Is Working with a Small Press Right for You?

By Kate Larkindale

Is working with a small press the right choice for you? Well, I don’t know for sure, but as an author who has published six books with two different small presses, I can speak to my own experiences and give you an insight into the pros and cons of choosing this particular publishing path.

One advantage of small presses is that you can submit directly to most of them without an agent. Some are open to submissions at all times, while others have set reading periods in which you can submit.

Most small presses don’t offer an advance. This can be seen as a positive or a negative – on the one hand, a lot of authors who receive advances never earn back that amount and never see any money beyond the advance. Without being paid an advance, an author gets paid a percentage of the royalties from day one.

How big a percentage varies from publisher to publisher, but from my own experience, anything between 30% and 50% is pretty standard.

For their share of the royalties, the small press will (or should, if they are worth their salt) take care of all the production side of the publishing process – the layout, cover, ISBN, copyright registrations etc and make your book available to retailers. Some small presses only publish electronically, so do your research. If you’re a writer who wants to see their book on library and bookstore shelves, an e-book only publisher is not going to see you realize your dream.

My current publisher does physical books as well as e-books, but they are print-on-demand and therefore it’s on me to get them into stores and libraries myself. I live in New Zealand, and by the time I add in the cost of freight and customs fees, plus the store’s commission, I lose about $10 on every book I sell in a physical bookstore. So… I don’t.

I’ve had two rounds of edits on each of my small-press published books, but they are not substantial edits. I’d consider them primarily copy-edits to ensure the book follows the publisher’s style guide. I have certainly never had any significant developmental feedback, but I do have a fabulous group of critique partners and beta readers, so my books tend to be pretty well self-edited before they get sent out. But, having been agented for a few years, and knowing the level of editing my agent required before they would consider taking a project out on submission, the amount of editing I get with my small press is minimal.

On the plus side, I get a lot of input into the cover. I’ve been sent covers I really disliked and sent back feedback and examples that have led to covers I love and am proud to have my name on.

Marketing and publicity is still largely in my hands. I negotiate the release date with my publisher to make sure I have ARCs and cover art at least three months prior to the release so I can start getting reviews and building buzz. If I accepted the release dates they suggest, I wouldn’t have that lead time. The publisher might do a few social media posts on release week, but in my experience, they don’t do a lot of publicity for any single title. That said, in recent weeks there has been a lot more social activity on their pages, so I suspect they may have someone new working for them who has fresh ideas. Watch this space…

At the end of the day, whether to publish with a small press is your decision. I like that I don’t have to worry about the practicalities of publishing a book, but there are definite disadvantages too – for example, my latest book ended up with completely crazy keywords including non-fiction and sci-fi & fantasy. I write contemporary YA novels! And because I’m not the publisher, I can’t change them.

Kate Larkindale is the author of YA novels Standing too Close, Chasing the Taillights, An Unstill Life, The Sidewalk’s Regrets, My Murder Year and Stumped. She lives and writes in Wellington, New Zealand where when she’s not writing, she works for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and teaches spin classes at the gym.

Find Kate on her blog or Facebook

Working with Small Publishers - Twelve Pros and Cons

Working with a small publisher can be both rewarding and frustrating. We didn’t need an agent (for the most part) and we didn’t have to learn the ropes of self-publishing. But there are limits and we have to weigh our options.

I invited twelve authors to share the best and the worst thing about working with a small publisher.

Michael Offutt
Double Dragon Publishing

What's the best thing about working with a small publisher? I've only published two books with my small pub. I think the best experience was the amount of freedom I had in helping design the cover art. It's pretty much spot on for the feel I get from the book.

What's the most negative thing about working with a small publisher? Again with my small pub, the only negative thing has been lack of support in the marketing department. Marketing though is pretty hard to do with books (a thing I've learned over time), so I don't blame them at all. Any and all marketing rests with me.

Donna K. Weaver
Emerald Arch Publishing

What’s the best thing about working with a small publisher? My publisher was wonderful to work with. They knew me like a large publisher never could. They solicited my input and listened if I had concerns. I felt respected and valued as an author. Since, for me, it was very much about the experience, this was just the way I should go.

What’s the most negative thing about working with a small publisher? A small publisher doesn't have as many connections or as much pull as a larger publisher. They're less likely to have much, if any, marketing budget, so the authors have to do most of that. Of course, anymore, even if you publish with a large publisher you have to do a ton of marketing.

Jamie Ayers
Curiosity Quills Press

The best thing about working with a small publisher is the smallness! I remember the excitement my editor had for my trilogy from the moment she offered me representation and thought there was no way I'd get that much enthusiasm for a debut author such as myself at a big publisher. I'd have been a very tiny fish in a HUGE sea. Less authors also meant my first book would get published in eight months verses a couple years.

The most negative thing for me is not being stocked on bookstore shelves across the country . . . it makes visibility difficult and the job falls almost completely on my shoulders to get my name out there.

Charity Bradford
WiDo Publishing

What’s the best thing about working with a small publisher? I loved having a team of people help me improve my novel. Knowing that I wasn't doing it alone took a lot of pressure off of me. The editor was wonderful to work with and I ended up with an amazing cover.

What’s the most negative thing about working with a small publisher? For the most part I loved every aspect of the process. One negative is that sometimes I don't receive answers to my emailed questions. They are busy working on the upcoming books, and I often don't feel they have the time for me. A large publisher would be the same way though.

Susan Gourley
New Concepts Publishing, Crescent Moon Press, and Musa Publishing

For me, the very best thing about working with a small publisher is the personal attention I receive. The editors take a personal interest in not only my current books but my career and future books. Their quick attention to my questions and concerns makes me feel like I'm important part of the company and not merely an employee or the producer of a product they sell.

On the negative side, though my books can be ordered in brick and mortar stores, I've seldom seen my books on the shelves of a physical store. This used to bother me more than it does now. Most of my sales are in the digital market any way.

Heather Gardner
InkSpell Publishing

What’s the best thing about working with a small publisher? - The individual attention. I'm on a first name basis with the CEO of my publishing company. I send an email and they send one back. We work closely together to create the very best product for publication. They want me to succeed because it benefits them as well.

What’s the most negative thing about working with a small publisher? - The constant fear of them closing their doors unexpectedly. Small publishers don't have a lot of capital backing them up. A few poor sales months could have them closing their doors. It's in my best interest to support the publisher, by doing as much self-promotion as I can, so they will be successful, then I will benefit as their client.

Nicki Elson
Omnific Publishing and Swoon Romance

A pro of small pub vs. big pub is that small publishers tend to move faster and get books out to market sooner. I suppose a con would be lack of distribution and shelf space at brick & mortar stores, but I don't see being in a brick & mortar as important in today's book market.
The pro of a small pub vs. self-publishing is having free access to the publisher's team of editors, publicists, and publishing expertise to ready your book for the world and help shepherd it out there. The con is that you give up control on choices on things like book cover, pricing, timing, etc.
What’s the best thing about working with a small publisher? My favorite thing has been the camaraderie with other authors at the publisher. We look out for each other and have been great supports for one another.

What’s the most negative thing about working with a small publisher? Like with any small company, some small pubs don't gracefully transition into a bigger business. Some handle growth better than others, and sometimes growing pains are..well, painful.

Tara Tyler
Curiosity Quills Publishing

What’s the best thing about working with a small publisher? The best thing is I got published! But also, I think I have a lot more say in cover design and content. Plus a lot more contact with upper management, and they answer questions quick.

What’s the most negative thing about working with a small publisher? Drawbacks would be not having the shelf space or advertising contacts and prowess of a big publisher. Here famous reviewer, read this book and give it a critique in a popular magazine... now that would be awesome!

Patsy Collins
Creative Print Publishing and Alfie Dog Publishing

Pro - There’s likely to be less competition, so your work is more likely to be read and it’s more likely you’ll get some kind of feedback even if your work isn’t selected for publication. When your work is published you’re more likely to have input into things such as cover design, release dates and title. You get more individual attention and build a relationship with the publisher, rather than just being one of many authors who is handled by a whole team of employees.
What’s the best thing about working with a small publisher? You get to speak directly to a person who can make a decision and can form a relationship with that person.

Cons. Much smaller budget for marketing etc. It’s less likely that your books can be offered for sale at the large discounts demanded by many bookstores, so your books won’t be so widely available on the High Street.
What’s the most negative thing about working with a small publisher? Much smaller budget for marketing etc. It’s less likely that your books can be offered for sale at the large discounts demanded by many bookstores, so your books won’t be so widely available on the High Street.

Donna M. McDine
Guardian Angel Publishing

What’s the best thing about working with a small publisher? I’ve enjoyed the “family” feel of working with a small publisher. The publisher and the fellow authors are always there for moral support and to answer questions.

What’s the most negative thing about working with a small publisher? In my opinion there is still a stigma that a small publisher is self-publishing. Not that there is anything with self-publishing. There have been many successful authors that have self-published. I’d also say not having a marketing team behind you is a downfall. But from what I understand even the big publishers don’t provide them as in-depth anymore. A lot of the marketing fall solely on the author.

C. Lee McKenzie 
Evernight Teen

Pros: It's quicker with the small publishers. You don't grow gray while waiting for your book. If you find the right one, they provide excellent covers and some marketing/promo.
They're accessible. I usually get answers to my questions within a day.

Cons: You have to be more careful about editing the book yourself. Double check and when in doubt, hire an outside editor.
You have more and more marketing to do with a small publisher. I'd book your own blog tour at the get go.

Alex J. Cavanaugh
Dancing Lemur Press LLC.

Pros: They’ve been willing to stick with me and continue promoting my series. I know that with bigger publishers, the marketing timeframe is small. And if I’d self-published, I would’ve given up ages ago! They've continued to market and support me though.

Cons: There are a lot of sites and venues that my publisher can’t access. Some I’m sure they just can’t afford. But it limits my books’ exposure to readers.


Those are some of the positive and negative aspects and from people who’ve gone down the small press path.

What are some of your pros and cons working with a small publisher? Would you consider going that route now?