Why the editor at your publisher is so hard to get ahold of

Why the editor at your publisher is so hard to get ahold of

I recently saw a picture of the publishing industry that blew my mind. Here, in a graphic from Al Mossawi, are the imprints of the Big 5 publisher Penguin Random House. Your editor’s world All the other big publishers look like this. Consider your editor’s job. They’re probably one of four or five acquisitions and…

Why your publisher won’t edit your manuscript — and what to do about it

Why your publisher won’t edit your manuscript — and what to do about it

I’ve now written or edited more than 25 books published by traditional or hybrid publishers. I know what your publisher is looking for, and what they will and won’t do for you. So it’s time for some straight talk about that. Publishers in 2021 won’t generally edit your book. They are looking for a publishable…

“American Dirt” publisher steps in it, and admits mistakes
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“American Dirt” publisher steps in it, and admits mistakes

American Dirt is an Oprah-recommended novel about Mexicans fleeing violence to find asylum in America. It’s also hugely controversial. The publisher and author are dealing with the blowback. It’s instructive to see how they’ve written about that experience. The unexpected challenge here is coming from Latino communities, some of whom feel that the author Jeanine…

The Plantin Moretus Museum and a 450-year reflection on publishing

The Plantin Moretus Museum and a 450-year reflection on publishing

Yesterday I visited the Museum Plantin Moretus in Antwerp. Christophe Plantin was printer who published his first book in 1555. What surprised me most about what I saw was not how much publishing has changed in 450 years, but how much it hasn’t. Plantin came from Normandy, settled in Antwerp, and started a publishing business…

John Sargent, CEO of “Fire and Fury” publisher Macmillan, shows how to respond to a high-profile attack
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John Sargent, CEO of “Fire and Fury” publisher Macmillan, shows how to respond to a high-profile attack

President Trump’s lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter to try to block publication of Fire and Fury, Michael Wolff’s revealing account of President Trump’s first 200 days in office. The publisher, a division of Macmillan, published it anyway. Now Macmillan CEO John Sargent has sent a memo to all of his staff about the role of publishers…