September 7, 2023
understanding book publishing

Hybrid Publishing

Hybrid Publishing with DreamEngine

Hybrid publishing is a new type of publishing model that combines elements of traditional publishing and self-publishing.

Here I will talk about everything you need to know to decide if a hybrid publishing deal is the best publishing deal for you.

We will look at royalty rates, rights ownership, artistic control, the publication process, publishing house branding, access to expertise, increased exposure and visibility. That comes with a reputable hybrid publishing deal.

Key Benefits of a Hybrid Publisher

  • Higher Royalties

A hybrid press will typically pay authors higher royalties than traditional publishers. In the case of DreamEngine this is usually a 50/50 split on all income. This is because we do not have to recoup all the costs of editing, design, and marketing. It is true that by self-publishing you retain the full 100%, but you have to weigh that against the likely number of sales you will make.

  • Access to expertise

DreamEngine offers authors a variety of resources and services that would not be available to self-published authors. This includes the fact that I have direct, personal experience of traditional deals and hybrid deals, the latter bringing more success than the former. At DreamEngine, we also have a team of experts to deal with every aspect of the publishing process, without you having to find them.

  • Publishing house branding

One major benefit of choosing to work with a reputable hybrid publisher is having 'Published by...' on your book. Having a publisher gives credibility to you and your work. This is important to your career, as it heightens interest from the industry for what you do next, and helps with pitching your story to, for example, film and television production companies.

  • Increased exposure

A book publisher will have the resources and strategies for selling books that go far beyond the capability of a self-published author. They should have relationships with PR agencies, distributers and marketing companies, and expertise in the use of digital channels. Ultimately, it is the sales and marketing side that is the most difficult for authors.

  • More control over the publishing process

Authors have more say in how their book is edited, designed, marketed, and distributed. DreamEngine provides authors with professional services that can elevate the quality of their work. This includes editing, proofreading, and design services that can help make the book more commercially viable and appealing to readers.

  • Is there a downside?

The main drawback is that authors feel they should not have to pay anything. In an ideal world, you will get a traditional deal and a huge advance, so yes, go after that first. Hybrid publishing is the next best thing if that doesn't work out (which it very rarely does for non-celebrities). After that, the biggest danger is inadvertently going into business with a vanity publisher rather than a reputable hybrid publisher.

Are hybrid publishing companies good publishers for new authors?

The key is to ensure you are not paying to ‘get a book made’. You are going into business as a co-publisher. This is sharing in the financial risk and return of publishing your book. You are investing in the commercial side of your career, and in return, you are getting a greatly increased percentage of the royalty returns and the credibility of a formally published book.

I am a fan of co-publishing because I did it myself. When my first two books went into their third edition, I shared the risk with the publisher and increased my royalty return from around 10-12% to 50% ! This has paid me vastly more over the intervening years than I could ever have received had I stuck with the original, traditional deal I started with.

Shouldn't I just get a traditional publishing deal?

The rise of hybrid publishing is fuelled by a strong shift by traditional publishers towards publishing ‘safer’ books – primarily written by celebrities - and taking fewer chances with more diverse and independent voices in the literary world. Landing such a publishing contract entails contacting literary agents and getting one to represent you. Then they will present you to the big publishers. It is a very difficult process with no guarantee of success.

Hybrid publishers are looking for new authors and offer an opportunity for writers shunned by traditional publishers to bring their stories to life and give momentum to their ambitions as a writer that can eventually get them to the professional status they desire. It's getting your foot on the ladder to becoming a professional writer.

When you have exhausted all avenues to landing your own dream deal, what do you do next to keep your dreams alive? There is self publishing, but I believe the best option for new authors are hybrid publishing companies, offering copublishing opportunities. Speak to us today to see our sample hybrid publishing contract, discuss the hybrid publishing model and ask any questions that you may have.

The hybrid publishing model with DreamEngine

DreamEngine is an independent publishing house offering a bespoke hybrid publishing service to new and self-published authors.

My ambition is to make a co-publishing service that is reputable and which works for the author. I admit, it's a challenge because of the absolutely justified negativity surrounding vanity presses, and the difficulty in differentiating ourselves from the sharks. So we have to provide exceptional services and opportunities to prove who we are. Our aim is to be at the top of the list of the best hybrid publishers.

We do not accept every author and are honest about the commercial prospects for your book.

We'll give you the truth, even if it's not what you want to hear!

We will support and guide you through the whole process.

From helping you improve and develop your story to the final edit for publication.

With you every step of the way

We put a ten step book marketing plan in place. Along with – possibly the most important element of all - help and training in how to market yourself and your book.
You are assigned a personal editor, and we put a team of talented book design and book cover design specialists around you to produce the book that you, and your readers want.

I am a director of a film production company, a film producer, scriptwriter and story consultant. We will give you the best chance of getting your story on to the big screen.

We have partnerships with agencies, marketing companies, distributers and more. We understand how the positioning of your book in terms of genre, book categories, title, sub-title, cover design and back cover ‘blurb’ can be critical in raising the profile of your book, particularly in a digital marketplace and on social media. This is a major advantage for authors.

Are you ready to explore the benefits of working with one of the best hybrid book publishers?
Get in touch to find out more. It costs absolutely nothing to talk to us about your book, your plans and your hopes for the future.

Please start by submitting your work to us. This gives us a chance to find out about you and your story. We will then contact you for a free talk about how we might be able to benefit each other.

Author Submission

Essential Author Knowledge Seminars

  • Ten videos for success as an author

  • A complete course on Marketing

  • The Hero's Journey...(...to Market)

  • The Author Mythology

  • Understanding the Publishing Industry

  • Author tips, tricks Q&A

Access to all the video seminars on Essential Author Knowledge for just £20

30 day money back guarantee!

If these seminars do not change the way you act and think about yourself as an author, and bring results, I will give you your money back.

Read more about Book Marketing

In-depth articles on  book marketing. We offer a range of book marketing services to all authors.

More Posts

Understanding the Publishing Industry and what it is looking for.

I believe that it is important that every author has an understanding of the publishing industry. That is why we offer the Author Edition in our online training academy. Here you will learn everything you need to know about the industry and how to become the author that the industry wants. 

There are many skills needed to publish your book that you most likely do not need or want to learn, such as formatting your book. You will also need to create a cover and there are many technical aspects to this. You may feel you are happy and able to do this, but this is where authors do not understand nearly enough about publishing. 

For example, the title you choose is almost certainly selected on the basis of your artistic love of those words rather than giving any consideration to the impact that title, sub-title and the accompanying cover design will have on your ranking and sales out there in the commercial world. Getting these things wrong can kill your chances before you have even started. We use complex algorithms and software to test and rewrite a title to ensure it gets to the top of search strings and, for example, Amazon categories. Take a look at the marketing resources we offer our authors for a glimpse of what is required. 

You will also need an editor to work with you. No matter how good a writer you are, it is essential to have an experienced editor to read through your book. It is very easy to think that your book is perfect when it is not. 

In reality, if you want to make any sales, you will either have to embark on several training courses to learn book design, book cover design, how be your own editor, and become an expert in book publishing and book marketing. Or you will have to pay people to do these things for you.

Everything you need to know about publishing your book.

Read the Wikipedia entry for book! book is a medium for recording information in the form of writing or images, typically composed of many pages bound together and protected by a cover.

Hybrid Publishing FAQs