Publishing Resources
Here’s a list of books, websites, and newsletters that I follow or reference frequently to keep up with trends in the publishing and self-publishing worlds. I edited Write Useful Books (which, by the way, I highly recommend!), but other than that I don’t have any ties to any of these resources or creators and receive no compensation for my recommendations. I just think they’re really helpful, and I often point clients seeking more information toward them.
Self-Publishing
Perfect Bound: Navigate the Book Publishing Process Like a Pro by Katherine Pickett - A compact but comprehensive guide to the entire self-publishing process, from editing to marketing (aka, from soup to nuts). I recommend this book to any of my clients who are self-publishing but have no idea where to start.
Write Useful Books: A Modern Approach to Designing and Testing Nonfiction that Works by Rob Fitzpatrick - The third book by Rob Fitzpatrick, tech entrepreneur and author of the cult entrepreneurship book The Mom Test and The Workshop Survival Guide (which I also edited). Both books, which were self-published, are bestsellers in their categories; The Mom Test nets roughly $10K a month in sales, and The Workshop Survival Guide, released in 2019, is on pace to do the same. In this most recent book Fitzpatrick outlines, in concise but painstaking detail, the process for writing a work of prescriptive nonfiction that provides enduring value to a reader and spreads by word of mouth. His somewhat counterintuitive approach (at least, by the standards of traditional publishing) is to treat prescriptive nonfiction books—what he calls “problem-solvers”—like any other consumer product: subjecting them to a rigorous product-design process (in this case, multiple rounds of tightly managed beta reading).
Reedsy Learning - Helpful blog posts, videos, and courses on all things self-publishing: writing, editing, marketing, publicity, etc.
Book Design Templates - Attractive, professional off-the-rack book interior and ebook templates that can be formatted in Word or InDesign. I’ve used their templates to lay out print books for a few clients. The process was time-consuming but fairly straightforward, with the exception of endnotes. (Though, after several frustrating days, I wound up hiring someone to do the ebook formatting; unless you’re especially tech or design savvy, I recommend doing the same.) Its parent site, TheBookDesigner.com, has lots of helpful articles about the nuts and bolts of self-publishing, especially when it comes to interior design and covers.
The Book Industry
So You Want to Publish a Book? by Anne Trubek - Trubek, a former author and professor, is the founder of Belt Publishing, an exciting new-ish indie press based in Cleveland that focuses on the Rust Belt and Midwest. This book details the lessons she’s learned at the helm of her small but growing press.
Notes from a Small Press - Trubek’s Substack newsletter. Offers timely riffs on publishing trends and controversies from her perspective as small publisher. Free and paid versions.
The Hot Sheet by Jane Friedman - Biweekly publishing industry newsletter from longtime Writer’s Digest editor, author, and traditional publishing and self-publishing guru Jane Friedman. Her blog on JaneFriedman.com also offers a treasure trove of resources for writers and editors. Requires a monthly subscription.
Agents and Books - The Substack newsletter of Kate McKean, an agent at Morhaim Literary. Offers an insider’s perspective on the traditional publishing industry, especially at the front end, with a focus on the agent-finding process, writing query letters and proposals, etc. Free and paid versions.
Publishers Weekly - The publishing industry’s oldest and most important trade publication, providing news, editorials, analysis, and book reviews. They offer a dozen free newsletters, each related to a different aspect of the book world; I subscribe to PW Daily.
Publishers Marketplace - News about book deals, publishing houses, and industry jobs. Also offers agent and publisher profiles and (some) data on book sales. Requires a monthly subscription to read.
Association of Authors’ Representatives - Comprehensive database of members of the AAR, the industry trade group for literary agents working in the United States. The site allows you to search for agents by keyword(s).
Association of University Presses Subject Area Grid (PDF file) - A comprehensive guide to US university presses showing the subject areas each press focuses on (i.e., publishes books on).