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In the past, traditional publishing was the sole known method of publishing available to authors seeking to have their books published. However, the landscape has evolved, and traditional publishing is no longer the exclusive route it once was. Today, authors have a variety of publishing options to choose from, including hybrid publishing, small press, indie publishing, vanity press, traditional publishing, and self-publishing.
What is Traditional Publishing?
Before the digital era, traditional publishing reigned supreme, accessible only to the elite few and protected by the so-called literary gatekeepers of the industry. To illustrate its longevity, consider the Cambridge University Press, the oldest surviving publishing house, founded in 1534 under King Henry VIII's royal charter. With the advent of the internet, publishing has been democratized, offering broader access to publishing tools and shaping the diverse and vibrant publishing world we experience today.
When we think of traditional publishing today, we tend to think of the “big 5,” also known as trade publishers. These are mostly large book publishing companies responsible for most of the books you see on bookshelves in major bookstores like Barnes and Noble, on the New York Times Bestseller’s List, and whose authors you see on major late-night shows or hear of on major radio stations and in major news outlets. In short, traditional publishers have access. However, there are smaller presses that operate as traditional presses and hold as much weight in the industry.
Types of Traditional Publishers
I'll categorize the three primary types of traditional publishers as large, mid-sized, and small presses.
Large Traditional Publishers
Beyond the major university presses, there are five main publishers widely recognized and often aspired to by authors for book publication (the "big five"): MacMillan, Hachette Book Group, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and HarperCollins Publishers. These prominent firms typically offer substantial advances to authors and provide royalties from book sales.
Oxford, Cambridge, Routledge, Princeton, and Palgrave MacMillan rank among the most notable university presses. The key distinction between university presses and the "big five" lies in their publishing focus: university presses specialize in academic texts and student-oriented literature, whereas the "big five" cater to the general public.
Additionally, large traditional publishers often encompass a range of mid-sized and smaller imprints. Securing a deal with these publishers, or any of their imprints, requires authors to navigate a stringent submission process that can span years and involve multiple rejections. This process typically includes the submission of query letters and the engagement of a literary agent. The challenging nature of this process has contributed to the emergence of indie and self-publishing avenues.
Mid-Sized Traditional Publishers
Many mid-sized publishers share characteristics with large publishing houses, such as requiring authors to have agents and paying advances and royalties, yet they operate on a smaller scale with more modest budgets. While profit is the main goal for numerous mid-sized publishers, others are mission-driven, often backed by university presses, organizations, and media groups. These mission-driven publishers typically select books that resonate with their sponsoring organization's goals.
Well-known mid-sized publishers include Quest Books, University Press Syndicate (associated with Andrews McMeel), Chronicle Books (linked to the San Francisco Chronicle), Graywolf Press (a non-profit publisher), and Beacon Press (also a non-profit publisher).
Small Press
Authors stand a better chance of getting published by a small press compared to other traditional publishing houses. This is largely because small presses accept direct submissions from authors without the necessity of an agent. For instance, one of our authors was recently published by a small press in New York City; her book, "Aquarian Dawn," came out in October 2022.
While some small presses operate independently, they fall under the traditional publishing category as they provide all the standard benefits—such as advance payments, royalties, exposure, and validation—but on a smaller scale and with more modest budgets. Some are affiliated with organizations and media groups. Often, their marketing budgets are so constrained that the responsibility for marketing and publicity falls to the author. However, this can be advantageous if an author leverages the credibility of a traditional publishing deal, along with the advance and royalties, to market themselves effectively.
Well-known small presses include Tiny Fox Press, Red Hen Press, Tupelo Press, Unnamed Press, and C & R Press. These publishers typically publish fiction, poetry, and nonfiction works. Authors should research to find a publisher that best matches the theme of their book.
This encapsulates traditional publishing. In a subsequent post, I plan to explore non-traditional publishing.
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