Many writers believe that by self-publishing a book, they make it more attractive to a commercial publisher than a mere manuscript. I suspect this is because they believe that a publisher will be impressed by the sight of an actual, published book. The sad fact is that this is not the case. Publishers are not in the business of buying books. They are in the business of … [Read more...]
What Happens Inside a Publisher, After I Sign the Contract?
Question: What happens inside the publishing house after I receive my contract and sign it? Answer: I've been asked this question many times--and unless you have personally worked inside a publishing house, it's very difficult to answer it satisfactorily. The short answer is that a lot of activity is happening inside the publishing house after your contract is signed. … [Read more...]
7 Publishing Options for Nonfiction Authors
Publishing is exciting because it means your book is finally going to become “real” and tangible. Yet, this is the part that so often derails even the most passionate and determined author. One reason is that many authors struggle through the writing and then suddenly have a finished book and nowhere to send it. If you are one of them, it may be that you started in the middle — … [Read more...]
Self Publishing: Could It Be Your Big Break?
Do you have a literary work that you would like to publish? Have you considered self publishing your book? Self publishing offers a number of advantages that may not be readily apparent on first glance. Complete control of the presentation details of your book is the most important of these advantages. Obviously, if you have taken payment from another person to get your … [Read more...]
Understanding Traditional Publishing
Most of my readers are aware that there have been massive changes in the world of traditional publishing. The most impressive and beneficial is the burgeoning of indie publishers, smaller, independent companies that prize quality and diversity in books and care deeply about the authors they work with. At the other end of the spectrum is the sadness that has dominated what at … [Read more...]
