The Worst Way To Publish Your Book: Vanity Press (Or Subsidy Publishing)

Just Don’t Do It

This is publishing’s version of burning your hard-earned money. If you are considering hybrid publishing, you should be careful not to confuse it with vanity press or subsidy publishing. These are forms of publishing that are often considered unethical or scammy by the publishing industry.

Vanity press or subsidy publishing is when a publisher charges an author a high fee to publish their book without providing any or, at least adequate, services i.e. editing, design, printing, distribution or marketing support.  The publisher makes money from the author’s fee rather than from selling the book to readers. The publisher may also retain most or all of the rights and royalties from the book. 

Unwitting victims of vanity presses are drawn in by the false promise that the publisher will assume the same responsibilities as a hybrid or traditional publisher. In reality, they do not invest in quality services that will benefit the author and the book. Instead, they outsource responsibilities to the cheapest bidder. 

Expecting a professional, experienced editor who is knowledgeable in your genre and writing style? Too bad. They’ll just send it off to inexperienced editors willing to work for lower rates; resulting in a book that is poorly edited, poorly marketed, and difficult to sell.

Thought your book was going to be expertly marketed and promoted through various channels, such as social media, book reviews, and author events? Sorry. They’ll just get a cheap agency or freelancer to do a shoddy job of creating poor-quality marketing materials that will have no effectiveness in helping your book reach a broader audience.

Pros of Vanity Publishing

Zero. Zip. Nothing. Nada. Avoid it like the plague! It is a scam that preys on inexperienced or new authors. 

Cons of Vanity Publishing

1. No quality control in selection: The publisher does not select or vet the books they publish based on quality or marketability. They will publish anything as long as the author pays them.

2. Low quality books: The publisher does not provide any value-added services to improve or promote the book. They may offer substandard editing, design, printing, distribution, or marketing services that do not meet industry standards or expectations.

3. No Risk Assumed: The publisher does not share any risk or responsibility with the author. They do not care if the book sells well or not. They may even discourage the author from seeking other avenues of publication or distribution.

4. Sky-high costs: Vanity presses charge authors outrageous amounts of money for services like editing and design. They may also require authors to pay for additional marketing or publicity services that won’t help your book reach many eyes. It’s a waste of money

5. Limited distribution: Vanity publishers typically have limited distribution networks, which can make it almost impossible for authors to get their book into bookstores and libraries or to reach a broad audience.

6. Poor reputation: Books published through vanity publishers are often viewed as less professional than those published through traditional or small press publishing and this can hurt your credibility as an author and affect your ability to build a fanbase let alone have readers who are willing to check out your work at all.

How To Identify a Vanity Publisher

1. They ask you to pay a large fee upfront or a high percentage of your sales revenue to publish your book.

2. They do not require you to submit a manuscript or proposal for evaluation. They accept any book without any editorial review or feedback.

3. They do not offer any editorial or marketing support or guidance. They may outsource these services to third-party vendors or charge you extra for them.

4. They do not have a clear or transparent contract that outlines the services, fees, rights, and royalties involved. They may use vague or misleading terms or clauses that favor them over you.