In my last blog post, we looked at some of the advantages of being a hybrid author and how this can benefit you and your book throughout the publishing process. In this one, we will be looking at the other side of this – the problems you might face publishing as a hybrid author. We will start by looking at what hybrid publishing is, then move on to consider some of the disadvantages of this approach.
What is Hybrid Publishing?
The term hybrid publishing actually covers a whole range of different types of publishing that are a cross between self-publishing and using a traditional publisher. Hybrid publishing may be closer to either method of publishing or right in the middle, so it includes a lot of different ways of publishing. This means that you actually have multiple categories, each with their own pros and cons, even within hybrid publishing, giving you the best chance to choose the method that is right for you and your book.
We will look at a few of the main types of hybrid publishing, but bear in mind that there are many others, so keep looking if you can’t find one that suits you. Firstly, some hybrid publishers are actually traditional publishers who make deals directly with authors. They will require you to pay upfront for the cost of production and the print run. In exchange, you will usually receive a higher royalty rate to reflect the fact that you are investing in your own work.
Another option is agent-assisted publishing. Your book will be published under the agent’s imprint, but you will almost certainly have to invest some money for this sort of publishing. Typically, agents use these options for books that they can’t sell to a publisher but strongly feel should be published. In this case, you have the expertise of the agent, as well as knowing that they have faith in your work.
Partnership publishing models mean that you will pay for your book to be published, in exchange for high royalties. However, the publisher will take care of things like distribution and have links to bookshops, so your book might be stocked in these. Nevertheless, this method carries a high financial risk for you, as most books sold in this way do not make enough to cover their investment.
What are the Disadvantages?
Cost
One of the main disadvantages of hybrid publishing is the cost. You will be required to pay a lot of the upfront fees associated with the publishing process, the same as you would with self-publishing. It should be a bit cheaper than this as the hybrid publisher usually shoulders some of the cost, but it is still expensive. Bear in mind that this will include everything from the very first edit to printing and distribution – it soon adds up!
However, this is somewhat balanced out by the fact you will receive a lot more of the profits than if you used a traditional publisher, although not as much as if you had self-published, where you could keep all the profits. Royalties from hybrid publishing are often around 50%, although do check exactly what your chosen hybrid publisher is offering. Royalties from traditional publishing can be as low as 1%, which you may only start receiving after you have paid off any advance payment you were given.
However, the cost of hybrid publishing does mean that it is only really available if you have the money upfront. This means that it simply isn’t an option for everyone. In addition, bear in mind that there is no guarantee that you will make any of this money back, so only spend what you can afford to lose.
Less Control
Unlike in self-publishing, where you can choose all the professionals you hire for design, editing, and so on, you don’t usually have this choice in hybrid publishing. It is possible that you will be responsible for choosing these and the publisher only provides the links for distribution and similar, but it is most likely the hybrid publisher will have a number of people they work with and you will have to use one of these.
Unfortunately, this means that you have no choice in who is working on your book. You might find that their style of editing doesn’t suit your book, or that you don’t like their cover design. If the hybrid publisher has chosen these people, you don’t really have the option to find someone else.
Copyright
In addition, check what the situation is with rights. Some hybrid publishers will keep the rights to your work, which means that you can’t take it anywhere else and they can continue to sell your book even if you don’t want them to. This is even more of a risk if you plan to write a series, as you may find the hybrid publisher owns the rights to the whole series and you have to stay with them to publish. Be very careful to read exactly what you are signing away.
Wrapping Up
I hope that these two blog posts help you to decide whether to use a hybrid publisher. Choosing one can be difficult, so if you do know anyone who has published in this way, ask them about their experience. Next time, we will be looking at how to make a business plan as a self-published author, so come back in two weeks for that!
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