Most authors are familiar with the “Big Five” publishing houses when pursuing a traditional publishing deal: Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Macmillan. These publishing houses dominate trade publishing and are headquartered in major cities like New York and London. Securing a publishing deal with one of these houses requires literary agent representation, a standout book and author platform, and a little luck. Industry estimates place the odds of traditional publishing acceptance at 1% or less, and while the Big Five control over 80% of the US trade market, they publish only 10%–20% of new titles annually, favoring more established authors.
These statistics can be discouraging for new authors, but what many do not know is the traditional publishing landscape has expanded over the years to include thousands of small, mid-sized, university, and hybrid presses. This growth has provided alternative paths for authors seeking a traditional publishing deal that may not have the ability or desire to get published with one of the major houses. Understanding these various publishing options and how they work can help you choose the best path for your goals, genre, timeline, and desired level of creative control.
A small press is an independent publisher that operates on a much smaller scale than major publishing houses. They often focus on niche genres, specific audiences, or underrepresented voices, and are staffed by fewer than 100 employees. There are even “micro presses” that operate with just a few employees. Small presses typically utilize freelancers for editing and design, with many publishing only a handful of books a year. The advantages and disadvantages of publishing with a small press include:
Acceptance of unsolicited manuscripts: They typically do not require agent representation for submissions, so authors can submit directly. They may have open submissions during certain time periods, so review all submission guidelines carefully.
Some creative collaboration: Authors often have some input on editing, cover design, and marketing strategies.
Personal attention: Because small presses work with only a handful of authors and books per year, they are able to give more attention to their clients and to each book.
Niche expertise: They may have strong positioning within a specific genre.
Speed to market: Small presses often move more quickly because there is less bureaucracy and smaller production pipelines.
Higher royalty rates: Authors may make higher royalties than they would at a larger traditional publisher since there is less overhead and it is a collaborative process with authors doing some of the work.
Flexible contracts: Publishing contracts are easier to negotiate with small presses, and authors can sometimes retain some of their rights.
Highly selective: Because they publish so few books per year and focus on niche genres, small press acceptance rates may be very low.
Limited marketing support: Authors often handle much of their own publicity and promotions since small presses tend to lack marketing funding.
Limited publicity connections: Small presses have fewer media connections and less national exposure.
Limited distribution: They typically have less presence in major bookstores and retailers.
Lower advances (or none): Many small presses do not have the budget to offer authors significant advance payments that larger publishers can provide.
Inconsistent quality: The professional standards can differ widely between presses, depending on experience and resources.
Some examples of reputable small presses include:
Graywolf Press: Known for award-winning literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.Coffee House Press: Known for innovative literary fiction.Deep Vellum Publishing: Focuses on international literature and works in translation.Two Dollar Radio: Strong reputation for bold, unconventional fiction and memoir.Bellevue Literary Press: Known for award-winning literary fiction and science-related nonfiction.Belt Publishing: Known for culturally focused nonfiction and regional storytelling.
Mid-sized presses are traditional publishing houses that offer a middle-ground between the major houses and small presses. They offer the professional infrastructure of a major house with dedicated editorial, design, marketing, and distribution teams, but operate with a more specialized focus. The number of employees can range from 200 and 999 with annual revenues ranging from $20 million to $100 million. Mid-sized presses often provide more personal attention than a major house and broader distribution and visibility than a small press. The advantages and disadvantages of publishing with a mid-sized press include:
Broader genre coverage: They often publish across multiple genres in both fiction and nonfiction, commercial and literary.
Expanded distribution: They have established relationships with distributors, better access to bookstores, and more consistent placement in libraries.
Greater credibility: Mid-sized presses have recognizable brands within the industry leading to more opportunities with media, bookstores, and event organizers.
Moderate advances: Mid-sized presses are more likely to offer an advance than small presses.
In-house support: Mid-sized presses usually have experienced editors, dedicated design teams, strong production workflows, and more robust marketing support than small presses.
Agent representation preferred: While there may be some mid-sized presses that accept unagented manuscripts, most require or prefer agent representation.
Less creative collaboration: Authors typically have no control over editing, design, pricing, or positioning.
Slower timeline: Structured production schedules and seasonal catalog releases lead to slower timelines than with smaller presses.
Standard royalties: Royalty structures are typically in line with the major publishing houses.
Assignment of rights: Authors are typically required to assign most rights to the publisher.
Some examples of reputable mid-sized presses include:
Chronicle Books: Known for high-quality, illustrated titles in art, food, and lifestyle.Kensington Publishing Corp: Specializes in commercial fiction.Sourcebooks: Publishes a wide variety of genres, from young adult to nonfiction business.Abrams Books: Known for art and photography books, children's, and middle-grade fiction.Bloomsbury: Publishes fiction, non-fiction, children's books, and academic titles, and is known as the original publisher of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series in the UK.
A university press is a traditional publisher that is affiliated with an academic institution such as a university. The focus is on scholarly, academic, or intellectual works. These publishers offer a level of prestige that small and mid-sized presses cannot offer and have a strong presence in academic and nonfiction markets. The advantages and disadvantages of publishing with a university press include:
Credibility: Because these presses are highly respected in the publishing industry, they bring credibility to any authors they publish.
Editorial rigor: Manuscripts are thoroughly peer reviewed and edited, leading to the highest quality of writing.
Long-term backlist support: Unlike commercial publishers that prioritize new releases, university presses often keep books in print longer, keeping titles relevant for years or decades.
Academic distribution: University presses have strong connections to universities and colleges, libraries, and academic conferences.
Highly selective: Acceptance rates can be very low due to the focus on academia.
Lower commercial focus: Less emphasis on mass-market, commercial sales.
Lower advances (or none): Many university presses do not have the budget to offer authors significant advance payments that larger publishers can provide.
Lack of marketing support: Unlike commercial publishers, there is less focus on building your author brand and platform, and fewer opportunities for mainstream visibility.
Speed to market: The rigorous peer review and editorial processes add to the timeline.
Some examples of reputable university presses include:
Harvard University PressOxford University PressPrinceton University PressUniversity of Chicago PressYale University PressMIT Press
A hybrid press blends elements of traditional publishing and independent publishing. Authors typically share some of the financial burden, paying upfront fees for services such as editing and design, with the press providing production and distribution support. Reputable hybrid publishers maintain higher production standards and follow guidelines from organizations like the Independent Book Publishers Association. They often partner with a larger publishing house to gain access to their distribution network. The advantages and disadvantages of working with a hybrid press include:
Acceptance of unsolicited manuscripts: They do not require agent representation for submissions, so authors can submit directly. There is a submissions review process to ensure the book aligns with their genres and mission, so not all submissions are accepted.
Greater creative collaboration: Authors have much more input on editing, cover design, and marketing strategies than with small, mid-sized, and university presses.
Speed to market: Hybrid presses move more quickly through editing, pre-production, and production.
Higher royalty rates: Authors typically make higher royalties than they would through small, mid-sized, or university presses because they are investing up front.
Retention of rights: Authors typically retain all rights.
Upfront costs: Hybrid presses require an investment from authors, which can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.
Limited marketing support: Authors often manage much of their own publicity and promotions or pay the publisher for marketing services if offered.
Credibility: Some readers and industry professionals view hybrid publishing skeptically since it requires an investment from the authors. In addition, some hybrid presses are excellent and ethical, while others operate with shady business practices.
Some examples of reputable hybrid presses include:
Greenleaf Book Group: Imprints include Fast Company Press, Wonderwell Press, Kiplinger Books, and Family Business PressStable Book Group: Imprints include She Writes Press, Ulysses Press, VeloPress, and Trafalgar Square BooksThe Authority Company Imprints include Forbes Books, Advantage Books, Entrepreneur Books, SXSW Books, and Rethink BooksAmplify Publishing Group: Imprints include Amplify Publishing, RealClear Publishing, 100 Coaches Publishing, and Sports Business Journal Publishing
With all the different publishing options and paths available to authors, there is an increasing number of scammers targeting authors with false promises, misleading information, and overpriced, fake services. Some are impersonating real people and companies to deceive authors. The ultimate goal of these scammers is to take your money and never follow-through on their promises or services offered. To learn more about common tactics and approaches scammers are using and to see a complete list of red flags, we encourage you to read, “I’ve been receiving daily emails and phones calls about various “opportunities” for my published book. How do I know if these are scams or legit?”, and to watch ALC President Keith Ogorek’s recorded webinar, “How to Recognize a Publishing Scam and Avoid It”.
The internet can be a great place to start researching the different types of traditional publishers, as most are listed in directories and/or have websites with current author clients and their submission guidelines. Here are a few of the top resources:
Writer's Market — Access to over 9,000 listings for book publishers, literary agents, magazines, online publications, contests, conferences, and more with a subscription.Duotrope: A comprehensive database for finding publishers and tracking submissions.Reedsy: Provides a curated list of top book publishers that can be filtered by genre.Publishers Marketplace: Ideal for researching specific publishers and their recent book deals.Association of University Presses (AUPresses): Association of North American university presses.
Authors should thoroughly research any service provider or publishing company they plan to pursue and consult trusted writer communities or professional organizations to confirm legitimacy. Consulting an intellectual property attorney can be very beneficial when entering into any contracts.
To find the best publishing fit for a book, authors must assess their goals, genre, target audience, budget, desired timeline, and desired level of creative control. The traditional publishing ecosystem provides a variety of paths with small, mid-sized, university, and hybrid presses all filling a different role. They offer reliable alternatives to the major houses, especially for new authors seeking the prestige of traditional publishing.
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