Vanity press or hybrid publisher: what is the difference?
The short answerA vanity press, also referred to as a vanity publisher or subsidy publisher, is a company that will publish anything for anyone who pays them. Hybrid publishing refers to publishers who don't assume risk like traditional publishers. But they also don't accept every Author who walks in the door like vanity publishers.
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Four ways a book gets published
Traditional publishing
With traditional publishing, an Author sells the publishing rights for their book to a publishing house. In return, the publisher pays the Author an advance.
Self-publishing
In the self-publishing model, authors manage all publishing work, whether that's hiring freelancers or publishing services companies for a fee or completing all work themselves.
Hybrid publishing
With a hybrid model, publishers may pay authors little to no advance and keep some of the book's royalties, though every company's model is different.
Vanity press
There are no editorial or creative standards. You pay them to do things for you, and they take some of your royalties.
How to tell a legitimate hybrid publisher from a vanity press
Any company can call itself a hybrid publisher. The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) publishes Hybrid Publisher Criteria, revised in 2022 to 11 points, that describe what a reputable hybrid publisher should do. Three of them are easy to check before you sign:
- It vets submissions. A reputable hybrid publisher only takes on books that fit its mission and quality bar, and it often turns authors down.
- It publishes under its own imprint and ISBNs. The publisher's imprint and ISBNs go on the book, backed by a team that develops and distributes it.
- It pays a better royalty, and says so in writing. Because you invest in the book, your royalty should be higher than the industry-standard rate, and the split should be laid out transparently in your contract.
If a company will publish anything you pay for and cannot explain how it meets each point, you may be looking at a vanity press. Ask every publisher on your shortlist to walk you through the full list.
Questions to ask any publisher
- Ask the publisher about copyrights and all other rights involved.
- Find out if packages or “a la carte” services are available and the price points for each.
- Ask how the publisher handles royalties.
- Ask about the distribution process.
- Before you pay a publishing service, you should see examples of the books they've published.
- You should be wary of any publishing house where the ownership and team are unclear.
Our publishing imprints
We have two publishing imprints at Scribe: Lioncrest Publishing and Houndstooth Press. Both are wholly owned imprints of Scribe Media.
Lioncrest Publishing
Our premier imprint, accessible to authors who engage with Scribe for editorial work on their manuscript.
Houndstooth Press
Our largest imprint, accessible to authors who engage with Scribe for publishing services.
The agreement terms on the Scribe Professional pricing page say: “Your book, its copyright, and all of its royalties remain 100% yours, and the imprint you publish under is shown as the publisher on every edition.”
Real authors. Real results.
Five authors on choosing how their book reached readers.
Every price, out in the open
We publish what every Scribe service costs because we work on behalf of the author, and that starts with transparent pricing.
Scribe Publishing
$4,833 / month
6 monthly payments · $29,000 total
You've written your manuscript. We handle everything else.
See Scribe Publishing →Guided Author
$2,933 / month
15 monthly payments · $44,000 total
You write your book with expert coaching. We publish it.
See Guided Author →Scribe Professional
$4,667 / month
12 monthly payments · $56,000 total
We interview you and write your book. You talk, we create.
See Scribe Professional →Scribe Elite
$9,000 / month
15 monthly payments · $135,000 total
The premier ghostwriting experience. White-glove, start to finish.
See Scribe Elite →Questions authors ask
What is a vanity press?
A vanity press, also referred to as a vanity publisher or subsidy publisher, is a company that will publish anything for anyone who pays them. There are no editorial or creative standards.
What is a hybrid publisher?
Hybrid publishing refers to publishers who don't assume risk like traditional publishers. But they also don't accept every Author who walks in the door like vanity publishers.
How can I tell if a hybrid publisher is reputable?
The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) publishes Hybrid Publisher Criteria, revised in 2022 to 11 points, that describe what a reputable hybrid publisher should do. Ask every publisher on your shortlist to walk you through the full list.
Does Scribe take royalties?
The Scribe pricing pages list “100% of All Rights and Royalties” and say: “All book profits and rights are yours. All accounts are yours.”
Who is the publisher of a Scribe book?
We have two publishing imprints at Scribe: Lioncrest Publishing and Houndstooth Press. Both are wholly owned imprints of Scribe Media. The agreement terms on the pricing pages add: “If you request it, you may publish under your own imprint.”
What does Scribe Publishing cost?
Scribe Publishing is $4,833 a month for 6 months ($29,000 total). The pricing page describes it this way: “You've written your manuscript. We handle everything else.”
Your book starts with a conversation
A focused conversation about your book idea, the best publishing path for your goals, and a clear next step.
Schedule a Free ConsultOr call (512) 325-0249