Publishing Isn't As Competitive As You Think and Other Surprising Truths Every Author Needs to Know

My thoughts this week: Over time, I’ve realized that I have two audiences for this newsletter: People who are industry-savvy (experienced querying authors, published authors, agents and other publishing pros) and those who are fairly new to novel writing and are learning the basics.

The paid version is typically for the former. Because of that, I admittedly, assume a lot of knowledge on the reader’s part, but there is also a real need among writers to learn the nuts and bolts, and, as someone who occasionally lurks on Threads, misinformation is rampant.

So, I’m going to start occasional free posts on Thursdays with more basic info. I’ll also have some inteviews with other publishing people like last week’s post about The Tale of Ten Agents. It might even be a weekly thing depending on my energy.

I appreciate all of my subscribers. I’m grateful to paid subscribers because without your average contribution of $.67 per issue, I couldn’t put out the newsletter. I’m also thankful for the free subscribers who comment and share and make this place feel like a community. For the latter, I’ve taken the paywall off this post:

For this week’s paid subscribers, in addition to the top story, we’ll be looking at this week’s non-debut and debut releases. (Two authors share their query letters, and one agent also weighs in).

I also take a peek at fall releases and some of the puzzling ways they’re packaged. And OMG, my favorite craftbook is free on Kindle Unlimited!

Top Story:

I read once that authors were often A-plus students. (I suppose you would have to be to want to write one 300-page paper after another.)

I identified with that comparison because I have always aspired to be the publishers “pet.” I sent out my own press releases, arranged for dozens of author appearances, and wrote supporting essays to promote my book. One of my publicists remarked that she’d never seen such a hardworking author, and I LIVED for such comments.

I don’t think I’m alone in this. Many writers think if we just do everything right, if we just read the most craft books, write the most engaging query letter, and are absolutely the most agreeable author in every way, we’ll be rewarded accordingly.

When we get rejected, we want to say, “Whatever the problem is, I’ll fix it!”

As much as you’d like to imagine that hard work pays off—and it does to an extent—there’s so much luck involved in publishing. That said, luck favors the prepared.

I’ve been writing Pitch Your Novel now for over two years, and my eyes have been opened more than I have ever imagined. I thought I knew a lot about publishing before but writing this weekly newsletter has taught me so much.