What Is a Publishing Consultant

Glossary > Publishing Consultant

What is the difference between a publisher and a publishing consultant?

The main difference between a publisher and a publishing consultant lies in their roles and responsibilities within the publishing process.

A publisher

• Is a company or entity that takes on the responsibility of acquiring, producing, and distributing content to the public. 
• Manages all aspects of the publishing process, including manuscript acquisition, editing, design, production, marketing, and distribution. 
• Invests financial resources in the publication and assumes the risks and rewards associated with it. It gives authors book advances, and it recoups expenses through book royalties once the book advances are met.
• Pays authors royalties based on a contractually agreed-upon percentage of the sales.
• Establish relationships with distribution networks, retailers, and other industry professionals.

A publishing consultant

• Is an individual or firm that provides specialized guidance, advice, and expertise to authors, independent publishers, or organizations involved in the publishing industry. 
• Offers their services on a consultancy or freelance basis and works directly with their clients. Provide support in specific areas of the publishing process, such as manuscript evaluation, editorial services, publishing strategy, marketing, or self-publishing guidance. 
• Work as independent advisors and charge fees for their services. 

In what areas can a publishing consultant offer guidance?

An author can seek help from a publishing consultant in different areas of the publishing process:

• Manuscript evaluation: Publishing consultants can evaluate manuscripts or book proposals, and authors can make improvements to their manuscripts based on their feedback.
• Editorial services: Publishing consultants can edit or proofread manuscripts to help authors before the book publication. 
• Publishing strategy: They help authors decide on the publishing model (traditional, self-publishing, hybrid), determine the target audience, identify suitable distribution channels, and plan marketing and promotion strategies.
• Self-publishing guidance: For authors considering self-publishing, consultants can provide guidance on various aspects, including manuscript formatting, cover design, formatting, and distribution options.