Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing: Which Is Better for First-Time Authors?

If you have finished your first book, one of the biggest decisions you will face is not how to write the next chapter. It is deciding how the book should actually reach readers.

Should you submit the manuscript to traditional publishers and wait for a publishing deal? Should you find a literary agent first? Or should you publish the book yourself through platforms such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)?

There is no publishing route that is automatically better for every first-time author.

Traditional publishing can provide professional publishing support, distribution, editorial input and an advance against royalties. Self-publishing can give an author considerably more control over the book, its pricing, release schedule, presentation and publishing decisions. But that control also means taking responsibility for work that a traditional publisher would normally handle.

I learned this personally in my own publishing journey.

My first publishing experience did not teach me that self-publishing was automatically better.

It taught me something more useful: The publishing model is only one part of the equation.

When I couldn’t find a publisher for my manuscript in 2017, self-publishing gave me a way forward.

But once I entered the world of independent publishing, I discovered new problems.

I had to learn formatting.

I had to think about covers.

I had to think about pricing.

I initially wrote book descriptions that were too weak.

I eventually learned that a book description isn’t merely information about the book. It is part of the sales presentation.

I also learned that publishing a book does not automatically create readers.

I had published books before I properly understood marketing.

That distinction eventually became one of the biggest lessons I took from the experience.

A book can be:

well written but poorly positioned.

It can be:

professionally produced but badly marketed.

It can be:

available for sale but almost impossible for the intended reader to discover.

And it can also be:

successful because the author chose a publishing model that matched the book, audience and goals.

That experience changed the way I looked at publishing.

Before then, I had thought of publishing largely as getting a book published. I later discovered that publishing is only one part of the business. You still have to think about the reader, positioning, cover, description, pricing, distribution and marketing.

If you are completely new to the process, it helps to understand the larger journey before deciding which route to take. Our guide on how to publish your first book walks through the major stages involved in taking a manuscript from an idea to a published book.

So if you are trying to decide between traditional publishing and self-publishing for your first book, don’t begin by asking:

“Which one is better?”

Ask:

“Which publishing model makes the most sense for this particular book and the kind of author I want to become?”

That is the question this guide will help you answer.

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Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing: The Basic Difference

The simplest distinction is this:

Traditional publishing: You submit your manuscript or proposal to a publisher, often through a literary agent depending on the publisher and book category. If a publisher acquires the book, the publisher generally takes responsibility for producing and distributing it under the terms of your contract.

Self-publishing: You, the author, take responsibility for publishing the book. You may hire editors, designers, formatters and other professionals, but you remain the person making the major publishing decisions.

Neither description tells the whole story.

Traditional publishing is not simply “a publisher does everything for you,” and self-publishing is not simply “upload your book to Amazon.”

A traditional author may still be expected to participate heavily in marketing.

A self-publishing author can outsource editing, cover design, formatting, advertising and other work.

The real difference is who controls the publishing process and who carries the responsibility for making the book happen.

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Traditional Publishing: How It Usually Works

For a first-time author, the traditional route often looks something like this:

Write manuscript → prepare proposal/query → approach agents or publishers → receive interest → negotiate contract → editorial process → production → publication → distribution → marketing

The exact process varies considerably according to the publisher, genre, country and type of book.

For many commercial books, particularly in markets where literary agents are commonly used, the author may first need to find an agent who believes the book is commercially viable.

If an agent agrees to represent the author, the agent may submit the manuscript or proposal to publishers.

If a publisher wants the book, the parties negotiate a publishing agreement.

The contract matters enormously.

A publishing contract determines issues such as what rights the publisher receives, the territory covered, formats, royalties, advances, subsidiary rights, publication obligations and other terms.

The Authors Guild describes the grant-of-rights section as the heart of a publishing contract because it determines which rights the author gives the publisher and the limits placed on those rights.

This is why a first-time author should not look only at the size of an advance.

A publishing deal is a rights agreement, not simply a cheque.

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Self-Publishing: How It Works

Self-publishing reverses much of the traditional process.

Instead of waiting for a publisher to acquire your manuscript, you take the manuscript through publication yourself.

A typical process might look like:

Write → edit → proofread → design cover → format → publish → distribute → market → measure results → improve

Amazon KDP is one example of a self-publishing platform. Its current system allows authors to publish ebooks as well as print books, with print-on-demand meaning the author does not have to purchase and store a conventional inventory of books before they are sold.

But don’t misunderstand what “self-publishing” means.

You are not required to do every task personally.

You can hire:

• an editor
• a proofreader
• a cover designer
• a book formatter
• an illustrator
• a marketing specialist
• a website designer
• an advertising professional

The difference is that you are coordinating the publishing operation and paying for the services you choose to use.

If you are publishing from Nigeria, the practical process can involve additional considerations around payment, pricing, book production and distribution. Our guide to self-publishing a book in Nigeria covers those practical considerations in greater detail.

That distinction becomes important when comparing costs.

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The Real Comparison: What Changes for the Author?

Here is where the decision becomes more useful.

Factor	Traditional Publishing	Self-Publishing
Initial publication control	Publisher-led	Author-led
Upfront author payment	Usually no publication fee to the author	Usually author-funded
Editing	Publisher generally coordinates/provides	Author arranges or performs
Cover	Publisher generally controls/approves	Author controls
Formatting	Publisher handles production	Author or hired professional
Pricing	Publisher decides within contract/business strategy	Author has substantially more control
Publication schedule	Publisher’s schedule	Author controls timing
Distribution	Publisher handles distribution arrangements	Author chooses platforms/distributors
Marketing	Shared responsibility, varies by deal	Primarily author responsibility
Rights	Granted according to contract	Author generally retains control unless separately licensed
Advance	May be offered	No traditional advance
Financial risk	Publisher carries publication investment	Author carries production/marketing costs
Decision-making	Shared with publisher	Primarily author-led

The table is useful, but there is something it cannot show:

what kind of work you actually want to do.

That may be more important than any individual row.

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1. Who Pays for Publishing?

This is one of the biggest differences.

In a conventional traditional publishing arrangement, the publisher generally invests in acquiring and producing the book. The author may receive an advance against future royalties if the contract provides one.

An advance is not normally a loan that the author simply repays if the book does poorly. It is generally an advance against royalties: future royalties are applied against that amount before additional royalties become payable.

Self-publishing works differently.

You may have to pay for:

• editing
• proofreading
• cover design
• formatting
• ISBNs, depending on your publishing setup
• website development
• advertising
• promotional materials

The cost can therefore range from relatively small if you do much of the work yourself to substantial if you hire professionals for every stage.

The important thing is to distinguish publishing costs from publishing-platform costs.

You can sometimes publish without a large upfront platform fee, while still spending significant money to make the actual book professional.

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2. Who Has More Control?

This is one of the clearest differences.

With self-publishing, you can decide:

• the title
• cover direction
• subtitle
• book description
• price
• publication date
• edition structure
• format
• marketing strategy
• where to distribute
• when to update the book

That flexibility was one of the things that attracted me to independent publishing after my early experience.

I did not have to wait for someone else to decide whether my book was worth publishing.

But control comes with responsibility.

If the cover is poor, you cannot blame a publishing department.

If the description does not sell the book, you have to fix it.

If the formatting is broken, you have to correct it.

If nobody knows the book exists, you have to solve the visibility problem.

That is the trade-off.

Self-publishing gives you control, but it also gives you the responsibility that comes with that control.

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3. What About Royalties?

This is where many first-time authors make an important mistake.

They see a self-publishing platform advertising a royalty percentage and compare it directly with a traditional publishing royalty percentage.

The numbers are not necessarily calculated on the same basis.

For example, Amazon’s KDP royalty structures differ by format and other applicable conditions. Print books also involve printing costs.

So don’t ask only:

“What percentage do I get?”

Ask:

“Percentage of what?”

That single question can completely change the calculation.

Suppose, purely as an illustration, an author receives $4 in contribution from each book after the applicable platform costs.

If the author has spent $800 producing and launching the book:

$800 ÷ $4 = 200 sales

The author would need approximately 200 sales to recover that initial investment before considering additional expenses.

This is why I recommend looking beyond the advertised royalty percentage and calculating what a book can realistically contribute after costs.

You can use our KDP royalty calculator to estimate royalties, sales and potential break-even points before making major publishing or advertising decisions.

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4. Traditional Publishing Can Give You an Advance — But That Doesn’t Automatically Mean More Money

The idea of receiving an advance can make traditional publishing sound immediately attractive.

And an advance can certainly be valuable.

But it is important to understand what it represents.

An advance is generally paid against future royalties. If your book earns enough royalties to cover the advance, you begin receiving additional royalties according to the contract.

Suppose, purely as an illustration, an author receives a $5,000 advance.

That does not mean the author has earned $5,000 in royalties in addition to future royalties.

The $5,000 is an advance against those royalties.

The author’s contract could contain different payment schedules and terms, so the actual arrangement must be read carefully.

This is one reason I would encourage a first-time author to stop thinking about publishing purely in terms of:

“How much money will I receive?”

Instead ask:

“What am I giving up, what am I receiving, and how does the whole agreement work?”

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5. What Happens to Your Rights?

This is an area first-time authors should take seriously.

When you sign a traditional publishing contract, you may grant the publisher specific rights to publish and distribute your work.

Those rights can involve:

• territory
• language
• print
• ebook
• audio
• translation
• film/TV
• other subsidiary rights

The exact terms depend on the contract.

This is one reason I would never advise a first-time author to sign a publishing contract simply because the company says, “Congratulations, we want your book.”

Read the contract.

Understand the rights.

Understand the term.

Understand the royalty calculation.

Understand what happens if the publisher stops selling the book.

Understand how rights return to you.

And if the contract is significant, consider getting qualified legal advice before signing.

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6. What About Distribution?

Traditional publishers can have established relationships with distributors, retailers, libraries, bookstores and other parts of the book trade.

That can be valuable, especially for books where physical retail distribution is an important part of the author’s goal.

Self-publishing platforms also provide substantial distribution opportunities.

But distribution does not equal sales.

This is something I learned early.

Before discovering KDP, I used an online publishing agency that put books online. The books appeared in Google and online bookstores, but I did not receive the sales I expected.

That experience taught me something I wish every first-time author understood before publishing:

Making a book available for purchase is not the same thing as creating demand for it.

A book can be available in many places and still remain invisible to the people who need it.

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7. Who Handles Marketing?

This is another area where first-time authors sometimes have unrealistic expectations.

Some authors imagine:

Traditional publisher = publisher markets everything.

That is not a safe assumption.

The amount of marketing support varies by publisher, author, book, market and contract.

Authors are frequently expected to participate in marketing themselves.

With self-publishing, the responsibility is much more obvious.

You have to build the audience.

That might involve:

• an author website
• email marketing
• social media
• content marketing
• speaking
• podcasts
• partnerships
• book promotions
• advertising
• reader communities
• backlist promotion

This is why I now see publishing and marketing as two separate skills.

When I first started publishing, I was primarily thinking about getting the book online.

Later, I discovered that the title, cover, description, positioning and reader journey could determine whether someone who discovers the book actually buys it.

Publishing gets the product into the marketplace.

Marketing helps the right people discover and understand the product.

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8. Which One Is Faster?

Self-publishing generally gives you much more control over the publication schedule.

If your manuscript is finished, edited, properly formatted and ready to publish, you can move forward without waiting for a traditional publisher to acquire the manuscript and schedule it for publication.

Traditional publishing can take considerably longer because there are additional stages:

submission → representation/acquisition → contract → editorial development → production → publication

The exact timeline varies widely.

This matters if you have a time-sensitive book.

For example, imagine you have written a book connected to:

• an upcoming event
• a seasonal subject
• a rapidly changing technology
• a specific business opportunity
• a ministry program
• a current event

A long publication schedule may affect the usefulness of the book.

For an evergreen book, however, a longer process may be less important.

So the question isn’t simply:

“Which is faster?”

It is:

“Does speed matter for this particular book?”

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9. What About Professional Editing?

A common misconception about self-publishing is that independent authors don’t need editors.

They do.

The difference is who pays for and coordinates the editing.

A traditional publisher will normally have an editorial and production process.

A self-published author has to create one.

This is an important distinction because self-publishing does not mean publishing without professional standards.

In fact, if you want to build a long-term author brand, I would strongly recommend separating the roles:

Writer → editor → proofreader → designer → formatter → publisher

You can personally handle some of these tasks if you have the skills.

But don’t confuse “I can upload a Word document” with “my book is professionally prepared.”

I learned this myself when I first started working with KDP.

Uploading an ebook was relatively straightforward for me.

Paperback publishing was different.

Formatting, page dimensions, margins, cover dimensions and print requirements created another layer of work.

That was one of the early lessons that made me take book production more seriously.

Before you publish, a practical first-time author publishing checklist can help you work through the production and launch stages without relying on memory.

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10. What About Book Cover and Title Control?

This is another major difference.

When you self-publish, you can decide that the title or cover needs to change and make the change yourself, subject to the platform’s rules.

With traditional publishing, the publisher will typically have substantial involvement in the cover, title and positioning of the book.

For some authors, that is helpful.

For others, it can be frustrating.

If you have a very specific vision for your book’s brand, self-publishing gives you more control.

But again, control does not guarantee good decisions.

You can have complete control over a terrible cover.

That is why I would separate control from expertise.

The fact that you can make the final decision doesn’t necessarily mean you should make every decision without professional input.

The same principle applies to the book description. Your description is part of the reader’s decision-making process, not merely a summary of the chapters. If you need help improving yours, our guide to writing an effective book description for Amazon KDP provides a practical starting point.

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The Biggest Question: What Kind of Author Are You Trying to Become?

This is where the comparison becomes much more useful.

Consider two first-time authors.

Author A

She has written a literary novel.

Her dream is to see the book represented by an established publisher, potentially reach bookstores, work with an editorial team and build a career within the traditional publishing ecosystem.

She is willing to spend considerable time querying agents and waiting for the right opportunity.

Traditional publishing may be an important route for her to investigate.

Author B

He has written a practical book for a clearly defined audience.

He already has access to that audience through a website, email list, church, business, community, YouTube channel or professional network.

He wants to publish quickly, control the price, update the book and release related books regularly.

Self-publishing may fit his goals more naturally.

Neither author is automatically making the “better” choice.

They have different objectives.

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A Simple First-Time Author Decision Test

Before choosing your publishing route, answer these questions honestly.

1. Do I need the book published quickly?

If yes, self-publishing may provide more scheduling control.

2. Am I comfortable making business decisions?

Self-publishing requires them.

You will have to think about pricing, production, distribution and marketing.

3. Do I want maximum creative control?

Self-publishing generally provides more direct control.

4. Do I want an advance?

Traditional publishing may offer one, depending on the deal.

5. Do I have money to invest in professional production?

If not, you need to be realistic about the quality you can produce yourself.

6. Do I already have an audience?

An existing audience can make self-publishing considerably more interesting because you are not starting completely from zero.

7. Is my book commercially suited to a traditional publishing route?

This depends on the genre, subject, market, proposal, author platform and what publishers are acquiring.

8. Am I prepared to market the book?

Regardless of publishing route, you should expect to participate in building awareness of your work.

9. Do I want to build a publishing business around multiple books?

If yes, control over your catalogue may become increasingly important.

10. Am I willing to learn publishing?

This question is often overlooked.

Self-publishing rewards authors who are willing to learn.

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Don’t Confuse Self-Publishing With Vanity Publishing

This distinction is extremely important.

Self-publishing means the author takes responsibility for publishing and controls the publishing process.

Traditional publishing generally means the publisher acquires the work and invests in publishing it under a publishing agreement.

Vanity/subsidy publishing can involve an author paying a company to publish the book.

Hybrid publishing can combine elements of traditional and author-funded publishing.

These models should not be treated as interchangeable.

If a company contacts you saying:

“We love your manuscript. Pay us $8,000 and we’ll publish your book.”

Do not automatically assume you have received a traditional publishing deal.

Ask:

Who is investing in the book?

Who owns the rights?

What exactly am I paying for?

Who controls the ISBN and publishing account?

How are royalties calculated?

What distribution is actually included?

What marketing is actually guaranteed in writing?

What happens to my rights if I leave?

The word “publisher” by itself doesn’t answer those questions.

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A First-Time Author’s Cost Comparison

Let’s use a simple example.

Suppose you self-publish a nonfiction book and spend:

Item	Example Cost
Editing	$300
Proofreading	$100
Cover design	$150
Formatting	$100
Initial marketing	$200
Total	$850

These are only illustrative figures, not industry-standard prices.

You could spend much less by doing some work yourself.

You could spend substantially more by hiring premium professionals.

Now suppose your average contribution after platform/printing costs is $4 per book.

Your simplified break-even calculation would be:

$850 ÷ $4 = 212.5

So you would need approximately 213 sales to recover the initial $850 investment before accounting for additional expenses.

That is why “I get 70% royalties” is not enough information to determine whether self-publishing is profitable.

You need to understand:

revenue → royalty → production cost → marketing cost → actual profit

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What I Would Do Before Choosing Either Route

If I were starting with a first book today, I would not immediately choose self-publishing simply because it is accessible.

I would first investigate the market.

Step 1: Define the reader

Who is the book actually for?

Not:

“Everyone.”

Who specifically has the problem, desire or interest the book addresses?

Step 2: Study comparable books

Look at books serving the same audience.

Study:

• titles
• subtitles
• covers
• prices
• descriptions
• categories
• reader reviews
• complaints
• common promises

Step 3: Decide what you want from publishing

Do you want:

• income?
• credibility?
• authority?
• bookstore distribution?
• speaking opportunities?
• a professional author brand?
• a lead-generation tool?
• a long-term catalogue?
• personal fulfillment?

Your answer changes the decision.

Step 4: Investigate both routes

Don’t assume traditional publishing is impossible.

Don’t assume self-publishing is automatically easier.

Research the requirements of both.

Step 5: Protect your rights

If you receive a publishing contract, understand exactly what you are granting.

Don’t sign simply because somebody has accepted your manuscript.

Step 6: Calculate your economics

If you self-publish, calculate your production costs and realistic break-even point.

If you receive a traditional offer, understand the advance, royalty basis, rights, term, territory and other material provisions.

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So, Should a First-Time Author Self-Publish or Go Traditional?

The most useful answer is not “always self-publish” or “always pursue a traditional publisher.”

Instead, match the publishing model to the situation.

If your priority is…	Consider investigating…
Maximum publishing control	Self-publishing
Publishing on your own schedule	Self-publishing
Building your own catalogue	Self-publishing
Managing your own pricing and packaging	Self-publishing
An advance against royalties	Traditional publishing
Working within an established publishing structure	Traditional publishing
Publisher-led production	Traditional publishing
Certain forms of bookstore/trade distribution	Traditional publishing
Keeping more direct control of rights	Self-publishing
Having professionals involved in production	Either, depending on the arrangement

This is not a prediction of which route will make more money.

There are successful and unsuccessful books under both models.

The more important question is whether the model fits your circumstances.

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One More Option: Don’t Assume You Have to Choose Only One Forever

Your first publishing decision does not necessarily have to define your entire writing career.

An author can learn through self-publishing and later pursue traditional opportunities.

An author can traditionally publish some books and independently publish others, depending on contracts, rights and the type of book.

An author may also build an audience independently before approaching publishers.

The important thing is to understand the implications of each agreement and not accidentally give away rights you intended to retain.

Your publishing strategy can evolve as your experience, audience and catalogue grow.

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What I Would Tell a First-Time Author Before Publishing

If you have never published a book before, don’t make your first decision based solely on the prestige of saying:

“I have a publisher.”

And don’t make the opposite mistake of thinking:

“Self-publishing means I can just upload the manuscript and start making money.”

Neither view represents the whole business.

A professionally published book still needs a reader.

A self-published book still needs professional standards.

A traditional contract still needs to be understood.

A self-published book still needs investment of time, money or both.

And regardless of how the book reaches the market, you need to know who the book is for and why that reader should care.

My own journey from struggling to find a publisher, to discovering KDP, to learning the practical side of formatting, pricing, descriptions, covers and marketing is why I no longer see publishing as simply choosing between two buttons.

I see it as choosing a business model for a particular book.

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So in conclusion, I can say traditional publishing and self-publishing solve the publishing problem in different ways.

Traditional publishing can provide investment, editorial and production support, distribution infrastructure and an advance in some deals, but it usually involves giving the publisher specific rights and accepting less direct control over many publishing decisions.

Self-publishing gives the author considerably more control over production, pricing, timing, presentation and publishing decisions, but the author also takes on more financial, operational and marketing responsibility.

So before deciding, ask yourself five questions:

1. What do I want this book to accomplish?
2. Who is the reader?
3. How much control do I want?
4. How much time and money can I invest?
5. Am I prepared to participate in marketing the book?

Then investigate both routes based on those answers.

Your first book does not need to follow someone else’s definition of success.

It needs a publishing strategy that makes sense for your book, your reader and your long-term author goals.

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These are frequent questions people are asking

Is self-publishing better than traditional publishing for first-time authors?

Neither model is universally better. Self-publishing provides greater direct control and scheduling flexibility, while traditional publishing can provide publisher investment, production support and an established publishing structure. The appropriate choice depends on the author’s goals, book, resources and preferred level of responsibility.

Does self-publishing mean I have to do everything myself?

No. A self-published author can hire editors, proofreaders, cover designers, formatters, illustrators and marketing professionals. The author remains responsible for coordinating the publishing process and making the major decisions.

Do traditional publishers pay authors before the book sells?

Some traditional publishing contracts include an advance against royalties. An advance is generally paid before the author’s royalties have fully accrued and is then recouped from future royalties under the contract.

Do self-published authors get higher royalties?

Self-publishing platforms can offer royalty structures that are higher than some traditional publishing royalty arrangements, but the percentages cannot be compared without understanding what each percentage is calculated against. KDP, for example, has different ebook and print royalty structures and applicable costs.

Can I traditionally publish a book after self-publishing it?

Sometimes, but it depends on the circumstances, rights and the interest of the publisher. If you are considering this route, understand what rights you have already licensed and whether the book’s publishing history affects the opportunity.

Should I pay a company to publish my book?

Be careful about what type of publishing arrangement you are being offered. A company asking an author for substantial upfront payment is not necessarily offering traditional publishing. Investigate the company’s business model, contract, rights, distribution, royalties and actual services before paying or signing.

Is self-publishing free?

Some platforms allow an author to publish without paying a large upfront platform fee, but producing a professional book can still cost money. Editing, proofreading, design, formatting and marketing are separate considerations.

What should I do before publishing my first book?

Define your reader, research comparable books, establish your positioning, edit the manuscript, prepare professional cover and interior files, determine your publishing route, calculate your costs, understand your rights and create a basic marketing plan before publication.