Crafting the narrative, for some authors, is the easy part of writing a memoir. Often, the stories flow like a waterfall onto the page. The hard part comes later, when you have to decide how to publish your life story.

If you hire a ghostwriter for memoir writing help, they can be more than just a creative partner; they can also guide you toward the best publishing path. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of traditional, self-, and hybrid publishing, along with the value of ghostwriting services for memoirs.

Traditional Publishing: What It Is, and the Pros and Cons

Traditional publishing is the conventional route, where an author finds a literary agent to pitch their book to a professional publishing house. Many authors assume that landing a contract with a major publisher will be more lucrative than self-publishing. While that prestige may be appealing, a bigger paycheck isn’t guaranteed. Here are some pros and cons of traditional publishing from industry professionals.

Pros of Traditional Publishing

Landing a book deal with a traditional publisher offers added credibility and could lead to speaking and consulting opportunities. But let’s take a closer look at the reality of that prestige.

1. Prestige

Authors often seek traditional publishing with the HarperCollins or Simon & Schuster–type houses because of the prestige. However, along with prestige comes a competitive marketplace, and the chances of landing a book contract are slim. One option is to shop your book around to smaller, lesser-known publishers.

Kristin Johnson, an author and ghostwriter of several books, says, “There are smaller presses that publish books often overlooked by the larger imprints, and these may be more likely to take on your book.”

2. Gatekeeping and Quality

Your writing may already be strong, but what about the quality of editing, proofreading, formatting, and design?

Publishing houses are experts in both the production side and the literary side. Their involvement ensures all-around professionalism. In that regard, some authors believe publishers act as “gatekeepers,” protecting a crowded marketplace from a drop in quality. They choose only the books they believe are worth publishing.

According to Steven Spatz, President of BookBaby, this is a myth. “Publishing is a cold business,” he says. “Publishers put out books that they think will make money, keep people employed, and feed families all down the supply chain—from the publishing house to the bookstore.”

3. Distribution and Marketing

Publishing houses will market and distribute your book—if they offer you a contract—but how extensive that marketing will be is uncertain.

Spatz says that while a celebrity might get a booking on a morning TV show, the average author won’t get the same treatment.

“The best you could hope for might be a mention in a press release or a publisher’s catalogue,” Spatz says. “Truth be told, many traditionally published authors are funding their own advertising, just like self-published authors.”

Cons of Traditional Publishing

Traditional publishing takes much longer than self-publishing, and while you may earn bragging rights, substantial revenue isn’t guaranteed. Here are some of the drawbacks.

1. Time to Publishing

The traditional publishing timeline is long and slow. According to Spatz, “On average with a publisher, it takes 24 months from edited manuscript to showing up in bookstores. In the same two-year period, an indie author could have written, published, and promoted three titles.”

Johnson adds that traditional publishing is “still the gold standard. However, it can be a long process that requires patience unless you are known, have a platform, and have a hot subject.”

2. You Might Not Get the Big Bucks You Expect

With prestige come big bucks—or do they? Spatz suggests that both self-published authors and traditionally published authors have a chance at strong sales.

He says, “The vast majority of authors will tell you that there is not a lot of money to be found in a traditional book deal. Sure, you get an advance check, which on average comes in around $5,000 to $10,000—unless you are a celebrity. But then you have to earn that back before you see another dime.”

Spatz also notes that royalties from a major publishing house are often low—around $1 to $2 per book sold.

Self-Publishing: What It Is, and the Pros and Cons

If you self-publish, you’ll manage the writing, editing, cover design, formatting, marketing, and distribution. You’ll also take on all the upfront costs. But with that responsibility comes significant benefits. Here are some of the pros.

Pros of Self-Publishing

1. Speed

Self-publishing a memoir means your book can be ready within weeks. Many self-publishing services—Amazon KDP being one of the most popular—guide authors through the process. It can be overwhelming, but an experienced ghostwriter can help.

The upside: you have full control over the book’s appearance, maintain all rights, earn a larger portion of royalties, and publish on your own timeline.

2. Creative Control

Self-publishing gives you complete creative control. You choose the cover design and interior layout (though there may be design limitations depending on your price point). You also control marketing and promotion—ideal for authors who are savvy with social media.

3. More Royalties

Self-published authors receive a larger percentage of royalties because there’s no publisher taking a cut.

Jeff Corbo, President of DocuCopies.com, says, “Self-publishing gives authors total control, creatively and financially. You can publish on your own schedule, set your own price, and keep a much larger share of the profits—often 60% to 80% per sale, compared to about 10% to 15% with a traditional publisher.”

Spatz adds, “Indie authors will make more money by selling 500 books than traditionally published authors who manage to sell 5,000.”

Self-published authors also keep all rights, meaning they can adapt, revise, or release new editions whenever they choose.

Cons of Self-Publishing

Self-publishing puts more work on your shoulders, so time and effort are its biggest drawbacks. Here are additional challenges.

1. You Do the Production Work

You’re responsible for production—copyediting, cover design, layout, image scanning, and marketing. This can be daunting for authors who lack digital skills or familiarity with platforms like Amazon KDP or IngramSpark. A ghostwriter can provide guidance here.

2. Distribution and Marketing Are on You

When you publish independently, your sales depend heavily on your marketing efforts. If you’re a whiz at social media, you may outperform a traditional publisher. Creating buzz with strategically timed posts and updates can be effective—but it takes time and energy.

Hybrid Publishing

Hybrid publishing blends aspects of traditional and self-publishing. As the author, you pay an upfront fee to a publishing service for editing, design, marketing, and distribution.

Unlike traditional publishers, hybrid publishers make their profit from the fees you pay—not from book sales.

Pros of Hybrid Publishing

You receive a higher royalty rate than you would with traditional publishing and often retain more creative control.

Cons of Hybrid Publishing

Be cautious—many hybrid publishing contracts are scams. Often, authors pay far more than the actual cost of publishing. The publisher may provide minimal services while profiting from your upfront payment. Technically, you’ll end up with a published book, but not one that has been genuinely “published” by a reputable house.

Ghostwriting Services for Memoirs

Deciding which publishing path to take is a choice only you can make. The next decision is whether you should hire a ghostwriter. The cost of hiring a memoir ghostwriter can be well worth it.