Professional Publishing Support: Going Solo vs Full Service

Hand-selecting each professional individually is one way to go, and it comes with many “pros”:

But there are also “cons” that can be a discouragement to choosing this path:

Hiring a publishing company is also a valid solution that comes with several “pros”:

But it also comes with some “cons” that you may find daunting:

When you choose to hire professionals individually, you have total control over who joins your team. You can select based on:

My experience hiring individual professionals taught me that this control can be invaluable. You can find perfect matches for your specific needs, whether that’s an editor who specializes in your genre or a cover designer who exactly matches your vision.

The DIY approach lets you work at your own pace. You can:

While quality work requires investment, independent hiring allows you to:

Being your own project manager means you’re responsible for:

I learned this firsthand when trying to coordinate my kids’ book illustrations with formatting deadlines. When you’re managing multiple professionals, one delay can affect your entire timeline.

Finding the right professionals takes work that includes:

While the Internet makes finding professionals easier, it also means more options to sort through. You’ll need to carefully evaluate each person’s credentials and work quality.

In my last post, I mentioned that I had a bittersweet experience with my illustrator. And it really cemented how difficult it can be to deal with individuals yourself, especially if you don’t have enough experience. And I certainly didn’t.

Everything started off fine, and I was even looking forward to working with her on the rest of the books in the series.

And then came all her issues and ailments. First, it was one thing. Then it was her health. And then it was a more serious health issue that resulted in missed deadlines, illustrations that weren’t completed to my satisfaction, and finally process and money disputes.

But it taught me valuable lessons about proper vetting, contracts, payment schedules, and, ultimately, working with a seasoned professional.

These challenges with individual professionals are exactly why many authors consider full-service companies. However, don’t let one difficult experience discourage you from the DIY path — it’s all about learning and growing stronger in your publishing journey.

Working with a publishing company offers:

My experience with Aila Designs during a tight deadline proved invaluable. Even though I ended up handling the KDP upload myself (a learning experience I’ll share in a future post!), having everything else coordinated through one company helped immensely.

When you’re dealing with multiple aspects of book production — especially under time constraints or health issues — having a single point of coordination can be a game-changer.

Quality companies provide:

Company experiences can vary significantly:

One significant advantage of quality publishing companies is their pre-vetted team of professionals.

When I worked with Aila Designs after my challenging illustrator experience, it was a relief to know that:

While full-service companies offer convenience, understand that:

Just as DIY requires vetting individuals, you’ll need to vet companies:

My advice? Research thoroughly and ask questions such as:

When I worked with Dorrance Publishing, I learned that companies can vary significantly in their approaches, which is why this research phase is so crucial.

Some things to investigate:

Even with full-service companies, you might face challenges:

Before you dive into our quick quiz, consider these key factors:

A critical aspect of choosing your publishing path is understanding how it affects your earnings and rights.

With the DIY approach, you:

With the full-service companies, policies vary:

My experience shows how companies can differ. Both Dorrance and Aila let me keep 100% rights to my stories and all materials, but royalty arrangements varied based on their sales channel involvement.

Answer these questions honestly to help determine your best approach:

Mostly A’s: You’re likely well-suited for the DIY approach. You value control and are willing to invest time in managing your project.

Mostly B’s: A full-service company might be your best bet. You’ll appreciate the guidance and coordinated approach.

Mixed Results: Consider a hybrid approach. You might start with a full-service company to learn the ropes, then transition to DIY for future projects. Or use full-service for complex projects (like illustrated books) and DIY for simpler ones.

(Remember: There’s no wrong choice — only what works best for you and your specific project.)