12 Reasons an Independent Publisher Might be Right for You
As a sometimes overlooked publication route, an independent publisher might be the best place for your manuscript!
Size
Independent publishers are smaller than the larger publishing houses, so you’re more likely to maintain their attention when it comes to marketing and selling a book.
In this interview, Chantelle Aimée Osman (editor at Agora Books) talks about the ways she supports her authors long beyond release date. And that she thinks of books as having a ‘long tail’ meaning they can continue selling long beyond the first week or even first month!
Because independent publishers only publish a few books a month you’ll be a focal point for their bottom line. It may make them invest more time and resources into marketing your book.
Speed
Independent book publishers can turn around a manuscript in months. You’ll know if they want to publish you or not sometimes within weeks. In talking to authors, it’s not uncommon to hear that books goes from completed to on the self over the course of years.
If you’re waiting for an agent, you can sometimes wait twice as long just to hear back about a query. So you have to wait (usually) 6–8 weeks to hear from an agent, and if they want to read more, another set of weeks to hear back on a full manuscript.
Then finally, if they want to sign you, then you go on submission to publishers. We’re talking about years of your life just to find out if your book will be in print. Independent publishers often say they’ll get back to you in weeks with whether or not they plan to publish you!
Could it mean more money?
In a traditional publishing deal with an agent, your agent takes 15% of your earnings. If an agent isn’t in the picture, suddenly that 15% goes back into your pocket!
Your input matters
Authors in independent publishing houses can have more input on what the final product looks like. If you traditionally publish, there are huge departments that decide what your book looks like, from cover to font.
Smaller publishers are more likely to ask for your input on what you want these things to look like. If you’re someone who likes to have control over the process, this might be a great fit for you!
Relationship building
Working with a small independent publisher is like building a relationship. Those smaller presses are invested in your success.
They want you to do well and have the time to provide whatever attention you need. If you’re working with an agent with a dozen or more clients and a publisher with hundreds or thousands of books published per year, you’re less likely to get that focused, helpful attention.
The riches are in the niches
Small presses are more likely to take a risk on an author than traditional publishers are.
In an interview with writer SA Sidor, he talks about his hope for healthy independent publishing because it allows for more diverse books to get to readers. Independent publishers often have a niche that they sell to.
Your book might be perfect for their readership! Meanwhile, big publishers might be looking for mass market appeal, creating different parameters for what they plan to acquire.
Attention & promotion
With so many books on a large publisher’s calendar, you might only get a few weeks of attention and promotion.
Whether you go with a large publisher or an independent publisher, you’re likely going to be in charge of most of the promotion (so says Amy Elizabeth Bishop and David Metzger) but the amount of time an independent publisher gives to its authors could be longer than a large publisher with so many books.
Finding readers
Because an independent publisher often has a niche, you might gain readers who like similar authors. Readers know what they like. So if there’s an author they enjoy from a particular independent publisher who focuses on a specific genre, they might use that publisher as a way to find new books that are similar.
By publishing your book with an independent publisher, they know how to reach readers that are probably interested in reading your particular book.
Land new projects
Small publishers build relationships with writers (as SA Sidor can attest to) and can throw more projects your way.
Sidor’s newest book (which he talks about in the interview), came about because his publisher asked him if he wanted to write a story in a particular niche for them.
Local publishers
Depending on where you live, you can look for an independent publisher in your area. This means you don’t have to drive, or train, or fly to an agent or publisher in New York City.
You can get in-person interaction with your publisher and they can help promote your book to local bookstores.
Future books
Independent book publishers usually have strong relationships with their readers and their distributors.
You benefit from all of those relationships and can build a rapport with readers who will continue to read your book but also your future books.
It can be a starting point
If you still want to publish traditionally, independent publishing can serve as a starting point for your career.
Agents often sign second or even third books from writers who’ve already gone with independent publishers. Publishing an indie book and having it sell well can be a jumping off point for your traditional publishing career with an agent and a big 5 publisher.
