Is it Easier Now than Ever to Get Published?

The answer to that question is yes and no. It’s complicated because it’s both harder and easier to get published. Anyone can go and published an ebook or print book through several different channels, but getting a traditional book deal has never been harder to land. Unless the author’s platform is on a national level, the odds of getting a book deal are about the same as winning $10,000 from a scratch off.

What’s disappointing about this reality is that it has nothing to do with what should be the most important factor in getting a book deal–the quality of work. A writer’s ability to craft a great piece of prose is not the most relevant in the world of traditional publishing. As recent as five years ago, a well-crafted manuscript could have gotten a book deal, but those days are so long gone that it might as well have been fifty years ago. Unless your last name is Kardashian or are known as Snooky, one of the big six is not going to be giving you a book deal.  Until recently, the other option was self-publishing, which has several issues and really wasn’t a viable option for most writers.  Some of the big issues are the cost and difficulty in separating yourself from the junk. You also have egos and without someone in New York telling the author their book is great, many authors who go the self-publishing route feel self-conscious about the quality of their work.

I get it. I went through the same process of getting rejected by countless agents and publishers who liked my manuscript, but didn’t like the platform. After a year of being rejected and feeling like all this work I’ve put into my manuscript was for nothing, I started looking at smaller presses. I was not ready to move into the world of self-publishing for a number of reasons. The two main reasons for me were the financial investment and I wanted someone to tell me that they wanted to publish my book. I just didn’t want to pay someone to publish my book. I was willing to work and use my publicity experience to promote my book. I was even willing to make something of a financial investment, but I just wanted to feel like someone was also invested in me. It’s an ego thing and something most writers struggle with.

I ended up agreeing to a contract with Think Piece Publishing, which turned into a freelance PR gig and has developed into so much more. My book Goodnight Saint Paul  … Hello L.A. will be coming out this summer/fall. Think Piece and many other publishers like it, represent the new form of publishing. They are not a traditional house in a traditional sense. Yes they’ve given advances and are distributing books through traditional channels, but the author needs to step in and help with the publishing process.

Though we are not asking authors to pay for any part of getting their book published, I would still consider Think Piece a hybrid publisher.  We vet every book that comes in and we want books that have a strong platform. We don’t expect them to be celebrities, but a market for the book is important. But what makes us different than a traditional house is that we are mostly digital. We also need help. In today’s world of publishing, an author not only needs to be a writer, they need to know how to sell themselves.  In an interview I did for the May issue of The Writer Magazine, we talk about authors needing to hire outside help.

This is all part of the new form of publishing, which is giving the writers a say in the future of publishing. It’s an exciting time to be in this business as both a writer and publisher. I don’t have to work for a big house where I no say in the books I work on. I make this decision and encourage more writers to submit work to Think Piece Publishing. We truly want good work and you’ll have someone reading it who walks in your shoes.

Hybrid publishing has a bright future and I think it will continue to grow because so many authors are writing off traditional publishing and these writers are savvy. They know they need other savvy people in place to publish their work.  If you want somewhere to send your queries, email me at kjfinley@thinkpiecepublishing.com.