Traditional Publishing vs. Hybrid Publishing vs. Self-Publishing
Today, when it comes to publishing a book, Christian authors have more options than ever before. But it’s often confusing which is the best way for them to publish their work.
Three Paths to Publishing
There are three main paths—traditional publishing, hybrid publishing, and self-publishing—and each offers unique advantages and trade-offs. Understanding the differences can help you choose the best route for you, in light of your goals, budget, and creative vision.
Traditional Publishing
In traditional publishing, a publishing house purchases the rights to your manuscript and takes on the cost and responsibility of editing, design, printing, and distribution. Publishers pay their authors an advance and royalties from book sales. While this route offers credibility, professional marketing, and wide distribution, it’s also highly competitive—many manuscripts are rejected—and authors have limited control over creative decisions and timelines.
Hybrid Publishing
Hybrid publishing combines traditional publishing and self-publishing. If you choose to publish this way, you'll often cover all (or some) production costs. However, you'll receive access to professional publishing services under the publisher’s imprint. This approach allows for a quicker route to market and results in high-quality publications. But it can be costly, and not all hybrid publishers clearly disclose their fees or the ownership of rights. If you are leaning toward hybrid publishing, make sure to conduct thorough research before signing any contract.
Self-Publishing
Self-publishing gives you complete ownership and control. You handle (or outsource) every stage—editing, cover design, formatting, and distribution—while retaining all rights and royalties. This route demands more involvement but gives you complete creative freedom, higher royalty percentages, and direct access to your readers. Once you learn the process and how to manage your publishing platforms, it is easy—and fun!
How East Gate Editing Can Help
At East Gate Editing, we’re passionate about helping authors confidently navigate the self-publishing journey. Though we provide each type of editing needed to see a book through to completion (developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading), as well as interior formatting and cover design, we are not a hybrid publisher—our goal is to equip and empower you to self-publish with excellence. We’ll even help you upload and manage your book on your Amazon dashboard, ensuring your finished book is ready to reach readers worldwide.