There are some realities in publishing that are tough right now…
Format
Original trade paper is now the way to go with many debuts. Hardcover is a tough sell and no one wants to be placing their authors out of the market.
The traditional approach (hardcover release followed by paperback a year later) is now an exception, not the standard rule.
I know it’s hard for many authors to get their heads around the idea that they won’t be published in hardcover, but I frame it as something that has to be earned and worked up to right now.
Acquisitions
If a project is not amazing, editors aren’t buying. Editors see a lot of good things they might have bought 10 years ago, but right now books need to be remarkable to stand out in acquisition meetings and on bookshelves. That’s why agents are also extremely picky; we know how hard it is out there. Continue reading The hard truths of publishing right now
