Traditional Publishing Wait Times: 2-3 Years or More

Contrary to popular belief, the traditional publishing process hasn’t changed, and it remains very different from independent publishing. To be traditionally published, you still need a literary agent to sell your manuscript to a publishing house. If your book is acquired, you’ll sign a contract and receive an advance against royalties. Once that advance is earned back through book sales, you begin receiving additional royalties. The publisher covers all production, distribution, and upfront costs. You do not pay to be published. Much of today’s confusion comes from the fact that many traditional publishers now operate independent (paid) publishing divisions. An author may submit a manuscript to one of these divisions under a well-known publisher’s name and assume it’s a traditional deal, but it’s not. These programs still require the author to pay for production, and they do not offer the same level of marketing or acquisition standards as agented, traditionally published books. Bottom line: if you can submit your manuscript without an agent and you’re paying for publishing, it’s independent publishing regardless of the brand name attached to it.

Spend enough time around authors and you start to notice something: everyone arrives at publishing through a slightly different path. Advice in the writing world usually sounds very confident. Hire the right editor. Build your launch team. Run ads. Grow your platform. Clear steps. Clean formulas. The sense that if you follow them correctly, the outcome should eventually appear. Then you hear a story like Qat Wanders’. Nearly ninety books published across multiple pen names. A seven-figure editing business built behind the scenes of other authors’ work. And years spent reading manuscripts before they ever reach readers. Instead of immediately paying thousands for developmental edits, she suggested starting with something simpler and even counterintuitive. Beta readers who will give honest reactions to the manuscript. Not friends. People who have no reason to soften their feedback. Start with newer beta readers who are still building their reputation. The ones with fewer reviews often put in extraordinary effort because they are trying to prove themselves. Qat pays attention to the books that receive the harshest reviews. Not because they are poorly written. But because strong reactions often mean readers are actually paying attention. Polarizing books tend to attract curiosity, discussion, and ultimately more readers. It was a reminder that publishing rarely unfolds like a formula. Sometimes the real signal is simply watching how readers react, even when the reaction is messy. Listen to my conversation with Qat Wanders. Link in the comments ⬇️ Here’s the signature AI photo inspired by my conversation with Qat🎨

The way I think about the publishing industry has completely changed - thanks to the virtual work experience programmes from Hachette UK and Penguin Random House UK. What struck me most was how interconnected everything is. Marketing, publicity, editorial, sales - none of it operates on its own. A publicity campaign shapes how marketing positions a book, while editorial decisions influence the story itself, right as the cover designers draft amazing mock-ups. Inherently creative, the publishing industry may not be traditionally thought of as a machine, but it is. It's well-oiled, complicated, and bursting with innovation and drive. The programmes also changed how I see my own experience. Running and Co-Editing Fabian, I've been instinctively doing what those teams do, just on a much smaller scale. As a volunteer at Oxfam, watching which titles move and how readers talk about books they've discovered, I'm seeing the other end of the same chain. I'd recommend the Springpod programmes to anyone who wants to dive deeper into the nitty-gritty of the industry.

2.6 million self-published books in 2023 And traditional publishing still calls itself the "real" path. Here's what 20+ years in publishing taught me about choosing the right one: (If you're sitting on a manuscript and feeling stuck, this will help you) I call it the 3-Question Publishing Decision Framework. Who controls your timeline? Who keeps the royalties? Who does the marketing? The answer to all three decides your path. Most writers think the choice is about prestige vs. independence. It's about ownership Of your work, your income and your time. Traditional publishing sounds safe. But here's what "safe" looks like: 2% of manuscripts get accepted. 10% royalties on print. Over a year before your book hits a shelf. Most deals in 2026 come with zero marketing support. You still do the work yourself. Self-publishing sounds risky But here's what "risky" looks like: Up to 70% royalties on ebooks through KDP. You launch on your timeline. You own 100% of your rights. A $1.85 billion market that grows every year. I've seen both paths from the inside. The authors who win do three things: Invest in professional editing and cover design. Build a backlist instead of betting everything on one book. Treat publishing like a business from day one. You don't need permission to become a published author. You need a great book, a clear plan, and the discipline to execute. Talent gets you started. Strategy gets you paid. 📌 P.S. Are you building a writing career, or are you waiting to be chosen?

Mike O'Connor says it well. Traditional publishing isn't the only route to success. There are pros and cons. Independent publishing, or self-publishing, is a great path to take for many folks, but it must be done using professionals who can guide you and ensure your book is of the best quality. Don't fall into that category of "poorly written" or "poorly presented" because you chose to cut corners or act as your own cover designer and page formatter. Yes, Amazon/KDP gives you the tools, but that doesn't mean you should use them. Let the professionals do their jobs and get you to the finish line with clarity of message and proper design elements so you avoid the dreaded bad reviews. Remember, when someone likes what you do, you rarely hear about it. But when someone doesn't, you'll see it pop up in numerous places online. Don't be that author who gets slammed because you chose to go the cheap route. #publishingforlawyers #behindthebook #soletitbewritten

Craft matters. Expertise matters. Yet authentic visibility rarely follows expertise alone. Many of the authors gaining real traction today aren't necessarily more skilled or more knowledgeable than others working just as hard. What often sets them apart is something quieter and harder to replicate: the way they interpret the world through their writing. An author's worldview grows out of experience, curiosity, contradictions, and the choices that shape their thinking. Readers respond to that perspective because it gives context to ideas and helps them see familiar questions in new ways. That perspective becomes one of a writer's most meaningful assets, and it's also the reason authentic visibility can't be rushed or outsourced. When authors don't understand this, the gap between effort and recognition can feel confusing. And in that space, shortcuts begin to look appealing. Publishing scams and opportunistic offers often take advantage of that uncertainty. Polished websites, fabricated testimonials, and AI-generated staff profiles can create the appearance of credibility, making it difficult for first-time authors to recognize the difference. But authentic visibility develops through something far more organic. It grows through expression, consistency, and genuine connection with readers over time. We just published a deeper reflection on why perspective matters in publishing, how scams target authors, and what sustainable, authentic recognition actually looks like in practice. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/epqXfyhF

Many people reach out to me with the same concern. “I want to write a book, but the publishing world feels confusing.” That reaction is completely normal. The publishing industry has changed dramatically during the past twenty years. Writers now encounter terms such as traditional publishing, self publishing, hybrid publishing, Amazon rankings, marketing funnels, return on investment, and author platforms before they even begin writing. Many people assume they must understand the entire industry before they start the manuscript. That assumption often stops the project before it begins. Most books do not begin with a publishing decision. Most books begin with a reason. ~A writer wants to share a story. ~A professional wants to organize years of experience into something useful for others. ~Someone hopes that a book will help people navigate a challenge or understand a new idea. Publishing decisions usually come later. The first step is finishing the manuscript. I wrote a short article about why publishing feels confusing and where most writers should actually begin. You can read it here: https://lnkd.in/gces8CkV Books live forever.

How to get published by alternative ways? A question to possibly help aspiring writers: Are there any groups/sites out there that receive works from aspiring writers? No, not the traditional publishing houses or agents. They aren’t daring enough to consider unknown writers without any connections. I must think that there are many unpublished works worthy of being published so that the public can decide what is worthy. How about a site that allows folks to post synopsis of their works so that the more adventurous of publishers can review and if want contact the author? I would love to see what others write about but will never have the opportunity.  I have written several fantasies for young readers and tried a few of the regular publishers but found the process frustrating. Some ask questions that I have no way to answer since I am not of the industry, or to put into formats different from all others. Some want this, some want that! I understand this is their business but I hope a new system can be offered for those of us that may have very unique works but not the understanding of the industry.  Is there merit to what I am wanting? Are there sites doing this? Are there investors interested in taking on such projects? I would be happy to take a small % just to see my work published or even made into animation. I appreciate any comments on this by contacting me directly here on LI or better yet at RicSun@tutamail.com   Thank you, Ric Sun

You don’t need a traditional publisher to publish a great book anymore. For decades, landing a traditional publishing deal was considered the only “real” path for authors. Not anymore. More and more writers today are choosing to self-publish... not because they couldn’t find a publisher, but because they want something different from the process. Self-publishing gives authors something that’s incredibly valuable: • Creative control over the book’s vision • Ownership of their intellectual property • Higher royalty potential • Flexibility with pricing, marketing, and distribution • The ability to move faster without waiting years for publication Of course, producing a great book still requires a team: strong editing, thoughtful design, and a clear publishing strategy. But the idea that a book needs a traditional gatekeeper to be legitimate? That couldn't be further from the truth. The reality is that today’s authors have more paths than ever to bring their story to the world. Pretty exciting if you ask me... Curious to hear from other writers and creators here. If you wrote a book, would you choose traditional publishing or self-publishing? Why?

What a great post from Palmetto Publishing Project Manager, Ryan Mace! We’re seeing more and more authors choose independent publishing because they want greater control, ownership of their work, and the ability to bring their stories to readers on their own timeline. Publishing a great book still takes a strong team - editing, design, strategy, marketing - but today’s authors have more options than ever before to share their voice with the world. #PalmettoPublishing #SelfPublishing #IndiePublisher #EmployeeHighlight