Is Self-Publishing a Viable Option for Literary Fiction Writers?

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Is Self-Publishing a Viable Option for Literary Fiction Writers?

Even though it’s become quite easy for writers to use Amazon KDP or other platforms to publish an e-book—and use print-on-demand technology to create a professional-looking print book—it’s still rare for literary fiction writers to self-publish.

I asked literary agents Vicky Bijur and Ayesha Pande if and when literary writers should consider this option, how it might affect their long-term careers, and what digital trends we might see in terms of marketing literary fiction.

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The Business of Self-Publishing Picture Books: Two Literary Agents Weigh in

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The Business of Self-Publishing Picture Books: Two Literary Agents Weigh in

Back in 1901, aspiring writer Beatrix Potter was frustrated with rejection letters from publishers, so she “privately published” 250 copies of her first book for distribution to friends and family. Within a year, The Tale of Peter Rabbit was picked up by Frederick Warne, one of the publishers that had originally turned it down. It is now one of the bestselling and most beloved children’s books of all time.

In Potter’s day, the phenomenon of self-publishing was rare and expensive, so much so that the first printing of The Tale of Peter Rabbit did not include color illustrations. Today, writers looking to self-publish have several platforms to choose from; Amazon’s KDP Kids, BookBaby, Blurb, and Lulu Jr. in particular are ideal for picture book writers.

I asked literary agents Erin Murphy and Susan Hawk their thoughts on self-publishing children’s books and what the future of the picture book might look like.

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Should Children’s Book Authors Self-Publish?

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Should Children’s Book Authors Self-Publish?

With all the changes taking place in the publishing industry, it seems harder than ever for even the best writers to secure a book deal. Those who do land with a traditional publisher often find that their time there is short-lived, unless their sales meet or exceed expectations. Adult genre writers are solving this problem by self-publishing, either with the help of a literary agent or on their own. But should children’s book authors do the same? I asked literary agents Kate McKean and Kevan Lyon.

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Working with an Editor: Are You Up for the Challenge?

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Working with an Editor: Are You Up for the Challenge?

Whether you’re submitting to literary agents for the first time or preparing to self-publish your book, you probably know the value of hiring an editor. Copyeditors are indispensable in that they not only correct errors, but they also create clarity and consistency; luckily, their changes tend to be easy to incorporate. Content editors, on the other hand, focus on big-picture issues like narrative arc and premise. Are you prepared to rethink such issues—or to have someone suggest that you do this in the first place? Here are four questions to ask yourself before you hire a content editor:

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Art & the “Editorpreneur”: On Making the Right Investments

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Art & the “Editorpreneur”: On Making the Right Investments

I’m probably the last person who should be writing about investment strategies. Math was never my forte, so I intentionally chose a field in which I could focus on words. As it turns out, I can’t escape numbers: When I worked at a literary agency, we negotiated things like advances, royalty escalators, and sub rights splits for our clients. I did the same for publishing companies, where looking up sales figures and running profit and loss statements were part of my daily tasks.

I’m now going on three years of officially running my own business, and though I’m not sure how long it will last, I’d like to keep growing it. While I work mainly with writers who want to be traditionally published, I seem to have as much in common with those who are taking the independent route.

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