What is Hybrid Publishing?

Hybrid publishing is the lovely little nook between traditional big-house publishing, and independent or self-publishing. We like to think of it as the optimal (well, at least our favorite) option, combining the best of both worlds. It should specifically accomplish what you, the author, need. With hybrid models, your vision is the center focus.

Hybrid publishing is where the cost of publishing is taken on by both the publisher AND the author. You get a lot of say over your cover design and layout, and you get some help with marketing, but you're in the driver's seat when it comes to publicizing your book. You also receive a higher percentage of the royalties.

This is different from traditional models, which take on all the publishing and marketing costs, leave you with very little control over your manuscript, and give you a small  percentage in royalties—usually between 10 and 15 percent of profits—and you’re also probably paying an agent. And by the way, it can be challenging to find an agent to work with you.

Independent publishing means that you’re making all the big decisions yourself (yay!)—but then, you’re making all the decisions yourself (oh no). It can be difficult to be writer, editor, proofreader, layout designer, cover artist, marketer… you get the idea. While all the profits are yours, all the costs also fall on  your shoulders. 

Hybrid Publishing: A Different Publishing Experience

That’s where Light Rising comes in. We’re a small team dedicated entirely to bringing your vision to life in a way that honors the work it takes to write a book, the message you'd like to get across, and your personal aesthetic preferences. Our focus is getting your work into the world in the best shape possible, while respecting the time, work, expertise, and energy that went into writing it to ensure the finished product aligns with your vision for it. 

As with all writing, it’s essential to have someone who’s experienced to edit and proofread your book—a second set of eyes does wonders to catching subtle mistakes. There are many different stages of editing (but that’s a different blog post!) that you’ll need to go through to get to the printing stage. And, design matters—we ensure your book looks as amazing as it reads! It’s a long process, but we can make it less lonely. We'll be in communication at every step of the way, with expected timelines, multiple review rounds, and as much or as little hand-holding as you'd like.

In our hybrid model, you pay for the services up front (or with a payment plan), which leaves all of the profits for you. We’ll also walk you through how to market and publicize your book and provide you with marketing materials, so you can get the most mileage out of your book launch. You’re an expert in your field; let us help you with the technical side of the trade. And distribution—we have you covered, with various options to ensure your book finds its way to those who need it.

If you want help in the earlier development stages, we also offer writer coaching and developmental editing services to get your manuscript into publish-worthy shape. Or, if you’re ready to hit that print button, we're here to step in and help you get your message out to to the world. Contact Light Rising so we can help you on your journey.