How hard is it to become a published author?

Traditional publishing typically results in a higher profit and readership margin; however, most publishers don't allow unsolicited manuscripts, meaning they won't even see your work. If an author is able to find a publisher, they will have access to their resources, and your work is more likely to be seen because they will promote it.

Publishers will often set up book tours and interviews and provide guidance on running social media campaigns. The average salary for a published author is $49,000. This amount can vary greatly depending on the success of the book and subsequent book deals that can help build a fanbase.

Self-publishing allows the author to have full and total control over that intellectual property. A traditional publisher has the power to request changes and usually will. These may be good changes but may not be what the author truly intended for their work. Avoiding a publisher gives the author the final say over their work.

Self-publishing involves a great deal of time and effort on the part of the writer. They have to find platforms to host the book and be able to transform their manuscript into an ebook. Once the book is on a platform, the author is responsible for their own promotion and driving traffic to that platform and their work.

For this reason, many self-publishers choose to use a well-trafficked platform like Amazon. Amazon has various tools to help authors format their work into an ebook. Authors can also choose to attach themselves to promotional services, including offering their work for free or cheap during monthly emails or being part of Kindle Unlimited.

Income varies greatly, with the average being $5,000 per book.