It started with a member asking for feedback about the fees a publisher was going to charge him. He thought it would be smart to ask around before signing a contract.

He got good advice — some in the group with relevant experience told him they thought the price was too high for what he was getting — but he also received advice that was just plain wrong.

Only one book publishing model? Huh?

In particular, several members insisted that there is only one book publishing model. It’s one in which authors spend no money to bring their book to the world.

One member wrote, “No… no…no… no… if they are publishing you then there should be NO charges. Sorry, but that’s bullshit.”

Another wrote, “No reputable publisher is going to ask for money up front.”

And yes, this feedback was in a group is for self-published authors. Ironic, yes?

Their advice reminded me of how little some people know about the book publishing industry today — versus even 10 years ago — and how careful authors need to be about who they listen to.

Book publishing can involve spending money

The group members who insisted that the only book publishing option available is one in which the publisher assumes the financial risk and the author pays nothing are just plain wrong. It’s one publishing model, but it’s not the only one.

In reality, most self-published authors are (or should be) spending money to publish their books. Most can’t publish a quality book without contracting with professional:

• Editors
• Cover designers
• Interior designers for print
• Printers for hard copies when desired

All of these services cost money.

What the “a publisher should pay you, not the other way around” people don’t understand is that most of today’s authors aren’t going to find a publisher that will underwrite their books.

Quite simply, there are more books than there are publishing contracts.

Because of that, authors-to-be with a book in them have to foot the publishing bill themselves. They can go completely D-I-Y (not recommended), they can contract with a collection of specialists for the services required, or they can outsource everything to a company that will manage the people and processes required.

Jane Friedman’s most excellent chart on book publishing models

But don’t take my word for it.

Publishing industry consultant and expert Jane Friedman recently updated her chart detailing publishing models. I reprinted the first one in my 2013 article, “5 models for today’s book publishing.”

Friedman’s revised chart, below, details six publishing models.

To quote the annoying Flonase commercial that suggests we aren’t good with numbers, “Six is greater than one.”

To see this chart in full screen format, click on this link: 2016 Key Publishing Paths by Jane Friedman.

As you can see, there are three traditional publishing models (green, left). With these options, publishers take on the financial risk and you are either paid an advance against royalties to write the book, or, as is increasingly the case, you get no advance, but don’t have to spend your own money to produce your book.

Under the alternative options, you’ll see that the self-publishing column (second from right) offers several different options within that model.

If you’re new to book publishing, study Friedman’s chart carefully so you know your options and potential expenses.

I also recommend visiting her site, subscribing to her twice-monthly newsletter (a message will pop up on the screen), and subscribing to her blog.

Who do you trust?

Which brings me to another point: Be careful about whose advice you take.

I wrote about something similar, vetting the people you hire, in “6 steps for vetting your vendors.”

Please consider reading that article. The people you listen to online aren’t necessarily going to be people you hire, but you want to apply the same thought process to those you might be drawn to online.

Here are a few thoughts to keep in mind as you monitor their contributions to groups and discussions:

• Are they “one trick ponies?” By that I mean, do they keep repeating the same message, or is there depth and breadth to what they offer?
• How do they present themselves? Are they confident, or is what you’re seeing actually arrogance? Are they open to differing viewpoints, or do they shut down anyone who mentions a different experience or viewpoint?
• How do others in the group respond to them? When you don’t know what you don’t know, it’s hard to distinguish between quality advice and B.S., but if others seem to consistently validate their feedback, it’s likely they know what they’re talking about.

I shudder to think about how many people in the Facebook group I mentioned at the start of this article were discouraged by the loud voices saying that there’s only one way to publish a book. After all, they probably joined the group because they heard that self-publishing makes it possible for anyone with a story to tell to bring that story to the world through a book. And here was someone telling them with great confidence that everything they thought they knew was wrong.

If it doesn’t sound right, and especially if others are disputing it, do some independent research to either verify or disprove what you thought you knew.

Two more thoughts to keep in mind

I hope you’ll also remember two more things:

1. The loudest voices aren’t necessarily the wisest ones.
2. There are many ways to publish your book today. Learn as much as you can about the option that seems to be the best fit for your situation before proceeding.

There’s a lot of noise out there. I wish you luck finding the wisdom in all that sound — but there are a lot of wise and talented people — like Jane Friedman — sharing what they know. You just have to find them.

How do you decide who to trust, whether you’re looking for advice or someone to hire? Please share your advice in a comment — I’m sure it will help all of us. 

Author platform can be a tough concept to grasp, but Jane Friedman describes it well in this comment above that appeared on her blog. In her article, the word “they’re” refers to editors and agents.

But platform doesn’t apply only to authors seeking traditional publishing contracts. Every author who wants to sell books — whether they’re using a traditional, self-publishing, or hybrid model — needs a strong platform in place before their book is published.

Your platform creates demand. It makes sure there are people waiting to buy your book when it’s available.

Resources to get you there

Here are a few resources to help you understand the concept and start building your platform now so that it will support you and your book when you need that platform to stand on:

• “Why you need an audience waiting for your book” on this blog
• “What’s an author platform, part 1” on this blog
• “What’s an author platform, part 2” on this blog
• “A definition of author platform” by Jane Friedman
• “Why you need an author platform and how to get one” from Write to Done

What are your questions about author platform, or what are you struggling with? Share them here.

In today’s book publishing environment, it’s not that simple. It is harder and harder to get a contract with a traditional publisher now, so while that might have been an option for that author five, six, or seven years ago, it probably isn’t today.

The question now is: “Should I self-publish or use a hybrid publishing model, and if I go the hybrid route, what are my options?”

Sounds confusing, doesn’t it? It has been . . . until recently, when publishing pundit Jane Friedman shared this incredibly clear and helpful infographic on her blog with relevant commentary.

5 Key Book Publishing Paths

This clearly outlines the risks and rewards of working with each of today’s five book publishing models.

While this infographic makes it appear as if authors have five choices, in reality, most don’t. Some authors can still opt for the traditional publishing route, although it might not make the most long-term financial sense for them anymore. Some will be able to get a contract with a “partner” publisher that won’t charge them for books, but those contracts are harder to secure, too, because of quality requirements.

Most authors will be choosing from the fully-assisted, DIY+distributor, and DIY direct option.

Let the specifics in this chart help guide your decision. Explore publishers and categorize them according to this chart. Do some online and peer-to-peer research to learn as much as you can about publisher reputations. Too many authors sign contracts with companies that don’t deliver as promised.

And remember, no matter which publishing option is the best fit for you and your book, you still have to promote it yourself. Take the time to learn how to do that. My free Build Book Buzz newsletter will help; subscribe here.

Does Friedman’s infographic ring true with you? Does it reflect what you’ve seen in today’s book publishing environment?