Publishing has always been a relatively small industry, in which narrow margins make it tremendously difficult to stay afloat, but you wouldn’t know it from the sheer number of small publishers that exist these days. When you come across a small publisher to whom you...
The Reversion Clause: A Brief Explainer of Out of Print [VIDEO] Sign Up to The Inbox Edition Transcript: Speaker: Hello everyone, and thank you for joining me today. My name is Janey Burton, and I’m thrilled to dive into a topic that is vital for every author...
Or, Are You Ready to Hear Your Book Isn’t Ready to Publish? You’ve got a lengthy letter from your editor (or agent), full of editorial feedback and advice, and talking about revisions which sound pretty extensive and your heart sinks into your boots because you...
Writing a book is a very personal act of creativity, so it’s hardly surprising when authors fret over what to do in response to negative reader reviews of their hard work. It’s all too easy to take it personally, and catastrophise that a bad review spells doom for...
There are many myths out there about editing and editors, and these myths discourage writers from engaging in this crucial step in the publishing process, the one that can make their book as good as it can be. Here are some myths I see regularly in my inbox, at...
Now you’ve made the decision to hire a professional editor, you may wonder how to prepare a manuscript for editing. Here are the things you can do to prepare for editing so you get the most out of it. Prepare a manuscript for editing by self-editing First, get your...
Publishing a short story collection or a book of essays is a subject that attracts some conflicting advice. On one hand, there are those who are immediately dismissive, saying many publishers don’t publish short stories at all (true), or short stories don’t sell...
‘Who’s the audience for this book?’ One of the most important questions a publisher asks when considering whether to publish a book is about its intended audience. Who is it for? Which people will need, or at least want, this book? The answer helps a publisher see...
The most common reason authors cite for not wanting to hire an editor is that it is expensive. I want to explain why, while editing by a trained and experienced editor is one of publishing’s larger expenses, it is also value for money. Editing is a lengthy and...
There’s a major difference between a first draft and a self-edited draft. The more self-editing you do, the closer you’ll get to a final draft. When a manuscript is in good shape because the author has done plenty of self-editing, it’s easier to communicate its value...