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Publishing Map

The Definitive Publishing Map

How a book gets from your head to a reader's hands. Every path, every stage, what it costs, and how long it takes.

Updated 24 September 2026

Select Traditional trade: £0 / $0 (they pay); 2–4 years after signing, plus querying Traditional trade Select Independent / small press: £0 / $0 (they pay); 1–2 years Independent / small press Select Self-publishing: ~$0 to $8,000+ (you pay); 3–8 months Self-publishing Select Hybrid: Thousands to tens of thousands; 6–12 months (~9 typical) Hybrid Select Specialised / institutional: Usually £0 / $0; 1–2 years+ Specialised / institutional

Your manuscript

How to use this map

Publishing is not one job, and it is not one road. It is a pipeline of around a dozen jobs, and a choice of who does them. Writing the book is one job. Editing, design, formatting, rights, distribution, and marketing are the rest, and after your draft is done a single decision, which path you take, settles who does each of them and on what terms.

This map has two axes. Down one side runs the lifecycle: the sequence of stages every book passes through, from idea to long-tail sales. Across the top run the pathways: the five routes a book can take to market. Everything else, cost, time, control, rights, royalties, and trust, is a way of scoring one against the other.

Two ways to read it. If you are deciding how to publish, start with Part 1, the pathways. If you have already chosen and you are executing, go to Part 2, the lifecycle, and follow the stage you are on. Parts 3 to 6 are the reference tables and the safety layer you will return to: the distribution matrix, the money and time numbers, the trust checks, and the formats.

The single orienting fact: roughly 85% of new titles registered in the United States each year are now self-published. In 2025 the country registered more than four million new titles, of which about 3.5 million were self-published and 642,242 came from traditional publishers, so self-published books outnumber traditionally published ones by more than five to one[1]. Most writers now take a path they were never handed a map for. This is the map.

About this map Raw markdown · for AI agents

Part 1

Choose your path

Every book takes one of five routes to readers. The old split of "traditional versus self-publishing" hides three important options in the middle. Here they are, compared, then explained one by one.
The five publishing pathways compared
Pathway Who runs productionGatekeepingCost to you upfrontTime to publishYour economicsRightsBest for
Traditional trade The publisherHigh (usually agent, then acquisition)£0 / $0 (they pay)2–4 years after signing, plus queryingAdvance, then ~7–15% print / ~25% net ebook royaltyPublisher holds a bundle of rightsWriters wanting reach, bookshops, prestige, and a team, who can wait
Independent / small press The publisherMedium (often no agent needed)£0 / $0 (they pay)1–2 yearsSmall or no advance, modest royaltiesPublisher holds rights, often fewer than a Big Five dealLiterary, regional, niche, or mission-driven books
Self-publishing YouNone~$0 to $8,000+ (you pay)3–8 monthsUp to 70% ebook, keep everything after costsYou keep all rightsControl, speed, higher per-sale share, and willingness to run the business
Hybrid The publisher, you payMedium (reputable ones vet)Thousands to tens of thousands6–12 months (~9 typical)You pay costs, then higher-than-standard royalty (>50% net)You keep more rights than trad, terms negotiableWriters who want a managed process and can fund it, and who vet carefully
Specialised / institutional The pressVaries (proposal, peer review)Usually £0 / $01–2 years+Modest royalties, mission over marginPress holds rightsAcademic, scholarly, professional, policy, association, or nonprofit-linked books

Each pathway keeps this colour throughout the map.

A note on how the five relate. Traditional and independent presses pay to produce your book and take rights and most of the money in exchange. Self-publishing inverts that: you pay and keep both. Hybrid sits in between and is the most confused and most abused category, so it gets its own trust checks below. Specialised presses run on mission rather than trade economics. And a principle worth carrying through all of them, from the writer and editor Austin Kleon's agent: all publishing is self-publishing. Whatever path you take, the audience-building and much of the selling end up being your job[37].

Traditional trade

Traditional trade publishing

What it is. The path most people picture. At many major trade publishers, the usual route is through a literary agent rather than an unsolicited submission[67]. If an agent signs you and sells your book, the house funds and runs editing, design, production, and agreed distribution under the credibility of a known imprint. This route is not universal: submission policy varies by publisher, imprint, market, and occasional open window. Penguin Random House India and HarperCollins India, for example, accept direct submissions under their current guidelines[68][69].

How you get in. The package differs by category. For fiction, finish the manuscript and prepare a query, synopsis, and the pages each agent requests. For nonfiction, prepare a book proposal covering the audience, market case, author platform, chapter outline, and sample chapters, often before the manuscript is complete[64][65]. Memoir sits between the two: some agents request a proposal, some the complete manuscript, and some both. Check the current policy of the exact agent, imprint, and market before assuming either that an agent is mandatory or that direct submission is open[67][68][69]. The odds are long: a typical agent receives around 2,000 submissions a year and signs two or three new writers, so any single agent taking you is roughly a one-in-a-thousand event, and agents reject an estimated 95% to 99% of what they receive[3]. Agents are paid by commission, the industry standard being 15% of what the book earns, never upfront fees[3][4]. The full submission and opportunity toolkit is in Part 7.

What you trade and get. You assign the publisher a negotiated bundle of rights and accept a royalty in the region of 7% to 15% of a print book's price, with ebook and audio nearer 25% of net receipts[2]. Before signing, identify the language, territories, formats, subsidiary rights, sublicense split, accounting, publication commitments, and rights-reversion triggers; an agent or author-side contract adviser can help you evaluate the whole exchange, not only the advance[2][71]. A debut advance is often small and is earned back out of royalties before you see more. In exchange you get a professional team and distribution into physical shops. Acquisition is not the end of revision: expect editorial notes, copyediting, proofs, and repeated author review before publication. It is also slow: two to four years from signing to shelves, on top of however long querying takes[11].

Independent / small press

Independent and small presses

What it is. The lane most guides skip. Independent and small presses are true publishers, distinct from the Big Five, that acquire and produce books, often in literary, regional, niche, or mission-driven areas. Many accept submissions directly, without an agent, which removes the hardest gate on the traditional path.

What you trade and get. Like larger houses, they pay production costs and hold rights, usually with a small advance or none and modest royalties. What you gain is a real publisher's editorial and distribution support for books the big houses would pass on, and a genuine shot at reviews, prizes, and bookshop placement. For many literary and niche writers this is the main route, not a fallback.

Self-publishing

Self-publishing (author-publisher)

What it is. You are the publisher. You skip the gatekeepers and publish directly, most commonly through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and others. You keep all rights and earn up to 70% of the sale price on ebooks[22]. In return, every production job is yours to do or to pay for, and the whole of Part 2 is, in effect, your job description.

What it costs and returns. Anywhere from near-zero, doing everything yourself, to $8,000 or more for a fully professional build, most of it editing and cover (see Part 4). Time to a polished book runs three to eight months[11]. The distinction the industry insists on: as an author-publisher you are funding and directing a publishing business, which is different from hiring a self-publishing service provider to do it for you. Confusing the two is where a lot of money is lost, which is why the trust layer in Part 5 matters.

Hybrid

Hybrid publishing

What it is. A publisher that behaves like a traditional house in every respect except the business model: instead of financing the book itself, it is author-subsidised, and in exchange it returns a higher-than-standard royalty[5]. A reputable hybrid still curates, still says no, and still stakes its own imprint on quality.

How to tell a real one from a vanity press wearing the label. This is the single most exploited word in publishing, so use a checklist rather than a vibe. The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) publishes an 11-point Hybrid Publisher Criteria; a genuine hybrid meets all eleven: define a mission and vision; vet submissions; commit to truth and transparency; provide a negotiable, plain contract; publish under its own imprint(s) and ISBNs; publish to industry standards; ensure editorial, design and production quality; pursue and manage a range of rights; provide distribution; demonstrate respectable sales; and pay a higher-than-standard royalty, in most cases more than 50% of net to the author[5]. IBPA is explicit that a company meeting most but not all of these is not a hybrid, it is a self-publishing service provider, and calling itself hybrid is part of the confusion[5]. The Authors Guild frames the trade cleanly: like traditional publishers, hybrids gatekeep and distribute through trade channels; like self-publishing, they pay no advance, typically pay higher royalties, and take less control over rights[8].

The catch. Nobody polices who gets to use the word "hybrid"; it is buyer-beware, and no trusted, regularly-updated directory of vetted hybrids exists[7]. So before signing anything, run the company against the 11 criteria and check it against the trust resources in Part 5. Cost runs from thousands to tens of thousands; timelines are six to twelve months, around nine typical[11].

Specialised / institutional

Specialised and institutional publishing

What it is. University presses, academic and scholarly publishers, professional and textbook publishers, and nonprofit or association presses. These matter less for mass-market fiction and a great deal for scholarly work, policy books, textbooks, professional field guides, memoirs with an institutional audience, and mission-linked titles. Some work through specialised agents; some accept unsolicited proposals; university and association presses are often driven by mission or a parent organisation rather than trade economics. If your book's real audience is a field, a discipline, or an institution, this path belongs on your shortlist even though it is never the default.

Still deciding? Four questions settle it

If the table and the five descriptions have not already picked your lane, answer these in order. Each "yes" resolves to a path; each "no" drops to the next question.

Question 1 of 4

Run production yourself and keep all rights?

You have a finished (or nearly finished) manuscript. You hire or do the editing, design, and distribution, and every sale flows to you.

Paths are not permanent: many writers self-publish, prove the book sells, then win a traditional deal later on better terms.

Part 2

The lifecycle

This is the spine: the stages every book moves through. On the traditional, independent, hybrid, and institutional paths a publisher runs most of these for you. On the self-publishing path they are all yours, so this section is written primarily for the author-publisher, with the others noting "the publisher does this."

Two things to hold in mind. First, the idea is the one thing no one can supply for you; even the writing can be bought, from a ghostwriter, though most writers keep it. Everything after the manuscript can be done, bought, or handed to a publisher. Second, the money is lopsided: editing and cover are where most of the budget goes, and they are the stages writers most often skip, which is a large part of why so many self-published books read as unfinished.

  1. 01 Write The idea, then the draft. Yours to write, or to hand to a ghostwriter.

    What it is. The idea, then the draft. The idea is yours alone; no tool and no editor can supply it, and it matters more than any later stage. The writing is craft, and for most writers it stays theirs too, though it is the one production job that can also be hired out whole, to a ghostwriter.

    Tools and cost. Most writers work in Word or Google Docs (free), or in Scrivener, built for organising long manuscripts ($59.99 per version; major-version upgrades may carry an update fee) [16]. Atticus costs $147 as a one-time purchase, combines writing and formatting, and runs on Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook, and the web [15]. Many writers now use AI to research, test a line, or break a block, though touching AI at the drafting stage still carries a stigma in parts of the writing world.

    Hiring it out. A ghostwriter writes the book for you. You supply the ideas, vision, and voice through interviews and shape every draft; the ghostwriter does the writing, either uncredited or as a named collaborator. Common for memoir, biography, business, and thought-leadership books. It is the most expensive route on this map: roughly $5,000 to over $100,000 for a full book, with professional nonfiction commonly $18,000 to $50,000, a marketplace average of about $32,800 for an 80,000-word book, and celebrity projects past $250,000 [40][41]. Expect six to twelve months [40][41]. Hiring routes include Reedsy's marketplace and specialist agencies or networks such as Gotham Ghostwriters; compare process, samples, contract terms, and attribution before choosing [40][66].

    Time. Four to eight months for a first-time author, separate from publishing [11]. Fiction is normally queried as a finished manuscript; nonfiction is often pitched through a proposal and sample chapters before the full manuscript exists, while memoir requirements vary [64][65].

    Options and cost.

    Do it yourself Use a tool Hire a professional
    Draft Free (Word, Docs) $59.99 per version (Scrivener)[16] ~$5,000–$100,000+ (ghostwriter)[40][41]

    Tools and resources.

    Find resources for this stage →

    Who does this on each path.

    • Traditional trade You
    • Independent / small press You
    • Self-publishing You
    • Hybrid You
    • Specialised / institutional You

    Yours on every path, written or ghostwritten. Fiction is normally queried complete; nonfiction may sell from a proposal and sample chapters.

  2. 02 Critique and feedback Pressure-testing the draft before you spend money on editing.

    The pain: You cannot see the problems in your own work.

    What it is. Pressure-testing the draft before you spend money on editing. Distance, honest readers, and structured feedback catch problems you cannot see in your own work.

    Options and cost. Beta readers and writing groups (free). Peer-critique communities such as Scribophile, Critique Circle, and the Absolute Write forums exchange feedback at no cost. General LLMs such as ChatGPT and Claude can act as additional first readers when you ask focused questions about confusion, pacing, or missing context; treat their responses as hypotheses, not editorial judgment, and do not use them as substitutes for developmental or line/copy editing. Wordsmith is built for manuscript-level critique and costs $50 per manuscript [44]. ProWritingAid gives analytical reports on pacing, repetition, and style (roughly $120 a year or a one-time lifetime licence near $399) [18]. This stage is cheap and disproportionately valuable: it reduces how much paid editing you need.

    Options and cost.

    Do it yourself Use a tool Hire a professional
    Critique Free (beta readers, forums) ChatGPT / Claude; $50/manuscript (Wordsmith); ~$120/yr (ProWritingAid)[18][44] n/a

    Tools and resources.

    Find resources for this stage →

    Who does this on each path.

    • Traditional trade You
    • Independent / small press You
    • Self-publishing You
    • Hybrid You
    • Specialised / institutional You

    Yours on every path, and it pays for itself: it reduces how much paid editing you need.

  3. 03 Edit Three passes at three altitudes: developmental, line and copy, proofread.

    The pain: Doing the passes out of order means paying to fix the same pages twice.

    Editing is not one thing. It is three passes at three altitudes, done in order, from the biggest picture down to the smallest mark. Doing them out of order means paying to fix the same pages twice [39].

    Developmental edit. The big-picture pass: structure, arc, argument, whether the ending earns itself, and whether anything is in the wrong place. The complaint writers voice most about their own drafts is exactly this, order. It is the deepest and most valuable edit. Professional editors charge roughly $0.01 to $0.05 per word depending on service and genre; Reedsy's current marketplace average for a developmental edit of an 80,000-word book is about $2,880 [12].

    Line and copy edit. The sentence-level pass: rhythm and clarity (line), then consistency and correctness (copy). Grammarly and ProWritingAid catch mechanical errors cheaply and publish their current paid plans directly [17][18], but neither does craft or protects a distinctive voice. A newer kind of AI editor, Wordsmith, reads the whole manuscript and gives structural and line feedback without rewriting your prose into a generic middle, priced at $50 per manuscript [44]. A human line or copy edit commonly runs into the thousands; use the current Reedsy marketplace data and EFA rate chart as planning references, not quotes [12][14].

    Proofread. The final safety net for the typos and slips that survived everything else. A single visible error signals to a reader that the book was not taken seriously. Roughly $800 to $1,600, around $0.02 per word [12].

    The stack. A full professional editing stack, developmental then copy then proofread, runs roughly $3,600 to $8,000 for one book [12]. That number is why most self-published writers skip or self-do editing, and the biggest single reason the quality gap between traditional and self-published books exists. On every publisher-led path, editing is done in-house.

    Options and cost.

    Do it yourself Use a tool Hire a professional
    Developmental edit Free (beta readers) $50 per manuscript (Wordsmith)[44] ~$2,880 for 80,000 words[12]
    Line + copy edit Free $50/manuscript (Wordsmith); ~$12–$30/mo (Grammarly, ProWritingAid)[17][18][44] Human editor · ~$1,000–$3,000[12][14]
    Proofread Free (risky) Included above ~$800–$1,600[12]

    Tools and resources.

    Find resources for this stage →

    Who does this on each path.

    • Traditional trade The publisher
    • Independent / small press The publisher
    • Self-publishing You
    • Hybrid The publisher
    • Specialised / institutional The publisher

    On every publisher-led path, editing is done in-house. On hybrid, the publisher runs it and you fund it.

  4. 04 Cover design A cover that signals genre instantly; the biggest factor in whether a browsing reader clicks.

    The pain: A weak cover kills browsing clicks.

    What it is. The single biggest factor in whether a browsing reader clicks. A cover's first job is to signal genre instantly and correctly; getting those signals right matters more than the art being beautiful. In A/B tests across seven genres, professional covers drew on average 53% more clicks than author-made ones [19]. Options: DIY in Canva (free, and it usually looks it); premade covers ($100 to $150); a custom cover from a professional designer, averaging around $880 to $930, most projects between $625 and $1,250 [19]. Contest sites like 99designs are cheap but uneven: self-publishing The Pathless Path, Paul Millerd ran a $270 cover contest yet judged the designer he hired directly, at about $470, the better buy [42]. For a book you are serious about, the cover is often the best money you will spend.

    Options and cost.

    Do it yourself Use a tool Hire a professional
    Cover Free (Canva) $100–$150 (premade)[19] ~$625–$1,250[19]

    Tools and resources.

    Find resources for this stage →

    Who does this on each path.

    • Traditional trade The publisher
    • Independent / small press The publisher
    • Self-publishing You
    • Hybrid The publisher
    • Specialised / institutional The publisher
  5. 05 Format the book Typesetting the interior into a clean file that renders on every device.

    The pain: Formatting is the job writers most wish were automated.

    What it is. Turning the manuscript into an actual book: margins, running heads, chapter openers, front and back matter, and a clean ebook file that renders on every device. Tedious, and one of the jobs writers most wish were automated. Options include Amazon's free Kindle Create [48], the free Reedsy Studio formatter for text-based books [39], Vellum ($199.99 for ebooks or $249.99 for ebooks and print, Mac only) [47], and Atticus ($147 as a one-time purchase, available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook, and the web) [15]. A hired formatter runs a few hundred dollars.

    Options and cost.

    Do it yourself Use a tool Hire a professional
    Format Free (Kindle Create, Reedsy Studio)[39][48] $147 Atticus; $199.99–$249.99 Vellum[15][47] A few hundred

    Tools and resources.

    Find resources for this stage →

    Who does this on each path.

    • Traditional trade The publisher
    • Independent / small press The publisher
    • Self-publishing You
    • Hybrid The publisher
    • Specialised / institutional The publisher
  6. 06 Rights and metadata The contract, ISBN, copyright, and metadata that decide what you control and whether readers find you.

    The pain: Invisible until it costs you, so treat it as decisions, not footnotes.

    This stage is invisible until it costs you, so treat it as decisions, not footnotes.

    The publishing contract. On a publisher-led path, the rights grant is the core asset you exchange. Before signing, identify the languages, territories, and formats granted; print, ebook, audio, translation, dramatic, film, and television rights; which rights the publisher must exploit and which it may sublicense; how sublicense income is divided; publication deadlines; royalty accounting; and the conditions that return rights to you [2][71]. Option, non-compete, morality, and AI-use clauses may also affect work beyond this book. A checklist helps you ask the questions; it is not a substitute for an agent, author organisation, or qualified contract review.

    ISBN. An ISBN identifies a specific book product, not the underlying work or its copyright [20][52]. Start with the official ISBN agency serving the place where you operate as the publisher; that may be a national or group agency, and its eligibility rules, prices, and whether it supplies single numbers or blocks vary [45][49]. A new edition or distinct product form normally needs its own ISBN. Paperback, hardcover, and audiobook are separate products [20][52]; digital editions depend on file format, platform, and usage restrictions, and a Kindle ebook does not require an ISBN [50][51]. Platform-issued numbers are narrower: KDP's free ISBN is available only for paperback and hardcover, can be used only on KDP, and displays the imprint "Independently published." Your own ISBN can be used across publishing services and carries the imprint registered with your official agency [51]. Examples, not global defaults: Bowker is the US agency and currently charges $125 for one ISBN or $295 for ten [20]; ISBN Canada provides them free only to eligible Canadian publishers and publications and requires proof of Canadian residence [46]; the UK and Ireland use Nielsen. Use the International ISBN Agency directory to find the correct issuer before budgeting [45].

    Copyright. In the US and UK your copyright exists automatically the moment you write the work; you do not have to register it to hold it. But registering with the US Copyright Office (about $45 to $65 for online filing) before or within three months of publication unlocks stronger legal remedies if you ever need to enforce it [21]. An ISBN is not copyright, and copyright is not an ISBN; they are different systems doing different jobs.

    Metadata. Title, subtitle, categories, keywords, and description. This is discoverability, and on a publisher-led path the house handles it; as an author-publisher it is yours and it directly affects whether readers ever find the book.

    Options and cost.

    Do it yourself Use a tool Hire a professional
    ISBN Free where a platform supplies one[51] US example: $295 for 10 from Bowker[20] n/a
    Copyright (US) ~$45–$65 (register yourself)[21] n/a n/a

    Tools and resources.

    Find resources for this stage →

    Who does this on each path.

    • Traditional trade The publisher
    • Independent / small press The publisher
    • Self-publishing You
    • Hybrid The publisher
    • Specialised / institutional The publisher
  7. 07 Produce Making the objects: print-on-demand, ebook files, hardcover.

    What it is. Making the physical and digital objects. Print is almost always print-on-demand (POD): a copy is printed only when ordered, so there is no inventory and no upfront print run. Ebooks are a file; hardcovers, large-format, colour, and illustrated books cost more and need more care. On POD, your per-copy royalty is the list price minus the printing cost minus the retailer's cut, which is why print margins are thinner than ebook margins (see Part 3).

    Tools and resources.

    Find resources for this stage →

    Who does this on each path.

    • Traditional trade The publisher
    • Independent / small press The publisher
    • Self-publishing You
    • Hybrid The publisher
    • Specialised / institutional The publisher
  8. 08 Distribute Getting listed and buyable; the Amazon-exclusive versus wide decision.

    What it is. Getting the finished book listed and buyable, and choosing how widely. The central strategic choice for an author-publisher is Amazon-exclusive versus wide. This stage has enough moving parts that it gets its own matrix in Part 3. The short version: KDP is the default for reach, IngramSpark is the route into bookshops and libraries, and aggregators such as Draft2Digital push you to every other store from one upload.

    Options and cost.

    Do it yourself Use a tool Hire a professional
    Distribute Free (KDP) Small fees (IngramSpark, D2D $20)[26][27] n/a

    Tools and resources.

    Find resources for this stage →

    Who does this on each path.

    • Traditional trade The publisher
    • Independent / small press The publisher
    • Self-publishing You
    • Hybrid The publisher
    • Specialised / institutional The publisher
  9. 09 Add audio A first-class format with its own production cost and platforms.

    What it is. Audio is now a first-class format, not an afterthought, and the audiobook market is growing fast. It has its own production cost (a professional narrator runs roughly $1,000 to $3,000, or you can use royalty-share, narrate it yourself, or use AI narration where permitted) and its own distribution choices, laid out in Part 3.

    Options and cost.

    Do it yourself Use a tool Hire a professional
    Audio production Free (self/AI narrate) Royalty-share (no upfront)[29] ~$1,000–$3,000[29]

    Tools and resources.

    Find resources for this stage →

    Who does this on each path.

    • Traditional trade The publisher
    • Independent / small press The publisher
    • Self-publishing You
    • Hybrid The publisher
    • Specialised / institutional The publisher
  10. 10 Launch Concentrate sales into a tight window; start months before go-live.

    The pain: The first two weeks largely decide whether a book becomes a bestseller.

    What it is. How the book enters the world. The industry rule of thumb is that a book's first two weeks largely decide whether it becomes a bestseller, so the aim is to concentrate sales, ideally as pre-orders, into a tight window [37]. Pre-launch work (an author website, an email list, advance review copies, pre-orders) starts months before the book goes live; the most successful indies begin marketing while they are still editing [11].

    Find resources for this stage →

    Who does this on each path.

    • Traditional trade Shared
    • Independent / small press Shared
    • Self-publishing You
    • Hybrid Shared
    • Specialised / institutional Shared

    The house schedules and ships the launch on publisher-led paths; the audience you bring to it is still yours.

  11. 11 Market Finding readers: the hardest and most neglected job of all.

    The pain: Finding a real audience is harder than producing the book.

    What it is. Finding readers is the hardest and most neglected job of all. Kevin Kelly's blunt version, from a writer who has done every kind of publishing, is that producing a book is easier than finding its audience, and at least half your total effort will go into selling it whether you publish or self-publish [37]. Treat unsupported viral sales statistics cautiously; author outcomes vary radically by genre, backlist, distribution, and sustained audience work [36][37].

    Options and cost. Paid: Amazon Ads and BookBub Ads (pay-per-click, set your own budget); BookBub Featured Deals, an editorial and competitive placement to an audience of more than 20 million readers, priced by genre from under $200 in small categories to well over $3,000 in large ones [34]. Free and slower, and usually more durable: an email list, early reviews, an author profile on Amazon Author Central and the Goodreads Author Program, A+ content on your Amazon listing, and finding the specific communities where your readers already are.

    Options and cost.

    Do it yourself Use a tool Hire a professional
    Marketing Free (email list, reviews) Set your own ad budget Varies widely

    Tools and resources.

    Find resources for this stage →

    Who does this on each path.

    • Traditional trade Shared
    • Independent / small press Shared
    • Self-publishing You
    • Hybrid Shared
    • Specialised / institutional Shared

    At least half your total effort goes into selling the book, whichever path you take [37].

  12. 12 Build a long-tail audience From selling one book to owning a readership.

    What it is. The shift from selling one book to owning a readership. The most robust model for a working writer is Kevin Kelly's 1,000 True Fans: you do not need a million readers, you need a direct relationship with a smaller number who will buy what you make. If you own that relationship, having their names and emails, roughly a thousand true fans each spending about $100 a year can support you [37]. Choose the infrastructure by the job it does: Substack, Ghost, and Beehiiv build a subscriber relationship; Royal Road, Quibble, and Inkitt help serial fiction find genre readers; Medium can expose essays and chapters to a platform audience; Patreon supports membership; Kickstarter and BackerKit support crowdfunding; and Gumroad or an author's own store handles direct transactions. Substack says writers own their content and subscriber list and keep 90% of subscription revenue after card fees [53][54]. Royal Road says authors retain ownership of their work, provides ranking and discovery surfaces, and lets authors link to Patreon or PayPal without taking a percentage of those external contributions [55][56][57]. Quibble supports ongoing web serials and completed fiction, with chapter scheduling and reader-community features; its monetisation system is currently being rebuilt [61]. Gumroad charges no monthly fee, takes 10% plus $0.50 on direct sales and 30% on sales through Discover, and acts as merchant of record for tax [58]. Medium can pay eligible writers through its Partner Program, but it is platform discovery rather than an owned subscriber list [59]. None of these services alone places a finished book in retailer or library distribution. This is the stage that turns a book from a one-off into a career.

    Tools and resources.

    Find resources for this stage →

    Who does this on each path.

    • Traditional trade You
    • Independent / small press You
    • Self-publishing You
    • Hybrid You
    • Specialised / institutional You

    The direct relationship with readers is yours on every path.

DIY $0 Fully bought $0

The running totals are planning ranges for a self-published, average-length book: the DIY column summed, versus the professional (or tool) option at every stage, marketing budgets excluded. The draft is counted at its tool price; a ghostwriter (stage 1) adds roughly $5,000 to $100,000+ on top. The calculator at the end of Part 4 builds your own number.

Part 3

Where to sell

Where to sell, and what you actually keep. Headline royalty rates mislead; the numbers below are what clears after each platform's mechanics. The common professional setup is not one platform but three: KDP for Amazon, IngramSpark for bookshops and libraries, and an aggregator for every other ebook store.
ebook
  • Amazon KDPDirect retailer + POD
    Ebook royalty:
    70% ($2.99–$9.99), else 35%, minus delivery fee [22]
    You keep at $4.99:
    $3.49Before a small delivery fee deducted at 70%, which varies by file size.
    Reach:
    Kindle Unlimited through KDP Select, with 90-day ebook exclusivity [24]
    Fees:
    Free
  • Apple BooksDirect retailer
    Ebook royalty:
    Flat 70% at any price, no delivery fee, no exclusivity [25]
    You keep at $4.99:
    $3.49
    Reach:
    100M+ users; needs a Mac or an aggregator to upload
    Fees:
    Free
  • IngramSparkAggregator + POD
    Ebook royalty:
    ~85% of net on ebooks [27]
    You keep at $4.99:
    n/a~85% of net: net is what remains after the retailer's cut, which varies by store.
    Reach:
    Global bookstore, online-store, and library distribution [27]
    Fees:
    Free to set up; current distribution fees are listed on IngramSpark pricing [27]
  • Draft2DigitalAggregator
    Ebook royalty:
    ~10% cut of what each retailer pays (nets ~54–63% of list) [26]
    You keep at $4.99:
    $2.69–$3.14Nets ~54–63% of list after the retailer and D2D take their cuts.
    Reach:
    One upload to its current retail and library partners; free ISBN available [26][60]
    Fees:
    $20 one-time activation, plus $12/yr for accounts under $100/yr [26]
  • Barnes & Noble PressDirect retailer
    Ebook royalty:
    Flat 70% at any price
    You keep at $4.99:
    $3.49
    Reach:
    US only; does not stock physical B&N shelves (use IngramSpark for that)
    Fees:
    Free
  • Kobo Writing LifeDirect retailer
    Ebook royalty:
    70% at or above the country-specific minimum; 45% below; 20% for public-domain works [75]
    You keep at $4.99:
    n/aRate depends on work type and country-specific minimum: original works pay 45% or 70%; public-domain works pay 20%.
    Reach:
    Available in over 190 countries worldwide [76]
    Fees:
    Free
  • Google Play BooksDirect retailer
    Ebook royalty:
    52% of list
    You keep at $4.99:
    $2.59
    Reach:
    Search-driven readers other stores miss
    Fees:
    Free

The exclusivity decision. Enrolling an ebook in KDP Select (for Kindle Unlimited, paid per page read) locks the digital edition out of every other store for each 90-day term [24]. That can suit authors whose readers live inside Kindle Unlimited, mainly high-volume genre fiction, and is a poor trade for anyone selling well elsewhere.

Production, not just distribution, is the cost driver in audio: a professional human narration runs roughly $1,000 to $3,000, royalty-share splits future earnings 50/50 with the narrator at no upfront cost, and self- or AI-narration is cheapest where the platform allows it [29].

Part 4

Money and time

Rough ranges for an average-length book; you will not pay for every row. The publisher-led paths cost you little or nothing here, because the house pays and recoups through rights and royalties.

What it costs to self-publish one book

Self-publishing costs per stage: do it yourself, use a tool, or hire a professional
Stage Do it yourself Use a tool Hire a professional
Draft Free (Word, Docs) $59.99 per version (Scrivener)[16] ~$5,000–$100,000+ (ghostwriter)[40][41]
Critique Free (beta readers, forums) ChatGPT / Claude; $50/manuscript (Wordsmith); ~$120/yr (ProWritingAid)[18][44] n/a
Developmental edit Free (beta readers) $50 per manuscript (Wordsmith)[44] ~$2,880 for 80,000 words[12]
Line + copy edit Free $50/manuscript (Wordsmith); ~$12–$30/mo (Grammarly, ProWritingAid)[17][18][44] Human editor · ~$1,000–$3,000[12][14]
Proofread Free (risky) Included above ~$800–$1,600[12]
Format Free (Kindle Create, Reedsy Studio)[39][48] $147 Atticus; $199.99–$249.99 Vellum[15][47] A few hundred
Cover Free (Canva) $100–$150 (premade)[19] ~$625–$1,250[19]
ISBN Free where a platform supplies one[51] US example: $295 for 10 from Bowker[20] n/a
Copyright (US) ~$45–$65 (register yourself)[21] n/a n/a
Distribute Free (KDP) Small fees (IngramSpark, D2D $20)[26][27] n/a
Audio production Free (self/AI narrate) Royalty-share (no upfront)[29] ~$1,000–$3,000[29]
Marketing Free (email list, reviews) Set your own ad budget Varies widely

The headline. The writing is free unless a ghostwriter does it (see stage 1), distribution is close to free, and the real money is editing and cover. Industry cost surveys put a typical professional self-published book at roughly $2,940 to $5,660, and a fully professional build can run to $8,000 or more[39][21]. A leaner build, doing the writing and marketing yourself, using tools for editing and formatting, and buying only a strong cover, comes in under $1,000[21]. The gap between those numbers is mostly the editing decision.

How long it takes

Time to publish by path
Path Before production Production to launch Realistic total (finished manuscript to shelf)
Traditional trade Querying: weeks to many months; full-manuscript reads 3–6 months ~2 years after signing ~2–4 years, often more[11]
Independent / small press Submission and acceptance: months ~1–1.5 years ~1–2 years
Hybrid Acceptance: weeks to months Editing 3–5 months, design and print several more ~6–12 months, ~9 typical[11]
Self-publishing You set the pace Editing 6–12 weeks, format and cover 2–4 weeks, platform review up to 3 days ~3–8 months for a polished book[11]
Specialised / institutional Proposal and peer review: months ~1 year+ ~1–2 years+

The reason traditional is slow is not idleness; the long runway is how a publisher rallies booksellers, reviewers, and reviewers' deadlines so the book launches with momentum rather than slipping out quietly[11]. Self-publishing removes that wait and hands you the pace, and the risk of rushing. A book can be live on KDP three days after you upload the file[11], but a book that is ready takes months.

What writers actually earn

Set expectations honestly. Across all US authors, median book-related income is low; the Authors Guild found a median of around $2,000, and committed full-time indie authors cluster higher, with the Alliance of Independent Authors reporting a median near $12,800 to $13,500 against roughly $6,000 to $8,000 for traditionally published authors [36]. Both distributions are extreme: most earn very little, a small minority earn six figures, and the difference is driven less by royalty rate than by genre fit, cover, backlist size, and consistent marketing [36]. One documented example of the top end: Paul Millerd reports roughly $200,000 in profit on about 50,000 copies of The Pathless Path. He says his paperback and hardcover royalties are typically about $7 to $8 per copy, compared with the $2 to $3 he says traditionally published authors typically receive [42][43].

The same data carries the most hopeful fact on the map: the more an indie author earns, the more likely a traditional publisher is to come offering a deal, because self-publishing has become a proving ground that publishers now shop from rather than a consolation prize [36].

Build your own number

The tables above, made yours: pick a path, choose who does each stage, and toggle formats. Totals are planning estimates, not quotes.

Formats:
  • DraftFree (Word, Docs)
  • CritiqueFree (beta readers, forums)
  • Developmental editFree (beta readers)
  • Line + copy editFree
  • ProofreadFree (risky)
  • FormatFree (Kindle Create, Reedsy Studio)[39][48]
  • CoverFree (Canva)
  • ISBNFree where a platform supplies one[51] · KDP example: paperback and hardcover only, KDP-only, with the imprint "Independently published." KDP ebooks do not require an ISBN.
  • Copyright (US)~$45–$65 (register yourself)[21]
  • DistributeFree (KDP)
  • MarketingFree (email list, reviews)

Distinct product forms and new editions normally need separate ISBNs [20][52]. Digital editions depend on format, platform, and usage restrictions, and KDP ebooks do not require an ISBN [50][51]. The $295 block of ten is a US Bowker planning example[20]. Use the official agency for where you operate as publisher because eligibility, price, and single-versus-block rules vary [45][49].

Part 5

Trust and safety

A map that routes writers toward bad actors is worse than no map. Publishing is unregulated: there are no licensing requirements to call yourself an agent, an editor, or a publisher, and the rise of self-publishing created a large, lucrative market for scams [10]. The most expensive mistakes on this whole map are not overpaying for a good service; they are signing the wrong contract, buying the wrong "hybrid" package, or hiring a predatory provider. Three resources exist to prevent exactly that, and they are load-bearing, not optional.

  • ALLi's Watchdog Desk

    The Alliance of Independent Authors runs an ethical-oversight desk that rates self-publishing services from "Recommended" to "Caution" and maintains a vetted Partner Member directory across writing, editorial, design, production, distribution, marketing, rights, and author business [9]. It exists because this is a market where, in its own words, the same service can cost $500 or $15,000 for much the same thing [9].

    Open allianceindependentauthors.org ↗

  • Writer Beware

    Run by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, it is the clearest public warning system for scams, vanity practices, and deceptive offers, with case studies and an archive covering agents, editors, small presses, and vanity, subsidy, and hybrid publishers [10]. Its blog complements the general information on the main site with reporting on the latest scams.

    Open writerbeware.com ↗ Latest scam reports ↗

  • The Authors Guild

    Provides model contracts, contract review, scam alerts, and current best-practice guidance including on AI, and it is the body most worth belonging to for legal backing [8].

    Open authorsguild.org ↗

Vet a publisher before you sign

Run any company that wants your money against IBPA's 11 hybrid criteria and the known scam signals. The checklist answers in plain language.

IBPA's 11 hybrid publisher criteria

Does the company meet IBPA's 11 criteria? [5]

Tick every criterion the company demonstrably meets. A genuine hybrid meets all eleven.

Scam red flags

Any of these red flags? [10]

The most expensive mistakes in publishing start with one of these.

Nobody polices who gets to use the word "hybrid"; it is buyer-beware, and no trusted, regularly-updated directory of vetted hybrids exists [7]. So before signing anything, run the company against the 11 criteria and check it against Writer Beware and ALLi.

ALLi's Watchdog Desk ↗
Writer Beware ↗Latest scam reports ↗
The Authors Guild ↗

Part 6

Formats and release models

One manuscript can become several products. It can also reach readers in instalments, through a platform audience, or as a direct sale. Those are release models, not substitutes for editing, production, or retail distribution.

Book formats

The files and editions a reader buys or borrows.

  • Format

    Ebook

    Cheapest to produce and highest-margin (up to 70%). The default first format for most indie books.

  • Format

    Print (paperback)

    Almost always print-on-demand, so no inventory. Thinner margins than ebook because printing cost is deducted first. Essential for credibility and gift-buying, and the only format that reaches physical shelves (via IngramSpark).

  • Format

    Hardcover

    Higher production cost and price; valued for gifts, libraries, and special editions. Now available POD through KDP and IngramSpark.

  • Format

    Audiobook

    The fastest-growing format, with its own production cost and distribution matrix (Part 3). Worth it especially in genres with strong listening audiences.

Ways to release and sell

How work reaches readers before, alongside, or instead of a conventional book launch.

  • Release model

    Web-fiction serial

    Release chapters on genre communities such as Royal Road and Quibble. Royal Road uses rankings, recommendations, and reader feedback for discovery; it says authors retain ownership of their content and can link readers to Patreon or PayPal without the platform taking a percentage of those external contributions [55][56][57]. Quibble supports ongoing web serials and completed fiction, with chapter scheduling and reader-community features; it says its monetisation system is currently being rebuilt [61]. This model is strongest in serial-friendly genres such as fantasy, LitRPG, progression fiction, and romance. Keep your own manuscript backup and check platform terms before posting. Amazon's Kindle Vella closed in February 2025, a reminder that a platform can disappear [38].

  • Release model

    Subscriber serial

    Substack can publish fiction, nonfiction, essays, or a book chapter by chapter, with free and paid posts. Writers own their content and subscriber list, keep 90% of subscription revenue after card fees, and can use the same publication to support preorders, a launch, and a backlist [53][54]. Ghost and Beehiiv are alternatives for an owned newsletter. A subscriber serial can precede, accompany, or replace a finished book, but bookstore and library distribution still requires a separate route.

  • Release model

    Discovery and syndication

    Medium is useful for publishing essays, extracts, or self-contained chapters into a platform audience. Eligible writers can earn through the Medium Partner Program [59]. Treat it as a discovery channel rather than an owned reader relationship, and point interested readers toward a channel you control.

  • Release model

    Direct digital sale

    Gumroad can sell an ebook file, bundle, or membership directly. It has no monthly fee, charges 10% plus $0.50 for sales through your profile or direct links, and charges 30% when a buyer finds the product through Gumroad Discover; it also acts as merchant of record for tax [58]. It is a storefront and checkout layer, not bookstore, library, or print distribution.

  • Release model

    Special editions and crowdfunding

    Illustrated books, collector's editions, and box sets fund well through Kickstarter and BackerKit, where pre-sales let you produce exactly the number you have already sold [37].

Part 7

The submission and opportunity hub

For the traditional, independent, and literary paths, the work has two layers: prepare the right submission package, then find the right agent, press, magazine, contest, grant, or live opportunity.

Prepare the package

Fiction

Normally finish and revise the manuscript, then prepare a query, synopsis, and exactly the sample pages requested [65].

Nonfiction

Normally build a proposal that makes the audience, market case, author platform, chapter plan, comparable books, and sample chapters legible; the full manuscript may not yet exist [64].

Memoir

Requirements vary. Check whether the recipient wants a proposal, a complete manuscript, or both [64][65].

The documents

A query pitches the project. A synopsis discloses the complete narrative, including the ending. Sample pages prove execution and must match the number, order, and format requested [65].

Requirements differ by agent, publisher, imprint, market, and open window. Most major US publishers still advise writers to work through an agent, while Penguin Random House India and HarperCollins India publish direct-submission routes with their own requested materials [67][68][69]. Check the first-party guideline each time, track what you send and when, and do not send a full manuscript unless it is requested.

Finding agents

Note the scam caution from Part 5: agent "matching" services and best-of lists are often unreliable or worse [10].

Literary magazines, contests, grants, and residencies

  • Poets & Writers · databases of magazines, small presses, contests, and grants
  • Duotrope · market listings, submission tracking, deadlines, and acceptance statistics
  • Submittable Discover · a marketplace for contests, grants, residencies, and calls
  • CLMP · current calls for submissions from member magazines and presses

This cluster is most of the map for poets, essayists, short-story writers, and anyone building a literary CV before a book.

Live pitches and open windows

Festivals, conferences, and publishers sometimes open time-bounded routes around the normal query process. Bangalore Literature Festival's LitMart, for example, has shortlisted unpublished writers to pitch agents, commissioning editors, and publishers live, while explicitly making no promise of publication [70]. Treat these as opportunities to evaluate on their current rules, not permanent shortcuts or guaranteed access.

Literary agents, publishers, and submission resources →

Go deeper

Where this map stands on the shoulders of

This map is built to be forwarded. Where a writer needs to go deeper on one lane, these are the best existing resources, and this map links to them rather than reproducing them. The point of this map is to make all of them feel like parts of one picture.

Sources

Every figure, cited

Every statistic, price, and claim on this page carries a numbered marker; tap or hover one anywhere above to see its source, or skim them all here.

  1. 1 Publishers Weekly · Book Output Topped Four Million in 2025 (R.R. Bowker 2025 title data) Checked with source (2025 US title counts)
  2. 2 The Authors Guild · Model Trade Book Contract (author-facing guidance on royalties, rights grants, accounting, and reversion clauses)
  3. 3 Jericho Writers · If An Agent Accepts Your Work, What Are the Chances of Getting Published?
  4. 4 QueryTracker · Literary agent database
  5. 5 IBPA · Hybrid Publisher Criteria (11 points)
  6. 7 Jane Friedman · IBPA Updates Its Hybrid Publishing Criteria
  7. 8 The Authors Guild · IBPA Releases Criteria for Hybrid Publishing
  8. 9 Alliance of Independent Authors · Watchdog Desk
  9. 10 Writer Beware (SFWA) · Website and warnings
  10. 11 Reedsy · How Long Does It Take to Publish a Book?
  11. 12 Reedsy · How Much Does an Editor Cost?
  12. 14 Editorial Freelancers Association · 2026 Rate Chart (based on the 2025 EFA member survey)
  13. 15 Atticus · Official pricing and features ($147 one-time; Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook, and web; writing and formatting) Checked with source (price, writing and formatting role, and platform compatibility)
  14. 16 Literature & Latte · Scrivener pricing and licensing ($59.99 per version; major-version upgrades may carry an update fee) Checked with source (price and licence terms)
  15. 17 Grammarly · Plans and pricing
  16. 18 ProWritingAid · Plans and pricing (official live pricing for annual and lifetime plans)
  17. 19 Reedsy · Book Cover Design Costs (2026)
  18. 20 Bowker MyIdentifiers · Buy ISBNs (official US ISBN agency; $125 for one ISBN and $295 for ten)
  19. 21 Chapter · Self-Publishing Costs: Complete Breakdown for 2026 (copyright registration and cost tiers)
  20. 22 Amazon KDP · eBook Royalty options (35% and 70%)
  21. 23 Amazon KDP · Paperback royalty (official 50% and 60% Amazon print tiers, Expanded Distribution rate, and printing-cost deductions)
  22. 24 Amazon KDP · KDP Select (official Kindle Unlimited benefits and 90-day ebook exclusivity terms)
  23. 25 Apple Books for Authors · Publish your book (official publishing and distribution guidance)
  24. 26 Draft2Digital · FAQ (official commission, account-fee, ISBN, and distribution guidance)
  25. 27 IngramSpark · Pricing (official account, upload, ebook-compensation, distribution, and market-access pricing) Checked with source (free upload and revision, 1.875% market-access fee, and 85% of net ebook compensation)
  26. 28 Daniel J. Tortora · Self-Publishing Royalties (all platforms) (B&N and IngramSpark print math)
  27. 29 ScribeCount · ACX and Audible: the New 2026 Royalty Model
  28. 30 Narratory · Best Platforms for Self-Publishing Audiobooks 2026 (ACX, INaudio, Findaway rebrand)
  29. 31 Spotify for Authors · Uploading audiobooks to Spotify for Authors (official direct-upload, upload-fee, non-exclusivity, and ownership guidance) Checked with source (direct upload, non-exclusivity, and retained ownership)
  30. 34 BookBub · Featured Deals pricing (partner page) (the direct source check covered the reader-audience figure only) Checked with source (reader-audience figure only)
  31. 36 Alliance of Independent Authors · Self-Publishing Facts (author income and the proving-ground trend)
  32. 37 Kevin Kelly · Everything I Know About Self-Publishing (audience, 1,000 True Fans, selling effort)
  33. 38 Amazon · Kindle Vella closure notice (official February 2025 closure notice)
  34. 39 Reedsy · How Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish a Book?
  35. 40 Reedsy · How to Hire a Book Ghostwriter (2026 guide) (ghostwriting rates and marketplace average)
  36. 41 Chapter · How Much Does a Ghostwriter Cost? (ghostwriter cost ranges)
  37. 42 Paul Millerd · Self-Publishing The Pathless Path: costs, tools, and process (first-hand indie breakdown: cover, editing, and ISBN spend)
  38. 43 Paul Millerd · 50,000 Books Sold: A Self-Publishing Breakdown (wide-distribution indie sales and profit)
  39. 44 Wordsmith · AI editor pricing ($50 per manuscript, official product page)
  40. 45 International ISBN Agency · Find an ISBN agency (official directory for national, regional, and language-area agencies) Checked with source (national and regional agency framing)
  41. 46 Library and Archives Canada · International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN) (official ISBN Canada eligibility and fee guidance) Checked with source (Canadian eligibility and proof-of-residence requirement)
  42. 47 Vellum · Official pricing ($199.99 for ebooks; $249.99 for ebooks and print; Mac only) Checked with source (pricing only)
  43. 48 Amazon · Kindle Create (official tool page)
  44. 49 International ISBN Agency · How to get an ISBN (official guidance on publisher location, agency pricing, eligibility, and single numbers versus blocks)
  45. 50 International ISBN Agency · Guidelines for assignment to e-books (official guidance on digital formats, DRM, usage restrictions, and proprietary platforms)
  46. 51 Amazon KDP · Get an ISBN (official KDP guidance on free and author-owned ISBNs, eligible formats, platform use, and imprint display)
  47. 52 International ISBN Agency · Scope and assignment of ISBN (official guidance on eligible publication types and the distinction between products and abstract works)
  48. 53 Substack · For Authors and Publishers (official guidance on serial publishing, preorders, launches, backlists, and ownership of audience relationships)
  49. 54 Substack · Going paid (official subscription terms: writers own their content and subscriber list and keep 90% of revenue after card fees)
  50. 55 Royal Road · Terms of Service (official content-ownership and platform-license terms)
  51. 56 Royal Road · Discovery and ranking (official guide to ranking lists, recommendations, and discovery)
  52. 57 Royal Road · Donations (official guidance on Patreon and PayPal links and platform fees)
  53. 58 Gumroad · Pricing (official direct-sale and Discover fees and merchant-of-record terms) Checked with source (direct-sale fees and merchant-of-record role)
  54. 59 Medium · Medium Partner Program overview (official overview of writer eligibility and earnings)
  55. 60 Draft2Digital · Distribution partners (official retail and library distribution partner list)
  56. 61 Quibble · Fiction publishing platform (official platform page for ongoing web serials and completed fiction, chapter scheduling, reader-community features, and current monetisation status) Checked with source (platform role, features, and monetisation status)
  57. 62 Help This Book · Beta reading for nonfiction authors (official product page for pricing, structured reader reactions, reader-progress visibility, manuscript versioning, and supported imports)
  58. 63 Useful Books · A complete guide to Beta Reading (practitioner guide to beta-reading sequence, reader recruitment, feedback collection, and revision)
  59. 64 Reedsy · How to Write a Book Proposal in 9 Steps (nonfiction proposal structure, timing, and the memoir exception)
  60. 65 Reedsy · How to Write a Query Letter (query-letter purpose and agent-specific submission guidance)
  61. 66 Gotham Ghostwriters · How to Hire a Ghostwriter (first-party hiring guide and professional ghostwriting route)
  62. 67 Penguin Random House US · How Can I Get Published? (official guidance on agented submissions, fiction manuscripts, nonfiction proposals, and following requested materials)
  63. 68 Penguin Random House India · Publish With Us (official direct-submission route and requested author bio, synopsis, and sample chapters)
  64. 69 HarperCollins India · Publish With Us (official unsolicited-submission route and requested proposal materials)
  65. 70 Bangalore Literature Festival · LitMart 2025 (official live-pitch format, submission requirements, and no-guarantee notice)
  66. 71 The Authors Guild · Author Contracts: Everything You Need to Know Before Signing (author-facing guidance on rights grants, subsidiary rights, royalties, options, and contract review)
  67. 72 Voices by INaudio · How much will I make per sale? (official author-set pricing and 80%-of-received-royalties guidance)
  68. 73 Voices by INaudio · Features (official global, non-exclusive retail, library, and educational distribution guidance)
  69. 74 Voices by INaudio · Digital Voice Narration (DVN) FAQs (official approved-provider, LPF, limited-distribution, rights, and disclosure requirements for digitally narrated audiobooks)
  70. 75 Kobo Writing Life · What will my earnings be? (official ebook royalty thresholds, below-threshold rate, and public-domain rate)
  71. 76 Kobo Writing Life · ISBNs and Kobo Writing Life (official guidance on Kobo availability in over 190 countries and Kobo-issued identifiers)
  72. 77 Amazon KDP · Kindle Direct Publishing Terms and Conditions (KDP Select section: digital exclusivity, 90-day term, automatic renewal, free-promotion days, and exclusivity that continues if you unpublish during the term)
  73. 78 Amazon KDP · How to enroll in KDP Select (ebook-only enrollment, public libraries, a 10 percent sample, print video and audio, automatic renewal, and the three-day cancellation window)
  74. 79 Amazon KDP · Self Publishing and KDP Select (digital exclusivity includes the author website and blogs; physical and non-digital formats may continue)
  75. 80 Amazon KDP · Customer Reviews (free or discounted copies are allowed if no review is required and the review is not influenced)
  76. 81 Amazon KDP · Advertising for KDP books (Sponsored Products are cost-per-click, campaigns start from the KDP marketing tab, and book-ad moderation can take up to 3 business days)
  77. 82 Amazon Ads · Advertising FAQs (Sponsored Products auction pricing, no monthly fee, $1 minimum daily budget, and a 2 to 3 week initial campaign)
  78. 83 Amazon KDP · Timelines (advertising report delays, charges after a campaign stops, and the campaign budget cap)
  79. 84 Amazon KDP · Make Your Book More Discoverable with Keywords (up to seven keyword slots)
  80. 85 Amazon KDP · KDP Categories (up to three categories chosen at title setup)
  81. 86 Amazon KDP · Metadata Guidelines for Books (cover text must match the metadata fields, and description restrictions)
  82. 87 Draft2Digital · Knowledge Base (expected removal times after a delist request, and the self-service delist tool)
  83. 88 Draft2Digital · Ebook Statuses Explained (Delisting means removal is in progress; Delisted means the book is gone from every selected store)
  84. 89 Amazon KDP · Kindle Countdown Deals (countdown deals require 30 days in KDP Select and run only on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk)
  85. 90 Amazon KDP · Promote Your Book (third-party promotion is allowed, and KDP advises against sites that guarantee a return)
  86. 211 Writer Beware (SFWA) · Vanity, Subsidy, and Hybrid Publishers (definitions of vanity, subsidy, hybrid, and self-publishing services, warning-sign patterns, and published fee descriptions, checked 6 October 2026)
  87. 212 IBPA · Hybrid Publisher Criteria, expanded download (expanded 11 criteria, including the greater-than-50-percent-of-net royalty expectation, the rule that missing any criterion is not hybrid, and the traditional-royalty footnote, checked 6 October 2026)
  88. 213 The Authors Guild · What Authors Should Know About Hybrid Publishing Contracts (30 July 2026 guidance on hybrid fees, royalties, termination, purchase clauses, and due diligence, checked 6 October 2026)
  89. 214 The Authors Guild · Rights Reversion: The Importance of Negotiating and Exercising Out-of-Print Clauses (4 December 2025 guidance on copyright term, out-of-print definitions, notice, and what reversion lets the author do, checked 6 October 2026)
  90. 215 Authors Alliance · Rights Reversion portal (definition of a contractual right of reversion, including reversion without a met trigger or without a clause, checked 6 October 2026)
  91. 216 Alliance of Independent Authors · The Ultimate Guide to Rights Reversion (30 August 2021 member guide: reversion clauses differ by contract and can combine a time threshold with a monetary or unit threshold, checked 6 October 2026)
  92. 217 Amazon KDP · Intellectual Property Rights Frequently Asked Questions (a copyright page is not sufficient proof that you hold publishing rights, checked 6 October 2026)
  93. 218 Amazon KDP · Royalties in Kindle Unlimited (first-time page reads, the monthly Global Fund, a 3,000 KENP cap per customer, and KENPC v3.0)
  94. 219 Amazon KDP · Royalties Estimator (the KENP rate equals that month's marketplace fund divided by pages read, and the rate changes every month)
  95. 220 IngramSpark · FAQs (no account or title-setup cost, US ISBN options including an $85 owned ISBN, and non-exclusive use with KDP if Expanded Distribution is off)
  96. 221 IngramSpark · Why Should I Discount My Book? (a 40 to 55 percent wholesale discount range, a 55 percent trade discount, and a market access fee with no percentage stated)
  97. 222 IngramSpark · User Guide (version 3.3, 24 August 2026: compensation formula, discount guidance, and return charges)
  98. 223 Bowker · Get Your ISBN Now (US prices on 6 October 2026: $125, $295, $575, and $1,500)
  99. 224 Amazon KDP · Hardcover Royalty (50 or 60 percent of list price minus printing cost; hardcover publishing is not supported on kdp.amazon.co.jp)
  100. 225 Association of American Literary Agents · Canon of Ethics (2026) (2026 Canon, effective 1 September 2026: fiduciary duties, no reading fees, agreed compensation, and limits on paid services)
  101. 226 Writer Beware · The AALA (Formerly the AAR) Revises Its Canon of Ethics (states the 2020 rename from the Association of Authors' Representatives, the AAR, to the AALA)
  102. 227 Writer Beware · How to Write a Query Letter (query structure, one-page length, comparison titles, and common mistakes; posted 18 August 2010)
  103. 228 The Authors Guild · Choosing a Literary Agent (25 April 2017 article on the agent relationship, query contents, response timing, and agreement terms)
  104. 229 The Authors Guild · Do Authors Need an LLC or S-Corporation? (7 July 2026 article on liability, disregarded-entity tax treatment, and the article's S corporation figures)
  105. 230 U.S. Copyright Office · Copyright in General (FAQ) (automatic protection, voluntary registration, the lawsuit prerequisite for a US work, and international relations)
  106. 231 U.S. Copyright Office · Fees (electronic single-author application $45, Standard Application $65, and paper filing $125, checked 6 October 2026)
  107. 232 U.S. Copyright Office · Circular 1, Copyright Basics (notice is not a substitute for registration, and statutory damages require registration before infringement or within three months after publication)
  108. 233 U.S. Copyright Office · Circular 3, Copyright Notice (notice is optional for works published on or after 1 March 1989 and does not require registration)
  109. 234 Amazon KDP · Intellectual Property Rights Frequently Asked Questions (publishing-rights requirement; a copyright page is not required and is not proof of rights)
  110. 235 Internal Revenue Service · Single member limited liability companies (an LLC is created by state statute; a single-member LLC is disregarded for income tax unless it elects corporate treatment)
  111. 236 Internal Revenue Service · Sole proprietorships (a sole proprietor owns an unincorporated business alone; page last reviewed 28 June 2026)
  112. 237 U.S. Small Business Administration · Choose a business structure (sole proprietorship is the default if you do not register another structure; LLC liability, trade names, and DBA registrations)
  113. 238 Bowker MyIdentifiers · Imprint (an imprint is a trade name under a publisher and does not have a corporate life of its own)
  114. 239 Bowker Self-Published Author · What is a publisher imprint (8 May 2018 FAQ: the imprint name can be an author name, an invented name, an existing business, or another variation)
  115. 240 U.S. Copyright Office · Copyright Office Fee Study, 2026 (a proposed fee schedule was presented to Congress in July 2026 and is not the list on the current fees page)
  116. 241 Manuscript Wish List · Manuscript Wish List (agent and editor profiles of manuscript interests; a directory, not an offer of representation)
  117. 242 Amazon KDP · eBook Distribution Rights (ebook territory selection, and the statement that the period of copyright protection varies by country)
  118. 243 Amazon KDP · Start publishing with KDP (ebooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers can be published for free)
  119. 244 Amazon KDP · Paperback Printing Cost (print-on-demand cost is deducted from royalties, with no upfront inventory cost)
  120. 245 Amazon Ads · What is advertising cost of sales (ACOS)? (ACOS is ad spend divided by ad revenue, and Amazon does not publish one good ACOS number)
  121. 246 Electronic Code of Federal Regulations · Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (16 CFR 255.5 requires disclosure of an unexpected material connection, including payment or a free product)
  122. 247 Kirkus · Kirkus Indie Reviews (traditional review starting at $450, expanded review starting at $599, and picture book starting at $399)
  123. 248 BookLife · BookLife Reviews ($399 review fee, $499 over 100,000 words, $150 to expedite, and $100 to print in Publishers Weekly)
  124. 249 BookLife · Review Submission Guidelines (Publishers Weekly consideration is a $25 fee and is not a promise of a review)
  125. 250 Amazon KDP · Write a Book Description (4,000-character description limit, supported HTML, and a 150-word writing suggestion)
  126. 251 Amazon KDP · A+ Content (images, text, and comparison tables under From the Publisher for published KDP books)
  127. 252 Amazon KDP · A+ Content Guidelines (at most four quotes, and only from well-known publications or public figures)
  128. 253 Amazon KDP · Create A+ Content (compliant A+ Content appears within eight business days, and each Amazon store needs its own project)
  129. 254 ACX · Choose a distribution option (seven-year distribution term, exclusive 50 percent or legacy 40 percent, non-exclusive 30 percent or legacy 25 percent)
  130. 255 ACX · Royalty Share payment terms (version 3.1 dated 26 May 2026 pays the rights holder 25 percent and the producer 25 percent on an exclusive royalty-share deal)
  131. 256 ACX · Pay-for-production royalty terms (version 3.1 dated 26 May 2026 pays 50 percent for exclusive and 30 percent for non-exclusive pay-for-production)
  132. 257 ACX · Audible's new royalty model (enrollment opened on 26 May 2026, and the legacy model is to be discontinued by the end of the year)
  133. 258 NetGalley · How It Works (members use NetGalley at no cost, and publishers pay a setup fee and subscription whose dollar amount is not listed on this page)
  134. 259 Amazon KDP · Author Central (free Author Page with biography, Best Sellers Rank, reviews, US-only editorial reviews and BookScan, and follower count, checked 7 October 2026)
  135. 260 Amazon KDP · Free Book Promotions (up to 5 free days in each 90-day KDP Select term, all marketplaces, no rollover, and no royalty while the book is free, checked 7 October 2026)
  136. 261 Amazon KDP · Kindle eBook Pre-Order (ebook-only pre-orders, 18 months from 2 September 2026, a 72-hour file deadline, and a 6-month privilege removal after a second miss, checked 7 October 2026)
  137. 262 Amazon KDP · Postpone or cancel a pre-order release (postponement limits before and after 2 September 2026, and the one-year penalty only if privileges were removed before that date, checked 7 October 2026)
  138. 263 Amazon KDP · Release Date Options (print can be scheduled 5 to 90 days ahead with a five-day lock and no penalty; the ebook column still says one year, checked 7 October 2026)
  139. 264 Draft2Digital · FAQ, pre-orders and pen names (account name kept separate from pen names, ebook and print pre-orders, and a ten-day ebook file deadline, checked 7 October 2026)
  140. 265 Draft2Digital · Pre-Order Overview (store windows and a 10-business-day final-manuscript rule, modified 3 February 2025, checked 7 October 2026)
  141. 266 Kobo Writing Life · KWL Guide to Pre-Orders (final file at least 3 business days before release, delist 14 days after if content is missing, and pre-orders cannot be free, updated 18 September 2026)
  142. 267 Apple Books · Set up a book for pre-order (pre-order date up to 365 days before release, final file required before release, and free books cannot be pre-ordered, checked 7 October 2026)
  143. 268 BookBub Partners · How much does a Featured Deal cost? (one-time fee by category, region, and deal price; submission is free; updated 17 September 2026)
  144. 269 BookBub Partners · Featured Deal Submission Requirements and Advice (at least 50 percent off, a 14-day deal-price limit, and about 10 to 15 percent of US submissions selected; updated 9 March 2023)
  145. 270 Amazon KDP · Authors and Contributors (a pen name is allowed, the real name is not published on the site, and the primary author field locks after publication, checked 7 October 2026)
  146. 271 Amazon KDP · Create a KDP Account (account details, payments, and tax forms use the legal name, not the pen name, checked 7 October 2026)
  147. 272 Amazon KDP · Manage Your KDP Account (keep books on one account; a second account under another email is against policy, checked 7 October 2026)
  148. 273 Amazon KDP · Fixing typos on a book title or author name (an owned ISBN must match the ISBN agency, and changing the author name to a pen name requires a new edition, checked 7 October 2026)
  149. 274 U.S. Copyright Office · Circular 32, Pseudonyms (a pseudonym is not protected by copyright; revised March 2021 term rules for pseudonymous works, checked 7 October 2026)
  150. 275 Kobo Writing Life · Setting up a New eBook (enter a pseudonym in the author field if you write under one, updated 20 July 2026)
  151. 276 Draft2Digital · Knowledge Base, contributor profiles (pen names are added or removed on Account, Contributor Profiles, checked 7 October 2026)
  152. 277 Bowker MyIdentifiers · Contributor entity (the contributor entity is the name tied to a function such as author, and the page does not say that name must be a legal name, checked 7 October 2026)
  153. 278 Writers House · How to Submit (generally replies to all queries within six to eight weeks, and prefers an exclusive if it requests the manuscript, checked 8 October 2026)
  154. 279 Janklow & Nesbit UK · Submissions (a response within eight weeks only if the agency wants to read more, checked 8 October 2026)
  155. 280 Nelson Literary Agency · Submission Guidelines (current response time to queries is 4 to 6 weeks, checked 8 October 2026)
  156. 281 The Authors Guild · Model Trade Book Contract, Publication (commentary says standard contracts require publication within 12 to 18 months of acceptance, checked 8 October 2026)
  157. 282 Penguin Random House · Your Publishing Timeline (August 2021 author guide counting backward from publication, checked 8 October 2026)
  158. 283 Penguin Random House · How PRH Turns Your Manuscript into a Printed Book (March 2023: production starts about a year before on-sale, and finished books ship six weeks before release, checked 8 October 2026)
  159. 284 Curtis Brown, Ltd. · Submissions (the submissions page states no query response time, checked 8 October 2026)
  160. 285 Amazon KDP · Print Options (paperback and hardcover ink, paper, trim size, and cover finish, checked 8 October 2026)
  161. 286 Amazon KDP · How do I order a proof or author copy? (up to 5 proofs while in Draft, and up to 999 author copies once Live, checked 8 October 2026)
  162. 287 Amazon KDP · How much do proof or author copies cost? (the author price is the print cost times the number of copies, with no further discount, checked 8 October 2026)
  163. 288 Amazon KDP · What is the cost to ship my proof or author copy? (shipping is shown at checkout, with no formula and no free or Prime shipping, checked 8 October 2026)
  164. 289 Amazon KDP · Paperback Printing Cost (fixed cost plus page count times per-page cost, including the published 300-page example of 4.60 USD, checked 8 October 2026)
  165. 290 IngramSpark · Print Book Options, Trim Sizes (paperback and hardcover bindings, paper, interior color, and trim ranges, checked 8 October 2026)
  166. 291 IngramSpark · Book Printing (paperback, hardcover, and jacketed hardcover, with print cost left to the calculator, checked 8 October 2026)
  167. 292 IngramSpark · Rate Card, effective 1 February 2026 (print-cost formula, publisher-direct service levels, and one small-paperback price row, checked 8 October 2026)
  168. 293 BookBub Partners · Overview of BookBub Marketing Tools (Featured Deals versus BookBub Ads, updated 25 June 2026, checked 8 October 2026)
  169. 294 BookBub · Featured Deals pricing chart (the fee chart by category and price, and click ranges that are not a guarantee, checked 8 October 2026)
  170. 295 Freebooksy · Editorial Guidelines (free until midnight PST, a 50-page minimum, and no stated review minimum, checked 8 October 2026)
  171. 296 Bargain Booksy · Editorial Guidelines (discounted until midnight PST, a 50-page minimum, and no stated review minimum, checked 8 October 2026)
  172. 297 The Fussy Librarian · Advertising (free for the full promotion day, or 0.99 to 5.99 USD for a bargain, with prices varying by genre, checked 8 October 2026)
  173. 298 Writer Beware (SFWA) · Small presses (out-of-the-blue contact, fees and purchase requirements, and the rule that traditional publishers do not require author payment, checked 9 October 2026)
  174. 299 Editorial Freelancers Association · Editorial Service Definitions (definitions of beta reading, manuscript evaluation, and sensitivity reading, checked 9 October 2026)
  175. 300 Amazon KDP · What file formats are supported for eBook manuscripts? (DOC/DOCX, KPF, EPUB, the March 2025 MOBI sentence, and additional accepted formats, checked 9 October 2026)
  176. 301 Amazon KDP · Paperback Submission Guidelines (paperback interior and cover file types, 650MB, 300 DPI, 24-page minimum, and spine text above 79 pages, checked 9 October 2026)
  177. 302 IngramSpark · File Creation Guide (file name begins 8.24.26: EPUB 3.0 plus JPG for ebook, and PDF/X-1a:2001 or PDF/X-3:2002 for print, checked 9 October 2026)
  178. 303 Critique Circle · Welcome (a credit-based critique exchange, with no fee stated on the landing page, checked 9 October 2026)
  179. 304 Scribophile · Online writing group (a karma-point critique group that says members can meet beta readers, with no fee stated on the homepage, checked 9 October 2026)
  180. 305 Amazon KDP · Kindle Vella Update FAQ (closed 26 February 2025, checked 10 October 2026)
  181. 306 Wattpad · Terms of Service (nonexclusive license, age 13, checked 10 October 2026)
  182. 307 Wattpad · Wattpad Originals FAQ (latest 10 parts paywalled, checked 10 October 2026)
  183. 308 Medium · Partner Program eligibility (age 18, eligible bank, checked 10 October 2026)
  184. 309 Amazon KDP · KDP Jumpstart (six setup sections, checked 10 October 2026)
  185. 310 Amazon KDP · Create a Book (two titles per format per week, checked 10 October 2026)
  186. 311 Draft2Digital · What is a BISAC subject? (one to five BISAC codes, checked 10 October 2026)
  187. 312 Draft2Digital · What is metadata? (search terms and BISAC, checked 10 October 2026)
  188. 313 IngramSpark · BISAC Subject Codes (three BISAC codes, checked 10 October 2026)
  189. 314 Book Industry Study Group · Selecting a BISAC Code (no more than three BISAC codes, checked 10 October 2026)
  190. 315 The Authors Guild · What Authors Should Know About Hybrid Publishing Contracts (30 July 2026: traditional publishers absorb editing and other production costs; hybrid publishers do that work and charge an upfront fee, checked 11 October 2026)
  191. 316 Penguin Random House US · How Can I Get Published? (21 March 2022: agents are paid a percentage when they sell the work, and a book deal is not pay to play, checked 11 October 2026)
  192. 317 Penguin Random House · How PRH Turns Your Manuscript into a Printed Book (March 2023: production cost estimate includes copyediting, and freelance copyeditors are hired for PRH projects, checked 11 October 2026)
  193. 318 Writer Beware (SFWA) · Small presses (no cash up front, no royalties withheld to recoup production, and a publisher should add editing, checked 11 October 2026)
  194. 319 Writer Beware (SFWA) · Vanity, Subsidy, and Hybrid Publishers (a hybrid charges a fee and is described as adding editing, design, marketing, and/or distribution, checked 11 October 2026)
  195. 320 Amazon KDP · Start publishing with KDP (ebooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers can be published for free, and the page does not assign an editor, checked 11 October 2026)
  196. 321 Amazon KDP · KDP Jumpstart (six sections, including prepare your manuscript, and no editor is assigned, checked 11 October 2026)
  197. 322 Spotify for Authors · Differences between Spotify for Authors and Voices by INaudio (Voices by INaudio was previously called Findaway Voices by Spotify, and an opt-in copy can go to other retail and library stores including Audible and Apple Books, checked 14 October 2026)
  198. 323 Spotify · Spotify for Authors Opt-In Audiobook Distribution Terms (a la carte royalty is 50 percent of the suggested retail price you set, and subscription listening is paid from a shared pool with no fixed percentage on this page, checked 14 October 2026)
  199. 324 Spotify for Authors · Self-published authors (distribution to Spotify is not exclusive, digital voice narration is accepted for Spotify only, and Findaway Voices credentials are linked through Voices by INaudio, checked 14 October 2026)
  200. 325 Kobo Writing Life · FAQ: Audiobooks (updated 18 September 2026: exclusivity is not required, library distribution is not available at this time, a la carte is 45 percent at or above 2.99 USD, and tokens are 32 percent, checked 14 October 2026)
  201. 326 Kobo Writing Life · What will my earnings be? (updated 21 November 2025: audiobook a la carte is 45 percent at or above the listed currency thresholds and 35 percent below, and subscription tokens are 32 percent, checked 14 October 2026)
  202. 327 Kobo Writing Life · Where will my audiobooks be distributed? (updated 18 December 2024: Kobo.com plus named partner stores, and worldwide rights are required for those partners, checked 14 October 2026)
  203. 328 Kobo Writing Life · How to Upload Your Audiobook Directly on Kobo (updated 18 March 2026: 45 percent at or above 2.99 and 35 percent below, a free-trial token pays 0, a paid token pays 32 percent, and processing is stated as 24 to 72 hours, checked 14 October 2026)
  204. 329 Amazon KDP · Pricing for audiobooks with virtual voice (virtual-voice beta is US-only, the royalty is 40 percent, the list-price range is 3.99 to 14.99 USD, and Select exclusivity is stated for any audio edition of that book, checked 14 October 2026)
  205. 330 Amazon KDP · Format Your Paperback and Hardcover with Microsoft Word (Microsoft Word templates for paperback and hardcover, with no charge stated for the templates, checked 14 October 2026)
  206. 331 Reedsy · Format a book (writing and formatting functions are free, exports are EPUB 3 and PDF/X-1a:2001, and premium plans are named Craft and Outline with no dollar amount on this page, checked 14 October 2026)
  207. 332 Reedsy · Reedsy Studio (core writing and formatting are free, and the page names Studio Essential at 4.99 USD per month and Outlining at 7.99 USD per month, checked 14 October 2026)
  208. 333 Reedsy · Reedsy Studio pricing (core features remain free and include PDF and EPUB export, and premium plans are named Craft and Outline with no dollar amount in the page text, checked 14 October 2026)
  209. 334 US Copyright Office · Section 512 resources (notice elements, no registration required to send a notice, expeditious removal with no fixed day count, and a counter-notice repost window of ten to fourteen business days, checked 14 October 2026)
  210. 335 Amazon KDP · Report content that violates our guidelines (links to the Amazon infringement report and says Amazon will investigate and take appropriate action, with no duration stated, checked 14 October 2026)
  211. 336 Google · Copyright Help Center (the legal troubleshooter is the easiest removal path, and the page lists Google's DMCA agent, checked 14 October 2026)
  212. 337 Apple · Books dispute form (a book or audiobook claim form, and Apple says it will contact the third-party provider, checked 14 October 2026)
  213. 338 Kobo · Content Policy (last updated 5 October 2023: copyright owners may use the Help Portal or email kobo-IP@mail.rakuten.com, checked 14 October 2026)
  214. 339 Spotify for Authors · Uploading audiobooks to Spotify for Authors (free to upload, no stated cap on the number of titles, non-exclusive, ownership retained, and availability to listeners within 72 hours, checked 14 October 2026)
  215. 340 Vellum · Official pricing and output (Mac only on macOS 13 or newer, 199.99 USD for ebooks and 249.99 USD for ebooks and paperbacks, tax not included, EPUB 3 and EPUB 2, and PDF/X-1a, checked 14 October 2026)
  216. 341 Amazon KDP · Getting Started with Kindle Create (Windows 10 or later and macOS 10.15 or later, KPF and EPUB export, and publishing outside Kindle listed as unsupported, checked 14 October 2026)

Figures are drawn from industry rate surveys, marketplace data, official platform documentation, and publishing-industry reporting, current as of mid-2026. Treat them as planning ranges, not fixed quotes; editing, production, and platform terms vary by genre, length, provider, and change over time. Where rules differ by jurisdiction, the map states the general rule first and labels country-specific figures as examples. A “Checked with source” marker means the cited source directly reviewed the stated factual claim. It applies only to that stated scope and does not imply verification of the rest of the map or endorsement. This map is designed to be updated.