by August Isley
A reader asks: Can a traditional publishing company accept contributions to support the publishing process and remain a true traditional publisher?
Great question! The distinction between traditional and subsidy publishers is primarily based on their business models and how they generate revenue.
In a traditional publishing model, the publisher covers all the costs associated with publishing a book, including editing, design, printing, and marketing. The publisher then earns money from book sales and pays royalties to the author based on those sales.
On the other hand, a subsidy publisher (also known as a vanity press) charges the author upfront to cover the costs of publishing the book. The author essentially subsidizes the publishing process, and the publisher does not pay royalties from the proceeds of book sales.
If a traditional publisher starts accepting money from an author to help cover publishing expenses, it blurs the lines between traditional and subsidy publishing. While it may not completely transform the publisher into a subsidy publisher, it does indicate a shift towards a hybrid model. In such cases, the publisher might still offer some traditional publishing services but also require financial contributions from the author.
Ultimately, the key difference lies in who bears the financial risk and how the revenue is generated. If the author is required to pay upfront costs, it leans more towards the subsidy publishing model. If the publisher covers the costs and pays royalties based on sales, it remains closer to the traditional publishing model.
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