Publishing Paths for Writers: Understanding Independent Publishing and Long-Term Control

From Edie: A clear, practical guide to independent publishing for writers, covering control, responsibility, and long-term strategy to help authors make informed career decisions.

Publishing Paths for Writers: Understanding Independent Publishing and Long-Term Control

by PeggySue Wells @PeggySueWells

Authors today have more options than ever before when it comes to bringing their work into the world. The publishing landscape has expanded well beyond the traditional gatekeepers, offering new pathways that didn’t exist even a decade ago.

Most authors encounter three primary routes: traditional publishing, hybrid publishing, and independent publishing. Each comes with its own tradeoffs. Understanding those tradeoffs is essential before making a decision that affects a single book, and potentially an entire writing career.

Independent publishing can be empowering and demanding.

Control, Responsibility, and Ownership

Independent publishing means the author acts as the publisher.

The author writes the book, oversees preparation for publication, secures identifiers such as ISBNs, establishes distribution accounts, uploads the finished files, and manages marketing and sales. There is no third party absorbing the cost or risk.

The tradeoff for this responsibility is control. The author

• retains ownership of intellectual property
• controls pricing, formats, and distribution choices
• decides timelines rather than waiting for an acquisition cycle
• builds a direct relationship with readers

The author assumes all upfront investment and ongoing risk. Editing, design, formatting, distribution fees, and marketing are paid for by the author.

For some writers, that responsibility feels daunting. For others, independent publishing feels like freedom.

The Process 

Publishing independently is often misunderstood as simply uploading a book. In practice, professional independent publishing is a multi-stage process designed to mirror the standards of traditional publishing.

Tasks the author performs to publish independently include several categories.

Manuscript Preparation 

• Finalize manuscript
• Incorporate feedback from beta readers
• Complete multiple stages of editing, including developmental, line editing, and proofreading
• Format manuscript for print and digital publication

Discoverability 

• Create SEO-conducive title and subtitle
• Choose searchable key phrases and words readers actually use
• Select retail categories that align with genre and expectations

Cover Design 

• Work with the cover artist to create and optimize a genre-specific book cover
• Provide professional author photo for back cover
• Write compelling back cover copy
• Craft an author bio that builds trust and relevance
• Meet reader expectations by including visual signaling and genre conventions
• Assure the thumbnail cover image is easily visible in online stores

Legal Setup

• Establish a publishing imprint
• Secure ISBNs and complete Bowker records
• Register copyright
• Obtain a Library of Congress Control Number

Distribution 

• Set up accounts with platforms such as Amazon, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital
• Prepare interior and cover files to meet platform specifications
• Upload and verify the files across multiple formats

Quality Control

• Review print proofs
• Check ebook rendering across devices
• Verify metadata accuracy on retail platforms

Release Management

• Decide which formats to release and when. Options may include hardback, paperback, digital, audio. Each format has different costs, timelines, and distribution considerations
• Set pricing for each format. Consider genre norms and reader expectations
• Understand pricing impacts on royalties and promotions
• Audio production has distinct cost, distribution, and rights considerations including ACX exclusivity versus wide audio distribution 

Author Platform 

• Update Amazon author page
• Update functional author website 
• Develop clear reader pathways for future engagement

Financials

• Income tracking
• Sales tax/VAT considerations, especially for ebooks
• Separate bank account or accounting system

Long-Term Publishing Strategy

• Series versus standalone planning
• Backlist strategy
• Reader retention via newsletter, reader magnets, and other connection points

Non-Negotiables for a Professional-Quality Book

Regardless of genre or platform, certain standards are essential for independently published books to compete in today’s marketplace.

• Professional editing. Editing is not a luxury; it is part of respecting readers. No matter how good a writer is, we all need an excellent editor. That trained second set of eyes can help the author present their best work to the readers. Professional editing includes developmental or content editing, line or copyediting, and proofreading.

• To find a quality editor who has your best interests at heart, ask other authors for referrals to trusted professionals.

• Genre-specific, professionally created cover. Yes, readers absolutely judge a book by the cover. A strong cover signals quality and relevance before a single word is read. Work with an artist who is skilled at producing quality cover designs that clearly reflect the genre of the title.

• Industry standard formatting. An independently published book is best when it looks like it rolled off the presses of one of the top traditional publishing companies. The interior formatting, font, and layout can look professional or can alert the reader that the project has not had the same level of attention.

Independent books that meet these standards compete directly with traditionally published titles. Those that don’t often struggle to earn reader trust.

Test Before You Commit

Check the connectivity of the title, subtitle, and cover with your readers. 

Readers are gracious to share their input regarding the images and ideas that come to mind regarding the title, subtitle, and cover. Readers noted that a title I considered for my fiction sounded like a nonfiction. Another title had a word most readers were not familiar with, would never search for, and had a hard time spelling. Without reader feedback, going with my initial title would have doomed the book.

These insights reinforce the importance of testing assumptions with real readers before finalizing key publishing decisions. Similarly, ask readers for their opinion on the subtitle and cover. Readers are a savvy bunch and give critical insights.

Does your cover show up well as a thumbnail image? Shoppers who see the image in online catalogs and on your website will initially see the smaller version of the cover. Make certain that first look catches attention. 

ISBNs and Long-Term Control

Securing your own ISBNs facilitates control over how a book is listed, distributed, and identified in the marketplace. Owning ISBNs

• ensures the author/publisher is listed as publisher of record
• prevents platform lock-in
• retains flexibility across retailers and formats, and supports bookstore, library, and institutional distribution

Owning the ISBN in combination with having distribution accounts in the author’s name gives the author control over their intellectual property.

Marketing Is Part of the Job

Sales of independently published books are the responsibility of the author. Marketing and sales are different skills from the craft of writing, yet proficiency in both is required to produce a quality title and make the book available for readers. 

Authors who build sustainable income from their books consistently report spending significant time investing in reader outreach, visibility, promotion, and relationship-building. Marketing is a different skill set from writing that can be learned but cannot be ignored.

Independent publishing is

• best for authors who value control
• not ideal for those seeking upfront advances or hands-off publishing
• a viable option for traditionally published authors who want to publish a project that is not a fit for a traditional publisher

Independent publishing offers authors unprecedented control and opportunity, but it also requires a willingness to take on responsibility, learn new skills, and invest time beyond writing. Successful independent publishing requires attention to process, unwavering reader focus, and long-term strategy. 

Authors who approach the process with professionalism, preparation, and with their reader in mind are best positioned for success.

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Publishing Paths for Writers: Understanding Independent Publishing and Long-Term Control from @PeggySueWells on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Don't miss the rest of the posts in this series!

PART 1: UNDERSTANDING YOUR OPTIONS WITH TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING
PART 2: UNDERSTANDING YOUR OPTIONS WITH HYBRID PUBLISHING

PART 3: UNDERSTANDING INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING AND LONG-TERM CONTROL

PeggySue Wells is the award-winning USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of 45 books including the mystery suspense title of the year, Unnatural Cause. 

Action and adventure, romantic suspense, military romance, and cozy mystery are the page-turning novels by P.S. Wells including Chasing Sunrise, Homeless for the Holidays, and The Patent. How to live better, easier, and simpler is the focus of her nonfiction including The Ten Best Decisions A Single Mom Can Make.

PeggySue is a frequent guest with media including Focus On The Family, Family Life Today, and Christian Product Expo. She regularly teaches at conferences including Write To Publish, Taylor University Writers Conference, Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. Collaborator on multiple titles including books with Dr. Benjamin Hardy, Shemane Nugent, Pat Palau, and Pam Farrel, PeggySue is a writing coach. When not writing, she parasails, skydives, snorkels, scuba dives, rides horses, and has taken (but not passed) pilot training. Founder of SingleMomCircle.com, connect with PS Wells at WWW.PEGGYSUEWELLS.COM, on Facebook at PeggySue Wells, and LinkedIn at LINKEDIN.COM/IN/PEGGYSUEWELLS