Publishing Programs

Our Independent Publishing Model

Independent publishing offers authors a different way to publish their stories while maintaining 100% of their rights and creative control of their book. Our customizable, flexible alternative to traditional publishing helps you reach your publishing goals without sacrificing the control you need over your story, voice, and influence.

 

What Is the Independent Publishing Model?

Your book represents your story and hard-earned insights, yet not all publishing models give you full creative or legal control of your work. As a SXSW Books author, you retain 100% of the rights to your work and your intellectual property—unlike traditional publishing agreements.

Our authors are successful entrepreneurs, business owners, and thought leaders. Our ghostwriting matching services allow you to tell your story without even picking up a pen. As your partner, we bring your vision to life with a compelling cover design and distribute your book to over 25,000 online and offline retailers.

Additionally, we pair our publishing offerings with speaking opportunities, book signing events and more to amplify your message at an even greater scale. While traditional publishers can offer promotional services, they get to decide which authors receive this support and how much they receive. Our independent service allows you to customize your journey and for further, faster.

Publishing Model Comparison

Self-Publishing
Independent
Traditional
You make the decisions
You own the book
Book creation support

No. You find and pay separately.

Some

Completion Speed
Marketing Support

No. You find and pay separately.

Depends

Networking
Distribution Support

No. You find and pay separately.

Depends

Typical royalties

20+%

15-65%

4-15%

Returning unsold orders
Book order discounts

20%-65% off retail price, depending on format and quantities purchased.

Books at cost, minus a percentage of volume and quantity discounts.

50% of retail price and limited to a certain amount. Publishing costs up to you to find and negotiate. Options curated to fit your needs.

Publishing costs

Up to you to find and negotiate.


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