Publishing Science Fiction: Two Options (+ Insights from a Science Fiction Author)
Science fiction and fantasy books are a goldmine. According to Wordsrated, they are among the top five genres that make the most money – around $590.2 million in 2020.
Wondering about how to get a fiction book published?
This guide goes over publishing science fiction, science fiction publishing companies (including science fiction publishers accepting submissions in 2024), and the benefits of going wide. ↓
Key takeaways:
- You can publish science fiction through an aggregator like PublishDrive to reach a global readership or contact science fiction publishing houses.
- Publish wide to reach new audiences and create new streams of revenue, while doing everything under your terms.
A. Wide Publishing with PublishDrive
Self-publishing allows you to do everything under your terms, such as owning the rights or collecting the majority of royalties earned. With subscription-based aggregation from PublishDrive, indies keep 100% royalties.
From manuscript to published book [with PublishDrive]
PublishDrive helps tens of thousands of indies self-publish in major stores everywhere around the globe, including hard-to-reach markets like China. If they can do it, so can you.
Skip sci-fi publishing companies' terms of submission and hit the market. Here’s what it takes to self-publish your book:
- Write your book
- Edit your book
- Design book cover & check fonts esthetics
- Format files for print, ebook, or audiobook
- Publish and distribute to stores
Yes, that easy!
🔥 If you are unsure this is the way forward for you, try our Book Sales Calculator to see if subscription-based aggregation is a better deal for authors.
Prep yourself for the marketing phase by reading ⬇️:
- How to create a book marketing plan
- How to market a self-published book
- How to harness digital marketing
- 7 book marketing tactics
S.E. Smith, a success story
S.E. Smith is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of fiction, romance, fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary fiction, captivating audiences of all ages.
Susan shared with us the initial stages of her publishing journey back in 2012, as well as her decision to publish wide to show appreciation for her readers wherever they may be looking for their next literary favorite.
"It all began back in 2012 when I embarked on my publishing adventure. At that time, the landscape was quite different, with subscription models not yet widely available. Despite the shift towards subscription services later on, I made a deliberate choice to maintain a wide presence for my work. Why? Because I deeply value each and every reader, regardless of their preferred platform.
By embracing this approach, I've had the privilege of connecting with a wonderfully diverse readership, including those passionate about the Sci-Fi genre. Back when I started, the realm of Science Fiction Romance was relatively uncharted territory. By making my stories available on multiple platforms, I've aimed to open doors for readers to explore the enchanting realms of SFR, especially those who may be new to its magic."
With its broad network of partners, PublishDrive offered the required support to indies like Susan, who were looking to expand their readership into markets that may otherwise have been difficult to enter.
"My excitement soared when I discovered PublishDrive. It has proven to be an invaluable asset in my journey, helping me steadily grow my readership—a feat that remains a constant challenge for independent authors seeking to expand their horizons. What sets PublishDrive apart is not just its user-friendly interface and global reach but also its unwavering support for authors like myself.
Ensuring accessibility across various platforms, including ones like PublishDrive, has been paramount to me. I wanted to ensure that readers who have found comfort and joy in platforms like PublishDrive didn't feel overlooked or undervalued."
With her growing portfolio, which encompasses 16 book series and several translations into 4 languages (French, Italian, German, and Spanish), she has reached millions of readers worldwide.
"PublishDrive serves as a bridge, connecting authors and readers in a symbiotic relationship that enriches both parties. It's a testament to the power of collaboration and community in the literary world—a true win-win scenario for all involved!"
Read more about S.E. Smith on her website or Goodreads.
The benefits of publishing wide
Go wide to reach new audiences and create new streams of revenue. Discoverability increases when your book appears on multiple platforms, improving its chances of getting picked up by readers actively searching there.
When going wide, authors have control over pricing and promotions, which allows them to strengthen their author brand and build promo stacks to build momentum.
Here are other reasons why going wide is a better option:
1. Reach global audiences
Publishing wide means distributing through more than one platform, which looks like hard work if you go direct with each individual platform.
However, authors and publishers can distribute their books using an aggregator, which facilitates the publishing and distribution of all three book formats.
PublishDrive has a global distribution network of over 400 stores and reaches 240,000 digital libraries. Authors and publishers can tap into previously inaccessible markets and connect with readers globally.
But publishing wide also means making your book available in as many countries as possible, which translates into more potential readers.
While Amazon focuses primarily on English-speaking markets, these platforms access a diverse range of readers. See how this share looks on our 2023 book sales statistics.
See the revenue division between Amazon and the other stores. Authors distributed solely through Amazon miss 40% of their potential market share.
💡 Learn more about Amazon market share on PublishDrive throughout the years.
2. Reduce platform dependency
Publishing on multiple platforms reduces dependency on a single retailer, making authors less vulnerable to sudden policy changes or algorithm updates that could impact sales.
3. Embrace flexibility
Platforms grant authors flexibility when it comes to pricing models and promotional strategies.
Unlike Amazon, which imposes strict pricing policies and promotional constraints, other platforms empower creators to experiment with different pricing models and marketing tactics that fit their target audience.
B. Traditional Publishing: 9 Science Fiction Publishing Companies
Despite the many advantages of independent publishing, many authors decide to take the route of traditional publishing. There are numerous publishers for writers looking to submit science fiction short stories or novels.
Here are some options for science fiction and fantasy publishers, including science fiction publishers accepting submissions in 2024. If you’re interested to submit sci-fi short stories, this is also for you.
1. Harper Voyager Publishing
Harper Voyager Publishing is a HarperCollins UK imprint focused on science fiction and fantasy. This science fiction publisher was relaunched as a global brand in 2011 and publishes bestselling authors and the niche’s fastest-growing talents.
2. Talos Press
An imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, Talos Press is an indie sci-fi book publisher. It publishes fresh fiction from up and coming authors and republishes timeless works that continue to be relevant today.
3. Tor/ Forge
If you too were looking for the sci-fi fantasy publisher with the mountain peak logo, that is Tor Books – a science fiction book publisher of award-winning internationally acclaimed titles.
While Tor publishes science fiction short stories, submissions are currently closed.
4. Daw Books
DAW Books is the first publishing company to publish exclusively science fiction and fantasy. With a portfolio of over 2,000 titles, this science fiction publishing house has a reputation for discovering and publishing the peak talents in the industry.
5. Titan Books
Titan Books is a popular brand among sci-fi publishing houses, focusing on graphic novels, science fiction, and fantasy titles. Established in 1981, it has a catalog that spans both genre classics and innovative new voices.
Titan Books excels in bringing expertly curated selections to a dedicated audience. This publisher is among the science fiction publishers accepting submissions in 2024, including manuscripts from authors looking to submit science fiction short stories.
6. Uproar Books
Uproar Books started accepting submissions in September 2018 and released its first title in May 2019.
This science fiction-fantasy publisher specializes in producing hardcover and paperback books distributed across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, along with ebooks accessible globally. Since it changed ownership in 2023, Uproar Books closed submissions.
7. Orbit Books
Orbit, a science fiction publisher with teams in the US and UK, has released four Hugo Award-winning works, including Ann Leckie's Ancillary Justice, recipient of all major awards in its category, and N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy.
Jemisin's trilogy set a precedent as the first series in which each book won the Best Novel Award and the first instance of an author receiving three consecutive Hugo Awards for a series.
Orbit Books accepts agented submissions.
8. Quirk Books
Established in 2002, Quirk Books is among some of the best science fiction book publishers. Their bestsellers include Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Grady Hendrix’s horror novels My Best Friend’s Exorcism, and The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, and Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.
Quirk Books accepts agented submissions.
9. Rebellion Publishing
Rebellion Publishing is an award-winning science fiction publishing house and part of the games development company Rebellion. Its portfolio includes award-winning anthologies. Rebellion Publishing aims to publish fiction by award-winning authors as well as rising stars. Submissions are welcomed for works of fiction written without AI assistance.
Conclusion
If you’re ready to submit sci-fi short stories or looking to publish science fiction novels, you can choose to contact any of the science fiction publishing companies accepting submissions. Or you can go global, reaching audiences across distinct global markets. Wide publishing allows authors to make key decisions about content, cover design, pricing, and marketing strategies, tailoring each aspect to their vision and audience preferences. But more so, aggregation services from PublishDrive give authors complete control of their revenue.