Frequently Asked Questions for Publishing

From first-time authors who are ready to finally do something with the manuscript they’ve considered for years, to seasoned writers who are considering publishing independently for the first time, the list of questions is long. We genuinely love spending time answering each one—because asking good questions is how you make good decisions.

As much as we believe there’s a book or story in everyone, we also believe that the difference between a good book and a great one can be as simple as owning that you don’t know what you don’t know. So ask the questions! Learn how to share your story well—from your heart, with the reader in mind, and with as many of the professional or industry line items checked as possible. You can have a powerful message and still have it go unnoticed or lose credibility because the product itself didn’t reflect the quality of what’s inside.

We’ve pulled together sixteen of the most common questions we receive, from publishing terminology to format decisions to investment, and answered them as plainly and honestly as we can. Let this be your starting point.

Publishing Types: A Quick Overview

Before anything else, it helps to understand the landscape. While there are many different models in each of these categories, there are three main paths to publication. Each one looks a little different in terms of ownership, investment, timeline, and support. Here’s a very brief look at each, and a note about where MRP fits in.

Q: What is traditional publishing?

Traditional publishing is the model most people picture when they think of “getting published.” A publishing house, like one of the Big Five—Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, or Macmillan—acquires your manuscript, pays you an advance, and takes on the cost of [portions of the] editing, design, printing, and distribution. In exchange, the publisher owns significant rights to your work and collects a substantial portion of royalties. Getting in the door to pitch your book or land a book publishing deal typically requires a literary agent and a substantial existing platform.

Q: What is hybrid or partner publishing?

Hybrid publishing—sometimes called partner publishing—exists somewhere between traditional and independent publishing. In a legitimate hybrid model, the publisher accepts manuscripts selectively, publishes under their own imprint, and both the author and publisher share in the financial investment and the success of the book. Author agreements, royalty structures, and creative control vary widely between hybrid publishers, so research and transparency matter.

At Market Refined Publishing, we most accurately fit the partnership publishing model, with a heavy emphasis on the partnership. **Authors retain 100% of their royalties and full ownership of their manuscript and accounts. MRP charges flat fees in lieu of royalties or advances, and we invest our own time, expertise, and resources alongside yours. For a deeper look at how our model compares, read this post.

Q: What is self-publishing?

Self-publishing means that you, the author, are the publisher. You own the rights, the ISBNs, and all of your royalties. You control every decision, from the cover design to the distribution platforms. You also are solely responsible for the entire monetary investment as well as the time investment it takes to bring your book to life. This path can be done entirely solo, or with the support of individual service providers who guide the process, much like a website design or rebrand, without taking ownership of your work.

Note: The term “independent publishing” is sometimes utilized to describe either hybrid or self-publishing, so always be sure to clarify that with your service provider or publisher.

Key Publishing Terms to Know

Publishing has its own vocabulary, and knowing what these terms mean before you’re in the middle of a contract or proposal makes everything clearer. Here are some of the most common ones.

Q: What is an ISBN?

An ISBN—International Standard Book Number—is the unique identifier assigned to each published edition of a book. It’s how retailers, libraries, and distributors catalog and track your work. Every format of your book (paperback, hardcover, eBook, audiobook) requires its own unique ISBN. Without one, your book cannot be distributed through most major retail and wholesale channels.

Q: Should I use a free ISBN or buy my own?

Platforms like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark offer free ISBNs, but those free options come with limitations. If you use KDP’s free ISBN, for example, you cannot also use IngramSpark’s platform for wider distribution, per KDP’s terms of use. For this reason, we always recommend purchasing your own ISBNs so that you or your publishing imprint holds that status. In the US, ISBNs are purchased through Bowker (myidentifiers.com).

If you publish with a publisher, whether partner or traditional, the publisher will oversee the ISBN purchases under their imprint.

Q: What is a publishing imprint?

An imprint is the name or brand under which a book is officially published. The imprint name appears on your book’s copyright page and is associated with your ISBN.

For traditional or hybrid publishers, the imprint is the publishing house. For self-publishing authors, it can be a name you create for yourself or even your business or ministry name.

Publishing under an established imprint lends credibility and ensures your book is recognized as professionally produced.

Q: What is print-on-demand?

Print-on-demand (POD) is a publishing and distribution method where copies of your book are printed individually as orders are placed, rather than in large batches upfront. This eliminates the need to purchase and store inventory.

Most major publishing platforms like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark operate on a print-on-demand model, which makes it accessible and low-risk for self-publishing or hybrid publishing authors. A number of smaller presses and publishers take advantage of the ability to order at cost when needed.

Q: What is metadata, and why does it matter?

Metadata is the information attached to your book in retail and distribution systems: your title, author name, description, categories, and keywords. Like SEO for your website, this data is what helps your target readers find your book when searching online.

Well-researched metadata, particularly your Amazon categories and keywords, directly affects your book’s discoverability and its ability to rank in searches relevant to your audience. Many self-publishing authors devalue this step of the publishing process, but not investing in this research or paid service upfront can certainly cost you and your ROI later.

Q: What is the difference between KDP and IngramSpark?

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon’s publishing and distribution platform. Since Amazon is the largest book retailer in the world, it’s an essential channel for any published title. KDP makes your book available in print (paperback and limited hardcover options) and eBook formats directly through Amazon’s retail ecosystem.

IngramSpark is a global distribution platform that connects your book to a much broader wholesale and retail network, including independent bookstores, libraries, and international retailers. Where KDP gives you Amazon, IngramSpark gives you the rest of the world.

At Market Refined Publishing, we utilize distribution through both platforms as part of our standard publishing process. Together, they ensure your book is available wherever your readers are shopping, and that it meets the professional distribution standards expected of any published title.

What Goes Into a Professionally Published Book

Whether you publish independently or traditionally, your final product should meet the same industry standards. Here are the elements that separate a professionally produced book from one that falls short.

Q: Is professional editing really a necessity?

Yes! A book riddled with errors, inconsistencies, or structural problems will lose readers, damage your credibility, and undermine the message you worked so hard to deliver. Reviewers notice. Readers notice. And unlike a website you can quietly update, a published book is permanent.

Professional editing typically happens in phases: developmental editing addresses structure and content, copy or line editing refines voice and clarity, and proofreading catches the remaining errors before files go to design. Not every book needs every phase, but every book needs some level of professional editorial attention before it goes to print.

Q: Does cover design really affect sales?

Yes! Despite the common quip not to “judge a book by its cover”, prospective readers absolutely do. Whether a reader is browsing a shelf or scrolling through Amazon, they are making split-second decisions based on what they see.

An experienced designer understands what works in your genre, what signals quality to your specific audience, and how to create a cover that competes in today’s market.

Q: What is included in interior design and formatting?

Interior design and formatting covers everything that shapes how your book looks and feels on the inside: font selections, margins and spacing, chapter headings and the overall flow of the page. Think about the last book you truly loved reading. Chances are, you didn’t stop to notice any of those details, which is exactly the point. Good interior design is invisible.

Readers don’t notice great typography or thoughtful page layout; they just feel comfortable and keep reading. What they do notice is when something’s off. Awkward spacing, inconsistent formatting, walls of text—these things pull a reader out of the experience and quietly communicate that corners were cut.

Typesetting is the technical side of that process, preparing your files to meet the exact specifications required for print and digital distribution. It’s one of those behind-the-scenes steps that makes all the difference in how your book is received.

Q: Should I publish in multiple formats?

In almost every case, yes. Readers have strong preferences for how they consume books, and publishing in multiple formats makes your work accessible to a wider audience. Each format (paperback, hardcover, eBook, and audiobook) reaches a different segment of readers and opens different distribution channels.

Hardcovers are ideal for gift books, children’s titles, and keepsake editions. Paperbacks are the most cost-effective for wide distribution. eBooks and audiobooks allow readers to take your book with them with ease, and—in today’s rushed society—that’s a huge win.

One important note on hardcovers: They cost far more per copy to produce and typically require a higher retail price to offset that cost. Always run the numbers carefully to ensure your pricing remains competitive before committing to this option, especially if you are self-publishing or publishing independently.

Q: What about reviews and endorsements?

Word-of-mouth and reader reviews remain among the most effective tools any author has. One or two sincere reviews from readers who genuinely connected with your book can be powerful. The experience of one reader speaks directly to the next.

Endorsements from well-known voices are wonderful when you can get them, but they are not required. Before you publish, identify a handful of people who would be willing to read an advance copy and share honest feedback, and ask permission to use their words on your cover or in your marketing. Endorsements by other leaders in audiences relevant to yours will add credibility to your release as well as create a built-in referral or recommendation network.

Understanding Your Investment

Q: What does it cost to publish?

The investment for publishing falls into a wide range. The cost depends on the publishing path and the level of professional support you choose, along with the formats you publish and the scope of your project.

Here is a general breakdown of where investment typically goes:

Editing: This is often the largest single cost, and appropriately so. Depending on manuscript length and the phases of editing required, professional editing can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. In most cases, this is a shared investment with traditionally and hybrid published books, while self-publishing authors fund the edits themselves.

Cover and Interior Design: Professional cover and interior designs can vary tremendously in scope of work and cost. The length of your manuscript, custom or unique artwork, interior graphics or other added details will impact the quote. But, next to editing, the visuals of your book are without a doubt worth the investment to do it well.

Distribution Setup & Metadata: Setting up optimized product listings on KDP and IngramSpark, with researched categories, keywords, and polished product copy, is an investment in your book’s long-term discoverability.

Author Website or Book Page: A dedicated online presence for you and your book can range from a few hundred dollars for a simple setup to a few thousand dollars for a full website. Like the research above, a well-done website is an investment in your long-term success as an author.

Marketing & Launch Support: Social media content, email campaigns, launch strategy, and ongoing promotion vary widely based on scope and timeline. Whether you publish alongside a publishing house, or on your own, marketing support can typically be divided into done with you and done for you options to fit your budget and needs.

ISBNs: Though not a huge investment, ISBNs do create an added cost for self-publishing authors. Through Bowker, a single ISBN is around $125. A bundle of 10 can be purchased for $295, which is a much better value if you’re publishing multiple formats or plan to release future titles under your own imprint. If you have partnered with a publisher, this step will likely fall under their financial investment or cost share for your project.

Q: Where do most authors go wrong with their publishing or marketing budget?

The most common mistake we see is piecing together the lowest-cost option for each individual service from multiple different vendors, and hoping it all comes together in the end. The result is usually a product that isn’t cohesive, doesn’t look as professional as the author hoped, and took far more time and energy to manage than expected.

Working with one team or service provider who handles multiple services (or all of them) offers many benefits: a unified creative vision, package pricing and the ability to customize to meet your needs, and a single point of contact who knows you and your message from the inside, out. Your book is already a significant investment of time and heart. It’s worth protecting that investment with the right support from start to finish.

Still have questions? That’s exactly what we’re here for.
Reach out to us anytime—we’re happy to talk through your goals and help you figure out the best path forward for your book.