The Publishing Maze
I have spent my working life in publishing. I take for granted the
inside knowledge which you absorb in any business or profession.
It struck me quite recently just how esoteric some of this
information is.
This can make it tough for a writer trying to get their work
published. It is not easy to understand how publishing works, let alone
why it works the way it does. This new column will try to explain how
the publishing business works.
Why Book Publishing?
I’ve worked for eight publishers, two book club groups and a
literary agency. I still think that book publishing is about the most
enjoyable thing you can do – aside from running a writers’ website,
of course! It’s a curious mixture of a business, an industry, a
profession and a compulsion, but those who work in publishing find it
hard to tear themselves away from that heady mix of books, authors and
commerce.
What about the Writers?
Inside Publishing has built into a series about publishing, which will
help writers understand what goes on inside the business. Some columns
will be a bit technical, but please keep reading if you want to
understand what’s really happening inside your publishing house and
what it all means for you.
These are the topics I have covered so far:
