How to Publish a Book: Choose the Right Route

Traditional publishing

The usual route is a literary agent first, then a publisher. Some independent and specialist publishers accept direct submissions, but agent representation is normal in most fiction and much general non-fiction.

A typical query package may include a query letter, a synopsis, an author biography, comparable titles and sample chapters. Non-fiction proposals often need a clear audience, a market case, a chapter outline, evidence of author platform and sample material before the full manuscript is complete.

In return, a traditional publisher may offer an advance against royalties, editorial input, cover design, sales and distribution, publicity support and access to trade reviewers and booksellers. In exchange, the author licenses specific rights — print, ebook, audio, translation, territory and adaptation rights — and the publisher usually controls timing, price, cover and format decisions.

Timescales are long: querying may take months, and a deal-to-shelf timeline of 12-24 months is common. Rejection may reflect list fit, timing or market conditions rather than manuscript quality — reputable agents do not charge upfront reading or representation fees.

Before signing anything, make sure you understand exactly which rights are being licensed, the territories, the term, the royalty rates and how they are calculated, and any reversion or out-of-print clauses. When in doubt, get a publishing lawyer or a reputable authors' society to review the contract.

Self-publishing

Self-publishing gives you control over price, timing, cover, formats and rights. Uploading a file is easy; producing a professional book takes editing, design, metadata and quality control. Budget for the services you cannot perform well yourself, and treat yourself as the publisher — you own the decisions and the outcomes.

Platforms such as Amazon KDP, Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, Barnes & Noble Press and wholesale distributors including Draft2Digital and IngramSpark cover most global sales channels. Print-on-demand reduces inventory risk, but each format — ebook, paperback, hardback, audiobook, large print, translation — is a separate production decision.

A ten-stage self-publishing workflow

1. Assess the manuscript honestly.
2. Complete structural and developmental editing.
3. Copy-edit and proofread.
4. Prepare the cover and interior design.
5. Write the title, subtitle, description, author biography and metadata.
6. Decide formats, ISBN arrangements and territories.
7. Upload files and order or inspect proofs.
8. Choose distribution channels.
9. Plan the launch and early reviews.
10. Monitor sales, correct problems and update editions.

Metadata is marketing. Your title, subtitle, contributors, categories, keywords, description and cover readability at thumbnail size all shape discoverability. Platform fees, royalty rates and policies change — always confirm current terms on the provider's own help pages before relying on a specific figure.

Different formats and editions normally need distinct ISBNs. In the UK, ISBNs are issued through Nielsen; in the US, through Bowker (MyIdentifiers). An ISBN identifies a product — it does not protect copyright.

Disclose AI use correctly. Where a platform such as Amazon KDP requires you to declare AI-generated text or images, do so. AI-assisted work — where AI helps you refine, edit or brainstorm content you created — generally does not require disclosure. When in doubt, follow the platform's current content guidelines.