Some writers think that traditional publishing is the best way to validate authors. On the other hand, there are some who believe that prestige and reputation, more than resources and machinery, have put traditional publishing houses on the top rung of the publishing business hierarchy.

What is generally perceived as the alternative to traditional publishing is the non-traditional way that is often referred to as ‘self-publishing.’ Non-traditional publishing is generally defined as ‘vanity press.’

Vanity press or ‘subsidy press’ is ‘a publishing company that applies its ISBN to a book and charges the author for the cost of production. The author receives only a few copies of the book, and is promised royalties on those copies that might be sold by the subsidy press.’ Vanity press is another term for subsidy press.

The term ‘self-publishing’ is perceived to be misleading. An ordinary author, if he wants to be a ‘published author,’ cannot possibly publish his work by himself. He will still need publishing machinery (production, promotion, marketing, sales, and distribution). It takes more than personal cash and personally-acquired ISBNs and LCCNs associated with the author to make him a published author.

Self-publishing or subsidy press or vanity press will always remain an alternative mode of getting oneself published. It will never be mainstream. The concept of the e-book has also not taken off.

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Via cnet/TOMORROWVILLE/How Publishing Really Works