Traditional Book Publishing FAQs for Authors
As they say, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” But that’s OK.
As a book publishing coach who has helped dozens of American nonfiction authors get published, I’m here to help.
If you’re reading this, you can do this. If you’ve already done it before, you can do it again. The world needs your book!
Getting a traditional publishing contract starts finding the right publisher.
See your options and find out what they’re looking for.
Get the most up-to-date list of book publishing companies for nonfiction authors in the US. Big 5, independent trade presses, university presses—with or without an agent required, find your match.
Thinking of going down the traditional publishing route? You’re probably wondering about a number of things.
Questions and answers below about
the importance of a platform/large following and what to do if you don’t have a large following
finding an agent for a book
choosing a small publisher
when to start pitching a book to an agent or publisher
indexing, hiring an indexer, and the cost of a book index
author expenses, what a publisher pays for, and how much traditional publishing costs
I’m going to skip the humor, skip the story about how I finally watched Top Gun Maverick that I was going to somehow tie into this conversation, and go straight to the basic info and the Q&As.
⬇️Traditional Publishing: Definition, Pros and Cons, and the Process⬇️
First, a little about the pros and cons of being traditionally published and how long the process takes. Then, the questions and answers. If you want the FAQs now, scroll down.
What is traditional publishing?
Traditional publishing is an arrangement whereby a company produces and distributes an author’s intellectual material in exchange for compensation—an advance and/or royalties—as negotiated in a legal contract.
There are different types of traditional publishers, most notably
The Big 5 and their various imprints, which require authors to have an agent;
other trade publishers, which may or may not require authors to have an agent; and
university presses, who publish academic and non-academic titles.
What are the pros and cons of traditional publishing, and how long does the traditional publishing process take?
Traditional publishing pros: having a traditional publishing contract may mean increased status and may lead to more high-profile speaking gigs, higher overall sales, and an easier time getting a future traditional publishing contract; easier access and a higher likelihood of library and bookstore sales (depending on the publisher and the subject of the book); copy editing, interior and cover design, and some marketing expenses are paid for.
Traditional publishing cons: the process is very slow and your input may not always be taken into account; you’ll only make 8 to 10 percent, on average, of the list price in royalties on a print book, whereas you can earn much more as a self-published author; you’re likely not a priority—you’re just one of many other authors; traditional publishers don’t pay for everything and don’t do everything on the author’s behalf—some authors are disappointed and surprised to learn how little the publisher does or how often their suggestions aren’t acted on.
The traditional publishing process: From proposal to publication date, it might take as much as 24 months for the traditional publishing process to play out. Book are often designed and “ready” to print as much as 6 months in advance of the publication date. They may be released only during certain times of the year.
➡️Learn more: The Step-by-Step Traditional Publishing course—get a book deal, navigate the traditional publishing process, and become a traditionally published author
➡️Learn more: The Best Books on Getting Published—find out how to score a publishing deal
⬇️Questions about traditional publishing and getting published⬇️
The importance of author platform: what agents and acquisitions editors expect
“Is there any good substitute/alternative to having a large platform? Or is a large platform absolutely essential?” —Cap
“I am working on a job search book, my third. I'm concerned that you say it's vital to have many thousands of followers on social media. I have only about 4,000 total and that overlaps with a mailing list of about 2,100 people. Do I just pack up and go home or do I work at gaining more followers? Or is that not focusing on the right thing? Hopefully that isn't too many questions in a row!” —Joanne
If you do not have a large platform and you want to traditionally publish, don’t throw your hands up. Save that for the Usher concert. Don’t immediately assume all is lost and skip to the self-publishing route if that’s not your preference.
Most agents and publishers want (and expect) authors who have an established following. In fact, they often ignore authors who don’t meet their expectations. I’ve heard several agents say the larger publishers look for 10,000+ contacts in total. That might mean 4,000 people on an email list, 3,000 LinkedIn followers, and 3,000 Facebook friends, for example.
If you don’t have a large following, is all hope lost? NO.
If you don’t have a large platform, accept that the biggest and most prominent publishers may not give you the time of day. Focus on smaller publishers instead, including the ones that don’t require an agent.
Have patience. It may take longer to find the right fit.
If your topic is more niche, you may not need a large platform to get published. Certain genres are less platform-sensitive than others. Perhaps yours is one of them. Memoir is extremely competitive, other genres not so much.
What literary agents and publishers look for
All agents and editors are moved by
authors who are celebrities or public figures to some degree or another
incredible writing that knocks their socks off
in-demand subject matter (i.e., by, for, or about someone or something underrepresented), or a unique twist
authors whose credibility exceeds expectations
authors who have a famous person lined up to write a foreword or make an endorsement
a completed manuscript that’s just the right length
When you approach an agent or publisher, can you do so with several of the above in place?
How to find a book agent—nonfiction
What’s the easiest way to find an agent? It seems like a lot of searching and sifting. There has to be an easier way, right? —Jane and Steve both had this question.
I get this question often. Here are some suggestions:
I do the searching, sifting, and recommending for authors as part of the publishing coaching package I offer. I also sell a list of traditional publishing companies that don’t require an agent.
The best ways to find agents are through word-of-mouth referrals and recommendations, social media, or the following:
Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors and Literary Agents
Writer’s Market: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published by Robert Lee Brewer
You don’t necessarily need an agent, and there are plenty of publishers who don’t require one.
Pros and cons of having a literary agent for your book
There are advantages to having an agent; an agent has access to publishers that an unagented author does not. An agent can often negotiate better terms on your behalf and, potentially, secure foreign rights.
Though they never take an up-front fee, an agent usually takes 15% of the author’s royalties in exchange for their representation. It can be time-consuming to find an agent. And merely having an agent is no guarantee of success in the publishing industry.
➡️Here are some questions to ask a literary agent before signing a contract.
Small publishers for new authors
“As an older first-time author, I will be choosing the traditional publishing route. I’ve started researching small book publishers, so can you please give me some guidance on choosing a small book publisher?” —Priscilla
If you’re looking for a small book publisher, I’d make sure the book is finished and the proposal is started before you start pitching.
Browse publishers’ websites. Do the covers look good/modern to you? Are the list prices comparable to other books in that subject? Do their books have 10–20 or more reviews on Amazon? How would your book look alongside the other books in their online catalog? Does it seem to “fit”? Does their mission statement resonate with you? I’d start there.
Also, is there any evidence their authors are doing what you’d like to be doing, whether that’s appearing on podcasts, giving presentations, or hosting a YouTube channel?
Another great resource is The Big Book of Small Presses and Independent Publishers: Small Presses, Book Contests, University Presses, and Independent Publishers for Unagented Authors by Marylee McDonald.
Remember this: A traditional publisher, by definition, does not ask for any money from the author. They may expect you to pay for image permissions or indexing (more on that below), but they should never charge you for them to read or edit your book.
Once you have written a query—a short, upbeat plug for your book with an offer to send more information (and you’ve at least started your proposal), you can reach out directly to the email address or contact form you find on the website.
Many small publishers have a page on their website dedicated to, or titled “submissions,” or “for authors,” where you can find out what to do regarding getting published. Follow those instructions to a t.
➡️Learn more: Writing a Nonfiction Book Proposal: Hiring a Book Proposal Coach vs. Hiring a Book Proposal Editor
➡️Learn more: The Best Books on Getting Published—find out how to score a publishing deal
Let’s get you published.
Services for nonfiction authors based in the US:
When to pitch a book to a publisher
“I have been writing my book for 6 months and I’m wondering at what point should I start pitching it to agents and/or publishers? Should I keep writing the book or should I start pitching it?” —Raymond (and others)
If you’re a first-time author without a massive following, write the manuscript first, then start pitching it. Publishers like knowing what they have and that it is done. They have seen too many authors who do not finish their books. And they know what they want and how soon they need it.
And aim high. You won’t get much feedback, if any, so there’s no point in “gaining experience” and working your way up your list. (Here are some questions to ask an agent.)
If you find yourself feeling spent from the writing (or while you’re waiting for the editor to get back to you), then the best thing to do is to work on your pitch, to create chapter synopses of each chapter (because you’ll need them as part of the proposal), and to research agents and/or publishers.
Is the appendix of a book indexed or not?
“Is an appendix indexed? How do indexers charge? Do I need an index for my book? —George
“How much does indexing cost? —George (and Greg)
From The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition:
“Book appendixes should be indexed if they contain information that supplements the text, but not if they merely reproduce documents that are discussed in the text (the full text of a treaty, for example, or a questionnaire). Appendixes to journal articles are indexed as part of the articles. Glossaries, bibliographies, and other such lists are usually not indexed.”
Is it a reference book, a science book, an academic book or a history book (broadly speaking), or a cookbook? Probably needs an index. If not, you most likely do NOT need an index.
Hiring a professional indexer is not cheap. Most indexers charge by the page, and the average book might cost $1,000–$2,000 to index. Many publishers won’t pay for indexing, leaving that to the author.
It’s often a good idea to hire an indexer who’s affiliated with a professional organization. You can also search the directories in the major indexing organizations: in the US, the American Society for Indexing, in Canada, the Indexing Society of Canada and in the UK the Society of Indexers. Those websites have a lot of information about indexing.
It is possible to make a book index the old-fashioned way. You can also make an index using Microsoft Word.
How much does traditional publishing cost?
What will the publisher pay for and what do I have to pay for? —Tasha
What will the publisher pay for, and what do I have to pay for? —Tasha
Let’s use the example of one of my most successful clients, who signed a contract with a well-known university press and hired me to help him with his proposal and copy editing, which helped him get the contract:
He was surprised to learn that he has to pay for the image permissions, map design, and indexing.
His publisher is paying for another round of copy editing, layout and interior design, the covers, publishing, printing, and distributing his book and ebook, sending out dozens of promotional copies, and printing and mailing fliers, and they have a sales rep to get his book in retail.
The bigger-name publishers pay for more than the less-prominent ones. Something to consider. Some of the biggest publishers will do some advertising on the author’s behalf. Some of the smaller ones have a website, an online catalog, and an email list, and that’s all.
It may cost a traditional publisher, on average, $30,000 to produce, promote, and print 1,200 copies of a book. Publishing is a business. They (usually) want to know they can make a profit from your book without having to do too much advertising to get there.
Ready to get published? Book a coaching call or get started with publishing coaching today.
Work with me—services for nonfiction authors based in the US
➞book publishing coaching and coaching calls
➞book editing services
➞book proposal editing
Still information-gathering? Check out the articles on my website, including those recommended below.
You might also like
➞The Nonfiction Publishing Companies List—Traditional Publishers in the US
➞The Step-by-Step Traditional Publishing course
➞The Best Books on Getting Published: Learn How to Score a Traditional Publishing Deal
➞5 Reasons Books Get Rejected—And How to Get a Publishing Deal
➞Writing a Nonfiction Book Proposal: Hiring a Book Proposal Coach vs. Hiring a Book Proposal Editor
➡️Click here for self-publishing FAQs
There is something incredibly rewarding about unboxing your books, seeing them on a bookstore or library shelf, or the satisfaction of the satisfaction of a big project that has come to fruition. I want that for you.
I hope this information helps your mission, and I wish you much success with your book!