The Ultimate Guide to Hybrid Publishing Vs. Self Publishing

In this blog post, we will cover everything you need to know about hybrid publishing and self-publishing.

You’ll understand the differences and you’ll be able to make a decision on which is best for you.

The world of publishing has significantly expanded since the advent of eBooks and online publishing platforms.

That expansion has paved the way for two alternatives to traditional publishing: self publishing and hybrid publishing.

But many writers are doubtful about the viability of either method, aren’t sure what self publishing or hybrid publishing are, or wonder which is better.

First off, hybrid and self publishing are excellent and reputable alternatives to traditional publishing.

While in self publishing, the author is responsible for the entire publishing process and costs associated with it, hybrid publishing is a partnership.

The cost and responsibilities are split between the author and publisher.

You might consider one over the other based on how much money you are willing to invest upfront or the level of responsibility you feel comfortable taking on.

In this ultimate guide to hybrid publishing vs. self publishing, you’ll find all the information you need to make an informed decision including more details, the pros and cons, and steps to take if you decide to go either route.

What Is Hybrid Publishing?

As we mentioned above, hybrid publishing is a partnership.

As an author, you work with your hybrid publisher to share the costs, responsibilities, and risks of getting your book in front of readers.

Because it’s a hybrid model, you can look at it as somewhere in between traditional publishing and self publishing.

Hybrid publishing allows you to retain a lot of your power in the decision-making process while also having a publisher to help you throughout your journey.

But where exactly did hybrid publishing come from and is it trustworthy? Let’s take a look.

Hybrid Publishing History

Hybrid publishing is a lot older than you think.

In fact, it originated as a publishing alternative at traditional publishers as far back as the 19th century, but the model you’ll find today was in place by the year 2000.

In an effort to get more creative with dwindling budgets and uncertain sales forecasts, traditional publishers made hushed deals with certain authors in order to get their books published.

Those deals include the basics of what we know as hybrid publishing today: the author pays to get their book published instead of the other way around, but in exchange, authors receive a higher royalty rate.

How Hybrid Publishing Works

In a hybrid publishing model, you pay a publisher to publish your book.

The publisher typically has an editorial, design, and marketing team ready to get your book in tip-top shape and ready for publication.

Throughout the process, you have some say in those editorial, design, and marketing decisions.

You mostly retain the rights to your book and receive a higher royalty rate (think 50%).

There are a few types of hybrid publishers: those that are imprints of traditional publishers, independent hybrid publishers, and hybrid publishing companies run by literary agents.

In addition to having a dedicated editorial, design, and marketing team, hybrid publishers should all have some sort of “in” with the publishing industry so that they can offer you services you wouldn’t have by self publishing.

That can include connections with brick-and-mortar stores, a well-known marketing and social media platform, the ability to make foreign licencing deals, or the capability to continue marketing your book well after publication.

How Do You Find a Reputable Hybrid Publisher?

One of the problems with hybrid publishers is that they have long been stigmatized due to some unscrupulous publishing houses.

If you are considering going with a hybrid publisher, know that it is a completely viable way to get your book published.

However, you should ensure that your dream hybrid publisher is a reputable one.

Start by heading to the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)’s website for clear guidance on what to look for in a hybrid publisher. The main sticking points are:

#1 They Don’t Publish Every Book

While we all want our books published, make sure your hybrid publisher has some sort of selection process in place when deciding which books to publish.

If they publish everything that comes their way, then you’re going to wonder if they care more about authors willing to pay big bucks.

#2 They Have Standards

That means they don’t cut corners.

You can tell other books on their list are written well, edited well, proofread, and have great covers.

#3 They Have a Proven Track Record

Not every author on their list needs to be an award-winner, but you do need to see that their books have been well-reviewed, have a marketing presence (i.e., Amazon reviews, a social media following, etc.), and have decent sales.

#4 They Offer You a High Royalty Rate

We’ve mentioned this above, but it bears repeating.

You are putting your neck out by paying a publisher, therefore your share of royalties should be higher.

Somewhere at or above 50%.

#5 They Help Distribute Your Book

If you just wanted someone to publish your book on Amazon or Kobo, you can do that yourself.

When you pay a hybrid publisher, that includes having someone with connections and a clear sales plan that can get your book to retailers.

Reputable Hybrid Publishers

There are reputable and successful hybrid publishers out there.

The list below indicates a few that are worth looking at, but it’s by no means an exhaustive list.

The important thing about choosing a hybrid publisher is that you do your research to ensure you’re finding a great home for your book.

• She Writes Press
• SparkPress
• BQB Publishing
• Turning Stone Press
• Greenleaf Book Group

Hybrid Publishing Pros

So, why go with a hybrid publisher?

There are plenty of benefits that make it an enticing option for many authors.

Hybrid Publishers Have Expertise & Industry Connections

They know how to get a book published—from editing to design to marketing and distribution.

That means it’s a million less things that YOU need to research and become an expert in to get your book published.

Additionally, the connections hybrid publishers have means that they’re getting your book to the right reviewers, the right amount of exposure, and to the right retailers without you having to lift a finger.

Hybrid Publishers Handle Every Aspect of the Publishing Process

If you aren’t an expert in any of the tasks involved in getting a book published, then it’s not a big deal.

You have your hybrid publisher to take care of what you don’t want to or are unable to complete yourself. That’s a huge relief especially to many first time authors.

Your Have More Control

On the flip side, if you want to be more involved you can.

You and your hybrid publisher are a team.

So you get to be an integral part of the decision-making process when it comes to editorial matters, illustrators (if you’re writing a children’s book), cover design, and so on.

You Get a Higher Royalty Rate

Compare 50% royalties to the 5–15% at traditional publishers and it seems like a no-brainer.

Hybrid Publishing Cons

Just like with any publishing method, hybrid publishing also has its cons.

To determine if hybrid publishing is right for you, take a look at the negatives and see if any are deal breakers.

Higher Upfront Costs

You are the one paying to get your book published.

Now this does come in exchange for higher royalties and more autonomy, but for many it’s a price tag that’s too high.

You can expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 to $40,000 CAD and beyond, but costs differ based on the publisher, the length of your book, and the level of editing required.

Unscrupulous Publishers

It can be hard to sift through the massive amount of publishers on the internet.

Publishing houses should be upfront about what type of publisher they are and what services they offer, but there are a few that aren’t honest about their company and/or blatantly masquerade as respectable publishers when they aren’t.

So it’s not hard to see why some authors would rather avoid the possibility of getting duped.

For the record, the solution to this problem is doing your research.

Reputable hybrid publishers are transparent about who they are and what they can do for you.

Stigma

Finally, there is still a stigma against hybrid publishing, although it is decreasing as of late.

Many people see hybrid publishing as synonymous with vanity publishing and don’t see it as a prestigious way to get published.

That’s patently untrue. Hybrid publishers are not vanity presses and they have clear standards and submission requirements for who they will and won’t publish.

The Hybrid Publishing Process

Convinced that hybrid publishing is right for you? Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Step #1: Do Your Research

Start by researching reputable hybrid publishers with a proven track record in your genre.

You can’t submit a non-fiction title to a fiction publisher or a children’s book to an adult press.

Take a look at their past titles, sales numbers (on places like Amazon), awards, cover design, and platform.

Make sure that’s the place you would want to be.

Step #2: Submit Your Manuscript

After narrowing down your list of hybrid publishers you’ll want to determine what their specific submission guidelines are. Make sure you follow those instructions to a T.

Then, sit back and wait.

Some publishers need a good four to six weeks (or more) to vet submissions.

Step #3: Get a Deal/ Sign a Contract

Congrats! If you’ve had a publisher reach out to you, you’re one step closer to publication.

Read over their terms to ensure that they are transparent and can offer you services you can’t get elsewhere. Make sure they follow IBPA standards.

Step #4: Get Involved

Become a part of your publication journey.

Each process might look slightly different at different publishers, but you’ll probably have marketing and sales plans ongoing while your book is being edited, the cover designed, and the pages formatted.

You’ve paid to make this dream come true, so jump in and become part of that process.

Step #5: Publish & Get Paid

Based on the terms of your contract, you should have clearly laid out expectations for when and if you’ll get paid (i.e., monthly, bimonthly, etc).  Remember, royalty rates are based on books sold.

Publishing is a gamble, so if you don’t sell anything, you can’t expect to get paid.

What is Self Publishing?

In contrast to hybrid publishing, self publishing puts all the responsibility and cost in your hands.

There is no publisher to guide you through the process, so you’ll need to learn the ropes as best you can.

Many authors choose the self publishing route because they want to be in charge of the process from start to finish, and would like to determine where best to spend their money.

Though not as pricey as hybrid publishing, self publishing is also costly at the outset. However, you have a better chance of earning more money since you’re not splitting costs with a publisher.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the world of self publishing and see why it’s become a major force in the publishing industry.

Self Publishing History

Self publishing as we know it today was born in the late 90s.

That’s when two major advances happened. The first, was the advent of print on demand technology (POD).

That means that people could order copies of books when they were needed, instead of in massive and costly quantities.

That dramatically changed the nature of printed books and made it more available to prospective self published authors.

The second advance was the wide release of portable eBook readers.

That started with a few lesser-known models in the late 90s, but really took off in 2006 and 2007 with the Sony eReader and Amazon Kindle.

Both milestones allowed self publishing, in both its print and eBook forms, to hit the ground running.

How Self Publishing Works

Self publishing is solely on the author.

You are in charge of writing, editing, designing, formatting, marketing, distributing, and selling your book.

While you don’t have to do every step on your own, you are still responsible for hiring other freelancers to do some tasks for you.

All of the financial burdens falls on you, but also a higher share of earnings goes straight to you.

Likewise, you retain all rights to your books and have all the decision making power in the process.

Many authors thrive on that independence and love the idea that they can earn more and have more of a say in the direction of their books than at a hybrid publisher.

Self Publishing Pros

There Are No Gatekeepers

There are no submission guidelines on self publishing platforms like KDP Select or Kobo.

And that’s the beauty of self publishing: if you want to publish a book, no one is there to stop you.

You Have All the Control

We mentioned that with hybrid publishing you have more control, but with self publishing you have all the control.

All the decisions, the cover, the title, the editorial direction—all of it lies in your hands.

You Can Publish ASAP

How fast you publish is determined by you.

While hybrid publishing is also quick, you’re still looking at a few months or more.

High Payout

Yes, the risk is great, but just like with hybrid publishing, the payout (if your book is successful) is bigger too.

Many successful authors state that they earn far more money via self publishing than by other means.

Self Publishing Cons

High Upfront Costs

You have to foot the bill for every part of your book.

Again, just like with hybrid publishing this can be a turnoff for people who don’t have the budget.

While the costs aren’t as high as hybrid publishing, you’re still looking at somewhere between $2,500 to $5,000 CAD.

You Have to Become a Publishing “Expert”

Remember the part where you have all the control?

That means you also need to become proficient enough in all the aspects of publishing to make good decisions.

Now, saying you need to become an expert might be overstating it.

But you do need to learn a substantial amount about cover design, formatting, marketing, sales, the different types of editing, and the best people to hire.

Self Publishing Stigma

Finally, just like hybrid publishing, self published authors can be stigmatized. Should it be that way? No. There are plenty of award-winning and best-selling books that are self published.

The Self Publishing Process

Are the pros of self publishing outweighing the benefits of hybrid publishing?

Get started on your self publishing journey with the checklist below.

Step #1: Edit

Your book is written, which is great. But you need to make sure to brush up on the different types of editing so you know what type of editor you need to hire.

Manuscript Assessment

This is where you can get your manuscript (or the idea for a book) assessed to see if it’s viable. If it’s not, you’ll get suggestions on how to change it for the better.

Developmental Editing

Dive into the plot, characters, theme, and other big picture ideas for fiction titles.

While developmental edits can cause massive changes to your story, the point is to mold your writing into its very best, publish-ready version.

Line Editing

During a line edit an editor will go through line by line to improve the word choice, flow, and readability of your manuscript.

Copyediting

An editor will check for word usage, punctuation, grammar, and fact check to make sure your story is as error free as possible.

Proofreading

However, mistakes will always slip through. A proofreader will check for things like typos, page numbers, table of contents, and any formatting mistakes before your book is finalized.

Please note: this stage should happen AFTER your book has been formatted/typeset.

Do you need to spend your money on all of these steps? No.

But you do need to understand the different types of editing.

If your budget is tight, spend your money on what you think you need most.

However, a copyeditor or proofreader is a must if you want to make sure your book makes it through to publication without amateur errors.

Step #2: Illustrations

For those of you writing picture books or a book with illustrations you’ll want to research and hire a designer.

This can happen concurrently during the later editing stages.

Step #3: Design

This includes both cover design and formatting of your book.

There are designers who can give you a package deal to complete both tasks at once. Often this leads to a uniform design inside and out.

Step #4: Choose a Self Publishing Platform

Research which publishing platform you want to use.

While there are quite a few out there, we’re partial to Amazon KDP Select and Kobo.

Why? Because Amazon will give you huge reach, especially as a first-time author.

But Kobo gives you major exposure to the Canadian market (plus 190 other countries) .

Can you do both? Yes, but keep in mind that the first 90 days with Amazon are exclusive for digital books, so you can’t publish with Kobo (or any other digital platform for that matter) until that period of exclusivity is over.

Step #5: Promote

The second you decide to publish your book, start promoting.

Promote while you’re getting your book edited and designed, so that by the time you publish people already know about it.

Step #6: Publish & Get Paid

With KDP and Kobo there’s a 45 to 60 day waiting period after earnings have been accrued before you’ll start to get paid.

Once that happens, you should get paid monthly.

What’s Better Hybrid or Self Publishing?

In short: they’re both great options so it depends on your goals, your existing audience, and your budget.

If you have a larger budget and would rather have publisher support, consider going hybrid. But if you have a DIY mentality, or have a tight budget and need to be more strategic with your spending, you might want to self publish.

Both hybrid publishing and self publishing will give you more independence, higher royalty rates, and the satisfaction of becoming a bonafide, published author. How you get there, though, is ultimately up to you.