Alot of Graphic novels have moved to crowd funding due to comics gate. Japanese Manga is crushing the American comics industry in every part of the market.
This makes me wonder if any of these editors will start new publishing companies that can actually compete with Penguin and S&S. If theyre that connected, they can get the funding and the people they need.
Awesome :) Will you tell us how to get our books to them ? Mine is about 70 % done.. and is just in substack form right now... but the only thing I know I can do is the self publish on amazon thing...
In truth, this trend is very new to me. I'll pay attention and see what channels develop. As podcasts exploded it created a profession of "bookers" meaning people who slot guests with podcasts. I imagine that this boutique publishing will create a similar field of talent scouts.
I released my first book a few years ago with 0 knowledge about the traditional industry. Daily, I realize how difficult it is on every level in the structure. As an author in their twenties, I want to ride on the publishing rollercoaster that the digital age is building. It’s full of opportunities and unknowns.
This article is also a great read that even talks about how the “industry champions” of traditional publishing are also struggling:
I noticed a lot of job openings at Random House. I know that you've been saying traditional publishing is dying for years, Chuck. Long live the indie pubs that actually care.
I've been thinking today that I may have to be okay with just writing for myself. It seems in todays market someone like me would have to grind it out in social media, and I just don't have it in me. It's exhausting. There's a difference between engaging with your readers and making TikTok videos and grinding out followers on Twitter/X . But, stranger things have happened and someone should never give up on their dreams.
And not really a surprise. I couldn't imagine those Type-A editors going meekly into the sunset. Most of them came of age when books were brutal and relevant, and they long to return to that time.
Would love to see more posts about the publication world and what to do once you’ve got a complete manuscript ready to go before you. Traditional publishing vs Self-publishing, finding an agent, etc.
Get good at writing query letters. Get good at researching publishers and agents. Be willing to do cold querys to agents. Researching both publishers and and agents on social media (there was one agent I saw on substack that was opening the doors to querries from 1-15oct iirc) Understand your first book isn't likely to be your magnum opus. Be willing to market your slutty first novel. Network with other authors and publishers. Go to writing conventions. Build an audience. Market yourself. No offense to Chuck, but I don't think he is strengths currently lie in the realm of starting off in the publishing industry. He likely has lots of contacts in the industry. Also winning contest and awards can put you on the radar of perspective agent and maybe publishers if the award is prestigious enough.
Utilize Chuck for his masterful ability to hone the narrative. Utilize this substack for story crafting. Do all this hard work for years and years till you to will be able to call yourself an overnight success after 5-10 years of hard work.
All of which is the last century crap shoot model, and most will fail to get a foot in the door, just as they failed when following this advice last century.
sounds awesome. can’t wait to read these brave new world stories.
Are they working with publishers on these projects, or independently?
It seems to depend on the project. Some are with smaller overseas publishers. Others, like graphic novels, are being done independently.
These are very connected folks, so they can find a new path.
Interesting. Looking forward to seeing what shakes out from the retirees.
Alot of Graphic novels have moved to crowd funding due to comics gate. Japanese Manga is crushing the American comics industry in every part of the market.
Are they finding talent on their own or is there a place to secretly submit? Wink wink.
This makes me wonder if any of these editors will start new publishing companies that can actually compete with Penguin and S&S. If theyre that connected, they can get the funding and the people they need.
Awesome :) Will you tell us how to get our books to them ? Mine is about 70 % done.. and is just in substack form right now... but the only thing I know I can do is the self publish on amazon thing...
Still better than nothing.
In truth, this trend is very new to me. I'll pay attention and see what channels develop. As podcasts exploded it created a profession of "bookers" meaning people who slot guests with podcasts. I imagine that this boutique publishing will create a similar field of talent scouts.
Hopefully this brings us new and exciting things instead of the same old copy paste, mass produced books you tend to see these days.
At least in my area where the only stores you can buy books in are Walmart and Target.
Seriously, these dinosaur editors do not want to waste a moment creating crap. These will be their legacy books.
Very exciting!
Looking forward to astonishing beauty!!
Seems like the perfect time to have stared reading “The Gift”
I released my first book a few years ago with 0 knowledge about the traditional industry. Daily, I realize how difficult it is on every level in the structure. As an author in their twenties, I want to ride on the publishing rollercoaster that the digital age is building. It’s full of opportunities and unknowns.
This article is also a great read that even talks about how the “industry champions” of traditional publishing are also struggling:
https://open.substack.com/pub/leighstein/p/should-i-become-an-agent?r=1fzzrx&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
I noticed a lot of job openings at Random House. I know that you've been saying traditional publishing is dying for years, Chuck. Long live the indie pubs that actually care.
Random House was home for so long... I can't go against them. But I hear all the water cooler stories.
I can only imagine. I did apply b/c I'm light on client work. How much does a kidney go for on the black market?
Wow! That sounds refreshing. I look forward to your updates on the topic.
This is heartening! I can't wait to see what all these brilliant people come up with.
This is genuinely exciting news. Thank you for sharing!
I've been thinking today that I may have to be okay with just writing for myself. It seems in todays market someone like me would have to grind it out in social media, and I just don't have it in me. It's exhausting. There's a difference between engaging with your readers and making TikTok videos and grinding out followers on Twitter/X . But, stranger things have happened and someone should never give up on their dreams.
❤️
Reading this like 👁️👄👁️ . Publishing is wonderful and scary. I do enjoy being scared.
Your job should be to scare them.
Damn. Some optimistic news about the publishing industry for once. Nice.
And not really a surprise. I couldn't imagine those Type-A editors going meekly into the sunset. Most of them came of age when books were brutal and relevant, and they long to return to that time.
When would say the cutoff for books being brutal and relevant was? 2001?
Sept. 11, 2001.
This reply feels like the better captions from the photo contest.
Thank you very much for sharing this good news with all of us!
Would love to see more posts about the publication world and what to do once you’ve got a complete manuscript ready to go before you. Traditional publishing vs Self-publishing, finding an agent, etc.
Get good at writing query letters. Get good at researching publishers and agents. Be willing to do cold querys to agents. Researching both publishers and and agents on social media (there was one agent I saw on substack that was opening the doors to querries from 1-15oct iirc) Understand your first book isn't likely to be your magnum opus. Be willing to market your slutty first novel. Network with other authors and publishers. Go to writing conventions. Build an audience. Market yourself. No offense to Chuck, but I don't think he is strengths currently lie in the realm of starting off in the publishing industry. He likely has lots of contacts in the industry. Also winning contest and awards can put you on the radar of perspective agent and maybe publishers if the award is prestigious enough.
Utilize Chuck for his masterful ability to hone the narrative. Utilize this substack for story crafting. Do all this hard work for years and years till you to will be able to call yourself an overnight success after 5-10 years of hard work.
Absolutely fucking brilliant.
All of which is the last century crap shoot model, and most will fail to get a foot in the door, just as they failed when following this advice last century.
Failure>Regret
I have one go-getting student who's explored all the new avenues to publishing. I'll go after him to do a Q & A with me about what he's learned.
Sweet! Appreciate it.