How to Find The Right Publisher
Posted on September 29, 2021
It’s an author’s dream to find a publishing deal, right? But what if you get there and it’s not what you thought it would be, especially when you consider that only around 5% of authors ever sign on that dotted line.
Publishing deals are so often romanticized in the media, in films and in books themselves that the reality can land harshly when you’re living it yourself. So, what do you need to look out for?
Let’s get past the awkward bit first: the money.
The Money
On average, a first-time author can expect an advance of anywhere between £5,000 – £10,000 – and even upward of that. When you consider how long a book takes to write, that’s not a huge amount. And it’s worth remembering that you won’t receive royalties until your book has generated sums beyond that initial advance you received.
That’s where your cut comes into play. How much is the deal offering you in terms of percentages? Typically, authors are offered 10-12%.
Who else is taking a cut there? What costs can you expect to be taken out of the total sales before you receive a percentage? Ask every question you need too – there’s no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to your livelihood! When you weigh all of these up, you may choose to self-publish or opt for a smaller, indie publisher who can offer a better deal.
The Finer Details
Beyond the financial incentives to find a publishing deal, there are the finer details of how you book will be launched. What promo will the publisher support? In which formats will the book be released? Will there be an audiobook version? Physical print or digital only?
If you have your heart set on a beautifully produced hardback copy, whilst the publishers are going straight to paperback. Likewise, you may want to focus on digital-first strategy, to keep initial costs down. The key is ensuring you’re all on the same page (pardon the pun!).
Publisher v People
And finally, do you get a good vibe from the publishing company and the people you’d be working with? Bringing a book to life is an intensely personal journey. Your heart and soul is poured into those pages, and you need to be confident that the person you entrust those pages with will handle them with the same care and attention. I also believe that they should be as excited and passionate about the book as you are. You need to make sure that you have the right people on board!
What’s your experience working with a publisher? Share your tips and advice over at @marylebonepublishing.