If you're a writer looking to get your book out, you have two ways to go about it. You can either take the traditional publishing route or try self-publishing. Both routes come with their own advantages and disadvantages, so here's a simple guide to help you decide which option might work best for your project.
Traditional Publishing
If you sign with a traditional publisher, you'll get:

• Contracts may that seem daunting, but they act as great protection for authors! Knowing what to expect from a partnership with a publishing house is invaluable, and your contract will help to clearly establish the parameters of any agreement. That way, if your book does well, the contract will specify how much of the proceeds will go to you, the author. It's definitely worth the effort!
• If you've ever had the chance to get your book published, then you know a great perk is the advanced payment! You receive cold, hard cash paid in two installments: first when you sign off the rights and again after your book is published. How much you'll get varies depending on the genre of your book and whether or not multiple publishers accept it — usually you can expect anything from $1,000 to $10,000. Having this money can be a great help for whatever you need, but it's also a major bonus for publishers who might otherwise overlook your book due to its niche appeal or smaller size compared to high-selling titles from larger companies.

Indie Publishing
Embracing independence with your book is an incredibly empowering experience! You'll be in full control of all of the rights and profits generated from the sales. You get to make the editorial decisions and don't have to wait around to get someone else's approval. On top of that, you'll have the liberty to write whatever kind of book you'd like, even if doesn't fit into any predetermined market categories. Spice it up a bit and make it a bit daring. Who's standing in your way? This is your story and you can publish it however you'd like!
Indie publishing rocks! You get to be the boss of your own little business... or maybe even empire. But of course, you can't do it all on your own; you need a fab team to help you out. Whether it's writing a beautifully edited copy or crafting the perfect cover design, everyone has their strengths. That's why it's so important to have an amazing group of people behind you to help take your vision to the next level. Wouldn't it be awesome to take your publishing dreams and make 'em happen? Let's do it!
These are the pros and cons of each approach to publishing.

• If you’ve been dreaming of becoming an author, then traditional publishing could be the way to make it happen. A lot of perseverance and a bit of luck are required, but it doesn't necessarily need to be a difficult journey. A few simple online searches will reveal plenty of agents who are willing to consider unsolicited manuscripts straight from authors. Good luck!
• If you're looking for a way to get your work out to a specific niche, indie publishing takes out the middleman and makes it easier for you to reach your audience. However, there are some trade-offs here: self-publishing means taking on the whole process yourself, from editing to marketing and promotion. But if you have a clear plan, then it could be a great way to get your work out there.

Conclusion
The final decision is yours! Both options have their advantages, so take some time to think through what you want to achieve and find the path that's right for you. Need your book out quickly? Indie publishing can provide that, with your book ready to share with readers in a few months, as opposed to the potential years you'd wait with traditional publishing. Ultimately, it's about what's best for you!

Have you ever had a burning desire to share your passion with the world? Writing a book is the perfect way to do that! But where do you start?

I won't lie to you. Writing isn't always easy, especially when you're just starting out. So where do you start? 

Read. Reading is one of the biggest and best tools to help you get started, and you can start by writing what you love to read! Is that romance? Maybe a mystery/thriller? Fantasy perhaps? Whatever you enjoy, you likely already have a deep and vested interest in that topic, and you've probably already gained a lot of knowledge about how to structure a story without even realizing it. (Of course, this only applies to actual writing. You can and should reference some of these resources for marketing purposes later.)

Research. After you read the books, check out blogs, follow your favorite authors on social media, talk to people in the business, go to a book signing if you can, see how it's all done from every possible angle... And then throw it all away because everyone's journey is different and there is no one right way to be an author. 

Write! If you want to write, you have to...well, write! You're probably thinking right now, "But what if I suck?" Well, you might. Or you might not. How will you ever know if you don't START? Ask any author, and they're probably going to tell you that their first book S.U.C.K.E.D. It's locked away in a vault somewhere with no hope of ever seeing daylight again. (I have one or two hiding away too.) 

Find your voice. How do you find it? WRITING, of course! There is no better way to find it than to practice, practice, practice. The more you do it, the better you'll get. The whole point is to refine your voice until it is just how you want it. And then refine it some more. You don't want to just churn out the same story again and again, right? The goal should be to improve over time. 

Find the right method for you. Plotter or pantser, that is the question. Whether you work best figuring out every little detail of the story from beginning to end (or end to beginning), or you just sit down and let your fingers fly across the keyboard (or maybe you prefer writing on pen and paper!), the point is to write! Start somewhere--anywhere--and just do it. 

By now you may be sensing a theme. Writing is all about....writing! No matter how or when you start, the point is that you have to start if you plan to be a writer. Hone your skill, gain your confidence, and realize your dreams. You can do it!