I Want to Publish My Book... Now What?

🏛️ Traditional Publishing: A Mythical Castle with a Few Cracks

Let’s talk about the old-school dream for a second.

You know the one: A big publisher swoops in like a fairy godmother, tosses you a fat advance check, puts your book on a shelf next to Dr. Seuss or J.K. Rowling, and you sit back in your cozy writing nook while the royalty cheques pour in.

Not so fast.

That world is rapidly changing.

In 2025, most publishers aren’t offering significant advances anymore—especially not to debut authors. Many new writers are getting offers that come with no advance at all. Yep, zero dollars upfront.

Why? Because publishers are playing it safe. They want proven sellers. They want influencers. They want books that already have an audience. And guess what? They expect you to build that audience.

Even if you land a traditional publishing deal, you’ll likely still be expected to:

• Manage your social media.

• Build your email list.

• Promote your book launch.

• Drive sales with interviews, events, and ads

And if your book doesn’t sell? Good luck getting a second one picked up.

✍️ Self-Publishing: Freedom, but Not Free

Now let’s talk about the indie path.

Self-publishing has come a long way. You’re no longer “vanity publishing” like back in the day. Many bestselling authors are now opting for indie publishing so they can retain their rights, earn higher royalties, and maintain creative control.

Sounds great, right?

It is. But it’s also not free.

Self-publishing means you foot the bill for everything a publisher would typically handle:

• Professional editing

• Cover design

• Formatting

• Distribution

• And yes... marketing.

Because that beautiful little book you wrote? It ain’t going to sell itself.

Amazon isn’t going to throw you a launch party. Barnes & Noble isn’t going to knock on your door begging to stock your self-published masterpiece. You need to show up and sell it.

And I’m not talking about begging your Facebook friends to buy a copy. I’m talking:

• Paid advertising (Amazon, Meta, BookBub, etc.)

• SEO-optimized product pages

• Email marketing funnels

• Reviews and blogger outreach

• School visits, podcast interviews, bookstore events

If that sounds overwhelming, well… welcome to publishing.

🧠 Know Your Market, Or Get Left Behind

Whether you’re pitching to an agent or publishing on your own, the question remains:

Do you know who your book is for?

I’m serious. Because even the most beautifully written, gorgeously illustrated story will flop if you can’t answer questions like:

• Who is your target reader?

• Where do they shop?

• What are their pain points, passions, and priorities?

• What two popular books does yours sit beside on the shelf?

Yes, even if your book is genre-bending—which is totally in right now—you still need to name your genre and place your book in a recognizable market category.

Why? Because publishers, librarians, bookstores, and even search engines need a label to help readers find you.“It’s kind of like everything!” is not a strategy. It’s a way to confuse people into not buying your book.

You must be able to say: “My book is like The Day the Crayons Quit meets The Smart Cookie. It’s a humorous picture book for ages 4–8 that helps kids understand emotions with a giggle.”

That’s a sales pitch. That’s what agents want. That’s what readers want.

That's what the public wants - they want to know where to find your book and whether you are selling it to them. For me, every parent, grandparent, teacher, and caregiver knows that my books are for children - children who love to laugh, live, and enjoy their lives while learning. This genre is evident at www.livmclean.com, where you can read the synopsis of each of my 13 children's books.

💡 Marketing: The Part Nobody Told You About

Here’s the truth no one wants to hear:

Anyone can write a book. Really. With help from journaling apps or dictation software, anyone can get words on a page. However, gone are the days of the publishing path of Steven King and Margaret Atwood and so many great authors - however, one thing is evident in those writers that emerged from the seventies and eighties - is that they had a compulsion to write - they kept at it - they worked hard and contiue to work and be creative - it doesn't stop. Many famous authors have done more than their share of book tours, readings, and hours spent being interviewed when they would rather be in a room writing. I remember my first newspaper interview in 2005 after I had been picked up by an American Pubisher - I was so nervous and worried for weeks before the paper came out if I would be crusified by the journiist or if they would go easy on me. It was all good and followed by more interviews and a radio interview by the local radio station - and I can't say I liked the experiences - because you don't know what question is coming at you - or what will be printed about you and your work - but I can say what came accross to my readers and the public was all positive. It's all part of the job of being a writer. You will know if you are a true writer - because you will always have to write something - you will always have an open book somewhere - and best of all, you don't stop - you keep going even when it's tough.

Not everyone can sell a book.

And that’s what separates a hopeful author from a real working one.

If you don’t love marketing, that’s fine. Most writers don’t. But don’t bury your head in the sand. If it’s not your jam, hire someone who can help. Get a coach. Take a course—partner with someone who lives for strategy and sales.

You’ve already done the hard emotional labour of creating something from scratch. Now give it the audience it deserves.

🛑 No Fluff, No Excuses

Look, I get it. I’m in this boat too. I’m working 50 to 60 hours a week writing, painting, uploading, managing ads, posting to social media, replying to emails, and doing everything I can to grow a loyal reader base.

I’m not here to sugar-coat anything. Publishing is not easy, no matter how you do it.

But it is possible. If you treat it like the business it is. Suppose you show up like a professional every day - write and market! Stop waiting for someone to “discover” you and start telling the world why they need your book.

Because they do. How will they know if they don't even know it exists?

✨ In Summary: Make the Choice, Then Maken't It Happen

• Traditional publishing? Great. Just know it might come with no advance, high expectations, and limited control.

• Self-publishing? Also great. Just know that it requires investment, marketing expertise, and a strong work ethic.

There’s no right or wrong answer—just the one that fits your goals, your personality, and your willingness to hustle.

So whichever path you choose, choose it with your eyes wide open.

And then? Get off your duff and do the work.

Your readers are out there. Your success is waiting. But only you can bring it to life.

—Liv McLean

www.livmclean.com

Author. Illustrator. Book hustler. Dream chaser