The Typical Costs of Each Stage in the Publishing Process

Becoming a published author can be an expensive endeavour with little monetary rewards, at least initially. Once writers have a number of books published, the royalties increase. The lucky few get a contract and a small advance from a publishing house. Looking at the expenditures during each stage of writing, designing a cover, formatting the interior, and marketing gives wordsmiths insight into the expense of breaking into the business.

Cost for Each Stage of the Publishing Process

Online forums and blog posts offering advice about jobs to get into on a shoestring cite writing as an option. While it can be fairly inexpensive to jump in if one already owns a computer, there are fees to consider. How much money one makes on each project varies widely.

An Authors Guild survey indicated full-time novelists earn a median income of $20,000 per year, while part-time ones earn significantly less. New writers must factor in a variety of expenses to consider how much they actually earn.

Writing the Story

If the writer already owns a computer, pricing is significantly lower to get started. Some Chromebooks typically run under $300 and will serve the basic needs of having a Word Processing program and the ability to send email inquiries to publishers or upload the book to an online portal. 

Many options exist for processing programs, but Microsoft Word is one popular option. Authors will need a Microsoft 365 $99.99 per year subscription to use the desktop version of the software.

Wordsmiths must consider the time it takes to finish a tale. People could spend the same hours on a side hustle instead of writing, so unsuccessful books are the same as lost potential income. Writers should weigh the pros and cons. One rule of thumb is that if the person can stand to not write, then they should do something else. If stories take over their thinking, the individual should go ahead and write them but understand profit is fickle.

Editing is crucial for an acclaimed story. While free software like Hemingway exists, for a better editing process, invest in Grammarly or one of its counterparts. Many authors pay a professional editor per page for at least a quick proofread, which can add up to hundreds of dollars per novel.

Formatting the Interior

Formatters must lay out the inside of the book in a particular way to grab the attention of an editor or for self-publishing on sites like Amazon, IngramSpark and Draft2Digital. A new writer will either pay someone for this service or learn how to format on their own by viewing YouTube videos and trial and error.

The price of formatting an interior depends on the number of pages and how many images are inside. Adding elements such as print versions increases the fee. More experienced designers also charge more.

Authors should consider how and where they'll publish, as the number of pages and thickness can impact the overall page count. Even the type of paper can make a difference in printing costs — for example, while nearly half of U.S. and U.K. consumers feel sustainable materials are crucial, these materials can rack up costs more quickly than traditional paper. Though, these extra costs may be at least partially offset by giving creators an edge with eco-conscious readers.

Designing a Cover

As with other aspects of a new release, the expense of commissioning a cover for a book varies. Artists may charge little for a premade cover but up to hundreds of dollars for a custom design. The more eye-catching ones belong to in-demand designers, who charge a premium for their services.

For a self-published ebook, using a service to make a design can save money. However, print versions are more complex and typically require expertise to get the sizing and layout correct.

Publishing Costs

How much a person spends to release their product depends on whether selecting a traditional publisher, assisted publishing or self-publish. For ebooks, expenses are lower.

• Traditional Publisher: It pays the creator, either in royalties or a small advance that can pay royalties after the author sells enough copies to match the advance. The publisher pays for the cover art, formatting, editing and partial marketing.

• Assisted Publishing: The company charges for a print run, which is typically thousands of dollars and may promise to market it. The project usually does not earn enough to be profitable. However, for someone who wants to get their memoir out or a business book, it can be a quick way to market with a professional end product.

• Self-Publishing: The DIY option takes only time and effort to upload the finished work, assuming the author already paid for formatting and a cover. The writer keeps a higher percentage of royalties and maintains full control.

Publishing costs, like most things when launching a book into the world, vary significantly. Finding the right range takes dedication and practice.

Marketing

Whether traditionally or self-published, wordsmiths must create a budget for marketing. Costs to run a newsletter list, take out ads on Amazon and social media and participate in events add up. With around 151,200 authors and writers in the U.S., having a way to reach new readers is crucial. Add the expenses of maintaining an online presence, such as a website, to the marketing budget.

Costs Versus Rewards of Publishing

Many writers create books for the love of the craft. Whether the work ever turns a profit is a lesser consideration for them. Others love to pen novels and also want to make a living. Finding the right mix between spending and profit requires dedication. Getting into publishing requires at least some money. Being aware of the different possible expenses allows writers to make an informed decision about how much time they spend writing and how they release the book.

Article contributed by Eleanor Heck. Eleanor is a design expert for Designerly Magazine, where she keeps readers up to date with the latest WordPress and publishing trends.