Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing: Pros and Cons for New Authors

For new authors, one of the biggest decisions is choosing between self-publishing and traditional publishing. Both paths offer unique advantages and challenges, and the right choice depends on your goals, resources, and publishing priorities.

Traditional publishing provides prestige, professional support, and bookstore distribution, but it’s highly competitive and slow. Self-publishing offers creative control, faster publication, and higher royalties, but requires significant marketing effort and upfront investment.

In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences, pros, and cons of each path so you can make an informed decision for your writing career.

What Is Traditional Publishing?

Traditional publishing is when an author signs a contract with an established publishing house. The publisher handles editing, cover design, printing, distribution, and some marketing, while the author earns royalties from sales.

Pros of Traditional Publishing

• Credibility & Prestige: Being published by a publishing company with recognition can open doors to media and bookstore placement.
• Professional Support: Access to editors, designers, and marketing teams.
• No Upfront Costs: The publisher covers production expenses. In some cases, you may even get an advance.
• Wider Distribution: The publishing company will work to get your book stocked in large bookstores and many online stores.

Cons of Traditional Publishing

• Highly Competitive: Requires securing a literary agent and facing rejection. For some authors, this opportunity never comes.
• Slow Process: Takes 1–3 years from acceptance to publication.
• Lower Royalties: The amount earned from each sold copy needs to be split between you, your agent, and the publishing company.
• Less Creative Control: Publishers have final say on cover, title, and edits.
• Best for: Authors who want industry validation, wider distribution, and professional support without handling production themselves.

What Is Self-Publishing?

Self-publishing means the author oversees the entire process, including editing, formatting, cover design, distribution, and marketing, using platforms like Amazon KDP (If you're morally bankrupt enough to work with Amazon), IngramSpark, or Draft2Digital, or a local printer along with a website builder such as Shopify.

Pros of Self-Publishing

• Full Creative Control: You decide the cover, title, pricing, marketing plan, release timeline, and every other detail.
• Higher Royalties: Without having to split your earnings with an agent and publisher, you get to take home more of what you sell.
• Faster Publication: Can publish in weeks instead of years.
• No Gatekeepers: No need to impress agents or publishers. This is huge for those who want to publish art that is out of the “norm”.

Cons of Self-Publishing

• Upfront Costs: Hiring editors, designers, and marketers can be expensive, depending how much you want to  and can do yourself.
• Marketing Burden: You’re responsible for driving sales. Especially for debut writers, this can be difficult.
• Less Prestige: Some readers and media still perceive traditionally published books as more professional.
• Distribution Challenges: Harder to get into physical bookstores.

Best for: Authors who want speed, higher earnings, and full creative control—and are willing to handle the business side.

Key Differences Compared

Which Path Is Right for You?

Choose Traditional Publishing If You…

• Want validation from industry professionals.
• Prefer not to handle design, editing, or marketing.
• Dream of seeing your book in physical stores.
• Are willing to wait years for publication.

Choose Self-Publishing If You…

• Want to publish quickly and keep creative control.
• Don’t want to deal with querying agents.
• Are comfortable investing in professional services.
• Enjoy marketing and managing your own business.

Hybrid Approach

Some authors do both, traditionally publish some books while self-publishing others. This maximizes reach and income streams.

The Best Choice Depends on Your Goals

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Traditional publishing offers prestige and support, while self-publishing provides freedom and higher profits. Consider your priorities:

• If you want industry recognition and hands-off production, pursue traditional publishing.
• If you value speed, control, and maximizing earnings, self-publish.

Many authors thrive in both worlds. The key is to weigh the pros and cons, understand the work involved, and choose the path that aligns with your vision.