Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book

by Courtney Maum

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about publishing but were too afraid to ask is right here in this funny, candid guide by acclaimed author Courtney Maum. Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer's Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book has over 150 contributors from all walks of the industry, including international bestselling authors Anthony Doerr, Roxane Gay, Garth Greenwell, Lisa Ko, R. O. Kwon, Rebecca Makkai, and Ottessa Moshfegh, alongside cult favorites Sarah Gerard, Melissa Febos, Mitchell S. Jackson, and Mira Jacob. Agents, film scouts, film producers, translators, disability and minority activists, and power agents and editors also weigh in, offering advice and sharing intimate anecdotes about even the most taboo topics in the industry. Their wisdom will help aspiring authors find a foothold in the publishing world and navigate the challenges of life before and after publication with sanity and grace.

Are MFA programs worth the time and money? How do people actually sit down and finish a novel? Did you get a good advance? What do you do when you feel envious of other writers? And why the heck aren’t your friends saying anything about your book? Covering questions ranging from the logistical to the existential (and everything in between), Before and After the Book Deal is the definitive guide for anyone who has ever wanted to know what it’s really like to be an author.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Crafts, Business, Reference, Books About Books, How To

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2020

About the author

Courtney Maum is the author of the novels Costalegre (a GOOP book club pick and one of Glamour Magazine’s top books of the decade), I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You and Touch (a New York Times Editor’s Choice and NPR Best Book of the Year selection), and the handbook Before and After the Book Deal: A writer’s guide to finishing, publishing, promoting, and surviving your first book, out now from Catapult. Her writing has been widely published in such outlets as the New York Times, O, the Oprah Magazine, and Poets & Writers. She is the founder of the collaborative retreat program, The Cabins, and she also has a writing-advice newsletter, “Get Published, Stay Published,” that you can sign up for at CourtneyMaum.com

Reviews

[Courtney Maum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is life-changing stuff.

[Julia Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE BOOK BIBLE IS HERE 🙏🏻

[Matal “The Mischling Princess” Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courtney Maum’s “Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book” is a book that offers insider-outsider knowledge that will be of particular interest to many first time authors.

Maum serves as almost a therapist-in-residence for newly published authors. I have to admit that I was a little shocked that the author included etiquette for authors; I just always presumed that these were the types of things that most humans do (e.g., saying thank you). It was interesting how the author focused so much on envy and the ways that jealousy and lack of self-esteem really place a death grip on writers.

Peppered throughout the text are quotes and advice that Maum includes from other published authors, editors, publicists, and agents. The author included a great references section (i.e., bibliography) and resources list and as I read the book, I kept imagining Maum shooting pom poms in the air as an advocate for other writers.

The author definitely has a great sense of humor and I believe that this book can serve as a real reference for writers to return to over and over again.

[♑︎♑︎♑︎ ♑︎♑︎♑︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most how-to books for writers end with: "congratulations! you have just completed your first novel!" or at best: "congratulations! you've just signed with a literary agent!" Courtney Maum's book, in delightful contrast, takes you all the way through what happens once your book finds a publisher, how to be ready for it, and how you might be feeling along the way. It's packed with information. There is also just the right amount of hand-holding. I loved being reminded that my qualms, self-doubts, and fears are all part of the process, no matter where a writer is in their career. Even if you're only at the first glimmerings of thinking about publishing your work one day, I recommend this book. It will give you a glimpse of where you're going, and it will help you go forward intrepidly at every stage.

[M.L. Rio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugely useful even after the debut and a must-read for any would-be authors out there. Courtney is the GOAT.

[Angie Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get a draft of BEFORE & AFTER THE BOOK DEAL three months before the publication of my debut novel, and I devoured it in one sitting within 24 hours. It’s now been about 6 months since I’ve had it, and I’d say I’ve read parts of it at least once per week. Why has it become so indispensable for me? First, it’s an amazingly helpful how-to guide, with frank insider information that you can’t get anywhere else. If you’re anything like me, you’ll have questions you’re too afraid or embarrassed to ask (think: sales numbers, advance $ figures, book tour budgets, and the like) and, in any event, you don’t even know who you’d ask because most of your friends are clueless debut authors just like you. This book answers them!

Second, it’s a cathartic read for those moments when you’re feeling insecure, confused, or just generally awful about yourself and/or your book. (And believe me, no matter who you are and what happens to your book, you WILL have moments of panic, envy, and despair.) Courtney Maum shares anecdotes and insights about the publication process that are funny, honest, and wise. I can’t count the number of times I thought, “I felt the same exact way!” and felt better, knowing that I wasn’t alone, that it’s natural to feel what I was feeling. And just as many times, Maum provided an explanation and guidance about something that had been baffling me and my author friends. (For example, why do some friends say negative things about your book to you and/or tag you in negative reviews?! And how do you respond?)

In summary, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to be, has been, or is a debut author, and the perfect gift for aspiring writers. My one complaint about the book is that it wasn’t out years ago, when I was starting the whole writing/publishing business. I can’t wait until it’s out so that I can buy it for my writing friends and recommend it to every writer I know!

[Lauren Dostal · Rating 2 out of 5]

This information is probably very good and helpful to someone, but it just gave me anxiety. Yes it’s important to have your eyes open to to the many pitfalls and challenges of publishing, but for me it was not a good book to read while drafting. Writing is hard enough without regularly reminding ourselves that all our work will probably lead to failure.

Note: I wasn’t going to review this book given that the author said not to give books bad reviews (lol), but honestly, I don’t want anyone else to give up writing because they’ve read this book. As coffeehouse press puts in all of their books: Literature is not publishing. Hold your dreams closer than your disillusionment, writers. It is okay to believe on magic.

[Nathan Shuherk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great technical book that has mostly all the information you could want, but also some really empathetic and funny insights that create an enjoyable, informative read

[Jenn Shapland]

I just wish I'd read it sooner!

[George Ilsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a wealth of information presented here, much of it contradictory—because the author interviews so many authors, editors, agents, and they all have different opinions and experiences. Reading this book is a bit like wandering through a gossipy afterparty at a publishing convention.

People are different, writers are different, and there is no one path —or definition!— of "success."

This book is valuable for all those looking for a bit more insight into the publishing industry. There is no index, so the reader may have to wander through several conversations at that afterparty before arriving at a useful nugget. But there definitely are useful nuggets to be found at this sprawling party.

Self-care is also an important topic covered in this book. Primarily focused on the U.S. market but does offer some nuggets relevant to the rest of the world.

[Julia Ember · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really terrific book for career writers whatever stage of the journey you're at. I found the chapters on dealing with imposter syndrome and envy particularly useful, as well as the section on how not to annoy your editor!

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, accessible book with some great detail on what to expect when you get your first book published. If any of my friends gets a book deal, I might buy them this book; I also recommend it to anyone who just wants to add realistic detail to their fun daydreams about being a published author one day.

[Kathleen Flynn]

A book that everyone needs to read if they are about to have their first book published, or fairly recently had their first book published, or just hope to publish a book someday. It's frank, funny and practical. I wish I'd been able to read it before my book came out three years ago, but even now it's useful.

I find I can't stop thinking about the part where Courtney Maum acknowledges she's both blurbed books she hasn't read and ghostwritten blurbs for another authors. Frank indeed! It's both reassuring and disconcerting to realize that this process (the blurbing part, I mean) is just as much of a racket as I had suspected.

[Erica Bauermeister · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredibly useful book -- thorough, down-to-earth, supportive, even humorous. A great resource for aspiring writers (how DO you get an agent, anyway?) and those long in the business (remember those thank you notes!). Writing is a profession, and it's easy to forget that when we are deep in the middle of a story. I left the book with a plan of action, feeling much better about my ability to be a professional, and motivated to do the practical things we writers often want to avoid. Highly recommend.

[Catapult · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about publishing but were too afraid to ask is right here in this funny, candid guide by acclaimed author Courtney Maum!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very helpful!

[Sunyi Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, funny, brutally honest. If you're at all anxious or confused about the querying and publishing process, I would highly recommend as it's full of a comprehensive breakdown and lots of practical tips not only for surviving publication, Submission, querying, and writing, but for keeping your shit together whether things are going badly or very well (both have challenges and pressures and disappointments).

In addition to her own input there is a lot of detail from editors, other writers, and many useful anecdotes from all sorts of publishing staff, eg publicists and booksellers.

I found this book by listening to the Track Changes podcast, a podcast series of 10 episodes or so that will dismantle the trade publishing world and discusses your favorite (lol) industry in depth.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

More for litfic writers than genre writers and more trad than self-pub, but still, applicable info for anyone considering publishing.

[Deedi Brown (DeediReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.

As a person who writes (long-form marketing content) for a living and reads a ton, of course I’ve always been curious about what it would be like to write a book someday. Recently, now that I’m active on bookstagram and interacting with authors and publishers all the time, I’ve become even more curious.

Before and After the Book Deal was exactly the right book to scratch that itch. Courtney Maum takes every aspect of the writing and publishing process and breaks them down from the writer’s perspective, from before you even have a draft to after the buzz about your new book has faded. It’s broken up into short, easy-to-digest subsections and organized very usefully and clearly.

Reading this book felt exactly like sitting down with Courtney for coffee (okay maybe not exactly, because I had to make my own coffee and such) and picking her brain about being a writer. She is conversational, candid, funny, and generous. She also really did her homework and spoke to I-don’t-even-know-how-many other writers, agents, and publishing professionals to get their perspectives, too. Like, SO MANY. And despite the chorus, it’s not a cacophony; it’s all threaded together naturally, cohesively, and helpfully. A true feat.

I recommend this book not only for those who think they may want to write a book, but also anyone who simply wants to know more about how the book sausage gets made. It’s that well written and easy to read.

I think I’ll be re-reading and referencing this book for years to come. Thank you, Courtney, for all you have done here. Truly.

[ea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent guidebook demystifying the world of publication for emerging writers. Maum’s voice throughout echoes that of a guidance counsellor or an older girl at camp who is frankly, but kindly, pointing out the lay of the land. I am grateful to have Before & After the Book Deal on my reference shelf. That said, if a second edition were ever to be released insight into a less formulaic publishing path would be appreciated. I’m sure not every writer acquires an agent before an editor.

[Blake Atwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for authors who hope to be traditionally published, authors who are about to be traditionally published, and authors who want to know how much work actually remains after you've written a book.

Courtney's guide is the best summation and distillation of first-book publishing knowledge I've read. And it's funny, so your laugh to cry-yourself-to-bed ratio will be even.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a wonderful collection of resources as well as encouragements and harsh truths from Maum herself and from many of her friends and colleagues in the industry, on both sides of the rejection letter. Even if you're still just thinking about tackling your first book-length project, I'd highly recommend reading this because it will certainly prove helpful. If you're experiencing writer's block and/or suffering from imposter syndrome, YOU NEED THIS yesterday, go get a copy. I think most writers who haven't yet hit their stride or who still have a day job (which you should probably try to hold on to because, health insurance), wherever you land, pick this up.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might seem like a very specific topic, but I think anyone who reads (and duh, if you're on goodreads you do), or anyone like me who loves to hear all the dirt about things that are often opaque or a little mysterious, would love this book. I love the podcast how I built this, because I love hearing the stories of how chipotle and spanxx and five guys came to be, all the people behind them, all the failures before and I honestly think this book does the same thing. Also, did it on audio, which the author reads, and there's not better way to hear dirt than on audio, I recommend.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well hello to my new writing Bible. If you want to be published in any form, you absolutely must read this book. It's sobering but it's empowering too. I underlined the hell out of it and will be coming back to it again and again as I navigate different types of writing and different stages of the process. I'm so grateful for this book because it demystifies what I imagine to be a somewhat intentionally opaque industry, and it's thoughtful and funny along the way.

[Sydney Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only meant to read a part of this book, save the rest for later. But it was so compelling and intimately detailed that I couldn’t put it down. Thank you for the honesty, Courtney. I may need to go see a therapist now instead of later.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was recommended by several of the 22 debuts in preparation for our launch year.

I’ll admit, I don’t read many craft or business books but Courtney wrote this with such candid humor, it read more like narrative non-fiction. I really enjoyed it.

The book is broken into parts and then sections which makes it very digestible and navigable. It started with writing and querying, securing an agent, then into negotiating a deal, advances, prepping for book launch to events and then what comes after the book release.

It’s easy to skip what you don’t need and focus on what you do. Or come back later for a quick reference. I enjoyed that she included a variety of personal stories from other authors and didn’t sugarcoat anything. She prepares you for success, failure, bad reviews, empty events and everything in between.

However the advice seemed mostly geared toward literary writers. As a YA author, large parts of the book did not apply to me. There was also a section that suggest you become an Uber driver to supplement your writing income and how about no? I don’t like driving or talking to strangers. This is why I write.

All in all, a solid and candid book about the writing life.

[Alanna Why · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Most importantly: expect nothing... It's just you and your work, always. For better or for worse.”

I try not to read too many books about writing, as I find they simply send me into existential crises about my own writing habits and as such, are NOT HELPFUL! However, my friend and writer Jeff Miller sent me an e-mail with a link to a newsletter from writer Courtney Maum about beat sheets that I found very insightful in the springtime. I was delighted to find out that she had written a full-length book about the publishing industry that was released in January of this year.

This is probably one of the most practical writing books I've read. A lot of writing books are written by people, mostly straight white men, in their 50s and 60s, and I find the advice just isn't very useful to an emerging writer in 2020. This, on the other hand, had extremely practical advice, being written by a woman currently writing, publishing and hustling for her craft.

How refreshing it was to read that you don't have to write every day! As someone who has been developing their daily writing practice after the last two and a half years and has never managed to write more than three to four days a week while also working to pay the bills, I found this very freeing to see published in a craft book. I applaud Maum for giving realistic advice on how to develop your writing craft while also having a Real Ass Life.

That being said, I probably wouldn't recommend reading this unless you have some kind of regular writing routine. It is a lot more about the publishing side of things than it is the craft of writing, so unless you already have a draft of a manuscript in the works, it would probably be pretty overwhelming to read. Still, this is a really invaluable guide if you have a draft finished or a serious project you are working towards – I found the advice on the agent process and advances particularly illuminating. Overall, this is totally an essential read for writers who take their craft seriously!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful advice. highly enjoyed it, highly recommend it to anyone publishing.

this isn't a book on how to write, it's a book on what it's like to go through the journey of publishing, with honesty and clarity that normally isn't available. she talks about getting an agent, what an advance is, then everything after the book deal is done too. some parts didn't necessarily apply to me, like MFAs and teaching, but still interesting.

Love this line: "The chummier you are with rejection, the easier it is to remember all the times you decided to keep writing anyway, despite the nos, the not-reallys, the just-not-right-for-us-at-this-times. Writers are persistent. And kind of mulish. The world told us they don't want our material, and we refuse to agree."

Also this, from Lindsay Hunter: "Expect nothing. No life change, no windfall, no salivating Hollywood queue. It's just you and your astonishing achievement. It's just you and your work, always. For better or for worse." This book made me feel less lonely as a writer, and more prepared. It gave me very realistic expectations for what the world of publishing is really like. Lovedddd the section at the end with all the author contributions. Originally found this book from her substack, which is also good!

[Alexander Pyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic resource with contemporary advice on how to survive the publishing industry. This is a real must have for aspiring writers and even for seasoned vets, no matter what sphere they publish in (self, indie, traditional).

You get advice straight from the horses mouth with Maum who is an established writer herself, but she also sought out anecdotes and stories from dozens of writers, agents, editors, and other publishing industry experts. All of this is folded into Maum's light-hearted and humorous prose, which lets you not take yourself too seriously (thank goodness).

You need to pick this one up, or at the very least read it once.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maum's book is an excellent resource for demystifying the process of shepherding a book through to publication and promotion. I'm definitely in the "Before" the book deal, but the thoroughness and scope of Maum's guide gives one concrete steps to take in the process. She shines light on what can seem an obscure process for those of us outside the circles where this sort of thing happens. She's also a wonderful writer, with a comforting, humorous voice that helps calms the anxiety and frustration that most likely arises at all these steps.