A couple times a month I receive an email from an author. The email always looks something like this:

Dear Emily,

I recently finished and self published my novel “If Looks Could.” I am now ready to find a traditional publisher. Can you help me?

Sincerely,

John Smith

There is one main issue with this myth. If you really want a traditional publisher, it is much easier to approach a publisher or an agent with a manuscript, not a self published book (there is one exception to this rule that I will elaborate on later).

Most traditional publishers, particularly the ones who accept un-agented submissions, will not even allow authors to submit self published work at all. It is against their rules. They will consider an unpublished novel, or sometimes one that had been previously published by another publishing house, but not one that has been previously self published. We did compile a list of a number of publishers open to self published reprints.

I know a writer who thought this was a ridiculous rule and he submitted his manuscript to publishers without telling them that it had been previously self published. One of them did accept his manuscript. Then he had to tell them the truth before signing the contract. They dropped his book and told him not to submit to them again. He had violated their trust.

There are some traditional publishers that are open to self published books as long as the author has retained all the rights. But they are few and far between.

Agents are also not interested in self published books with the same exception that publishers have. That exception is that  you have managed to sell a huge number of copies on your own. I placed emphasis on the word sell, because even if you are regularly giving away thousands of copies, most publishers and agents will not take you seriously.

There are lots of success stories about authors self publishing, becoming successful at that, and then publishing with a traditional publisher. The problem is that most people don’t focus on the fact that they are successful self published authors who are then published by traditional publishers. They think self publishing alone is an asset, not a deficit.

I am not telling anyone to not self publish. I think there are a lot of great opportunities that come out of self publishing. But I am encouraging individuals not to self publish if their main goal is traditional publishing.

Don’t let this myth hurt you. Know what you are getting into before you self publish.

“It’s all in the name. When we envisioned what a new Young Adult imprint should be, we recalled the books that changed our lives, the kind readers don’t see so much anymore — enduring, exciting, intensely readable young adult stories about young people facing an all-too-challenging contemporary world. Merit Press plots twist and turn with a mix of extraordinary, heartbreaking and seemingly magical events, from shattered friendships, to burgeoning romance to searing secrets and life-and-death danger. In short, they’ll offer readers an emotional journey of adventure and love, dread and delight, peopled with authentic characters that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

–Mission statement from the editors of Merit Press

Merit Press is a newer imprint of the large predominantly non-fiction publisher Adams Media. They have published around 20 books over the past few years. They mostly publish print books, generally in hardcover. They don’t even have eBook versions of most of their books at this point, which is unusual for a publisher today, particularly a YA Publisher.

The covers are generally well designed, well blurbed, with arresting back cover text. They have published a number of debut novels.

The editors at Merit Press prefer their protagonists to be over the age of fourteen. Most are female. They want to these characters rising to meet the challenges of today.

All submissions must be made via email. You can send a full or martial manuscript (65k-to 100k words) and query letter to their email address: meritpress@fwmedia.com.

To learn more about their catalog, browse it here.