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Apr 184 min read

Publishing 100a: Traditional Presses

A closer view of traditional publishing houses.



Title Card with info on traditional presses

When we last left our hero, they immersed themselves in the four publishing models. Using their superpower of writing, they provided brief information on traditional, independent, hybrid, and vanity presses. Today, they come down from the top floor (praise be because they're afraid of heights) to delve deeper into the first.


Traditional publishing was the most popular model for a long time. How could it not be when it was the only game in town? It's not the same with KDP and other self-publishing entities. Nevertheless, writers continue to strive toward a contract with a traditional house.


Is this publishing model the right one for you? Let's dig in and see.


What is Traditional Publishing?

A traditional press is the original way authors had their books published. It has a long, established history. Not as long as, say, the Bible. If traditional publishing houses were around back then, their editors would've said, "Cut back on those thees and thous. Plus, a guy parting the sea with a tree branch? Seriously?"


The oldest, still-existing traditional publisher is Cambridge University Press, established in 1534 by England's Henry VIII. In the U.S., the honor of the oldest publisher goes to Wiley. Originally John Wiley & Sons, the company was founded in 1807.


What do Traditional Publishers Handle?

Traditional publishers start by acquiring a manuscript (More on how they do it below). From there, they bring on an editor, cover designer, and marketing team to refine the book and prepare it for publication. Most presses have in-house personnel to handle these tasks. On the other hand, smaller traditional publishing houses might work with established third-party companies to handle these parts of the process.


As the book nears its release date, the press' marketing team goes to work, ensuring everyone knows about your masterpiece. After a final review of the manuscript and book cover for any errors, the print version is bound and shipped to bookstores while the online version is uploaded to digital providers.


Manuscript Acquisition

Let's dig further into how a book gets published by a traditional house. The first step occurs when they see something intriguing about your work. It goes beyond making a dollar, although that's how the presses stay in business. Instead, they purchase a manuscript for its potential to do something great for the author and the company.


Solicited Versus Unsolicited

Publishers receive manuscripts through solicited and unsolicited methods. The latter means the book is delivered to the traditional press by a third-party representative like an agent. A large percentage of publishing houses, including big ones like Penguin Random House and HarperCollins, only accept solicited manuscripts.


Conversely, unsolicited means a publishing house accepts manuscripts directly from the author. For example, the science-fiction/fantasy press Baen Books. Many small and medium presses also accept unsolicited manuscripts. While this offers additional freedom for the author, it also means more competition from other writers.


Contracts

Once the manuscript is accepted, the traditional press sends out a contract. Among its details are the length of the rights transfer (more info below), advance payment data, and royalty percentages. The contract also details whether it's for a single or multi-book deal. If a publisher feels the author's work is strong they may offer a several-book contract. even if they aren't written yet.


Even though you're ecstatic about being accepted by a book publisher, never, ever, EVER sign a contract without looking at every clause. The creative energy of too many writers has been extinguished by contracts that keep everything and provide pennies to the author. If it's a solicited manuscript, have your agent review the contract line by line. If unsolicited, hire a publishing lawyer to review the agreement.


Payments

There are two types of payments authors receive when signed with a traditional publisher -- advances and royalties. An advance is a signing bonus paid to the author before the book's publication. Royalties are a percentage of each unit sold. According to publishdrive.com, the average received by the author is between ten and 15 percent.


Here's the rub. The term "signing bonus" is a misnomer. You aren't provided with free money before the book is published and royalties once it is released. In the end, the advance is a loan against book sales.


Let's say you receive a $5,000 advance. Every dollar of it must be earned back by the publisher before you receive any royalties. Now, if they market the heck out of the book and it becomes a bestseller, then you'll quickly reach your goal. On the other hand, if it lingers on the shelves and discount bins, it may take years to receive royalties.


Is it better to forego an advance? That's a discussion for another article.


Publishing Rights

When a traditional publisher accepts your manuscript, they transfer the intellectual property to their organization. In simpler terms, they own your work. You can't publish it anywhere else without the company's permission. Doing so would be a breach of contract and lead to legal issues.


The standard length a traditional publisher owns rights to the book is, basically, until you die. Plus, according to current copyright law, the company continues to hold on to the rights another 70 years after your demise.


Yet, the length of time isn’t set in stone for all traditional publishers. For example, some smaller presses may hold the rights for a shorter period. You could get your rights back if the book doesn't sell well or you feel the publisher isn't doing enough to make it a success.


Again, this is why scrutinizing a contract before signing is a must. If there are questions about publishing rights, don't hesitate to ask your agent or lawyer for more information.


What Did We Learn Today, Rich?

Traditional publishing is considered the way to go for many authors. Hopefully, this article gives you a breakdown of what to expect. We'll enter the world of self-publishing next time around. 


All the best.

Rich Scott Keller

 


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