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What a Small Press Can Offer That Big Houses Cannot
Every writer eventually asks whether a book belongs with a large publishing house or a small press. The large house has reach, but it also has hundreds of titles in every season, and a new author’s book can easily disappear among them. A small press works on a different scale, and for many novels that scale is an advantage.
Selectivity in the other direction
A small press does not need to fill a large catalog, so it can be choosy. At DX Varos we take on only a few new fiction authors each year. That means each book gets read carefully before it is accepted, and every accepted book has a place in the plan for the year. Nobody is publishing to hit a quota; the goal is a list in which every title is the best example of its genre that we can find.
Attention from people who know the book
On a small list the same people who acquire a manuscript also edit it, talk to the cover designer and write the sales copy. There is no handoff between departments in which the reason a book was chosen gets lost. Authors know who is working on their book, and they can pick up the phone or write an email and get an answer from that person rather than from a queue.
Flexibility in genre and format
Big houses often ask whether a book fits a slot on the sales team’s chart. A small press can take a mystery with a strong cooking element, a paranormal romance that borrows from mythology or a historical novel about the invention of a material. If the writing is strong and readers exist, the book can be published without being forced into a shape that does not fit.
What a real publisher does
Being small does not mean doing less. A real publisher pays for the work on the book rather than charging the author for it. That includes editing, proofreading, interior design, cover design, ISBN registration, printing and distribution to bookstores and online retailers, as well as an effort to promote the title. Authors are expected to take part in promotion as well, because the person who wrote the book is its best advocate.
- You pay nothing to have your book published
- Editing and proofreading are handled by the press
- Print and e-book editions are produced and distributed
- Every edition receives its own ISBN
- Promotion is a partnership between press and author
Trade-offs to weigh honestly
Small presses cannot offer large advances, and their books do not always reach every bookstore shelf. Distribution through wholesalers and online retailers is strong, but a physical presence in a chain store depends on demand. Marketing budgets are modest, and the author’s own readers, social media, local events and reviews carry weight. Anyone who signs with a small press should understand this and ask for a clear description of what the press will and will not do.
Questions to ask any publisher
- Is there any fee, direct or hidden, for the author?
- Who owns the rights, and for how long?
- How are royalties calculated and how often are they paid?
- Who designs the cover, and does the author have input?
- What does the press do to promote each release?
- Can I speak with current authors?
A partnership, not a service
The strongest relationships between author and press are built on shared goals and honest communication. Read our expectations page to see what we ask of authors, and the submission guidelines if you would like us to consider your manuscript. You can also meet the people who already publish with us on the authors page.