How hard is it to get a book deal with a reputable publisher?

[Anonymous]

I don't mean self-published. I mean the works.

[Anonymous]

Not that hard. I have 2 friends who are published authors from publishing houses you likely know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not that hard. I have 2 friends who are published authors from publishing houses you likely know.

Are they professional journalists or?

[Anonymous]

There’s still a few levels of book deal. I have a friend who has one and the publisher gave her a small fee (like 4 figures) to pay her and they published it. But they did zero to promote it. She had to do it all herself.

Another friend had a splashier deal and got a 5 figure advance and the publisher marketed her book so it made certain lists and got in front of certain novel influencers.

The first book was better, fyi.

[Anonymous]

A relative of mine got a book deal after a viral Twitter thread and a resulting viral article. A large social media following definitely helps.

[Anonymous]

It’s a numbers game. You have to get a LOT of rejections to get an agent and then a publisher. I have a friend who writes YA. She makes good money (six figure advances) but she wrote three whole books before she got one published — one that was basically practice, one she shopped around to get an agent that never found a publisher, and finally one that was her actual debut novel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't mean self-published. I mean the works.

You need an agent who we ill really work for you as a first time author.

[Anonymous]

Take one of Wendy Goldman Rohm’s workshops. She’s excellent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a numbers game. You have to get a LOT of rejections to get an agent and then a publisher. I have a friend who writes YA. She makes good money (six figure advances) but she wrote three whole books before she got one published — one that was basically practice, one she shopped around to get an agent that never found a publisher, and finally one that was her actual debut novel.

It typically takes about 10 years of rejections and writing and rewriting and multiple manuscripts. Sometimes shorter, sometimes longer.

And the publishing industry (like so many others) is in crisis. There are virtually no midlist authors anymore. Very few real advances anymore, and with POD, books neither go out of print nor sell well since they aren't on bookshelves.

[Anonymous]

It's very hard for most, not so hard for others. Ten years ago my workshop group at one of the big 3 writers' conferences had 10 or so people in it. At this point, the majority of the folks have published books with reputable houses, some of them quite successful (one of them was what is called a "make book" -- the publishers set out to market it heavily and it made some lists and she made a lot of money). But it isn't easy to get into the big 3 conferences, so everyone had demonstrated a modicum of talent just by being admitted.

It can actually get harder as you get into your second and third book. A friend of mine who has had multiple NYT notable book mentions will sigh and tell you "The advances just keep getting smaller and smaller."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take one of Wendy Goldman Rohm’s workshops. She’s excellent.

Weird small world. A friend from college married her ex husband. He's now the ex husband of my friend too, lol. At any rate, I might attend one of her workshops someday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's very hard for most, not so hard for others. Ten years ago my workshop group at one of the big 3 writers' conferences had 10 or so people in it. At this point, the majority of the folks have published books with reputable houses, some of them quite successful (one of them was what is called a "make book" -- the publishers set out to market it heavily and it made some lists and she made a lot of money). But it isn't easy to get into the big 3 conferences, so everyone had demonstrated a modicum of talent just by being admitted.

It can actually get harder as you get into your second and third book. A friend of mine who has had multiple NYT notable book mentions will sigh and tell you "The advances just keep getting smaller and smaller."

I'm this PP. I'll add -- no one from my MFA in creative writing program has published a book. So ... certainly not "easy."

[Anonymous]

Very hard to get a good agent. After that, getting published is relatively easy

[Anonymous]

It is my ultimate dream to have my memoirs (and then some novels!) published.

I ❤️ to read - I grew up on books & I also love to write.
And I think I have a good story to tell.

Yet I have heard that it is really hard to find a publisher + an agent so I find this info very very useful.

Thx!

[Anonymous]

Before you get published with a major, you need a good, reputable agent. So start there.

First communication with a potential agent needs to pop so they keep reading. Synopsis of the book. Chapter outlines. And roughly the first 50 pages.

Social media has changed things a lot. A large following is very helpful.

Also, advances are not what they used to be. Very, very few first time authors are getting six figures.