One of the most significant decisions you must make is whether to self-publish or pursue a more traditional publishing route. It is essential to weigh the pros and cons of each carefully before making a decision. What follows should help you to make an informed decision.

Self-publishing pros

• Self-publishing gives you complete control over the final product, from the contents to the cover design to the price.
• When you self-publish, you can publish your book immediately. There is no red tape or working on someone else’s schedule. Self-publishing is the way to go if you want to get your book quickly out into the world.
• Self-published authors typically earn a higher percentage of royalties than traditionally published authors. As you are the author and publisher, there is no one to share your royalties with.
• You are the one who builds a direct connection with your readers, increasing your fan base and getting immediate feedback.

Self-publishing cons

• Self-published books often have limited distribution compared to traditionally published books. This means that you may be limited to online sellers. Most won’t have connections with brick-and-mortar stores.
• Some readers may be less likely to take self-published books seriously, affecting your sales. Self-publishing your work and building your credibility as a reputable author can sometimes take years.
• Self-publishing requires you to handle all of the responsibilities involved with the publishing process. This includes editing, marketing, and distribution, which can be time-consuming.

Traditional publishing pros

• Traditionally published books carry more weight and credibility in the industry. Traditional publishers have connections with agents, who are gatekeepers when it deciding what gets published.
• Publishers provide professional editing, cover design, and marketing services. Though you still must be active on social media, publishers assume some responsibility for getting your book out there.
• Traditional publishers have established distribution channels, making your book available in more places, both online and in bookstores.

Traditional publishing cons:

• Traditional publishing can take a long time, from querying agents to getting your book on shelves.
• You’ll have less control over the final product. Your publisher may make changes you don’t agree with about the editing, the cover, or how it is marketed.
• Traditional publishers often offer lower royalties. All stakeholders in the process (from editors, cover designers, agents, and publishers to bookstores) receive a percentage of the book’s earnings.

Pros and cons: the conclusion

Ultimately, self-publishing or pursuing traditional publishing comes down to your personal preferences, goals, tech-savvy, and the amount of time you have available. Consider these pros and cons when deciding what’s important to you. Don’t hesitate to seek advice from other authors and professionals in the industry.

Dialogue allows readers to get inside the minds of your characters. As an editor, I have realized that many authors struggle with how to punctuate dialogue correctly.  Here is a primer that explores the basics of punctuating dialogue in fiction with tips for making it more effective.

Dialogue is set off by quotation marks. Each time a character speaks, what they say should be enclosed in quotation marks. For example,

“Hello,” said John.

When a character speaks, their dialogue should be followed by a tag that identifies who is speaking. Tags can be a simple (“said” or “asked”) or more descriptive (“yelled” or “whispered”). For example,

“Hello,” said John or “Hello,” John yelled.

It’s important to note that punctuation in dialogue comes before the quotation marks and not after them. For example,

“Hello,” said John. NOT “Hello”, said John.

When a character speaks for multiple sentences, the sentence before the tag ends with a comma unless it is the last sentence of the character’s speech, in which case it should end with a period. For example,

“Hello,” said John. “How are you doing today?”

If your character speaks in paragraphs, changing the subject one or more times in a long speech, the convention is to omit the close quotation marks from the first paragraph, begin the next paragraph with an open quotation mark, and continue in this manner until the character is done talking. At that point, end the speech with an end quotation mark.

When a character’s dialogue is interrupted by another character or an action, use a comma to separate the dialogue and an em-dash to indicate the interruption. For example,

“Hello,” said John, “How are you do—” Before he could finish his sentence, the phone rang.

Use an ellipsis to show a pause in a character’s speech (“I just…I don’t know.”) or when the character trails off before finishing their sentence (“I just can’t believe…”). 

It’s also important to consider the context of the dialogue when choosing punctuation. For example, if a character is shouting, you could use an exclamation point to indicate this (“Get out!” he shouted.), but the fact that the tag says he shouted is enough (“Get out,” he shouted.). Try to use exclamation points sparingly, as people rarely shout entire paragraphs. Try to use the character’s words to show they are enraged instead of ending every sentence they utter with an exclamation point. Also, avoid using multiple punctuation marks at the end of a sentence (!?).

By understanding the basics of punctuation in dialogue, authors can write conversations that are clear, believable, and engaging. Remember that good dialogue is not only about what is said; it is also about how it is said, and the right punctuation can make all the difference.

For more on writing dialogue in fiction, see The Shape of Stories, A Comprehensive Guide for Fiction Writers. For help with dialogue in your current manuscript, contact EMSA Publishing for a quote.