Types of publisher: small press, indie journals and more!

Harking back to the very first post to be published on Impish Fen, when the time is right to submit your writing to a journal, magazine or other flavour of publisher, you’ll probably be wanting to find the right fit for your work. Aspects like tone, theme, season, length and a whole heap of other factors are at play – but don’t forget the most important things to consider are often in regards to the type of publisher.

Of course you will have traditional publishing houses like the Big Five, but in the world of smaller, independent, themed (and more) publishers, there are many more options to choose from. Let this article be a guide of the whats, whys and reasonings behind choosing different types of publisher.

Consumer or general publishing

Anyone reading a book for pleasure in their spare time will be looking for writing in the general publishing market. There are some big publishers in this realm, such as The Big Five, but credit should also find its way to some medium-sized entities like Faber & Faber, Canongate and Bloomsbury have great authors and imprints available.

The great thing about the wide net of consumer publishing (recipe books, fiction, non-fiction, biographies etc.) is that new and upcoming publishers are also able to carve out a niche, with new companies springing up with innovative ideas and offerings.

New publishing models

You’re very likely aware of all the new technological developments as of late – the increase in accessibility that came with the widespread internet and every new iteration or update since has ballooned out to be able to create – which has also in turn has resulted in more creative ways to publish – like through crowdfunding, digital means and other methods.

Additionally, hybrid publishing has come into play of late – which refers to a mixture of both traditional and self-publishing, often chosen for the freedom of self-publishing whilst making use of the know-how of experienced publishers.

Educational publishers

Under this big umbrella falls textbooks, teaching notes, class materials and anything else used for teaching purposes. Big educational institutions like university presses also may publish their own content, such as books tailored for their specific curriculums, or even student work – in anthologies, for example.

Along similar lines, scholarly publishers are also technically educational publishers – with essays, articles and research being published to journals and other areas. Again, there are wide classifications with commercial publishers such as Elsevier, non-profit university presses such as Oxford University Press, and independent small presses.

Small/independent publishers

Self-publishing is an enticing method of getting your work published – you can be in control of every single aspect. However, on the other hand, it involves a lot of hard work, as you have to be in control of every single aspect.

The labour of love involved can be tricky to navigate as a first-timer, which is why often other methodologies are favoured – but with that being said, some handy-dandy platforms have been made to help with this.

Finishing touches…

That was a little more indepth look into the types of publisher widely available. Depending on how far you are from having a finished draft, whether or not you’d like your work to have a prestige publisher or an independent home, and a whole heap of other considerations, you may want to give this aspect a lot of thought when it comes to bringing your book into the world.