Nathan Bransford | Writing, Book Editing, Publishing

Helping authors achieve their dreams

How do you plan to publish your work in progress?

by

Is self-publishing still on the rise? Do publishers still have their cachet?

This is a question I’ve asked a few times over the years: How do you plan to publish your work in progress? Are you a die-hard traditional or self-publisher? Will you consider one or the other depending on circumstances?

Poll below. Please click here if you are reading via e-mail or a feed reader.

(And yes, I know — unscientific poll)

I’m available for manuscript edits, query critiques, and consultations! And if you like this post, check out my guide to writing a novel.

Art: Richard March Hoe’s printing press by N. Orr

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ximera Grey says

    This is a harder question than it seems, at least for my current WIP. It's mainstream fiction and would appeal to a broad audience, which makes me lean toward traditional publishing. However I'm seeing less and less that traditional can do for me — and more and more that self publishing can. So I find myself torn.

    I'm honestly not sure at this point which way I'll go.

  2. Anma Natsu says

    For myself, I'm 100% indie author, with my first two books release that way. At this point, I wouldn't even consider traditional publishing unless it was a "deal I couldn't refuse" and practically a throwaway book. I'd never go querying or the like though looking for a deal. Just doesn't fit my nature.

    For my current WIP especially as its my first non-fiction work, a guide on indie publishing 😀

  3. JOHN T. SHEA says

    Option 2 for me, like about half your respondents so far. And Espresso Book Machine be damned! I want my WIP printed on a Hoe Six-Cylinder Printing Press like the one in your great pic.

  5. Roger Floyd says

    I chose option 1, but that's only how I feel at the present time. My feelings on the subject may change as time goes on, and I can't be sure they won't.

  6. Janiss Garza says

    It really depends on the project for me. A more niche book would do better under my own small publishing imprint (I also publish other people's niche books), but I also have a WIP that has potential for a broader audience, so I would consider traditional. I am fortunate to have an agent, so I can run book ideas by him to see what he thinks.