A response to Maris Kreizman: publishing runs on gig workers — just like any creative industry

A response to Maris Kreizman: publishing runs on gig workers — just like any creative industry

A recent piece by Maris Kreizman in LitHub bemoans the rise of “gig work” in publishing — and in particular the freelancer-driven model being pursued by the new publishing venture Author’s Equity. What naive and misguided claptrap. What’s Kreizman’s objection? In an essay titled “Publishing Models That Rely on Gig Workers Are Bad For Everybody,”…

A new chapter for Wonderwell — and what it means for authors

A new chapter for Wonderwell — and what it means for authors

The hybrid publisher Wonderwell is ceasing operations and becoming an imprint of a competitor: Greenleaf Book Group. I’ll let you know what happened, why, and what it means for the publishing industry and for you, if you’re considering publishing with a hybrid. Start with this: this is not going to be an objective post, because…

Why you only get one chance to create a great proposal

Why you only get one chance to create a great proposal

An author contacted me recently regarding his book proposal. His agent had accepted it and shopped it to some publishers; there were some nibbles, but no bites. This guy was well positioned: good speaking career, solid book idea, well-written sample chapter. Now he wanted to know if I could help him to improve the proposal….

Authors give hybrid publishers higher marks

Authors give hybrid publishers higher marks

There are three basic ways to publish a book. You can pitch a traditional publisher, hire a hybrid publisher, or self-publish. If you want to make an impact, especially with a hardback book, self-publishing isn’t nearly as effective as traditional or hybrid publishing. But how do those two publishing models compare, based on authors’ actual…

In the wake of shocking changes at Scribe Media, tips on how authors can protect themselves

In the wake of shocking changes at Scribe Media, tips on how authors can protect themselves

Publisher’s Lunch, usually a reputable source, is reporting that “Ghostwriting and publishing services firm Scribe Media abruptly shut down yesterday, laying off its staff.” A second source that I trust received an email saying that Scribe had laid off most of the staff in preparation for a sale. Other authors are reporting no response to…

What the Penguin Random House-Simon & Schuster merger means to authors

What the Penguin Random House-Simon & Schuster merger means to authors

The biggest publishing house, Penguin Random House, is merging with the number three publisher, Simon & Schuster. Here’s what that means for you as an author: lower advances, less service, more publisher nickel-and-diming, and still more of the responsibility for success landing on you. Publishing houses struggle to maintain profits and market power in a…

What authors can learn from the IBPA hybrid publisher standards

What authors can learn from the IBPA hybrid publisher standards

If you don’t need an advance, there are a lot of good reasons to consider a hybrid publisher — a publisher who will produce and distribute your book for a fee. But the self-publishing space is rife with con-men and amateurs. That’s one reason the Independent Book Publishers Association has published a 9-point set of…