Traditional, Indie, Hybrid, and Self-Publishing: A Conversation with Kate St. Clair

Deciding which publishing route to take is one of the harder business decisions facing writers today. With traditional publishing becoming more and more demanding and exclusive, many writers look to self, indie, or hybrid publishing as a (hopefully) better alternative. I sat down with local author and life-long Austinite, Kate St. Clair, to chat about some of the pros and cons.

Kelsi: Thank you so much for sitting down with me! Publishing is such a hot-button issue right now among young writers, I really appreciate getting your insights as someone with experience in the different paths. Can you tell me a little about the kinds of books you write?

Kate: I write Young Adult Fiction, so far in Sci Fi and Paranormal.

Kelsi: What are the main differences between the different kinds of publishing?

Kate: The sort of main differences between each one is that with traditional publishing, the house is covering everything: cover, design, marketing, distribution, promotion, editing, etc. Indie publishing will still cover distribution and editing, housing copies of your book after printing, sometimes cover design, but you are totally on your own for marketing and promotion. With self publishing, you’re in charge of everything. You also would usually be doing a print on demand (POD), which means copies of your book don’t exist until someone orders them, at which point they’re printed as a one-off. If you self-publish, you also are having to individually negotiate with every book seller to carry your book, whereas with traditional and indie publishing they will be facilitating those relationships for you. Hybrid publishing is really a tossup: every business is different in terms of what they will/will not be responsible for, so you really have to read the fine print. You may also end up paying for a lot of the services like bookseller relationships or distribution.

Kelsi: What should people expect in terms of financial investment?

Kate: It depends on what route you go, but prepare for several hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Even things like ISBNs cost money. But there are ways to keep costs down, and luckily there are so many tutorial videos available online for literally everything you need to do.

Kelsi: Can you tell me about your experiences with traditional publishing?

Kate: I’ve really only been able to make peace with traditional publishing if I remove my ego completely. I think we as artists get so emotionally attached to our work as an extension of ourselves that it hurts deeply to be rejected. However, if I can approach it the way the industry does and strictly think about how does this look to a consumer, I’m able to wrap my head around it more. I interned at ICM when I was in college and they put me on the slush pile, and it completely opened my eyes to the impartiality of the traditional publishing world. You probably have a 19-year-old hopeful reading your work. There’s a tremendous amount of luck involved, so you just have to try as much as you can and not take it too seriously if you get rejected.

Kelsi: What made you decide to pursue Indie publishing for your latest book?

Kate: Truthfully, I chose indie publishing because it was the avenue available for me. My agent at the time had passed away, and I was having a lot of trouble finding another. I didn’t want to just sit on my hands and wait to get it out, and since I’ve had an offer from an indie publisher, I figured why not!

Kelsi: What has the process been like?

Kate: I find researching tools like InDesign for cover design and formatting programs to be quite thrilling! It’s so cool to realize we’re capable of doing the things we thought only a big house could do. I think it’s really exciting and heartening to feel in control of some part of the journey.

Kelsi: Do you plan on self-publishing in the future?

Kate: It is a major consideration. I was told by several agents that the first thing an editor [at a traditional publishing company] is going to do if seriously considering publishing you is to look at your social media presence and determine if you “have a platform to sell to.” So unless you have a 50k plus following on social media, the likelihood of getting picked up traditionally is slim these days. If that’s the case, why not take matters into your own hands? You don’t need permission to be an author. There are a thousand ways to connect to readers, which is the important thing.

Kelsi: What’s your favorite part of the Indie publishing process?

Kate: Connecting with readers is always the best part of any publishing process. Everything else becomes so worth it for that moment when someone tells you they were moved by some part of your book or saw themselves in it. Especially since I write YA, seeing young people affected in a positive way just sends me.

Kelsi: What’s the hardest part?

Kate: The uncertainty and career instability is always going to be tough. There’s really no such thing as a “steady paycheck” in this industry, even if you “make it.” The rejection also used to really get me down, but after so many no’s you almost become immune to it. It still stings, but you find ways to move past it quickly instead of taking it so personally.

Kelsi: What has marketing been like?

Kate: Both exciting and challenging. It takes a lot of research and effort (creating posts, applying to festivals, etc) so sometimes burnout happens. It’s all a balance, so you don’t get burned out. Also finding experts to help you develop marketing plans can be super helpful.

Kelsi: What tips would you give to a new writer looking to get published through any of these means?

Kate: If you feel empowered and called to do [any kind of publishing], go for it! I would just encourage patience and actually putting in the work to make something the best it can be. This means many rounds of editing and potentially hiring a professional editor (I love Wyrd Sisters Editing). No one benefits from a book that’s not up to standards entering the market. The last thing you want is to publish something that in a year you will regret putting out there when reviews call out the typos or imperfections.

Kelsi: I feel like there’s a bit of stigma around both ends of the publishing spectrum these days. What would you say to new writers who are worried about never “making it” in self-publishing or conversely, worried about “selling out” by going the traditional route?

Kate: To quote our lord and savior Rupaul Charles, “unless they paying your bills, pay those haters no mind.” Other people will have an opinion about what you’re doing regardless, so just follow the path that’s right for you. If it’s meant to be, everything will come together.

Kelsi: Thank you so much, Kate. Do you have any final thoughts for our readers?

Kate: Continued education is always an amazing resource for writers. Having that built-in community is worth its weight in gold. It’s hard to meet other writers once you are out in the world, so treasure those connections.