There are many ways to publish a book these days, and none of them are easy. Whether you have an agent and go the more traditional route, or you decide to bravely go out on your own as an Indie/self-published author, everyone would have to agree that becoming an author takes a whole lot of time, money, and hard work. Here are some thoughts on both ways to publish your book.
Every author seeks out an agent when they first start the writing process. Querying your manuscript can be a daunting task as well. After all the years spent perfecting their book, authors do painstaking research on the many agents currently accepting new submissions, write query letters for hours and send them to all the agents on their list, and wait anxiously at their computer for a response. Very few get an offer of representation right away. Some may get a partial or full request, where the agent takes a longer look at the manuscript before deciding, while some are left utterly destroyed when another form rejection comes to them. It happens time and time again. It's a competitive industry after all. But why is it so difficult to publish a book traditionally?
Some reasons have to do with what's currently popular; others have to do with the agent themselves. If they aren't hooked in your story, especially at the beginning, they might pass because they just aren't feeling the passion they need to promote the book. Mainstream media determines what will be pushed forward too. Currently, dragons and Fae are quite popular. Thirty years ago? Probably not the strongest genre to get accepted. It's all opinion really, but it is nice having a teammate helping you along the way. Answering questions and assisting you with daunting contracts that come from publishing houses. Agents help with everything, and they kick your book out to the publishing world to get printed. There are pros and cons to getting traditionally published. It is easier to make a bigger name for yourself if you can go this route but getting selected is the hard part.
Indie/self-publishing isn't a cake walk either. You are required to do all the work yourself. That's marketing, cover art, editing, acquiring beta/arc readers, and applying for events or signings. There's also the matter of how much money you spend to get the isbns, copyright papers, and other promotional material. You most certainly can hire help, but it costs money too. Mistakes can be costly. Getting reviews are hard. But you can publish your book directly. Any and all sales goes right to you, and you can adjust the price. Your work can reach readers now that the journey is in your hands. You don't need an agent to publish and sell your book. You can start right now.
Honestly, I believe both routes have pros and cons. Neither one is perfect, but they both have the same end goal, and that's you becoming an author. If you are passionate about writing, then I say start! If your manuscript is complete, then try querying agents who fit the bill. But do your research. Don't query an agent who has clear directions of what they like and don't like. If they aren't open to submissions, move on. They want to be heard as much as you do. If you're finding that it's just not the path for you, then look into self-publishing. Either way, pursue your dream of writing. The world will never read a book like yours if you don't try.
*This short blog is a personal opinion. Each person may have a different outcome with either Traditional or indie/self-publish route.
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