One of the biggest surprises for debut authors is discovering how slooooooowly traditional publishing moves. Writers often imagine that once a manuscript sells, publication quickly follows. In reality, most traditionally published books take two years — sometimes longer — to reach shelves. This timeline exists because publishing...
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One of the most persistent myths about publishing is the idea that published authors automatically earn a living from book sales alone. The...
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Aspiring authors are often nervous about the possibility of losing creative control once they enter the publishing world. Will editors change everything? Will...
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One of the most important things a writer can do is deceptively simple: Read. And not just the classics. Writers must consistently read current...
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Publishing professionals often distinguish between books that are “marketable” and books that are “lasting.” The two are not always the same thing. A...
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One of the most fascinating aspects of children’s publishing is that the book buyer is often not the same as the reader....
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Many writers view query letters as a frustrating obstacle standing between themselves and publication. But query letters serve several important purposes. A query...
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Writers often imagine that securing an agent is like winning a golden ticket — one magical "yes" that changes everything overnight. In...
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Every few years, someone predicts the death of books. First television was going to replace reading. Then came e-books, followed by streaming media,...
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