Parachute Publishing is a self-publishing service, but what does that actually mean compared to a traditional publisher? Both options make your book a reality, so which is the right option for you? Let's look at the differences:
Complete Control: You have full control over every aspect of your book, including content, cover design, pricing, and marketing strategies.
Creative Freedom: You can write what you want without needing approval from anyone.
Shared Control: Publishers typically have final say over your book's content, cover design, and other aspects. You may be required to make changes supplied by editors.
Less Creative Freedom: The publisher may require you to alter content to suit market trends or the publisher's standards.
Upfront Costs: You bear the costs of editing, cover design, formatting, and marketing. However, with Parachute Publishing, you keep all of the profits.
No Advance: You do not receive an advance and must invest your own money into the project.
Publisher Bears Costs: The publisher covers the costs of editing, design, printing, and marketing.
Advance Payment: You could receive an advance to be paid back from your future royalties, which provides some upfront financial support.
Limited Reach: While self-publishing platforms like Amazon can provide wide distribution, getting into physical bookstores and libraries is more challenging.
Ebook and Print-on-Demand: Many self-published books are primarily sold as ebooks or through print-on-demand services.
Wider Distribution: Books published traditionally are more likely to be stocked in physical bookstores, libraries, and sold internationally.
Physical Copies: Traditional publishers often print large runs of physical copies, allowing for greater visibility in brick-and-mortar stores.
Higher Royalties: You receive more profit per book — Parachute Publishing won't take any cut of your sales.
Lower Royalties: You'll usually earn a lower percentage of royalties (around 10-15% of the book's sale price).
Author-Driven Marketing: You're responsible for all marketing and promotional activities according to your own goals.
Publisher-Driven Marketing: The publisher handles much of the marketing and promotional work, though you're still expected to participate in book tours, social media promotion, etc.
Both paths have their pros and cons, and the right choice depends on your goals, resources, and preferences.
One way of thinking about traditional publishing is as a specialised loan, where the publisher fronts some money to invest in your book. This option can make sense if wider commercial success is important to you, and you think the publisher's marketing team can do a good job for your book. On the other hand, you'll need to spend effort convincing a publisher to sign your book, which will involve negotiating ownership and editorial control.
Similarly, you can think of self-publishing as the same set services to make your book available to buy, minus the investment and marketing elements. With Parachute Publishing, you pay once to make your book available on Amazon, and you can order printed copies with an ISBN to sell by any means. Driving sales of your book will be down to you, but because you won't owe us any money, you'll keep all of the proceeds.
Everything you need to publish your book, in one guaranteed price. No hidden fees.
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