30 May How to Get Your Business Book Published

So you want to write and publish a business book? Here’s how to decide whether self-publishing is for you (and your book).

Written by Daniela Cavalletti

After all the time and – don’t underestimate this part – emotion, invested in writing a book manuscript, it’s no wonder that many book authors see the fruit of their labour as their ‘baby’.

Then, before you know it, kiddo is ready to head out and make their mark in the world.

But who will look after junior as well as you have?

The Author’s Publishing Decisions

Your task as an author is to take your book from infancy through to successful grown-up. Form it into that will make you proud. Prepare it, polish it, and then publish it.

No matter how attached you feel: at some stage, you’ll need to let go of your work – and send it out to stand on its own in the world.

But how?

Which Publishing Style is for You?

Have you been thinking about publishing a book for a while – or have already started writing it? Then you’re perhaps already familiar with your publishing options.

There are essentially two paths you can follow: traditional or self-publishing. And you may wonder which one’s right for you and your book.

As with parenting, there is no one ‘right’ option.

It all very much depends on your own preferences and style.

#1. For the Helicopter Author: Self-Publishing

If your style is more akin to that of a helicopter parent – and you don’t want other people meddling much – self-publishing is likely your option.

What Are the Advantages of Self-Publishing?

The process of self-publishing doesn’t usually involve a literary agent, and you will have much more control over what happens to your book. From start to finish.

• PARTNER UP – That includes organising editing, cover design, typesetting, printing and distribution yourself. Of course, there are agencies out there with quality editors for hire that can help you kick off the process and sort it all out quite easily.
• PROFIT – Being deeply involved in the process not only means that you will have everything just exactly how you like. You’ll also see a higher profit margin in self-publishing.
• TIME – The tricky part to self-publishing is that to see profits and prestige, you will have to head out and secure the distribution of your book in stores, do the marketing, set up the website, etc. It can be a big job, but if you get some good advice, and put in some elbow grease and oomph it’s going to go smoothly.
• CHOICE – It also means that you can use your connections and may get your book into places that are much more suited to your book’s niche and audience (versus the ‘usual’ standard bookstores). Places that can really appreciate your work.
• SPEED – And, it’s fast. You can do it right now – choose one of the editors for hire that has experience in your niche. Have them help you get the wrinkles ironed out, and then publish.

Are There Any Risks with Self-Publishing?

In terms of risk, the main thing to look out for is that your manuscript has been edited and proofread to a professional standard.

Your cousin or best friend are not professional editors nor (probably) even your target market.

If you want to make your book a roaring success, they are not the sounding board and quality check you want to seek out (no matter how tempting it is or how much they’d like to help you).

Secondly, while giving you back control, it’ll take time to make yourself knowledgeable about marketing, production and distribution options. The good news is that your editor will be able to put you on the right track there.

Self-Publishing: Summing Up the Pros + Cons

Finding a professional editor as a first step will set you on a solid path for creating a good self-published book you’re proud to put your name to. Once your manuscript has been polished, get it produced and distributed well – and market the hell out of it. Don’t be shy: shout loud and clear about your all-grown-up book baby at events, and on social media and your book’s own website.

With professional self-publishing and print on demand services easily available now, there’s no minimum number of quality books you must print at once – you can start with 10, or even just 1, if you like.

#2. Traditional Publishing: The No-Rescue Author

Now, if, on the other hand, you’re one of those parents that are now referred to as a ‘no-rescue’ parent (the opposite of helicopter parent) traditional publishing may be for you.

No-rescue parents let their children go through experiences and processes that may help them grow, and don’t mind at all when the entire village gets involved in raising them.

What Are the Advantages of Traditional Publishing?

In a nutshell: everything is taken care off by the publishing house.

Once you hand over your ‘baby’, it’s in the system and will emerge a grown-up ready for the shelves with you just getting the odd glance at it during the process.

Just imagine all the free time that gives you!

Are There Any Risks with Traditional Publishing?

On the flipside, traditional publishing doesn’t give you, as the author, the same control over the process and end-product as self-publishing does.

Most decisions are made without your say-so once you sign a contract, and your manuscript heads to the publisher.

Imagine sending your kid off to boarding school: it’s still your baby, but someone else is now forming it into what they see as good and successful.

• DELAY – Putting it through the traditional publishing process also means things take a little longer than when self-publishing – factor in at least a year from manuscript acceptance to publishing.
• BEING ACCEPTED – Before you even get there, though, your manuscript has to be accepted first: you’ll have to find a literary agent who can take your manuscript to the publishing houses. This can take a lot of time as publishing houses are generally inundated with submissions. There is no guarantee that your book-child will ever be accepted to a private boarding school, much less your preferred one.
• PROFIT – And keep in mind that your agent will request a piece of your book’s royalties pie.

Traditional Publishing: Summing Up the Pros + Cons

If you’re comfortable with relinquishing control over the journey and transformation of your book manuscript, traditional publishing is a great way to go.

It’s a rigorous process taking established routes.

But you do take the risk that your book could end up very different than you had envisioned. Or, even more challenging – that no one accepts it for publishing in the first place.

Your Ideal Book-Publishing Style

So, what route will you take with your manuscript?

It ultimately is a matter of looking at your preferences, finances, deadlines and goals.

Firmly define what you want out of the process, and assess what you want and can realistically achieve.

Just like in parenting, there is no absolute right or wrong approach, but simply what works best for you, and your book.