the sovereignty rates. In addition, creators are assigned an in-house editorial manager who can make adjustments and auxiliary alterations to the original material. The house then assumes the responsibility and costs of planning, producing, appropriating, and displaying the book.
Recently, the popularity of self-publishing tactics has skyrocketed. While there was once only a niche market for privately published books, massive stages (such as Amazon Kindle) have completely expanded this market.
As an indie author, you should submit the final draught as well as the assets required to configure, sell, and circulate your book. You must also choose the quantity of duplicates to be produced and pay for each one.
To save time and money, an increasing number of authors are moving away from print and toward digital book distribution. There is currently a large readership for these types of publications, which are supported by a variety of tablets (for example, the Kobo and Nook lines). Independently publishing your work in digital book design eliminates the costs associated with printing and acquiring physical duplicates and can also make it more widely accessible. Users all across the world may simply find a copy online rather than requesting it and paying the (usually exorbitant) shipping expenses.
In any case, how would you decide which course to take? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to that question, but there are a few elements to consider while deciding whether to distribute usually or all alone.
Choosing the best distribution strategy for you boils down to personal preferences in relation to these criteria. OK, do you prefer that experts handle the nuances, or do you wish to make a significant contribution to the distribution cycle? Is it correct to declare that you are determined to see your book sold at major merchants, or do you trust in your own promoting abilities? These are questions to ask oneself before deciding whether to distribute broadly or separately.
The two approaches allow access to large readerships and might potentially be quite rewarding for writers. Regardless of the distribution route you choose, a mistake-free composition is required to entice editors and readers of independently published works the same.
Blurb
This book will teach you everything you need to know about traditional publishing.
Publishing is a 500-year-old industry, and if you want to be a successful writer, you need to understand how it has evolved and altered through time. Otherwise, you risk making major blunders with long-term consequences.
The aims of this book are therefore as follows:
(i)To give you a brief history of publishing, from its inception in the late fourteenth century to the present day;
(ii) To help you determine how likely – or unlikely – it is that a traditional publisher will be interested in your work;
(iii) To enable you to make educated and practical judgments about the types of books you want to write and how much time and effort you can spend to that job;
(iv) Finally, to demonstrate that there are now more than one means to make your work available to the reading public.
Traditional Publishing for Writers is the fifth in Michael Allen's series of practical, down-to-earth writing instructions; the previous ones cover emotion, point of view, style, and success. This one will be especially valuable for individuals who create fiction, whether short stories or novels, although non-fiction authors will also benefit from it.
Michael Allen's debut novel was released more than fifty years ago (1963). He is also the author of numerous more books and short tales (some written under pen names) that have been published in hardback, paperback, and ebook editions in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Denmark. He has also owned and operated two modest publishing enterprises.