What Is Hybrid Publishing? | Publish Your Purpose
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What Is Hybrid Publishing?

As an aspiring author, you’ve likely noticed there are lots of different publishing options available. It can be overwhelming.

Should you look for a literary agent and try to go the traditional route, a route that can take years to accomplish? Should you try to wear all the hats and self-publish, even if you don’t quite know what you’re doing?

You want the quality and prestige of a traditional publisher, but the creative freedom and high royalties of self-publishing. What kind of publisher should you choose?

At Publish Your Purpose, we use a unique hybrid publishing model that combines the benefits of traditional and self-publishing, without their shortfalls. Our model fulfills the 9 criteria required for professional hybrid publishers by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA).

IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria

  1. Define a mission and vision for its publishing program
  2. Vet submissions
  3. Publish under its own imprint(s) and ISBNs
  4. Publish to industry standards
  5. Ensure editorial, design, and production quality
  6. Pursue and manage a range of publishing rights
  7. Provide distribution services
  8. Demonstrate respectable sales
  9. Pay authors a higher-than-standard royalty

Become a Published Author With Publish Your Purpose

Whether you have an idea or a finished manuscript, we want to work with you.

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Hybrid Publishing

The PYP Hybrid Publishing Model

At Publish Your Purpose, we transform your manuscript into a published book with you from beginning to end.
By being involved in the publishing process, from the cover design to creative control,
you can get your big idea out there—uncensored.

High-Quality Books

As professional publishers, we only publish high-quality books that meet and exceed industry standards. Our award-winning books are eligible for reviews by traditional review outlets and are respected worldwide.

Full Creative Control

With our hybrid publishing model, you maintain 100% creative control of your book. Your voice won’t get lost in the publishing process, allowing you to create the book that will catapult your business. This is unlike traditional publishing houses that have creative control and can drastically change your book to better serve their interests.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

As an LGBTQ+ and women-owned B Corporation™, our mission is to elevate the voices often excluded from traditional publishing. We intentionally seek out authors and storytellers with diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and unique perspectives to publish books that will make an impact in the world.

Representation Matters

Traditional publishing still majorly caters to cisgender straight white voices. A 2019 baseline survey about diversity in the publishing industry, conducted by Lee & Low Books, found that overall the publishing industry was composed of 76% white employees, 74% cisgender women employees, and 81% straight employees. The people who select, finance, and publish stories influence the stories that are available in the book market. For example, a 2019 study that evaluated 3,717 books for children found that primary character/subject diversity was significantly lacking across race and ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and religion. At Publish Your Purpose Press, we know that representation matters. We are different—and we celebrate how our authors and their stories are different, too.

Higher Royalties

Most hybrid publishers help authors earn higher royalties, which generally range between 15%-55%. At Publish Your Purpose, our authors keep 85% of their royalties. With traditional publishers, authors receive only 4-10% of royalties from their books, a payment they need to share with their literary agent. Traditional publishing typically results in authors making less than $1 per book sold, where our model allows our authors to make upwards of $10 per book sold.

Professional Editing and Design

Like a traditional publishing house, we have a selective manuscript review process and edit your manuscript to be publish-ready. Our team of professionals has the knowledge and expertise to design successful books. We help you with cover design, editing, formatting, marketing strategy, and project management. When it comes to marketing, we are stewards of your resources, making sure you are only paying for what you need. Explore Our Best Sellers

Leverage Your Platform

As a business owner or thought leader in your field, you might already have an established brand and platform. Traditional publishing houses seek established leaders in order to guarantee a large volume of sales for them (remember the low royalties offered by traditional publishing?). The reality is, if you already have an established brand and platform, you can sell your own books through hybrid publishing and have more creative control.

Emotional Well-Being

This is where Publish Your Purpose really shines. As authors ourselves (of 14 books and counting!), we know how hard it can be to get started on a book publishing journey. Bouts of self-doubt, overwhelm, and procrastination are all normal parts of the process, but you shouldn’t have to experience them all alone. Think of us as your publisher therapists—yes, that means you can cry with us!

Learn With Us

We know the publishing industry can be exclusive, costly, and predatory—that’s why we made Publish Your Purpose specifically to support aspiring authors throughout the entire publishing process. We empower our authors to understand the industry better to make informed decisions for their business, brand, and purpose.

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How Hybrid Publishing with PYP Is Revolutionary

Hybrid publishing breaks the traditional publishing model by giving authors creative control and ownership. PYP disrupts the traditional publishing industry by publishing underrepresented voices and giving amazing people the stage they deserve. We publish ideas and stories by visionaries, thought leaders, and revolutionaries. Here are a few social justice causes we have helped bring books into the world about:

  • Domestic violence broadly and specifically against women
  • LGBTQ teen homelessness
  • Shelter animals
  • Alzheimer’s research
  • Anti-racism efforts
  • LGBTQ healthcare equity
  • Food security
  • Caregiver fatigue

Subvert the Patriarchy by Publishing With Publish Your Purpose

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