In this blog post, we will be looking at the benefits for you of becoming a hybrid author. We will then consider the disadvantages of publishing in this way in a later blog post. However, we will start by asking ourselves what a hybrid author is and how this method of publishing works, then move on to look at some of the advantages of it.
What is Hybrid Publishing?
Hybrid publishing is a cross between traditional publishing (with a publishing house, contract and advance payment) and self-publishing (organising everything yourself but keeping all profits – and being responsible for losses). As the term “hybrid publishing” covers everything between these two options, there is no set definition. Instead, it covers a range of different publishing methods, from almost traditional publishing to almost self-publishing.
It is important to bear in mind the fact that hybrid publishing is something of an umbrella term if you do decide to use this method. You could have an idea of what sort of method you want in your head and end up with something still called hybrid publishing, but nothing like what you were hoping for. Take care to always check exactly what is on offer before you agree to anything or pay any money.
One type of hybrid publishing is where you are supported by a traditional publisher that doesn’t want to publish your book but will do a printing and distribution deal with you in exchange for upfront payment, rather than them paying you. Similar to this is agent-assisted publishing, where you publish under your agent’s name but still pay for printing, distribution and advice.
Finally, there is assisted publishing, which we looked at in more detail in my blog posts here and here. Essentially, you pay for a package that includes services such as editing, printing and distribution.
Advantages of Hybrid Publishing
More Control, With Expertise
One of the advantages of hybrid publishing is that you remain in control of all the major decisions, as you would with self-publishing, but can also benefit from the expertise of a publisher to help you make these decisions, as you would with traditional publishing. For example, you will be able to choose the cover for your book, but you can seek advice on what type of cover works best for books in your genre to attract the right audience.
In this sense, hybrid publishing is more like a partnership than a traditional publisher and author relationship. You can ask for advice, but ultimately, the decision is yours. However, so are the financial risks of publishing. There may be times when the hybrid publisher does have the final say on things, but this is usually in areas where you probably don’t have much experience, so they can help you out while you learn.
The Rights Stay with You
Once you have written your book, you own it and can challenge any plagiarism. You are also free to do whatever you like with it. However, if you then go on to strike a traditional publishing deal, you will find that they own the rights to your work, meaning that no matter what, you can’t walk away with your book. The publisher would still own it.
On the other hand, if you work with a hybrid publisher, you will usually retain the rights to your book. This means that you are free to move on if you want to and you can write more books in the same series without needing to be with the same publisher. Do check carefully what you are signing away when you make a hybrid publishing deal, though, as it is not unheard of for these to include the rights to your work.
Higher Royalties
If you self-publish your book, you will receive all of the profit, but have to pay for everything as it comes along, such as editing, printing and distribution. There is also a significant risk that you will not recoup your money. On the other hand, with a traditional publishing deal, you pay nothing, but you will only get a small share of the profit. Royalties can be as low as 1%, so it is very hard to make a living out of this. If you were given an initial grant, you usually have to pay this back out of your royalties before you receive anything.
However, with hybrid publishing, you pay a certain amount upfront and then receive royalties on your book. With this method of publishing, they can be as high as 50%. This can be a good compromise between upfront expenses and the profits after.
Marketing
Finally, there is a good chance that a hybrid publisher will already have something set up for marketing your book. At the very least, they should have their own social media accounts and website that they can promote your book release on. This lets you appeal to a wider audience and saves you some time and effort.
Wrapping Up
I hope that this blog post has helped you with the potential benefits. If you are still undecided about whether to use a hybrid publisher, we will be looking at some of the disadvantages next week, so you know the potential drawbacks before you sign up to anything.
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