{"id":560,"date":"2021-03-02T20:51:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-02T20:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/?p=560"},"modified":"2026-09-23T21:20:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T21:20:47","slug":"the-three-cs-of-self-publishing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/","title":{"rendered":"The Three C\u2019s of Publishing: What Authors Should Know Before Choosing a Publishing Path"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Authors have more ways to publish a book than ever before, which can make the publishing process feel both empowering and confusing. Terms such as <em>traditional publishing, independent publishing, self-publishing, hybrid publishing,<\/em> and <em>publishing services<\/em> are often used interchangeably even though they describe very different relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before choosing a publishing path, authors should understand what they are actually deciding. Much of that decision can be reduced to three questions involving <strong>Creative Control, Cost Control, and Copyright Control<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once those three issues are understood, a fourth consideration becomes possible: <strong>Choice<\/strong>. The best publishing model is not simply the one that sounds most prestigious or promises the most freedom; it is the one whose responsibilities, risks, rights, and opportunities match what the author actually wants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Three C&amp;apos;s of Book Publishing\" width=\"785\" height=\"442\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/n8B7CzqR9aA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Publishing has evolved since this video was produced. The three principles of Creative Control, Cost Control, and Copyright Control remain useful, while today\u2019s publishing choices include a broader range of traditional, independent, hybrid, and professional publishing-service models.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Creative Control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Creative control refers to how much authority an author retains over the final form of the book. That can include decisions about editing, title, cover design, interior layout, pricing, format, publication date, branding, and sometimes marketing strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Authors who publish independently generally retain the greatest creative control because they are functioning as the publisher. They can select their own editors and designers, approve the cover, determine when the manuscript is ready, and decide how the book will be positioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That freedom comes with responsibility. Having the authority to approve every decision does not automatically mean an author has the expertise to make every decision well, which is why serious independent publishers often hire professional editors, designers, production specialists, marketers, and other experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional publishing operates differently. The publisher is investing its money, staff, distribution relationships, and reputation in the book, so it generally retains substantial authority over how the book is packaged and brought to market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Authors may have input, and contract terms vary considerably, but creative control is usually shared rather than absolute. An author who wants professional publishing support but also wants meaningful involvement should therefore understand which decisions are collaborative and which ultimately belong to the publisher before signing an agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hybrid and independent-press relationships can fall somewhere between those models. The important issue is not simply whether the author has \u201ccontrol,\u201d but <strong>which decisions the author controls and which are delegated to a publishing partner<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Cost Control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every professionally published book costs money to produce. Editing, proofreading, cover design, interior design, conversion, printing, distribution, metadata, marketing, and other services have costs regardless of which publishing model is used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What changes is <strong>who pays those costs and how that investment is recovered<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In traditional publishing, the publishing company ordinarily assumes the financial risk of producing the book. The author does not pay the publisher to manufacture and release the book; instead, the publisher earns revenue from book sales and pays the author according to the royalty and advance provisions of the publishing contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An independent author-publisher takes on the financial responsibility. The author may hire professional vendors to edit, design, produce, distribute, and market the book, but those professionals are providing services while the author remains the publisher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That distinction matters. Paying an editor or book designer does not transform someone else into your publisher any more than hiring an accountant transfers ownership of your business to the accountant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hybrid publishing creates a different arrangement. The author contributes financially, but a legitimate hybrid publisher still functions as a genuine publisher by vetting submissions, publishing under its own imprint and ISBNs, maintaining professional editorial and production standards, providing distribution, and accepting responsibility for bringing the book to market. IBPA also expects a legitimate hybrid publisher to pay authors a higher-than-standard share of sales because the author has invested financially in the publication. (<a title=\"IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria - Independent Book Publishers Association\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ibpa-online.org\/page\/hybridpublisher?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">IBPA Online<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cost control therefore involves more than asking, <strong>\u201cHow much will I have to pay?\u201d<\/strong> Authors also need to understand what the money pays for, who assumes financial risk, how book revenue is divided, and which party remains responsible for the finished product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Copyright Control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Copyright control may be the most misunderstood of the three C\u2019s. Authors sometimes assume that signing with a publisher means giving the publisher ownership of the book itself, while other authors assume that retaining copyright means they should never grant a publisher meaningful rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither assumption accurately describes most modern trade publishing relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Copyright is a bundle of rights. A publishing agreement typically grants a publisher specified rights to reproduce, publish, distribute, sell, and sometimes sublicense the work within particular formats, languages, territories, and periods, while rights not granted remain with the author. The Authors Guild recommends that authors retain ownership of their copyright and license only the rights necessary for the publisher to exploit the work under the agreement. (<a title=\"- The Authors Guild\" href=\"https:\/\/go.authorsguild.org\/contract_sections\/2?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">The Authors Guild<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Subsidiary rights can include opportunities involving areas such as translation, audio, book clubs, foreign editions, or other uses. Granting some of those rights is not necessarily a disadvantage if the publisher has the ability to exploit them successfully and the author participates appropriately in the proceeds. (<a title=\"- The Authors Guild\" href=\"https:\/\/go.authorsguild.org\/contract_sections\/6?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">The Authors Guild<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The better question is therefore not simply, <strong>\u201cDo I keep my copyright?\u201d<\/strong> Authors should ask exactly which rights are being granted, for how long, in which territories and formats, under what financial terms, and how unused rights can eventually revert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Independent author-publishers generally retain the greatest direct control because they are not licensing broad publication rights to another publisher. That freedom also means they are responsible for managing those rights and recognizing opportunities when they arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Fourth C: Choice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Creative control, cost control, and copyright control help authors understand what they are exchanging in any publishing relationship. Once those three elements are clear, authors can make an informed choice among today&#8217;s publishing models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The contemporary landscape includes several distinct paths:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Traditional or conventional publishing:<\/strong> A publisher selects and finances the book, publishes it under its imprint, manages production and distribution, and compensates the author according to the publishing agreement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Independent author-publishing or self-publishing:<\/strong> The author becomes the publisher, finances the project, hires needed professionals, controls the publication, and assumes responsibility for production, distribution, marketing, and business decisions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Independent or small-press publishing:<\/strong> A publishing company outside the major corporate publishing conglomerates acquires and publishes the book. The press, not the author, functions as publisher, even though its scale and working relationship may be smaller and more collaborative.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hybrid publishing:<\/strong> The author contributes financially, but the company still operates as a selective professional publisher and assumes genuine publishing responsibilities. Author funding alone does not make a company a legitimate hybrid publisher. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ibpa-online.org\/page\/hybridpublisher?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" title=\"IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria - Independent Book Publishers Association\">IBPA Online<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Publishing services or assisted self-publishing:<\/strong> The author remains the publisher but hires a company or group of professionals to provide editing, design, production, distribution setup, marketing, or related services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those distinctions are important because <strong>independent publishing does not necessarily mean doing everything yourself<\/strong>. An author can independently publish a book while working with an entire professional team; what makes the project independent is that the author retains the publisher role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Likewise, an <strong>independent publisher<\/strong> is not the same thing as an independently publishing author. A small press can be completely independent of the major publishing conglomerates while still acquiring books, issuing contracts, publishing under its own imprint, and functioning as the publisher of record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where \u201cVanity Publishing\u201d Fits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The language surrounding author-funded publishing has changed considerably. Historically, <em>vanity publishing<\/em> was often used broadly for arrangements in which authors paid a company to publish their books, and that terminology appears in many older explanations of the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, author funding by itself tells us very little about the quality or legitimacy of the arrangement. A professional author-publisher may pay editors, designers, and distributors directly, while a legitimate hybrid publisher may require author investment but still perform all the substantive functions expected of a publisher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The more useful question is <strong>who is actually acting as publisher<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a company primarily sells production services while the author remains responsible for the book, that relationship is better understood as publishing services or assisted self-publishing. If the company claims to be the publisher, authors should expect it to perform publisher functions rather than simply sell a production package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">IBPA specifically distinguishes hybrid publishers from self-publishing service providers on this basis. A hybrid publisher must vet books, publish under its own imprint and ISBNs, meet professional standards, provide distribution, and demonstrate that it can sell the books it publishes. (<a title=\"IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria Download - Independent Book Publishers Association\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ibpa-online.org\/page\/hybrid-publisher-criteria-download?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">IBPA Online<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Control Always Comes With Responsibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The appeal of independent publishing is often described in terms of freedom: keep creative control, control the budget, and retain your rights. All of those advantages can be real, but each form of control also transfers responsibility to the author.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Creative control means choosing qualified professionals and making sound publishing decisions. Cost control means developing a realistic budget and understanding where spending actually improves the book. Copyright control means knowing what rights you own and managing opportunities to license or exploit them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional publishing reverses some of those responsibilities because the publisher assumes more of the financial and operational burden. In exchange, the publisher also receives contractual rights and greater authority over portions of the publication process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither arrangement is inherently correct for every author. They represent different allocations of investment, expertise, risk, control, and potential return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Choose the Relationship, Not Just the Label<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Publishing terminology can become a maze very quickly. Two companies may both describe themselves as independent publishers while offering completely different contracts, responsibilities, services, and rights arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Authors should therefore look beneath the label and examine the actual relationship. Who is publishing the book? Who is paying for what? Who controls editorial and design decisions? Whose imprint and ISBN appear on the book? Who manages distribution? What rights are being granted? How is revenue divided? What happens if the relationship ends?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those answers reveal far more than whether a company calls itself traditional, independent, hybrid, assisted, or something invented by a marketing department last Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The three C\u2019s provide a useful starting point: <strong>Creative Control. Cost Control. Copyright Control.<\/strong> Understanding those three gives authors something even more valuable than control itself: the ability to make an informed <strong>choice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Creative control, cost control and copyright control shape every publishing decision. Understanding these three C\u2019s can help authors compare traditional, independent, hybrid and self-publishing paths before choosing the right relationship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":192,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[11,10],"class_list":["post-560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learn-more-about-publishing","category-learn-more-about-self-publishing","tag-book-publishing","tag-self-publishing"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.2 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Understand Creative Control, Cost Control and Copyright Control, then compare traditional, independent, hybrid and self-publishing options for authors.\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Administrator\"\/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO (AIOSEO) 5.0.2\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Allwrite Publishing Blog - We Design Words\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Publishing Options for Authors: The Three C\u2019s of Publishing\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Understand Creative Control, Cost Control and Copyright Control, then compare traditional, independent, hybrid and self-publishing options for authors.\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/AllWritePublishing_logo-R.jpg\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:image:secure_url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/AllWritePublishing_logo-R.jpg\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:video\" content=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=n8B7CzqR9aA\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:video:secure_url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=n8B7CzqR9aA\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-03-02T20:51:00+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-23T21:20:47+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@AllwritePublishing\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Publishing Options for Authors: The Three C\u2019s of Publishing\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Understand Creative Control, Cost Control and Copyright Control, then compare traditional, independent, hybrid and self-publishing options for authors.\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@AllwritePublishing\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/AllWritePublishing_logo-R.jpg\" \/>\n\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"aioseo-schema\">\n\t\t\t{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\\\/#blogposting\",\"name\":\"Publishing Options for Authors: The Three C\\u2019s of Publishing\",\"headline\":\"The Three C\\u2019s of Publishing: What Authors Should Know Before Choosing a Publishing Path\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/administrator\\\/#author\"},\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2012\\\/06\\\/self_publishing1.jpg\",\"width\":365,\"height\":282},\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-02T20:51:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-23T21:20:47+00:00\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\\\/#webpage\"},\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\\\/#webpage\"},\"articleSection\":\"Publishing, Self-Publishing, book publishing, self-publishing\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\\\/#breadcrumblist\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/#listItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/learn-more-about-publishing\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"Publishing\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/learn-more-about-publishing\\\/#listItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Publishing\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/learn-more-about-publishing\\\/\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"The Three C\\u2019s of Publishing: What Authors Should Know Before Choosing a Publishing Path\"},\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"Home\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\\\/#listItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"The Three C\\u2019s of Publishing: What Authors Should Know Before Choosing a Publishing Path\",\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/learn-more-about-publishing\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"Publishing\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Allwrite Publishing Blog\",\"description\":\"We Design Words\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"email\":\"info@allwritepublishing.com\",\"telephone\":\"+17702848993\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/08\\\/AllWritePublishing_logo_white-e1540554769309.png\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\\\/#organizationLogo\",\"width\":320,\"height\":160,\"caption\":\"Allwrite Publishing\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\\\/#organizationLogo\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/facebook.com\\\/Allwrite\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/AllwritePublishing\",\"https:\\\/\\\/instagram.com\\\/AllwritePublishing\",\"https:\\\/\\\/youtube.com\\\/AllwritePublishing\",\"https:\\\/\\\/linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/AllwritePublishing\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/administrator\\\/#author\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/administrator\\\/\",\"name\":\"Administrator\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\\\/#authorImage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/7007a9ec6b3c092d06841d5d5d9fb98803bd3208b4e0fae80fa96df79b2f1dd5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"width\":96,\"height\":96,\"caption\":\"Administrator\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\\\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\\\/\",\"name\":\"Publishing Options for Authors: The Three C\\u2019s of Publishing\",\"description\":\"Understand Creative Control, Cost Control and Copyright Control, then compare traditional, independent, hybrid and self-publishing options for authors.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\\\/#breadcrumblist\"},\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/administrator\\\/#author\"},\"creator\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/administrator\\\/#author\"},\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2012\\\/06\\\/self_publishing1.jpg\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\\\/#mainImage\",\"width\":365,\"height\":282},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\\\/#mainImage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-02T20:51:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-23T21:20:47+00:00\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Allwrite Publishing Blog\",\"description\":\"We Design Words\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.allwritepublishing.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"}}]}\n\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO -->\n\n","aioseo_head_json":{"title":"Publishing Options for Authors: The Three C\u2019s of Publishing","description":"Understand Creative Control, Cost Control and Copyright Control, then compare traditional, independent, hybrid and self-publishing options for authors.","canonical_url":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/","robots":"max-image-preview:large","keywords":"","webmasterTools":{"miscellaneous":""},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/#blogposting","name":"Publishing Options for Authors: The Three C\u2019s of Publishing","headline":"The Three C\u2019s of Publishing: What Authors Should Know Before Choosing a Publishing Path","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/author\/administrator\/#author"},"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/self_publishing1.jpg","width":365,"height":282},"datePublished":"2021-03-02T20:51:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-23T21:20:47+00:00","inLanguage":"en-US","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/#webpage"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/#webpage"},"articleSection":"Publishing, Self-Publishing, book publishing, self-publishing"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/#listItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/","nextItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/category\/learn-more-about-publishing\/#listItem","name":"Publishing"}},{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/category\/learn-more-about-publishing\/#listItem","position":2,"name":"Publishing","item":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/category\/learn-more-about-publishing\/","nextItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/#listItem","name":"The Three C\u2019s of Publishing: What Authors Should Know Before Choosing a Publishing Path"},"previousItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/#listItem","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/#listItem","position":3,"name":"The Three C\u2019s of Publishing: What Authors Should Know Before Choosing a Publishing Path","previousItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/category\/learn-more-about-publishing\/#listItem","name":"Publishing"}}]},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Allwrite Publishing Blog","description":"We Design Words","url":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/","email":"info@allwritepublishing.com","telephone":"+17702848993","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/AllWritePublishing_logo_white-e1540554769309.png","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/#organizationLogo","width":320,"height":160,"caption":"Allwrite Publishing"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/#organizationLogo"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/facebook.com\/Allwrite","https:\/\/x.com\/AllwritePublishing","https:\/\/instagram.com\/AllwritePublishing","https:\/\/youtube.com\/AllwritePublishing","https:\/\/linkedin.com\/in\/AllwritePublishing"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/author\/administrator\/#author","url":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/author\/administrator\/","name":"Administrator","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/#authorImage","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7007a9ec6b3c092d06841d5d5d9fb98803bd3208b4e0fae80fa96df79b2f1dd5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","width":96,"height":96,"caption":"Administrator"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/#webpage","url":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/","name":"Publishing Options for Authors: The Three C\u2019s of Publishing","description":"Understand Creative Control, Cost Control and Copyright Control, then compare traditional, independent, hybrid and self-publishing options for authors.","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/#website"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/#breadcrumblist"},"author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/author\/administrator\/#author"},"creator":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/author\/administrator\/#author"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/self_publishing1.jpg","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/#mainImage","width":365,"height":282},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/#mainImage"},"datePublished":"2021-03-02T20:51:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-23T21:20:47+00:00"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/","name":"Allwrite Publishing Blog","description":"We Design Words","inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/#organization"}}]},"og:locale":"en_US","og:site_name":"Allwrite Publishing Blog - We Design Words","og:type":"article","og:title":"Publishing Options for Authors: The Three C\u2019s of Publishing","og:description":"Understand Creative Control, Cost Control and Copyright Control, then compare traditional, independent, hybrid and self-publishing options for authors.","og:url":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/","og:image":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/AllWritePublishing_logo-R.jpg","og:image:secure_url":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/AllWritePublishing_logo-R.jpg","og:image:width":1200,"og:image:height":600,"og:video":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=n8B7CzqR9aA","og:video:secure_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=n8B7CzqR9aA","article:published_time":"2021-03-02T20:51:00+00:00","article:modified_time":"2026-09-23T21:20:47+00:00","twitter:card":"summary_large_image","twitter:site":"@AllwritePublishing","twitter:title":"Publishing Options for Authors: The Three C\u2019s of Publishing","twitter:description":"Understand Creative Control, Cost Control and Copyright Control, then compare traditional, independent, hybrid and self-publishing options for authors.","twitter:creator":"@AllwritePublishing","twitter:image":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/AllWritePublishing_logo-R.jpg"},"aioseo_meta_data":{"post_id":"560","title":"Publishing Options for Authors: The Three C\u2019s of Publishing","description":"Understand Creative Control, Cost Control and Copyright Control, then compare traditional, independent, hybrid and self-publishing options for authors.","keywords":null,"keyphrases":{"focus":{"keyphrase":"publishing options for authors","score":0,"analysis":[]},"additional":[]},"primary_term":null,"canonical_url":null,"og_title":"Publishing Options for Authors: The Three C\u2019s of Publishing","og_description":"Understand Creative Control, Cost Control and Copyright Control, then compare traditional, independent, hybrid and self-publishing options for authors.","og_object_type":"default","og_image_type":"default","og_image_custom_url":null,"og_image_custom_fields":null,"og_custom_image_width":null,"og_custom_image_height":null,"og_video":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=n8B7CzqR9aA","og_custom_url":null,"og_article_section":null,"og_article_tags":null,"twitter_use_og":true,"twitter_card":"default","twitter_image_type":"default","twitter_image_custom_url":null,"twitter_image_custom_fields":null,"twitter_title":null,"twitter_description":null,"schema_type":"default","schema_type_options":null,"pillar_content":false,"robots_default":true,"robots_noindex":false,"robots_noarchive":false,"robots_nosnippet":false,"robots_nofollow":false,"robots_noimageindex":false,"robots_noodp":false,"robots_notranslate":false,"robots_max_snippet":"-1","robots_max_videopreview":"-1","robots_max_imagepreview":"large","tabs":null,"priority":null,"frequency":"default","local_seo":null,"created":"2026-09-23 20:42:06","updated":"2026-09-23 22:01:48","focus_keyword":"publishing options for authors","additional_keywords":null,"truseo_locale":null,"og_image_url":null,"og_image_width":null,"og_image_height":null,"twitter_image_url":null,"schema":{"blockGraphs":[],"customGraphs":[],"default":{"data":{"Article":[],"Course":[],"Dataset":[],"FAQPage":[],"Movie":[],"Person":[],"Product":[],"ProductReview":[],"Car":[],"Recipe":[],"Service":[],"SoftwareApplication":[],"WebPage":[]},"graphName":"BlogPosting","isEnabled":true},"graphs":[]},"limit_modified_date":false,"ai":{"faqs":[],"keyPoints":[],"schemas":[],"titles":[],"descriptions":[],"socialPosts":{"email":{"subject":"","preview":"","content":""},"linkedin":[],"twitter":[],"facebook":[],"instagram":[]}},"breadcrumb_settings":null,"seo_analyzer_scan_date":null},"aioseo_breadcrumb":"<div class=\"aioseo-breadcrumbs\"><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/\" title=\"Home\">Home<\/a>\n\t\t<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">\u00bb<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/category\/learn-more-about-publishing\/\" title=\"Publishing\">Publishing<\/a>\n\t\t<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">\u00bb<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\tThe Three C\u2019s of Publishing: What Authors Should Know Before Choosing a Publishing Path\n\t\t<\/span><\/div>","aioseo_breadcrumb_json":[{"label":"Home","link":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/"},{"label":"Publishing","link":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/category\/learn-more-about-publishing\/"},{"label":"The Three C\u2019s of Publishing: What Authors Should Know Before Choosing a Publishing Path","link":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/the-three-cs-of-self-publishing\/"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=560"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":565,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/560\/revisions\/565"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwritepublishing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}