Years can be spent trying to hone and perfect your skills as a writer. The end goal can be very different from person to person. Some people write for personal enjoyment others write for the fame and possible money that can come along with it. As writers, we are presented with numerous opportunities for publication.

The evolution of a great novel can take months, years, even decades for some. After so much blood, sweat and tears, we sometimes get in a hurry for publication. The major types of publishing to choose from are self publishing, vanity/subsidy publishing, e-books, and traditional publishing houses.

Self publishing is for the truly independent writer. There is certainly no hidden meaning behind the phrase. You are the writer, the editor, the publisher, the promoter, and distributor. There are pros and cons for self publication. As a plus, you can retain a higher percentage of the sales of your book. On a down side, the books wont sell a great deal without a network in which to promote yourself . Self publishing is a small percentage of the publications on an annual basis.

The award for theft in the publishing industry goes to *drum rolls* vanity/subsidy publishers. If you have money to burn and no desire for your book to be read, then this is the way to go. You can pay a normally large fee for the services provided, the press retains the copyright to the book and rarely attempt to promote. Why pour your soul into your work if publication is not truly a sign of success? Popular practice has many large bookstores avoiding books published this method. The inexperienced writer becomes the unknowing victim. Those seeking fame but not familiar with the finer points of publication

The biggest boom in publishing right now is the E- book. The e book has revolutionized the writers climb to success. Electronic books are available to download and read on the internet. Some are free and some are not. This is a quick way to get your work out in an attempt to build an audience. Ebooks are regarded as beneficial in several ways. They promote reading. They are faster and less expensive than paper books to produce. The portability, updateability, and searchability are at the top of the list.

The longest living method of publication is done through the traditional publishing house. This method has is also the most work. Conventional chain of command is writer to editor/agent to publisher. There are houses that will accept unagented works but they are dwarfed in numbers to those that work with agented works only. The traditional publishing houses have large distribution channels that independent producers do not often have. They are able to promote and produce much more easily.

All of this said the decision is solely that of the writer. We all do things for our own reasons and each pursuit of success takes a different path. Certainly it is a great thing to say that you are published but do not cheapen your experience by settling for the easy route. Take the time, do the research, and give yourself a chance to strive for the greatest success possible.