| There used to be only one reputable way to publish | | | | as the less respected publishing alternative. Vanity |
| a book in Canada: traditional (trade) publishing. While | | | | publishers have earned their notoriety by accepting |
| the trade publishing route is still a respected option | | | | and publishing 100% of the manuscripts that are |
| for some of today's authors, many others are | | | | rejected by trade publishers without much |
| choosing supported self-publishing-and with good | | | | consideration to quality or content... the opposite |
| reason. In order to fully appreciate the benefits of | | | | extreme of trade publishing. The best way to |
| this new preference, we need to first understand | | | | recognize a vanity publisher is this: their primary |
| the characteristics that differentiate trade publishing | | | | concern is profit so they will publish anything for |
| from vanity publishing from supported self-publishing. | | | | anyone who has the money to pay for it; they hire |
| Traditional (Trade) Publishing | | | | unseasoned staff at reduced wages so they can |
| Many writers still envision this process when they | | | | charge enticingly low "publishing package" rates; and |
| consider having a book published: seeking out a trade | | | | they won't actively encourage their writers to |
| publisher that will consider their type of work; mailing | | | | improve the quality of their work. |
| a query letter and sample chapter or poem to that | | | | A vanity publisher will take what they receive and |
| publisher with a self-addressed stamped envelop | | | | publish it as is... no matter what it looks like. Not only |
| attached; and then anxiously awaiting a response, | | | | does this reflect poorly on the publisher, but it also |
| within three to six months, as to whether or not the | | | | reflects poorly on the writer. Books that are |
| publisher will take on the project. More often than | | | | haphazardly produced in this manner simply cannot |
| not, the unknown author's work is declined; and he or | | | | expect to compete in the marketplace against a |
| she must move onto the next submission with the | | | | professional trade publisher's finished product. There is |
| next trade publisher in the hopes the book will | | | | a noticeable difference between the two. |
| eventually be accepted. | | | | Supported Self-Publishing |
| Those new to the book publishing industry often | | | | The supported self-publishing route combines the |
| view this as a personal rejection of their work. Many | | | | quality of traditional (trade) publishing with the |
| give up hope of ever being published at all. The truth | | | | flexibility and control of vanity publishing. Writers are |
| is, writing quality is not the only determinant trade | | | | considered both the author and the publisher of their |
| publishers use when deciding whether or not to | | | | own books, and the supportive self-publishing house |
| accept a manuscript for publication. Most receive | | | | merely assists them in self-publishing their books by |
| literally thousands of manuscript submissions each and | | | | supplying all the tools they will need and facilitating |
| every year from which they select fewer than one | | | | the entire process from start to finish. |
| dozen new authors to work with-a discriminatingly | | | | A qualified supportive self-publishing house requires its |
| low acceptance rate. Obviously, budget and | | | | writers to have their work copy edited and |
| manpower play a huge role in their decisions. But one | | | | proofread in the very least. (Trade publishers usually |
| must also consider that many of the small Canadian | | | | take it a step further and require each and every |
| literary presses, in particular, are funded by operating | | | | manuscript to go through a substantive edit.) |
| grants. These grants contain strict guidelines as to | | | | Supportive self-publishing houses utilize experienced |
| what types of work they can/cannot publish. | | | | talent-graphic designers, ghostwriters, editors, |
| Sometimes, their hands are simply tied, and talented | | | | proofreaders, indexers, et cetera-to ensure a |
| authors are overlooked as a result. | | | | professional final result. They also employ modern |
| For the writers whose work is accepted, there is a | | | | printing techniques (print-on-demand) and modern |
| noteworthy implication they may not be aware of | | | | marketing services (online presence) in much the |
| straightaway. When a trade publisher agrees to pay | | | | same way today's vanity publishers do. |
| for the publication of a manuscript, what they are | | | | When writers pay for professional support in |
| purchasing is the rights to that work. In other words, | | | | self-publishing their books, they gladly maintain their |
| the writer must now relinquish much of their creative | | | | copyright ownership and creative control. It is the |
| control over to the publisher. It is the publisher who | | | | writer/self-publisher who has final say on everything |
| has final say on editing and design. It is the publisher | | | | from design to production to marketing the final |
| who has final say on how the book is to be | | | | product. They are also assured a quality end result |
| produced and marketed... because it is the publisher | | | | that is able to compete in the marketplace... which |
| who now owns the book. | | | | can make a world of difference when it comes to |
| Vanity Publishing | | | | selling their books and earning any kind of profit |
| Most people have heard the term "vanity publisher" | | | | down the road. |