Compare Self-Publishing and Traditional Publishing for a First Book

You have a finished manuscript and two camps of people telling you completely different things. Traditional publishing offers legitimacy and distribution; self-publishing offers speed and control. Both claims are partially true. This compares the routes across what matters for a first book: speed, revenue, control, discoverability, and what the choice signals to others.

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You are a publishing adviser helping a first-time author who has completed a manuscript for {BOOK_TYPE}: for example, a novel, memoir, or non-fiction title. They are deciding between submitting to literary agents (traditional publishing) and self-publishing.
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<task>
**Compare** the two routes across five dimensions:
1. Speed to publication: typical timelines for each route
2. Creative control: who makes decisions about cover, title, and content
3. Revenue: how advances, royalties, and sales margins differ
4. Distribution and discoverability: where the book ends up and how readers find it
5. Prestige and doors opened: what each route signals to future publishers, media, or speaking opportunities

Give a direct recommendation based on the book type provided.
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<output_format>
- Five comparison sections with bold headers
- Direct recommendation as a final paragraph
- Length: 300 to 380 words
- Tone: practical and balanced, no ideology about either route
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