The methods for how authors publish books has changed rapidly. While traditionally publishing was common for over a century, it’s no longer the go-to strategy for authors who want to make an income with their writing.
But not all methods work for all authors.
If you don’t know how each process works, you can’t decide which is best for you and your unique goals as an author. How authors publish books will also continue to change over time. Being informed and even testing multiple methods (as many authors do) will set you up for long-term success, allowing you to pivot when necessary.
Here’s what you’ll learn about how authors publish books:
A brief timeline of how authors publish books
How authors publish books has changed dramatically over time, thanks to technology and general book consumption shifts. But while it seems like there’s been a clear delineation between traditional and self-publishing, the adjustment has been more nuanced than that.
To see where publishing will go in the future, it’s important to understand where it’s been and how the people shape the industry. Below is a table of the progression toward how authors publish books nowadays.
| Dates | How Authors Publish Books |
| 1900-1990 | In the early 20th century, authors seeking to publish their work had to rely entirely on traditional publishing houses. These publishers were the gatekeepers, deciding what books would be published and distributed based on market potential. This model is still in practice with “traditional publishing”. |
| 1990-2007 | During this phase of the birth of the internet, many were experimenting with getting their writing out into the world. Authors like Andy Weir, for example, published chapters of his book The Martian directly to his blog in 2009. But he wasn’t the first, and many other writers serialized their work in this manner, prompting publishing platforms (like Amazon and even Wattpad, founded in 2006 as a public place to host your writing) to take notice. Hence… |
| 2007-2024 | In November of 2007, Amazon launched Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), originally referred to as Digital Text Platform. It revolutionized the landscape, enabling authors to bypass traditional publishers and bring their work directly to readers on a larger-scale platform they were already shopping on. This shift empowered authors, allowing them to control their own creative processes and profits. Other direct publishing platforms rose from this trend as well, including spaces like IngramSpark, Lulu, and Draft2Digital, where you can “publish wide” and print your books through them to be distributed to book retailers (like Barnes and Noble, Kobo, etc.). |
| 2024 & Beyond | Now, there are even more ways to publish your work online and it all depends on your own goals. All of the above methods are still in practice today, giving you more options. One newer (or should I say boomerang) trend for how authors publish books has now been serializing your work via exclusive newsletters on places like Substack, or even through Kindle Vella. This is a shift away from fully completed books and into works-in-progress shared on a consistent basis. Another slight shift is what’s being called “selling direct” in the author world. Here how authors publish books is by having them printed through a company, shipped to their own home, where they will then process and ship orders (often through Shopify). Essentially, they’re cutting out the middleman of places like Amazon and selling their books directly to customers. |
As I mentioned above, because there are so many options, how you publish books will largely depend on your own goals, the benefits of each, and how much creative control you wish to maintain. Let’s take a look at how authors publish books and the various options you have.
How authors publish books in 2024 and beyond
Some authors do a combination of the below methods. Do your research, take your time, and make sure to understand your goals as an author.
1. Self-publishing via Amazon
Amazon KDP is where most authors are self-publishing or listing their books. Because Amazon is both a printer and a retailer, both self-published and traditionally published books will end up on their site. It’s very rare for an author to not sell their book through Amazon.
However, the actual publishing aspect with Amazon (and not through a publishing house, for example) is for self-publishers.
There are various options to publish on Amazon, including paperback, ebooks, audiobooks, and Kindle Unlimited (KU). The way KU differs from ebooks is through the monetization and access. Readers who have a kindle and subscribe to the monthly Kindle Unlimited plan can read as many books as they want that are listed in the KU library.
The author cannot sell their ebook version on any other retailer outside of Amazon because of the KU exclusivity clause. Authors are paid out of a pool, where the rates can change, and it’s calculated by pages read (KENPC).
Differences:
Self-publishing through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform remains one of the most popular ways for authors to publish their books. Amazon allows authors to publish eBooks, paperbacks, and even audiobooks through Audible. The process is streamlined, and authors have full control over the formatting, cover design, pricing, and promotion.
Benefits:
- Full creative control
- Higher royalty rates (70% for eBooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99, lower royalty rates for other methods—after print costs)
- Direct access to Amazon’s massive audience of book buyers
- Ability to publish quickly (within 24-48 hours in most cases)
- Publish as frequently as you want
- Various options for book formats
Who It Works Best For:
This option is ideal for indie authors who want full control over their work and are willing to handle their own book marketing. It works particularly well for genre fiction, such as romance, fantasy, or thriller, where digital book sales are high.
Stats for Books Published This Way Over Time:
- By 2023, self-published books accounted for nearly 40% of the eBook market.
- Amazon KDP authors publish over 1 million titles annually.
- Some estimates suggest that over 60% of books on Amazon are now self-published.
2. Self-publishing selling direct
There are some authors who just didn’t want to pay with any royalty percentages. Instead, they opt to sell books directly to their customers from their own website or other ecommerce systems. However, they do still have to pay book printing costs and often have to ship the books themselves. So while they make royalty money, they do spend more of their time in the shipping process.
Here’s an example of a romance author who sells direct (and also has his books listed in places like Amazon):
His website is built directly on Shopify’s platform, which he runs ads to. And because he’s sending ads to his own website and not an Amazon store, he retains access to those users’ cookies. This is important because the way ads work is that you can re-target someone with a new ad based on their cookies. This is why you’ll see ads for additional products on Facebook or other social networks after you’ve recently visited a website. So this is not only how authors publish books, but also how they sell those books.
This author, Kerk Murray, explained the process to me, as well as shared some sales and income data when asked:
In one day, he was able to sell $649.43, and in his first month running ads to his Shopify store, he sold over $5,828.
Here’s an additional breakdown of this authors’ earnings selling direct:
January: $2,243
February: $11,078
March: $35,702
April: $41,923
Remember that these numbers are not profit. They’re revenue. This doesn’t account for what he spent on ads, book printing, Shopify transaction fees, or any shipping fees, all things to consider for how authors publish books.
Differences:
Instead of relying on third-party platforms like Amazon, how authors publish books (some of them, anyway) is to sell directly to their readers through platforms like Gumroad, Shopify, or their own websites. This method gives authors complete control over pricing, customer data, and marketing strategies.
Benefits:
- 100% profit margin (minus transaction fees and printing fees)
- Direct relationship with readers (access to customer emails, for instance as pictured in the image of Kerk’s website banner above)
- Greater pricing flexibility
- No reliance on third-party algorithms
Who It Works Best For:
Selling direct is a great option for authors with a loyal fan base or those who excel at marketing. It’s also effective for niche authors who want to maintain closer connections with their readers. If you want to learn how to run ads and grow a platform, this method can prove really beneficial. Sometimes you don’t even need a social platform, and ads work well.
Stats for Books Published This Way Over Time:
- In recent years, there has been a rise in how author publish books this way by leveraging tools like Patreon or Substack, driving direct-to-consumer sales.
- Some indie authors report earning higher revenue by selling directly than on Amazon due to avoiding platform fees.
3. Traditional publishing
Traditional publishing is still a great option and it’s how authors publish books. The process is more lengthy and requires more steps, but can lead to a lot of potential in sales volume down the line. Unfortunately, many writers think a traditional publishing deal guarantees a steady income.
The truth is that it depends. First, you have to write your book. Then, you have to query book agents. This is when someone agrees to represent you and your book in selling it to a publishing house. If your book sells, you will then become a published author at a date that fits their publication timeline.
Most assume this is how authors publish books. But as you can see from the stats above, almost half of books on Amazon are now self-published.
Differences:
How authors publish books traditionally involves submitting a manuscript to literary agents or directly to publishing houses. If accepted, the publisher handles all aspects of the publishing process, including editing, cover design, marketing, and distribution.
Benefits:
- Access to professional editing and design teams
- Widespread distribution (in brick-and-mortar stores and online)
- Credibility and prestige associated with established publishing houses
- Possibility of advances and royalty payments
- Possibility of a bidding war and significant publishing house backing in marketing (not the norm)
- Commonly known for how authors publish books and therefore, highly respected
Who It Works Best For:
Traditional publishing is best for authors who want professional support and are looking for widespread distribution, particularly for non-fiction, literary fiction, or memoirs. Those who have made a name for themselves will have an easier time landing an agent and selling a book as well.
Stats for Books Published This Way Over Time:
- Traditionally published books still account for the majority of print book sales (about 80% of the print market).
- However, traditional publishing has seen a slight decline as more authors pursue self-publishing or hybrid models.
- Average advance for debut authors in 2023 ranged from $5,000 to $50,000.
4. Hybrid or assisted self-publishing
Because self-publishing can be confusing in general, one method for how authors publish books has to do with getting help. Unfortunately, some “hybrid publishers” are actually what’s known as vanity presses. This is where they promise certain sales, charge you to publish, and take a cut of your royalties while taking copyright control. It’s predatory, and often scammy.
But hybrid publishers are a different way for how authors publish books. They take a fee for managing the book production process, but often take very little royalties or none. Assisted self-publishing is even better, because you get to be in charge of the process, but pay for the cover, editing, formatting, while they help publish your book, but you keep 100% of your rights and royalties.
Differences:
Hybrid publishing is both traditional and self-publishing. In this model, authors pay for publishing services like editing, cover design, and marketing, while retaining full ownership of their work. Hybrid publishers often offer distribution and marketing assistance you pay for
Benefits:
- Professional support with editing, design, and marketing
- Faster publication timelines than traditional publishing
- Higher royalty rates compared to traditional publishing
- Author retains copyright and creative control (most of the time! Make sure you keep this)
Who It Works Best For:
This model is ideal for authors who want professional support but prefer not to go through the highly selective traditional publishing route. It’s also good for authors with some budget who want high-quality production without handling all aspects themselves.
Stats for Books Published This Way Over Time:
- The hybrid publishing market has grown significantly, with over 59% of authors considering this route in 2023.
- The average cost for assisted self-publishing services ranges from $1,000 to $5,000.
Because how authors publish books has been changing, many assisted self-publishing programs (like the one featured below) alter and change over time to accommodate changes. You also don’t need an agent or any specific requirements for your book with self-publishing companies like it.
With this company, how authors publish books is more straightforward: they teach you, coach you, handle the production components, and you get access to a community, all for a flat fee.
5. Serial publishing via newsletters or blogs
It’s no secret that newsletters are making a comeback. And I’m not talking about email lists or workflows in which products are sold. I’m talking about the specific, personal and emotionally intimate weekly or bimonthly newsletters shared to grow an engaged fanbase and connect with people.
How authors publish books is connected to this growth.
Platforms like Substack, where you can charge a monthly subscription for access to exclusive newsletters, is enabling authors to make an income while publishing chapters, short stories, or snippets of their books. With this method, how authors publish books is connected with how they build a fanbase. You might think these fans will then not buy the actual book, but that’s far from the truth.
Because they’ve felt like a part of the process, they’re more likely to buy to have a physical copy.
Differences:
Serial publishing involves releasing content in installments via platforms like Substack, Medium, or personal blogs. Authors can build a readership by offering their content for free or behind a paywall, eventually compiling the installments into a full book.
Benefits:
- Builds a dedicated readership over time
- Allows for reader feedback during the writing process
- Flexibility in content and pacing
- Potential for recurring revenue through subscriptions
Who It Works Best For:
This method works best for authors who are comfortable writing on a regular basis and engaging with readers. It’s especially effective for non-fiction, personal essays, short stories, or serialized fiction.
Stats for Books Published This Way Over Time:
- Substack’s revenue for writers doubled between 2021 and 2023, with many writers successfully publishing serialized content.
- Several successful authors, such as Andy Weir (The Martian), started with serialized online publishing via his blog before transitioning to full-length books.
Knowing how authors publish books really allows you to understand your options. You might think traditional publishing is the best, but if you want to write and publish frequently (which increases your income) and are great at managing the production aspects, there are far more options available to you.
Which will you choose?
How Authors Publish Books FAQ
How do most authors publish their books?
Most authors self-publish, with platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) being the most popular option. Others experiment with selling directly to readers or using hybrid and traditional models, depending on their goals and marketing skills.
Is it better to self-publish or get a publisher?
It depends on your priorities. Self-publishing offers more creative control and higher royalties, but you handle everything yourself. Traditional publishing provides credibility and support but requires giving up some control and a share of profits.
How much does it cost to publish a book?
Costs vary widely. Self-publishing can range from $0 to $5,000, depending on how much you spend on editing, cover design, and formatting. Traditional publishing doesn’t cost upfront but takes a cut of future royalties.
Do authors get paid per book sold?
Yes, both self-published and traditionally published authors earn royalties per sale. How much authors make depends on what publishing route they take.
Can I publish a book for free?
Yes, platforms like Amazon KDP allow you to publish eBooks for free, but you may still want to invest in editing and cover design for better sales.
Should a first-time author self-publish?
Self-publishing is a solid option for first-time authors, especially if you want to publish quickly and retain creative control. It works well for genre fiction or niche topics. If you’re open to learning marketing and production, it can be a great way to build your career without waiting on a publisher’s approval.
