Which Publishing Path Makes Sense for You?

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I got this question in from

and it inspired me to write this out...

✍️ When people ask me about self-publishing vs hiring a publisher vs traditional publishing, I always say there’s no single “right” path — but there are very real trade-offs people need to understand before committing.

Self-publishing, in my opinion, has the biggest long-term upside if you plan to write more than one book.

Once you learn the process, you’re not starting from scratch every time. You understand how book topics work, how listings work, how covers impact clicks, and how Amazon behaves. That knowledge compounds. It really is the teach a person to fish situation — the upfront learning curve can feel heavy, but after that, you can rinse and repeat.

You can self-publish for free if you DIY everything, but let’s be honest: free usually means you’re paying with your time. You see your royalties in real time, you can update your book whenever you want, test new covers, change pricing, run ads, or hand things off to freelancers without asking permission.That control becomes incredibly valuable once you realize a book isn’t just a book — it’s an asset

👉 THINKING TO HIRE A PUBLISHER?

Hiring a publisher or a done-for-you service can make sense in very specific situations. If your manuscript is already written and you truly don’t want to learn the backend, paying someone to get it online might feel like a relief.....But this is where people need to slow down and ask better questions.

Most packages start around $3k and go up, and in many cases:

Marketing and advertising are not included
You often get direct access to your publishing accounts
Royalties are reported to you instead of being visible inside Amazon
Future updates, cover changes, or revisions may cost extra

The biggest issue for me is control. If a publisher uploads your book into their systems and later you want to optimize your listing, run ads, or update the cover, you’re stuck going through them — and some will say no outright. Others will charge you again. That’s where self-publishing really shines: you can DIY or delegate without giving up ownership.

📚 WHAT ABOUT TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING?

Traditional publishing is the path most people dream about, but very few fully understand.

For the average person, landing a book deal is not common. You usually need an agent, the agent pitches your book, and even then there are no guarantees. The process can take years, and the financial upside is often far smaller than people expect. On top of that, you give up creative control, pricing control, and often rights to your own work.

Yes, persistence matters — even massive books were rejected multiple times — but you still have to ask yourself what you actually want from your book. Speed? Ownership? Income? Business growth? Those goals don’t always align with traditional publishing timelines.

👉 Here’s the part people don’t say out loud enough:

A book deal doesn’t guarantee sales
Most authors are still expected to market themselves
Publishers rarely pour ad dollars into unknown authors
One book is great, but multiple books change the game
Control matters more when a book feeds a bigger ecosystem

At the end of the day, it’s not about which option sounds the most impressive — it’s about what supports your goals and lifestyle.

If you want speed, flexibility, and the ability to build real momentum, self-publishing is hard to beat. If you want something done once and never touched again, a publisher might make sense.

If you want prestige and are willing to wait, traditional publishing could be the long road.

The real mistake isn’t choosing the “wrong” path. It’s choosing without understanding what you’re giving up.

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