Which Publishing Path is Right for You?
Updated: Sep 3
Not all publishing models are the same. Authors today generally have four paths: traditional publishing, true hybrid publishing, vanity publishing, and independent/self-publishing.
The important question isn't simply Who can publish my book?
It's Who owns it? Who controls it? Who keeps the royalties? Who ensures professional standards? And who will help me navigate the publishing process as a partner?
Your Publishing Options
Traditional Publishing
Traditional publishing offers professional editing, design, production, distribution and industry experience. The publisher also assumes the financial risk of publishing the book.
The tradeoff is control and accessibility. Traditional publishing can be extremely competitive, a literary agent is often necessary to approach major houses, the process can take considerable time, and the publisher controls the publishing rights granted to it under the contract. The author receives royalties according to that publishing agreement.
Traditional publishers also manage lists containing many books. New releases naturally become the priority, while older titles eventually move onto the publisher's backlist.
Vanity Publishing
Vanity presses also charge authors to publish, which sometimes causes confusion between vanity publishing and legitimate hybrid publishing. Paying to publish isn't what defines a vanity press.
The important questions are whether the company is selective, whether it follows professional editorial and production standards, what distribution it provides, what rights the author retains, how royalties are calculated, and what professional publishing expertise the author receives in exchange for the investment.
Some vanity companies may advertise 100% royalties, but authors should look beyond that phrase. The contract should clearly explain how sales revenue is calculated, whether the company retains any percentage, and whether additional distribution, administration or other charges apply.
Hybrid Publishing
Hybrid publishing combines elements of traditional and independent publishing. Authors invest financially in the publication of their books while working with a professional publishing team that provides services such as editing, design, production, project management and distribution.
A legitimate hybrid publisher is more than a company that charges authors to publish. Professional hybrid publishers are selective about the projects they accept, follow established editorial and production standards, and provide professional publishing expertise and infrastructure throughout the process.
Unlike traditional publishing, the author generally retains greater ownership and creative control while taking on the financial investment in publication. The specific rights, royalties, services and responsibilities vary by hybrid publisher, making it important for authors to carefully evaluate the company's standards, contract and publishing model.
Independent/Self-Publishing
Independent publishing gives authors enormous freedom.
The author can retain 100% ownership and control and receive book proceeds after applicable retailer, printing and distribution expenses, but the author also becomes the publisher.
That means finding and managing editors, proofreaders, cover designers, interior designers, production specialists, printers and distribution platforms. The author is responsible for quality control, schedules, files, metadata, proofs, distribution and marketing.
A professionally self-published book can be excellent. But the author is responsible for building the professional publishing infrastructure around it.
Who will be a partner in the process?
Choosing a publishing path means considering far more than who can produce a book. Compare how traditional publishing, Mission Point Press True Hybrid, vanity publishing, and independent publishing differ across the issues that matter most to authors.
Who owns it? Who controls it? Who keeps the royalties? Who ensures professional standards? And who will help me navigate the publishing process?
WHAT MATTERS TO AUTHORS | TRADITIONAL | MPP-HYBRID | VANITY PRESS | INDEPENDENT |
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS & SUPPORT | ||||
Professional Publishing Standards | ✓ YES | ⭐ YES | ⚠️ Varies considerably | ⚠️ Depends entirely on the professionals the author hires |
Industry-Standard Editorial Practices | ✓ Professional editing, proofreading and production | ⭐ YES. Professional editing, proofreading, & development | ⚠️ May be included, but quality varies | ⚠️ Author must hire and manage professionals |
Editorial Selection & Quality Gate | ✓ Highly selective | ⭐ SELECTIVE. Projects are evaluated before acceptance | ⚠️ Often primarily fee-based acceptance | ✗ No outside acquisition process |
Industry Involvement | ✓ Some publishers may participate in organizations that develop industry standards | ⭐ YES. We are members of organizations that recognize high industry standards | ✗ None/Varied | Optional |
Literary agent required? | ⚠️ Often, particularly when for major publishing houses | ⭐ NO | ✓ No | ✓ No |
Author platform/following | ⚠️ Can be an important acquisition factor, particularly for nonfiction | ⭐ An existing following isn't necessarily required. The project can be evaluated on its own merits and market potential. | ✓ Generally not required | ✓ Not required |
Difficulty getting accepted | ⚠️ Highly competitive | ⭐ Selective, but authors can work directly with MPP rather than first securing an agent | ✓ Generally accessible to authors willing to pay | ✓ Anyone can publish |
Professional editing | ✓ Included | ⭐ Included | ⚠️ Varies | ⚠️ Author must source and manage |
Professional cover design | ✓ Included, with publisher generally controlling final decisions | ⭐ Custom professional design + author collaboration | ⚠️ May be template or package based | ⚠️ Author must source and manage |
Professional interior design | ✓ Included | ⭐ Included | ⚠️ Varies | ⚠️ Author must source and manage |
Professional project management | ✓ Publisher manages production | ⭐ YES. MPP professionally manages the publishing process WITH the author. | ⚠️ Often package/service based | ✗ The author becomes the project manager |
OWNERSHIP, CONTROL, & MONEY | ||||
Who owns the intellectual property? | ⚠️ The author generally retains underlying copyright but grants the publisher specific publishing rights under the contract | ⭐ The author retains 100% of their intellectual property | ⚠️ Contract dependent | ✓ Author |
Who controls publishing rights? | ⚠️ Publisher controls the rights granted to it for the term, territory and formats specified in the contract | ⭐ The author retains their IP. MPP provides publishing services without taking ownership of the author's work. | ⚠️ Depends on the contract | ✓ Author |
Creative control | ⚠️ Publisher generally has substantial control over publishing decisions | ⭐ High. The author and MPP collaborate. | ⚠️ Varies | ✓ Complete, but the author must make and manage every decision |
Who finances publication? | ✓ Publisher generally assumes publication costs | ⚠️ Author-funded | ⚠️ Author-funded | ⚠️ Author-funded |
Author royalties | ⚠️ Author receives royalties according to the publishing contract | ⭐ 100% of the author's royalties go to the author | ⚠️ Some advertise 100% royalties, while others retain a percentage or calculate payments according to contractual definitions of net receipts | ✓ Author receives proceeds after applicable third-party costs |
Does the publisher take a royalty cut? | ✓ Publisher participates in book-sales revenue and pays the author the contractual royalty | ⭐ No. MPP takes 0% of the author's royalties. | ⚠️ Depends on company and contract | ✓ No publisher cut |
Retailer, printing & distribution costs | ✓ Built into the publisher's business model | ✓ Normal retailer, printer and distributor charges still apply, but MPP does not take an additional percentage of the author's royalties. | ⚠️ Normal third-party costs plus any charges specified by the company | ✓ Author pays applicable retailer, printer and distribution costs |
How the publishing company earns money | Publisher invests upfront and earns revenue from book sales | ⭐ Transparent fee-for-service model. MPP is paid for professional publishing services rather than taking an ongoing percentage of author royalties. | Typically author fees; some models may also include other charges or revenue participation | Author hires individual vendors directly |
DISTRIBUTION, REVIEWS, & MARKETING | ||||
Professional distribution | ✓ Strong | ⭐ Professional distribution and retail availability | ⚠️ Varies and may focus heavily on online/POD availability | ⚠️ Author must establish or arrange distribution |
Bookstore availability | ✓ Strong | ⭐ Available through professional distribution channels | ⚠️ Varies | ⚠️ Depends on distribution setup and retailer interest |
Professional review opportunities | ✓ Traditionally published titles are routinely submitted for professional review consideration | ⭐ Professionally produced hybrid titles can also be submitted to respected review outlets, subject to each outlet's policies and eligibility requirements | ⚠️ Possible, but professional consideration depends on quality and individual outlet policies | ⚠️ Possible, with eligibility and submission routes varying by outlet |
Kirkus and other professional reviewers | ✓ Established submission pathways | ⭐ Hybrid titles can be eligible for professional review consideration through applicable submission pathways | ⚠️ Eligibility may exist, but vanity publication itself does not establish professional credibility | ✓ Some professional review services have pathways specifically for independent titles |
Marketing | ⚠️ Support varies by publisher and title and is often concentrated around publication | ⭐ A strategy can be developed around the individual author and book, with the author able to continue building the title long term | ⚠️ Often sold through additional packages/services | ✗ Primarily the author's responsibility |
After the initial launch | ⚠️ Publisher attention naturally shifts toward newer releases as titles move onto the backlist | ⭐ The author can continue building, marketing and repositioning the book long after launch | ⚠️ Ongoing support depends on company/services | ✓ Unlimited, but entirely author-driven |
PROCESS & BIG PICTURE | ||||
Publishing timeline | ⚠️ Can be lengthy, particularly when agent querying and publisher submissions are included | ⭐ Faster and more predictable while maintaining a professional process | ✓ Often fast | ✓ Author controlled |
Author must assemble a publishing team? | ✓ No | ⭐ No | ✓ Usually no | ✗ Yes |
Author must manage editors, designers & vendors? | ✓ No | ⭐ No. MPP manages the process. | ⚠️ Depends on company | ✗ Yes |
Professional publishing + author ownership + 100% of author royalties? | ✗ Not this combination | ⭐ Yes | ⚠️ Possibly on ownership/royalties, but standards and services vary | ⚠️ Ownership and proceeds, yes, but author must create and manage the professional publishing infrastructure |
Overall balance | Professional publishing without maximum author control | ⭐ Professional publishing + ownership + royalties + collaboration + control | Accessible publishing with variable standards | Maximum control with maximum responsibility |
So, What Makes Mission Point Press Different?
Choosing a publishing model is only part of the equation. Mission Point Press brings together the professional standards and support authors expect from a publishing team with the ownership, royalties, creative collaboration, and long-term control authors want for their work.
Professional Services
Selective project evaluation
Professional editorial practices
Professional editing and proofreading
Custom cover design
Professional interior design
Professional production
Experienced project management
Professional distribution
Retail availability
Professional review submission opportunities where eligible
Industry involvement through IBPA
Author Control
100% of the author's intellectual property remains with the author
High level of creative collaboration
No literary agent required
More predictable publishing timeline
Long-term control over the life of the book
Author Royalties
100% of the author's royalties go to the author
Mission Point Press takes 0% of author royalties
No ongoing MPP royalty percentage
MPP is compensated through its fee-for-service publishing model
The Best of Both Worlds
Traditional publishing gives you the professional publishing team, but less control.
Independent publishing gives you ownership and control, but makes you responsible for building and managing the publishing team.
Vanity publishing gives you access to publication, but professional standards, selectivity, services and contract terms can vary considerably.
Mission Point Press's True Hybrid Model Gives You:
Professional Publishing Standards+ Professional Publishing Team+ 100% Intellectual
Property Ownership+ 100% of Your Author Royalties+ Creative Collaboration+
Professional Distribution+ A Long-Term Publishing Partner
YOU WROTE THE BOOK.
YOU OWN THE BOOK.
YOU KEEP YOUR ROYALTIES.
You shouldn't have to choose between professional publishing and owning your work. With Mission Point Press, you don't.
Ready to choose the path that's write for you?