Is publication on your mind each time you sit down to write? If so, this blog is for you! So far in our persona series, we’ve introduced Learning Logan and Motivation Max. Today, we'd like you to meet another common writer type: Publication Pat. Much like Learning Logan, this persona’s goal defines them. And as you likely surmised, for Pat, it all comes down to being published. Sometimes, this goal is solitary; publication is the end-all-be-all. Other times, it’s one of several desired outcomes, existing alongside other goals such as sharing a message or craft improvement.

To start, let's unpack what publication means to you, personally. Specifying how you define publication will make it that much easier to identify the hurdles that stand in the way of achieving your goal. As the industry evolves, the definition of "published author" grows increasingly hard to pin down, offering a few avenues through which one might become a published author.

First, there’s traditional publishing through one of the major publishing houses—which comes with the expected perks: editorial and marketing support, a professionally designed cover, and so on. Next, there’s publishing through an independent publisher where support and resources will vary from press to press. Last on our list—but certainly not least—comes self-publishing, where you are responsible for all aspects of the publishing process, from editing to cover design to marketing.

See the dilemma? While all of these options achieve the goal of publication, the route you take to reach your desired location will vary. As Publishing Pats (and even those with only a dash of Pat in their personas) contemplate their writing futures, here are some things they’ll want to take into account:

Surprising none, money tops the list of factors worth considering. Despite the hard work that goes into writing a novel, memoir, or children’s book, most authors don’t become particularly wealthy off their writing. Someone who makes a living as a writer may be said to be a professional, but most published authors don't make much money. The Authors Guild's 2023 Author Income Survey stated the following: “When looking at full-time authors whose books are in commercial markets (i.e, excluding academic, scholarly, and educational books), the median book income was $15,000 and median author-related income was $25,000.” We know most Bardsy members are well aware of this professional pickle. Nearly all say they want to be published; however, money—while nice!—is not their main goal.

Next, there's your audience. Having more is usually better, right? Well, maybe, but you could make an argument that, for some writers, it's less important. We have many members who want to write and publish for the sake of their family, for instance. (We'll be talking about another persona that fits this category next time.) Publishing a very limited edition memoir would more than suffice. It wouldn't make sense for an individual with that goal to pursue traditional or independent publishing because they aren't trying to build a broad audience, and their project doesn't hold the wide appeal that would entice a publisher to take it on.

Finally, there is prestige. Certainly, rising to the top of bestseller lists is a mark of authorial success. Still, is that more satisfying than developing a paying readership through self-publishing? Prestige is a funny game, and while the venues and prizes at the very top may be well-defined, they can be hard to achieve and quick to slip away. Nonetheless, there's nothing wrong with desiring acclaim, and if that's important to you, you'll want to make sure your publishing method gives you the best shot at achieving that goal.

Numerous variables impact the attainability of the above goals, so it isn’t as simple as saying, “If you want x, choose y type of publishing.” That’s where your directed writing group leader (and personal coach!) can help. Take advantage of their experience and knowledge of your work as you decide which avenue is the right fit. It’s essential to account for your personality in your decision-making process—another reason why learning your writer personas is so valuable. For example, if you know you don’t have the patience for querying agents and then going on submission in hopes of landing a traditional or indie publishing contract, self-publishing is going to be an easy choice.