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Opinions on Hybrid publishing?
I have a question on hybrid publishers! I’ve been offered a contract by a ‘hybrid’ publisher and I’m in two minds as to whether it’s a good investment or not. They obviously want a large sum of money from me so it’s a big decision for me. But, having struggled to find an agent or traditional publisher for over a year now I like the idea of being able to work with a team in a way I wouldn’t if I self-published. Just really looking for some advice and opinions.
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6 Replies
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Is there the possibility of talking to a number of the authors who have already published with them? Maybe these authors have contact details on an author page, or via social media. Then you might be able to get a perspective on how much genuine help this publisher gives their authors. Or even ask the publisher to provide contact details of some of their authors. Maybe a long shot, but then if the authors are happy with the publisher’s services, then why wouldn’t the publisher put you in contact?
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I’ve yet to see a “hybrid” publisher that wasn’t a scam/vanity publisher in disguise, honestly. Most of them offer contracts to everyone who submits to them and charge large sums of money for below-subpar work. I would recommend that you thoroughly research this publisher and see if they’re on any scam lists – there are a few ones out there.
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Thanks both, they’ve got a list of authors on their site so I’ll try and contact them and see what I can find out. I’ve sent off some new queries tonight too so fingers crossed one way or another.
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Hi Stephanie. I guess it’s all a question of due diligence. Make sure your ‘hybrid’ isn’t a vanity press in disguise. Check out other authors working with them, and perhaps try and source a book or two to get an idea of the quality of the physical product. Perhaps reconsider the self-publishing route; after all, if you’re making the investment, why not spend the money on your own team of professional editors and designers and artists – this way you keep more creative control and more of the rewards. Alternatively, and this is a harsh alternative, look again at why your work isn’t landing with agents and trad publishers. Get to the root of the problem. Is it your cover letter? Your pitch? Or something more serious? If you haven’t already, check out some of the Jericho masterclasses and maybe engage with some of the feedback forums. There could be an easy fix that will help stir up some interest with agents. Don’t settle for second best.
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Thanks Steve, I’ve done a bit of digging and I’m not mega convinced this particular one is a great choice so I’ll probably avoid.
I’m happy with where the book is at overall. It’s been shortlisted a few times for various new writer awards etc so I’m confident in it. And a lot of feedback I’ve had even from rejections has been positive. So I’m not overly worried about it.
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That’s great! Keep plugging away at it and follow your instincts. Good luck. 😊
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