Social Media Means
Photo by Skylar Kang Pexels Logo Photo: Skylar Kang

Can a self-published book be picked up by a publisher?

It is possible to bring a self-published book into the traditional publishing industry as long as one important detail is taken care of: you've retained the rights to your book.

How can I viral my reels on Instagram?
How can I viral my reels on Instagram?

How to post on Reels to go viral Share your Reels on the Instagram Grid. Share your Reels on Instagram Stories. Tag the brands in the video so they...

Read More »
How can I make 600 dollars fast?
How can I make 600 dollars fast?

How To Make $600 Fast – 12 Methods To Try Work For Food Delivery Apps. If you ever need to make money quickly, turning to various gig apps is...

Read More »

Maybe you’ve found some success with your self-published book and you’d like to find a literary agent to test the waters with a traditional publishing house. And why not? The sky’s the limit. It is possible to bring a self-published book into the traditional publishing industry as long as one important detail is taken care of: you’ve retained the rights to your book. If you work with a hybrid publisher, like Luminare Press, read your contract carefully to make sure that you retain all the rights to your work (Luminare Press authors retain all rights). That makes it possible to take your self-published book to an agent or a publishing house if you choose to try to do so at a later time. In addition to retaining the rights to your work, here are a few other pointers for making the switch from self-publishing to traditional publishing:

Focus on the positive

Remain positive about your experience with self-publishing. Present the choice to self-publish as one that was deliberate and very carefully thought out. Also, be ready to share the success you have had with self-publishing: from sales numbers to positive reviews in the press. And never, ever hide the fact your book began life as a self-published project. Self-publishing is nothing to be ashamed of.

Be prepared to pull your self-published book from the market

An agent or publishing house will not want self-published editions of your book up for sale on platforms like Amazon or in bookstores, so before attempting to find an agent or a publishing house, you’ll have to take your book off the market. That’s as simple as unpublishing it from most print-on-demand sites like Kindle Direct Publishing.

Can your book be picked up by a publisher? Find out

Don’t query with your bound and finished book

Even though you have complete and bound versions of your book, always follow a publisher or agent’s submission guidelines, even if that means submitting your book the old-fashioned way: on manuscript paper. Last, if you successfully make the switch from self-publishing to traditional publishing, you will have to give up the rights to your book, and you will likely lose control over artwork and other design elements. But making the switch from self-publishing to traditional publishing is possible – especially when you retain the rights to your work. There are no guarantees, but if you put in the hard work to promote and sell your self-published book, the world of traditional publishing may be the next best step, so don’t be afraid to try.

More guides and resources for authors like you

Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.

How many followers do I need to have to make money?
How many followers do I need to have to make money?

A content creator on Instagram with 100,000 followers can earn about $200 per post, while someone with 10,000 followers can make about $88 per...

Read More »
Is Snapcash still available?
Is Snapcash still available?

When presented with the code and asked if Snapcash would shut down, a Snapchat spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that it would, explaining:...

Read More »

What does ghost followers mean on Instagram?
What does ghost followers mean on Instagram?

Instagram ghost followers are inactive accounts that don't engage with your profile and posts. They're also known as fake followers because the...

Read More »
What is the point of TikTok?
What is the point of TikTok?

TikTok is a social media platform for creating, sharing and discovering short videos. The app is used by young people as an outlet to express...

Read More »
Which course is best for marketing?
Which course is best for marketing?

10 Best Online Marketing Courses ClickMinded. Digital Marketing Course. Alison. Free Diploma in E-Business. Digiteers. Social Media Marketing...

Read More »
Was Snapchat invented for sexting?
Was Snapchat invented for sexting?

The lore goes that ousted co-founder Reggie Brown (more on him in a second) thought of an app that would let users send self-deleting photos during...

Read More »