Hybrid Publishers What are they and should you TRUST them

Hybrid Publishers What are they and should you TRUST them Hybrid Publishers: What are they and should you TRUST them? Hybrid publishers are still a bit of a mystery to many authors. The term â€Å"hybrid† may mean different things to different people. To some, it's interchangeable with vanity publishing - which is understandable, as they both require the author to take some financial risk in order to get the book to market. Before an author chooses to embrace or avoid this model of publishing, a lot of questions need to be asked.In this post, we’ll aim to cut through the noise and answer the most burning questions surrounding hybrid publishing. What are hybrid publishers? We have the answer! What are hybrid publishers?As the name hints, a hybrid publisher combines elements of traditional publishing and self-publishing. In most aspects, they function just like a traditional publisher, with the key exception that their authors will subsidize the cost of publishing and will not be given an advance on royalties.Just like traditional presses, hybrid publishers tend to have editorial, design, and marketing teams. The idea behind hybrid presses is to give a traditional-style publishing option to authors who cannot (or prefer not to) work with a traditional publisher. Self-publishing is not for everyone. If you’re a writer whose only interest is to write books, then you might want someone else to handle the editorial, design, and marketing work. If this is something you’re willing to pay for, then this might be the right choice for you.Three reasons to avoid hybrid publishing1. The publisher might struggle with marketing and salesA hybrid publisher’s editorial and design departments might have incredible standards - and be able to deliver a great product - but without the marketing might of a larger company, they will likely struggle to secure publicity and get your book placed into the right stores.2. The author assumes a fair amount of financial riskAt the end of the day, the author is going to be footing a significant portion of the publishing bill. And in exchange, they will have to trust that the hybrid press is doing what’s best for their book. If it all doesn’t go to plan, and the book doesn’t sel l, then the author has very little recourse to recover their investment.3. Another route might be more appropriateIf the book you’re writing has great commercial potential, you might be better off looking to secure an agent who will pitch it to traditional publishers. Similarly, you might find that self-publishing offers the same perks and more: you can still work with professional editors and designers, and you’ll get an even bigger cut of the royalties. If you’re willing to learn about the basics of book marketing (and put them into action), you might find that you can reach a wider audience than if you leave it all to a hybrid publisher’s marketing department.If you want to learn more about self-publishing a book, take a quick look through our guide.Have you worked with a hybrid publisher? Or do you have any questions about them? Share your thoughts in the comments below.