Choosing your publisher is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your book. Will you self-publish? Go the traditional publishing route? Or choose something in between? With so many options available, it can be difficult to know which path is right for you (and which ones you should avoid altogether.)
Today, we’re breaking down what vanity publishing is and how it differs from other publishing options, including hybrid publishing, so you can make an informed decision that’s right for both you and your book.
What Is Self-Publishing?
Self-publishing is when you, the author, are the one publishing your book rather than a publishing house. You might not do everything yourself, but you're in control of every aspect of producing your work, from the book cover, to formatting, to distribution and marketing.
More authors are choosing to self-publish, and it’s easy to see why. Self-publishing is faster than traditional publishing, you don’t need to secure an agent, and with so many freelance editors and book cover designers available, you can retain full creative and legal control while still producing a professional, high-quality book.
Some indie authors like to handle every element of producing their book themselves, while others prefer to hire different professionals to help them fulfil their vision. But how can you tell the difference between a reputable self-publishing service and what is known in the industry as a vanity press?
What are Self-Publishing Companies?
Self-publishing companies have been around for decades, and not all of them are vanity presses. Many self-publishing service providers, such as Amazon KDP, Lulu, and IngramSpark, simply offer direct sales, print-on-demand services, distribution, and possibly some promotional opportunities. Any fees you pay are for these specific services, rather than for publication itself. In fact, Amazon KDP doesn’t charge upfront fees to sell your book on its platform at all; instead, they take a percentage of your royalties.
Other companies, like BookBaby, offer optional add-ons such as editing, cover design, and even marketing packages for your book launch (and beyond). However, even if you choose these packages, you'll still retain all the rights to your book. This is one of the biggest differences between legitimate self-publishing services and vanity publishing.
What Is Vanity Publishing?
Vanity presses charge authors to publish their books. Their services vary, but they typically offer tiered publishing packages that include items such as cover design, formatting, and ISBN assignment. While they’ll sometimes include editorial services in their packages, they’ll often exclude meaningful manuscript development, such as developmental editing. The editorial process can therefore be minimal.
Vanity presses often ask authors to transfer the rights to their book to them, sometimes indefinitely. In doing so, the company—not the author—can legally control how the book is used, which is something for authors to keep in mind.
Vanity presses are also known for making big promises about sales and exposure, while offering very little ongoing support once the book is published. Their distribution channels are often limited, and because they primarily earn their money from author fees rather than book sales, they have little incentive to invest in the long-term success of your book. This is why vanity presses are often considered predatory, particularly toward authors who are new to publishing.
What Is Hybrid Publishing?
With traditional publishing, authors typically complete their manuscript and then query literary agents, who’ll go on to submit the book to publishers (unless you’re writing nonfiction, in which case you’ll find an agent and publisher with your book proposal and then write your book). Small presses don't always require authors to have an agent, but larger publishers, such as the Big 5 traditional publishers, generally never accept unsolicited manuscripts.
Traditional publishers cover the full cost of publishing, including editing, cover design, formatting, distribution, and marketing. Authors do not pay to publish, although agents will typically receive a commission on sales, deals, and advances. While authors are still expected to participate in marketing, traditional publishing offers significant professional support.
Traditional publishing can be a great option for authors who want the backing of an established publishing house and are comfortable having less creative control than with self-publishing.
Hybrid Publishing
Hybrid publishing falls between traditional publishing and self-publishing. A relatively newer model, hybrid publishers share both the costs and the profits with the author. Because of this, hybrid publishers tend to be far more selective than vanity presses about which manuscripts they'll accept (although not quite as selective as traditional publishing houses).
Hybrid publishing often includes developmental and copy editing (although services vary), along with distribution and marketing support. Since hybrid publishers invest their own resources into the book and share in its profits, they are usually more committed to producing a high-quality book and supporting its success. Reputable hybrid publishers also tend to follow traditional industry standards, which typically results in more polished books than those from vanity presses.
Is It a Vanity Press or a Hybrid Publisher?
Some vanity presses present themselves as hybrid publishers, so it's really important to research any publisher you're interested in submitting to carefully.
When researching a publisher, some questions you can ask yourself are:
- Have you been asked to pay significant fees upfront to publish your book? While both vanity presses and hybrid publishers ask the author to contribute to publishing costs, authors will bear the entire cost for vanity publishing.
- Will the publisher be contributing resources and funding to publish your book? If the publisher is contributing their own resources and funding to publish your book, it is likely a hybrid publisher.
- Is there a submission process? Hybrid presses are generally more selective about the books they publish because they earn part of their income from book sales, rather than solely from author fees.
- Will you be working closely with the publisher to produce your book? Or is it a more hands off process? If you are actively collaborating with the publisher, it is likely a hybrid publisher.
- What is the quality like of books they’ve published? Vanity presses are renowned for publishing lower-quality books because they make their money primarily through author fees rather than profits from book sales. They're also more likely to rely on standard formatting templates and low-cost designers so their profit margins are larger.
- How much will you receive when it comes to sales? Hybrid publishers tend to offer authors higher royalty rates (usually 50%+).
- How much exposure can the publisher offer? If the publisher provides marketing support and distribution into a range of retailers (both online and physical) and libraries, it is more likely to be a hybrid publisher.
- Will you retain your rights to the book? Unlike vanity presses, authors usually retain the rights to their book with hybrid publishing.
What Publisher Is Right for Your Book?
There’s no single “right” way to publish a book. Whether you self-publish, pursue traditional publishing, or go with hybrid publishing, each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. The best fit will depend on what you want to achieve, the type of book you're publishing (for example, whether you'd like to do a print run or just go for an eBook), what resources you have, and how much control you want over the process.
No matter which path you choose, take the time to research your potential publishers carefully. Look at the books they've published, their reviews, and what you'll get for any money you pay, so you can make an informed decision and publish your book with confidence.
Have you ever gone with vanity publishing or hybrid publishing? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments!
PRACTICE
The publishing process can be overwhelming, especially for first-time or indie authors. Hybrid publishing is often seen as having “the best of both worlds,” so today, let's write about just that!
Set the timer for fifteen minutes, then write a scene or short story based on a character trying to get the best of both worlds from something. When you're finished, post your practice in The Write Practice Pro workshops for feedback, and make sure you leave feedback for three other writers as well!
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Happy writing!
Elizabeth Nettleton is an author and editor currently based in Oxfordshire, England. An avid reader and writer since childhood, she was once so engrossed in her book that she ran into a lamppost.
There is nothing Elizabeth loves more than magic and getting lost in other worlds (except for her family, friends, and pets, of course!), so she primarily writes fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. When she's not reading or writing, you can find her playing with her kids, daydreaming, or trying not to die in a video game.
You can learn more about Elizabeth's projects on her website, or say hello to her on X here.
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