Next week, I am delighted to be moderating two panels in partnership with The Authors Guild Foundation on paths to publication, which are part of a larger series, Business Bootcamps for Writers.
All sessions are free to the public; you do not have to be a member of Authors Guild to register. And yes, these sessions will be recorded and available afterward if you can’t make the live event.
Paths to Publication: Traditional and Small Press
Traditional publishers provide you with cachet, a brick-and-mortar presence, and of course, an advance. For many authors, the preferred path to publication is through one of the large houses or a respected small press, even as these paths become harder to navigate. This panel will discuss the current landscape of traditional publishing, such as how to submit your work with or without an agent, what to expect from the editorial process, and how much marketing support a small or large press should provide.
Panelists include:
- Mary Gannon, Executive Director, Council of Literary Magazines and Presses
- Judy Hottensen, Associate Publisher, Grove Atlantic
- Vivian Lee, Senior Editor at Little, Brown
- Anne Trubek, Founder and Director, Belt Publishing
- Howard Yoon, Ross Yoon Agency
Paths to Publication: Alternatives to Traditional Publishing
In today’s marketplace, many authors with important voices and stories are reaching their readers by self-publishing (also called indie publishing) models where authors manage every aspect of publishing their books—whether by hiring experts for the myriad tasks involved or doing it all themselves. We’ll discuss the various online platforms available to authors to publish in ebook, print, and audiobook formats; working with freelance editors, book designers, and other service providers; as well as methods of distributing and promoting your own work. We will also cover working with hybrid publishers (which take on the production and distribution of a book like a traditional publisher but ask the author to share in production costs in exchange for a greater share of any profit), and how to identify reputable hybrid publishers and avoid those trying to take advantage of authors.
Panelists include:
- Tara Cremin, Director, Kobo Writing Life
- Darien Hsu Gee, author
- Mark Leslie Lefebvre, Director of Business Development, Draft2Digital
- L. Penelope, author
- Brooke Warner, Publisher, She Writes Press
Take a look at more wonderful sessions
The Authors Guild Foundation is hosting even more business bootcamps for writers this fall: Review the full schedule.
Jane Friedman (@JaneFriedman) has nearly 25 years of experience in the media & publishing industry. She is the publisher of The Hot Sheet, the essential newsletter on the publishing industry for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2019.
In addition to being a professor with The Great Courses (How to Publish Your Book), she is the author of The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal.
Jane speaks regularly at conferences and industry events such as Digital Book World and Frankfurt Book Fair, and has served on panels with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund. Find out more.