Loft Writing Minute: The Mysteries of Publishing
Whether it’s Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys or Batman, a good detective starts by gathering clues. After all, you can’t solve the mystery with one glance, so you collect evidence, eliminate dead ends and slowly piece together a theory of the case.
Publishing works much the same way. Thousands of books are published every year, so the mystery is figuring out how your particular project will reach readers. Some books find homes with traditional publishers while others are hybrid or even self-published. Every manuscript leaves behind a different trail of evidence, so, to solve this mystery, writers must learn which clues matter for your story and how they fit together.
Clue #1: The Reader
Every mystery needs a victim, and every book needs a reader. A memoir, cookbook, picture book and novel all attract different audiences. The clearer your understanding of who will actually read your work, the easier it becomes to make decisions about editing, marketing and publication. Publishing includes connecting the book you created with the people who will care about it.
Clue #2: The Timeline
Detectives don’t solve cases overnight, and books don’t appear on shelves overnight either. Traditional publishing often takes years. Querying agents, securing representation, revising manuscripts and moving through production all require patience. Self-publishing can move much faster, but speed comes with additional responsibilities. Understanding your timeline helps determine which path makes the most sense for your project.
Clue #3: The Resources
Everyone has a budget. Traditional publishers typically handle editing, design and distribution while, contrastingly, authors often hire editors, designers and marketers themselves. Neither approach is inherently better; they simply require different investment of time, money and energy.
Clue #4: The Publishing Path
Once you understand your audience, timeline and resources, the publishing path becomes easier to identify. Traditional publishing, hybrid publishing and self-publishing each offer different advantages on the project and the goals behind it.
Case Closed?
Not quite. Publishing remains one of the most confusing parts of a writer’s career because there are legal, creative and practical considerations that rarely get discussed when we’re focused on writing.
Rachel Werner's upcoming class, Publishing for Newbies, is designed to explore. Over two sessions, writers will unpack the three major publishing paths while learning about everything from cover art and illustrations to the practical realities of bringing a project into print. Good detectives find clues, while the best detectives string them together to solve the mystery. The same is true for writers.
The Class: Publishing for Newbies
When: July 22nd and 29th, 1-3pm
Where: Online via Zoom