The Publishing Industry
Print Books Are Here to Stay
Unlike music and film, e-books have yet to eclipse books in print. While digitized versions offer some conveniences that print books lack, print books are here to stay.
Read MoreThe Impacts of COVID-19 on the Publishing Industry
The COVID-19 pandemic has finally caught up with the publishing industry. But if your heart is set on a traditional publishing deal, go for it. Don’t wait for it all to get better. Adjust your expectations, and get strategic about how you can leverage your book to help you achieve your bigger goals.
Read MoreHow Much Does a Literary Agent Cost?
A real-deal, ethical literary agent doesn’t ‘cost’ you anything. Literary agents should never charge you upfront. That’s right – not a single penny. They only make money as a percentage of your royalties on book sales, and that check comes directly from the publisher.
Read MoreCan You Sell a Self-Published Book to a Publisher?
People often ask if it’s possible to sell a self-published book to a publisher. The short answer: Yes. But with some caveats. Sometimes, a publisher will reach out to a self-published author and offer to buy the rights to publish their book, and even pay an advance. Amanda Hocking’s Story Probably the most extraordinary example…
Read MorePublishing House Acquisitions May Mean Fewer Options
Many people fear that publishing house acquisitions like the one underway between Penguin Random House (PRH) and Simon & Schuster (S&S) may mean fewer options for authors and readers. Since late 2020, one big question has been hanging over the publishing industry: what will happen if Big Five publisher Penguin Random House acquires the smallest…
Read MoreThe Grim Realities of the Publishing Industry
The good news is publishing is here to stay. The world continues to crave books, and the industry needs to sign new authors. You just have to find your unique salable concept and write a proposal that proves without a doubt that you know what you’re talking about—and that you can and will sell books.
Read MoreSix Things You Should NEVER Say During Literary Agent Matchmaking
If you’ve finished your book proposal, and you’re getting ready to pitch to literary agents, this is a must-read. For many first-time authors, the literary agent matchmaking process can be a mine field, with lots of spots where you can inadvertently “step in it” and blow up your chances of getting signed. Here are some…
Read MoreTwo Keys to Getting a Literary Agent and a Book Deal
Everyone knows that to claim full authority status as an expert in your field, you need to author a book. And the way to publish with the most prestige is to land a deal with a traditional publisher. For new authors, the process of getting a literary agent and book deal can seem mysterious, elusive,…
Read MoreMy Rebuttal: Why DEI Is Good For Publishing
I received an email from a subscriber regarding my podcast interview with Carrie Bloxson, the VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Hachette Book Group. Their opinion: stop this DEI nonsense. We should “let writers succeed or fail based on their merits.” I agree. That’s exactly what we should do. The question remains: what…
Read MoreWhy Literary Agents Reject Queries (And What to Do About It)
If you’ve ever sent a query to a literary agent who rejected your proposal, you might have been tempted to tell yourself that the agent was “mean” or “just didn’t get it.” And while that point of view makes a soothing balm for the ego, it will not get you a different result with the…
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