This is super illuminating. Thank you for covering both the pros and cons of trad publishing. What a bonkers industry, and yet we all so badly want to be a part of it 🥴 Posts like this really help us "pre-pubbed." Thanks Karin!
Absolutely, but nuts and exciting! I thought things would get so much easier once I landed my agent. I’m definitely a step closer but still clawing my way to publication. Work like yours helps. Thank you!
Most of my rejections have been incredibly kind, but almost always say something along the lines of “I don’t know where this fits in the market.”
I’ve been in the publishing space for almost a decade and it’s crazy how things have changed. Now all I hear about is the market. It feels like publishing is more of a lottery than a contest now.
(Just ranting now. Or lamenting? Observing. It’s been a long year.)
I know you must be incredibly frustrated. A year is an incredibly long time to wait. Publishing right now is so risk averse and it just seems to get worse every year but hopefully some editor will have the imagination to see how to position your book.
I’m starting to unsubscribe from newsletters that aren’t helping me. Your’s is one of the few I’m keeping as it’s always insightful. Keep doing your thing! Thanks.
Karin, thank you for your candor! Much appreciated as a first-time author-to-be weighing options for how best to get my own work "out there" -- thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
This is super illuminating. Thank you for covering both the pros and cons of trad publishing. What a bonkers industry, and yet we all so badly want to be a part of it 🥴 Posts like this really help us "pre-pubbed." Thanks Karin!
Kolina, I'm delighted you found it useful. It can be a little nuts for sure, but exciting as well.
Absolutely, but nuts and exciting! I thought things would get so much easier once I landed my agent. I’m definitely a step closer but still clawing my way to publication. Work like yours helps. Thank you!
Congrats on getting an agent. Fingers crossed for a successful sub!
Thanks so much! I signed with her last Spring 🥹
Great post! As someone who’s been on submission for a year, I relate to waiting on the slow cogs in the publishing machine more than I’d like.
Every day it feels a little less worth it, but I have one of those fierce agents who won’t stop advocating for my book. I’m so grateful 🥲
Best of luck that you'll get good news, Eden, but with a super agent in your corner, there will likely be many books in your future.
Thanks, Karin! I sure hope so 💙
Most of my rejections have been incredibly kind, but almost always say something along the lines of “I don’t know where this fits in the market.”
I’ve been in the publishing space for almost a decade and it’s crazy how things have changed. Now all I hear about is the market. It feels like publishing is more of a lottery than a contest now.
(Just ranting now. Or lamenting? Observing. It’s been a long year.)
I know you must be incredibly frustrated. A year is an incredibly long time to wait. Publishing right now is so risk averse and it just seems to get worse every year but hopefully some editor will have the imagination to see how to position your book.
Thank you!
Really excellent article, as always! Thank you so much.
Thanks!
Really enjoyed this and looking forward to the next in the series, especially independent (self) and hybrid publishing.
Thanks, Mark. Glad it resonated.
You always deliver a world of information relevant for writers! Love reading your posts. Once I get moved I’m going to really analyze my path forward.
Thanks, Tracey. Hope the move goes well.
I’m starting to unsubscribe from newsletters that aren’t helping me. Your’s is one of the few I’m keeping as it’s always insightful. Keep doing your thing! Thanks.
Will do, Brian. Thanks for reading.
Karin, thank you for your candor! Much appreciated as a first-time author-to-be weighing options for how best to get my own work "out there" -- thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
You're welcome, Pinki. Best of luck with whatever decision you make.
Great article, Karin. Thanks for the mention. It all sounds so dark and depressing when you put it all out there.. but it’s all true.
Also, I still DO get those letters like the one you opened with. It was my record so far of 450k words.
I just had an author ask if they can use a pen name since their last book tanked. One they failed to support with any type of marketing…
Thank you, Renee. WOW! 450K. That is crazy. And so important for authors to understand their role in marketing!
Is there any point to new authors even attempting to query agents until they have established their own platform?
It's required for non-fiction and it's becoming more common for fiction. But you can still get a fiction deal without one.
Thanks, Philip. Definitely going to look at that aspect.