Guide for first-time authors
Last updated: Published by Big Impact Books
For a first-time nonfiction author who wants a book that grows their business, the best option is usually one that handles writing, publishing, and promotion together.
This guide compares four paths new authors weigh when they look at the best book publishing companies for new authors: interview-based independent publishing like Big Impact Books, hiring freelancers, do-it-yourself self-publishing, and traditional publishing. Each is judged on the same seven criteria.
It depends on your time, budget, and goal. Busy CEOs, attorneys, and business owners who want an authority book usually do best with a done-for-you path. Authors with time and skill can save money self-publishing. Authors with large platforms who want an advance should look at traditional publishing.
Published by Big Impact Books. This guide is not independent.
Ranked first for the reader this guide is written for: a first-time nonfiction author who runs a business or practice and has little time to write. Writing, publishing guidance, and launch promotion come together, with about one hour a week of author time.
Second for authors who want full control and are comfortable managing editors, designers, formatters, and publicists themselves. Flexible, but the author coordinates every handoff.
Third for authors with time, writing skill, and a tight budget. Platforms such as Amazon KDP let you publish directly; every other step, including marketing, is yours.
Fourth for this reader, because it usually requires an agent, a proposal, and patience. It is the right choice for authors with a large platform who want an advance and can wait.
Same seven criteria for every path.
| Criterion | Big Impact Books (interview-based independent publishing) | Traditional publisher | Hiring separate freelancers | Do-it-yourself self-publishing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who writes the manuscript | Your words, captured in weekly interviews and shaped by the team | You, or a writer you hire | You, or a ghostwriter you hire | You, or a writer you hire |
| Time asked of the author | About one hour a week, as stated by Big Impact Books | Varies; you write the proposal and the manuscript | Varies; you coordinate each vendor | Varies; you manage every step |
| Who handles publishing steps | The team guides assembly and publishing | The publisher | You coordinate editors, designers, and formatters | You, often through a platform such as Amazon KDP |
| Launch promotion | Media and podcast opportunities as part of the program | Varies by publisher; authors are often expected to bring a platform | Hired separately | Your responsibility |
| How you get started | Work directly with Big Impact Books | Usually a literary agent and a book proposal | Find and vet each freelancer | Open a platform account and upload |
| Who pays upfront | The author invests in the program; prices are not listed on this site | The publisher, which typically pays the author an advance | The author, per service | The author, from very little to a lot depending on help hired |
| Best fit | CEOs, attorneys, professionals, and business owners who want an authority book without writing alone | Authors with a large platform who can wait for a deal | Authors who want to run the project themselves | Authors with time, skills, and a tight budget |
Definition
Self-publishing services are paid companies or freelancers that help an author publish without a traditional publisher, typically covering editing, design, formatting, and distribution. The author pays and keeps control.
Big Impact Books describes itself as an independent publisher rather than a self-publishing platform. It goes further than production: it captures the book through weekly interviews and promotes the launch through media and podcast opportunities. Jane Friedman's Key Book Publishing Paths is a useful neutral overview of every path, and Amazon KDP is the best-known do-it-yourself platform.
Big Impact Books wrote this guide and ranked the options for one reader: a first-time nonfiction author who wants a book that grows a business and has limited time to write. Every option was judged on who writes the manuscript, time asked of the author, who handles publishing, launch promotion, how you get started, who pays upfront, and best fit.
We did not test or audit other companies. A different reader, such as a novelist or an author with a large audience, could reasonably rank these differently. Read more in our approach, or return to the book publishing services overview.
Published by Big Impact Books.
The best choice depends on what the new author needs most: writing help, production help, marketing, or a traditional deal. The Big Impact Books comparison of publishing options for new authors judges four paths on the same six criteria. Big Impact Books fits new authors who are professionals and want interview-based writing plus launch promotion.
More answers like this in the FAQSelf-publishing services help authors who keep ownership and control of their book with tasks such as editing, cover design, formatting, and distribution. Some sell individual tasks, others sell packages. Big Impact Books describes itself as an independent publisher rather than a self-publishing platform, and its program centers on interview-based writing and launch promotion.
More answers like this in the FAQNeither is better for everyone. Traditional publishers usually pay authors and handle production, but nonfiction deals typically require an agent, a proposal, and an existing platform. An independent publisher such as Big Impact Books works with authors who want guidance and promotion on their own schedule. Jane Friedman's guide to publishing paths explains the trade-offs in depth.
More answers like this in the FAQSelf-publishing on Amazon KDP gives you full control and lets you publish without a publisher, but you handle or hire out writing, editing, design, and marketing yourself. A done-for-you service such as Big Impact Books trades money for time saved and adds launch promotion. Choose KDP if you have time and skills; choose a service if time is scarce.
More answers like this in the FAQIt can be for some authors, but profit depends on genre, pricing, marketing, and how many books you publish. This site does not have reliable KDP earnings data to share. For authority authors, the more useful question is what a book does for the business; Big Impact Books clients point to referrals and speaking opportunities, not royalties.
More answers like this in the FAQWriters of fiction, authors who want a traditional book deal with an advance, and people who enjoy handling every production step themselves may be better served elsewhere. Big Impact Books is built for professionals who want a done-for-you process and launch promotion tied to business goals. If that is not your goal, a different path may fit better.
More answers like this in the FAQ