Anonymous
04/21/2026 20:32
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Little to none. It’s not peer reviewed so almost anyone can publish.
We aren't talking about a Phd program here...
But getting published is going to require a high level of expertise. I think a teen might have more luck publishing something more teen-related than humanities nonfiction.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 20:31
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are we talking about Penguin Random House or Simon & Schuster or similar? Congratulations. You don't really need to go to college.
If it's some self-published whatever, you should go to college. But every professor will be thrilled to have a strong writer in their class.
This. I saw a kid say they published thru Penguin Random House but it was thru Berrett-Koehler Publishers with Penguin getting a kickback for marketing.
As long as it's not self-published, it's still impressive, IMO.
I'm the person in publishing. We now buy people regularly who manage to make a splash in self publishing. We look at numbers sold, reviews, how often the person publishes, are they gaining traction? If OP could make a big splash in self publishing, that wouldn't be terrible.
That is interesting. Are some of them really high school students?
None that I know of. Just a general observation of how self publishing has changed. Similarly, someone who has a platform will more easily get published than someone who doesn't have a platform.
Do I think a high school student should focus on writing a book in hopes it will help get into college? Probably not. The time could be better spent on something that has a higher percent chance of working. But if OP already has a book written and is already being published, then why not attempt to use that. If it's written and can make a splash in any form, great.
All that said, if a high school student wrote a book, got it published, and it did well, that could definitely be a stepping stone into college.
I’ve written a book and am just starting the process of querying. I would do this regardless of college admissions, but if it helps, that’s nice!
Good luck. But don't hold your breath. Plenty of brilliant writers out there who have written amazing books whose queries go nowhere for years. Query away, but don't dwell too much on this book selling and being on track for publication by the time you are submitting college applications (if ever).
Anonymous
04/21/2026 20:28
Subject: Published author?
Just be prepared for them to look at you Amazon and Goodreads listings to verify.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 20:26
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are we talking about Penguin Random House or Simon & Schuster or similar? Congratulations. You don't really need to go to college.
If it's some self-published whatever, you should go to college. But every professor will be thrilled to have a strong writer in their class.
This. I saw a kid say they published thru Penguin Random House but it was thru Berrett-Koehler Publishers with Penguin getting a kickback for marketing.
As long as it's not self-published, it's still impressive, IMO.
+1
Anonymous
04/21/2026 20:24
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Little to none. It’s not peer reviewed so almost anyone can publish.
We aren't talking about a Phd program here...
Anonymous
04/21/2026 20:20
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are we talking about Penguin Random House or Simon & Schuster or similar? Congratulations. You don't really need to go to college.
If it's some self-published whatever, you should go to college. But every professor will be thrilled to have a strong writer in their class.
This. I saw a kid say they published thru Penguin Random House but it was thru Berrett-Koehler Publishers with Penguin getting a kickback for marketing.
As long as it's not self-published, it's still impressive, IMO.
I'm the person in publishing. We now buy people regularly who manage to make a splash in self publishing. We look at numbers sold, reviews, how often the person publishes, are they gaining traction? If OP could make a big splash in self publishing, that wouldn't be terrible.
That is interesting. Are some of them really high school students?
None that I know of. Just a general observation of how self publishing has changed. Similarly, someone who has a platform will more easily get published than someone who doesn't have a platform.
Do I think a high school student should focus on writing a book in hopes it will help get into college? Probably not. The time could be better spent on something that has a higher percent chance of working. But if OP already has a book written and is already being published, then why not attempt to use that. If it's written and can make a splash in any form, great.
All that said, if a high school student wrote a book, got it published, and it did well, that could definitely be a stepping stone into college.
I’ve written a book and am just starting the process of querying. I would do this regardless of college admissions, but if it helps, that’s nice!
Anonymous
04/21/2026 19:59
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are we talking about Penguin Random House or Simon & Schuster or similar? Congratulations. You don't really need to go to college.
If it's some self-published whatever, you should go to college. But every professor will be thrilled to have a strong writer in their class.
This. I saw a kid say they published thru Penguin Random House but it was thru Berrett-Koehler Publishers with Penguin getting a kickback for marketing.
As long as it's not self-published, it's still impressive, IMO.
Berrett-koehler is self publishing
Anonymous
04/21/2026 19:48
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are we talking about Penguin Random House or Simon & Schuster or similar? Congratulations. You don't really need to go to college.
If it's some self-published whatever, you should go to college. But every professor will be thrilled to have a strong writer in their class.
This. I saw a kid say they published thru Penguin Random House but it was thru Berrett-Koehler Publishers with Penguin getting a kickback for marketing.
As long as it's not self-published, it's still impressive, IMO.
I'm the person in publishing. We now buy people regularly who manage to make a splash in self publishing. We look at numbers sold, reviews, how often the person publishes, are they gaining traction? If OP could make a big splash in self publishing, that wouldn't be terrible.
That is interesting. Are some of them really high school students?
None that I know of. Just a general observation of how self publishing has changed. Similarly, someone who has a platform will more easily get published than someone who doesn't have a platform.
Do I think a high school student should focus on writing a book in hopes it will help get into college? Probably not. The time could be better spent on something that has a higher percent chance of working. But if OP already has a book written and is already being published, then why not attempt to use that. If it's written and can make a splash in any form, great.
All that said, if a high school student wrote a book, got it published, and it did well, that could definitely be a stepping stone into college.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 19:41
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are we talking about Penguin Random House or Simon & Schuster or similar? Congratulations. You don't really need to go to college.
If it's some self-published whatever, you should go to college. But every professor will be thrilled to have a strong writer in their class.
This. I saw a kid say they published thru Penguin Random House but it was thru Berrett-Koehler Publishers with Penguin getting a kickback for marketing.
As long as it's not self-published, it's still impressive, IMO.
I'm the person in publishing. We now buy people regularly who manage to make a splash in self publishing. We look at numbers sold, reviews, how often the person publishes, are they gaining traction? If OP could make a big splash in self publishing, that wouldn't be terrible.
That is interesting. Are some of them really high school students?
Anonymous
04/21/2026 19:39
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are we talking about Penguin Random House or Simon & Schuster or similar? Congratulations. You don't really need to go to college.
If it's some self-published whatever, you should go to college. But every professor will be thrilled to have a strong writer in their class.
This. I saw a kid say they published thru Penguin Random House but it was thru Berrett-Koehler Publishers with Penguin getting a kickback for marketing.
As long as it's not self-published, it's still impressive, IMO.
I'm the person in publishing. We now buy people regularly who manage to make a splash in self publishing. We look at numbers sold, reviews, how often the person publishes, are they gaining traction? If OP could make a big splash in self publishing, that wouldn't be terrible.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 19:31
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are we talking about Penguin Random House or Simon & Schuster or similar? Congratulations. You don't really need to go to college.
If it's some self-published whatever, you should go to college. But every professor will be thrilled to have a strong writer in their class.
This. I saw a kid say they published thru Penguin Random House but it was thru Berrett-Koehler Publishers with Penguin getting a kickback for marketing.
As long as it's not self-published, it's still impressive, IMO.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 19:27
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Are we talking about Penguin Random House or Simon & Schuster or similar? Congratulations. You don't really need to go to college.
If it's some self-published whatever, you should go to college. But every professor will be thrilled to have a strong writer in their class.
As someone in the publishing industry, the bolded isn't true. Very few people who have published make a living at it. A very small percentage of the many who are actually published make a living.
OP should publish if they can, make sure it is well done, then see if it helps as a stepping stone into college.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 19:21
Subject: Published author?
Was it reviewed by the Times Book Review?
Is there a Netflix series in the works?
Is it on any institution's reading list?
Is there a Netflix series in the works?
Is it on any institution's reading list?
Anonymous
04/21/2026 19:05
Subject: Re:Published author?
Anonymous wrote:I am OP. I’m a student. Humanities major
Have you published this alleged book?
Anonymous
04/21/2026 18:45
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Are we talking about Penguin Random House or Simon & Schuster or similar? Congratulations. You don't really need to go to college.
If it's some self-published whatever, you should go to college. But every professor will be thrilled to have a strong writer in their class.
This. I saw a kid say they published thru Penguin Random House but it was thru Berrett-Koehler Publishers with Penguin getting a kickback for marketing.