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How to Publish Your Book
With the advent of submission conveniences offered by the Internet, today's authors face unprecedented competition in the writing market. Adding to that the publishing market is in a constant state of flux, making publishers wary about taking on new authors. Further, a plethora of options for publication make navigating the increasingly complex publishing industry harder than ever. So, how does an aspiring author get published?
Learning the ropes, understanding how publishing works, and having someone who can help you navigate this convoluted system will make all the difference between a manuscript sitting on your closet shelf - or sitting on the top of the best-sellers shelf. In 24 eye-opening lectures, Jane Friedman, publishing industry expert and educator, provides you with sought-after secrets of the publishing process that will help you navigate this difficult progression, bypass pitfalls that many novice authors get hung up on, and improve your chances of being considered for publication. She acts as your personal guide though the entire process: from finalizing your manuscript to writing the perfect pitch to reviewing contracts and marketing your book. She provides the candid scoop on what you need to do in order to increase your chances of being considered. The knowledge you'll gain by having an inside expert teaching you how to position your book for publication gives you a unique advantage and drastically increases your chances of getting noticed in this increasingly competitive industry.
The reality is that there is no magic formula that will guarantee publication. There are, however, numerous things that you can do to improve your chances and streamline your path to success. Get extensive insights into the publishing process that will help you avoid the most common mistakes and pitfalls that many authors encounter. This course lays out your best options for publication and leads you step by step toward achieving your goals.
Learning the ropes, understanding how publishing works, and having someone who can help you navigate this convoluted system will make all the difference between a manuscript sitting on your closet shelf - or sitting on the top of the best-sellers shelf. In 24 eye-opening lectures, Jane Friedman, publishing industry expert and educator, provides you with sought-after secrets of the publishing process that will help you navigate this difficult progression, bypass pitfalls that many novice authors get hung up on, and improve your chances of being considered for publication. She acts as your personal guide though the entire process: from finalizing your manuscript to writing the perfect pitch to reviewing contracts and marketing your book. She provides the candid scoop on what you need to do in order to increase your chances of being considered. The knowledge you'll gain by having an inside expert teaching you how to position your book for publication gives you a unique advantage and drastically increases your chances of getting noticed in this increasingly competitive industry.
The reality is that there is no magic formula that will guarantee publication. There are, however, numerous things that you can do to improve your chances and streamline your path to success. Get extensive insights into the publishing process that will help you avoid the most common mistakes and pitfalls that many authors encounter. This course lays out your best options for publication and leads you step by step toward achieving your goals.
346 pages, Audible Audio
First published October 23, 2015
9 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Jane Friedman
10 books1,887 followersI've worked for 25 years in the publishing industry and have a special interest in how the digital age is transforming writing careers, publishing, and storytelling. Rather than taking a dark view of how the Internet era has affected writers' livelihoods, I'm more interested in how revolutionary change can inspire new business models, and how authorship will ultimately evolve. I believe history is on the writers' side: they've been sustaining their careers in ever more innovative ways since the era of Gutenberg. Furthermore, I don't think that business and art must be at odds—I believe they can inform and push each other to flourish.
I sit at the intersection of several communities, which gives me a 360-degree view of the changes now shaping writing and publishing. People working inside the industry see me as an expert in digital and self-publishing, while independent authors see me as a traditional publishing figure. The university and MFA community see me as very commercially minded, while the business people see me as literary and academic. I would have it no other way; I prefer to serve as a bridge.
I earn my living as a freelancer, and my income is driven largely by my own writing and teaching, as well as consulting services for writers. Thus, I consider my interests to be aligned with writers' interests.
Find out more (including the resume detail) at JaneFriedman.com
I sit at the intersection of several communities, which gives me a 360-degree view of the changes now shaping writing and publishing. People working inside the industry see me as an expert in digital and self-publishing, while independent authors see me as a traditional publishing figure. The university and MFA community see me as very commercially minded, while the business people see me as literary and academic. I would have it no other way; I prefer to serve as a bridge.
I earn my living as a freelancer, and my income is driven largely by my own writing and teaching, as well as consulting services for writers. Thus, I consider my interests to be aligned with writers' interests.
Find out more (including the resume detail) at JaneFriedman.com
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 21, 2022
Go to any literary or fandom convention, and half the people there would like to write a book someday, or have written a book, and want to be published. Many panels are devoted to "how to get published" and the trials of publication, the horrors of publishing, the difficulties of being seen.
I've dipped my toe in the waters, even written a book (which got some consideration from a publisher, but was ultimately passed over, and no interest from agents) and still think I might write more books someday. I've spent time on writer's forums, and researching the industry. So much of what Ms. Friedman explains in this Great Courses series I already knew, but she summarizes a lot of info down to the nuts and bolts that will be very useful for any aspiring author.
She talks about the publishing industry as it exists today (as of 2022, her info didn't seem too out of date). Ebooks are huge, publishers don't have the staff and budgets they once did, agents are deluged with proposals, book tours are rare, marketing is frequently nonexistent, and even if you get published, your book might immediately sink without a splash. And Amazon is king.
I appreciated Friedman's unbiased approach towards all aspects of the market. She covers both fiction and non-fiction, and the different approaches towards pitching and querying depending on which type of book you are trying to get published. She talks about literary vs. commercial fiction, not with any bias towards one or the other, but simply addressing how they will affect your marketability and again, how you should go about trying to get published.
She talks about self-publishing, not as some last-ditch resort of the unpublishable, but a viable option if you have done your research and know what you're doing. She's unsparing about the pitfalls, the long odds, and what you won't get out of self-publishing. She also goes a little bit into the new "hybrid" model where publishers actually provide services and charge fees to the authors they publish.
She talks about the pros and cons of hiring your own editor and/or publicist. Whether and how authors should establish social media presences. Writing groups and critique circles. MFAs.
She is up to date on Amazon and Kindle Select and Wattpad. She even talks about fan fiction.
There is definitely an emphasis here on the would-be "career author," someone who doesn't just have a book in them that they want to get published, but who actually wants to make a career out of writing. Agents and publishers want to invest in someone who's going to be a repeat moneymaker, they aren't counting on one book to be a huge bestseller. Friedman does point out the low returns even for prolific authors - the old advice "Don't quit your day job, or have a working spouse who will support your ambitions" is as true as ever. But she is talking to people who are serious about wanting to be Writers.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is getting started, who has a finished manuscript and isn't sure what to do next, or is working on a manuscript and isn't sure what to do when they're finished. Give this audio course to the young writer you know who's serious about it.
I've dipped my toe in the waters, even written a book (which got some consideration from a publisher, but was ultimately passed over, and no interest from agents) and still think I might write more books someday. I've spent time on writer's forums, and researching the industry. So much of what Ms. Friedman explains in this Great Courses series I already knew, but she summarizes a lot of info down to the nuts and bolts that will be very useful for any aspiring author.
She talks about the publishing industry as it exists today (as of 2022, her info didn't seem too out of date). Ebooks are huge, publishers don't have the staff and budgets they once did, agents are deluged with proposals, book tours are rare, marketing is frequently nonexistent, and even if you get published, your book might immediately sink without a splash. And Amazon is king.
I appreciated Friedman's unbiased approach towards all aspects of the market. She covers both fiction and non-fiction, and the different approaches towards pitching and querying depending on which type of book you are trying to get published. She talks about literary vs. commercial fiction, not with any bias towards one or the other, but simply addressing how they will affect your marketability and again, how you should go about trying to get published.
She talks about self-publishing, not as some last-ditch resort of the unpublishable, but a viable option if you have done your research and know what you're doing. She's unsparing about the pitfalls, the long odds, and what you won't get out of self-publishing. She also goes a little bit into the new "hybrid" model where publishers actually provide services and charge fees to the authors they publish.
She talks about the pros and cons of hiring your own editor and/or publicist. Whether and how authors should establish social media presences. Writing groups and critique circles. MFAs.
She is up to date on Amazon and Kindle Select and Wattpad. She even talks about fan fiction.
There is definitely an emphasis here on the would-be "career author," someone who doesn't just have a book in them that they want to get published, but who actually wants to make a career out of writing. Agents and publishers want to invest in someone who's going to be a repeat moneymaker, they aren't counting on one book to be a huge bestseller. Friedman does point out the low returns even for prolific authors - the old advice "Don't quit your day job, or have a working spouse who will support your ambitions" is as true as ever. But she is talking to people who are serious about wanting to be Writers.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is getting started, who has a finished manuscript and isn't sure what to do next, or is working on a manuscript and isn't sure what to do when they're finished. Give this audio course to the young writer you know who's serious about it.
April 28, 2021
This is a must read for aspiring authors such as myself. It touches on every subject I’ve come across regarding publication. There is more information out there, but this book is without a doubt the best starting point for writers trying to break through.
August 8, 2020
How to Publish Your Book
is a Course Guidebook by Jane Friedman published in 2015. The book was published by The Great Courses, and as such comes with a set of video lectures. The course is available online, but I was able to take it for free by checking out the book and dvds from the public library here in Denver, Colorado.
I am giving How to Publish Your Book 5 of 5 stars because it is very well-organized and comprehensive, and covers all aspects of publishing. Also, it is obvious Jane Friedman is highly knowledgeable, and in addition to being thorough and well-informed, her presentation is very matter-of-fact and objective.
The author initially focuses on publishing for the Big Five Trade Companies, which is no doubt what most people think of when they think of writing or buying a book. But she also covers the benefits and pitfalls of self-publishing, discussing Amazon to a great extent, in several of the 24 total 1/2 hour lectures.
Importantly, throughout the course she offers details about the ins-and-outs of publishing both fiction and nonfiction.
The course is dated 2015 but she mentions that the Big Five publishing companies move slowly, and I am confident much, if indeed not all, of the presentation is still relevant in 2020. In addition to thoroughly covering the Big Five and self-publishing models, she mentions there are also smaller, independent presses available for people who are willing to dig into the marketplace — and she offers details about how to do this sort of digging.
The most interesting part of the course for me is her discussion of an author's platform. Prior to taking this course I had an intuitive notion of what a platform might be. Now I can see how it is extremely important for someone like me, who has no pre-existing market for my books about Spiritual Portraits. Ms. Friedman describes how "it will grow differently for every author," explains in detail exactly how "in general, platform has six components," [p. 54] and then describes how authors can benefit from having a website, being active on social media, seeking out events, etc.
The idea of an author's platform is especially applicable to self-publishing authors, but it pertains those who seek to work with the Big Five as well. Jane Friedman knows very well how much work promoting a new book entails, and explains how an author's platform can be a huge help in this respect.
I recommend How to Publish Your Book to any writer — and in particular those who are unpublished — who is wants to be a successful author. Certainly, if you are experiencing some frustration in getting attention for your work, this course is for you. For example, Lecture 16 is entitled How Writers Handle Rejection, and Lecture 17 is entitled Overcoming Obstacles to Writing.
At worst, you may have to wade through some irrelevant information, depending on whether you're wanting to publish a Best Seller or work with a "Vanity Press." There are actually lots of options between those two extremes — and Jane Friedman covers all of them.
Thus the book's comprehensiveness is not really a drawback, because working your way through this course might show you options you did not know you have.
If you have always wanted to write and publish a book, taking this class is an excellent first step!
I am giving How to Publish Your Book 5 of 5 stars because it is very well-organized and comprehensive, and covers all aspects of publishing. Also, it is obvious Jane Friedman is highly knowledgeable, and in addition to being thorough and well-informed, her presentation is very matter-of-fact and objective.
The author initially focuses on publishing for the Big Five Trade Companies, which is no doubt what most people think of when they think of writing or buying a book. But she also covers the benefits and pitfalls of self-publishing, discussing Amazon to a great extent, in several of the 24 total 1/2 hour lectures.
Importantly, throughout the course she offers details about the ins-and-outs of publishing both fiction and nonfiction.
The course is dated 2015 but she mentions that the Big Five publishing companies move slowly, and I am confident much, if indeed not all, of the presentation is still relevant in 2020. In addition to thoroughly covering the Big Five and self-publishing models, she mentions there are also smaller, independent presses available for people who are willing to dig into the marketplace — and she offers details about how to do this sort of digging.
The most interesting part of the course for me is her discussion of an author's platform. Prior to taking this course I had an intuitive notion of what a platform might be. Now I can see how it is extremely important for someone like me, who has no pre-existing market for my books about Spiritual Portraits. Ms. Friedman describes how "it will grow differently for every author," explains in detail exactly how "in general, platform has six components," [p. 54] and then describes how authors can benefit from having a website, being active on social media, seeking out events, etc.
The idea of an author's platform is especially applicable to self-publishing authors, but it pertains those who seek to work with the Big Five as well. Jane Friedman knows very well how much work promoting a new book entails, and explains how an author's platform can be a huge help in this respect.
I recommend How to Publish Your Book to any writer — and in particular those who are unpublished — who is wants to be a successful author. Certainly, if you are experiencing some frustration in getting attention for your work, this course is for you. For example, Lecture 16 is entitled How Writers Handle Rejection, and Lecture 17 is entitled Overcoming Obstacles to Writing.
At worst, you may have to wade through some irrelevant information, depending on whether you're wanting to publish a Best Seller or work with a "Vanity Press." There are actually lots of options between those two extremes — and Jane Friedman covers all of them.
Thus the book's comprehensiveness is not really a drawback, because working your way through this course might show you options you did not know you have.
If you have always wanted to write and publish a book, taking this class is an excellent first step!
October 19, 2019
(Audible)
Great Courses Series of Lectures
So you want to be a writer? Listen to this lecture series.
Good for beginning writers who are still trying to find their genre and for want to be writers who are looking to break into the traditional publishing market or go the self publishing route.
Strategies for overcoming writers block, finding an agent, writing a book proposal, and deciding if you want to self-publish or find a traditional publisher.
Great information on the process of getting a book published, including what should be in your query letter, how to write a synopsis (and what NOT to put in the synopsis).
RECOMMEND
Great Courses Series of Lectures
So you want to be a writer? Listen to this lecture series.
Good for beginning writers who are still trying to find their genre and for want to be writers who are looking to break into the traditional publishing market or go the self publishing route.
Strategies for overcoming writers block, finding an agent, writing a book proposal, and deciding if you want to self-publish or find a traditional publisher.
Great information on the process of getting a book published, including what should be in your query letter, how to write a synopsis (and what NOT to put in the synopsis).
RECOMMEND
August 9, 2019
I'll start with who will be happy with this book and who will not. THEN get to my personal griping for what is clearly a brilliant source for some... but not for me, at least, not yet.
WHO WILL BE HAPPY WITH THIS: Those who want to use traditional publishing (physical books) and understand what's needed for a wide scope of books such as non-fiction, memoirs, etc.
WHO WILL NOT BE HAPPY: Someone first starting out, with no connections in writing, and who needs to start with self-publishing, maybe focusing on ebooks at least until learning more about me and my audience, and especially if it's with fiction, this course leaves you severely wanting more knowledge.
While I did listen to this book with interest, I may not be qualified to rate her work; she's clearly very smart and knows her stuff. But it missed the mark for me (because I'm more in the second category listed above).
I really liked the emphasis on getting specific aspects done right. This really will help me. I also liked learning about many aspects of traditional publishing, even though that can't be my path for now. I truly learned a lot, and if I ever publish a memoir, a howto book, etc., especially using traditional publishing, this will be a boon to me.
HOWEVER, the title led me to believe it was going to be a complete publishing "how to" source, and solidly include self-publishing, ebooks, fiction, etc. While it IS about how to publish your book, it's almost exclusively for traditional publishing. Had I understood that, I would not have picked it up.
I'm glad to have learned, but it was a poor match for what I want, yet I'm glad to have a detailed overview of the traditional publishing route and what's possible there. This is PACKED with great info for someone wanting to learn the entire train of services that a traditional book author will need.
WHO WILL BE HAPPY WITH THIS: Those who want to use traditional publishing (physical books) and understand what's needed for a wide scope of books such as non-fiction, memoirs, etc.
WHO WILL NOT BE HAPPY: Someone first starting out, with no connections in writing, and who needs to start with self-publishing, maybe focusing on ebooks at least until learning more about me and my audience, and especially if it's with fiction, this course leaves you severely wanting more knowledge.
While I did listen to this book with interest, I may not be qualified to rate her work; she's clearly very smart and knows her stuff. But it missed the mark for me (because I'm more in the second category listed above).
I really liked the emphasis on getting specific aspects done right. This really will help me. I also liked learning about many aspects of traditional publishing, even though that can't be my path for now. I truly learned a lot, and if I ever publish a memoir, a howto book, etc., especially using traditional publishing, this will be a boon to me.
HOWEVER, the title led me to believe it was going to be a complete publishing "how to" source, and solidly include self-publishing, ebooks, fiction, etc. While it IS about how to publish your book, it's almost exclusively for traditional publishing. Had I understood that, I would not have picked it up.
I'm glad to have learned, but it was a poor match for what I want, yet I'm glad to have a detailed overview of the traditional publishing route and what's possible there. This is PACKED with great info for someone wanting to learn the entire train of services that a traditional book author will need.
October 16, 2021
The majority of the books focuses on traditional publishing (about 90%). That is great in its own right and it was informative. On the other hand, modern times call for modern methods. It was also a little disheartening to listen to, in the sense that Friedman pushes the idea that the biggest strength of wanna-be authors need an established platform in order to gain a traditional publishing deal. This, of course, is common sense, but I was hoping that she covered more thoroughly on how a first-time author with no connections establishes a platform and make important connections.
July 29, 2021
Very easy to understand guidance on the publishing business in the US. Slightly out-of-date in terms of self-publishing, but still has a couple chapters on this. Overall, I found this very helpful in thinking through the implications of various aspects of publishing as they relate to my own work. The chapters (lectures) on writing book synopses and proposals, hiring editors, and marketing, in particular, were excellent. There's a 192-page downloadable pdf that does a great job of summarizing what is talked about in the lectures which is wonderful. I know I will continue to refer to the pdf as I continue my author journey.
October 17, 2022
Excellent introduction to the publishing industry and the steps to take to get your foot in the door once you have a completed manuscript in hand. Friedman provided excellent industry insider tips on mistakes to avoid during the publishing process and provided keen insights into the types of manuscripts that publishers are looking for. She also provided an in-depth overview of different formats for self-publishing as well.
May 31, 2024
A fire hose of information! I see why everyone calls Jane Friedman the expert in publishing. She wrote this book in 2015. I just finished it in 2024, yet Jane was up to speed on things. I did not even know existed 10 years ago. This is definitely a book for any author who wants to be published. She left nothing out related to publishing I highly recommend this book. Use your highlighter. You will want to read it more than once.
July 25, 2022
The book is quite motivational and helpful, but found it more appropriate for the author who wants to self publish. The book also includes sections for non-fiction writing. There is a lot of useful information in here that is valuable for any writer.
June 25, 2025
Incredibly helpful and clear. Some elements are already a bit dated following the course a decade after it was created (especially the bits about blogs), but it is still very, very useful and incredibly straight-forward and practical.
October 1, 2021
This was the most honest and insightful book on publishing I have read to date. Must read for anyone thinking about writing a book
June 10, 2022
This is a pretty good high level overview, even though it’s a little dated and has some repetition.
December 30, 2022
good lectures
March 5, 2024
Exhaustive and practical.
July 11, 2024
Good tidbits for writers.
May 20, 2022
Re-read May 2022 review:
Still a 5/5 how-to guide for publishing a book. Comments below still hold true.
My one additional comment is how kind of bleak the author finishes the course. Meaning, she kind of strongly emphasizes the death of traditional book reading, and the uprising of streamers and other more virtualized content. Not that she is wrong, but maybe a more uplifting ending would have been more appealing. I guess the truth hurts.
________________________
Feb 2022 Review:
"It was amazing." - 5 out of 5 star rating.
Wow, just wow. I had low expectations coming into this course, I've been exposed to quite a bit of similar material such as Screenwriting 101 (also excellent) and also Writing Great Fiction (of these 3... would be the *worst*, but still decent).
I would say that is the best "how to write" content I've been exposed to.
Wait, what? But, this is about publishing.... right?
Well, yes it is. However, make makes this such an unexpected treasure to discover is how much knowledge and experience is shared about writing itself.
Jane Friedman did an absolute amazing job on this, but with content provided and also as a speaker. Extremely motivating for aspiring writers and I would also say for seasoned veterans too, who are about to cross the finish line on really strategizing delivery of your work.
If you ever dreamed about writing your own book, pick this up immediately. Highly recommend.
Key Highlights from my unedited notes:
Still a 5/5 how-to guide for publishing a book. Comments below still hold true.
My one additional comment is how kind of bleak the author finishes the course. Meaning, she kind of strongly emphasizes the death of traditional book reading, and the uprising of streamers and other more virtualized content. Not that she is wrong, but maybe a more uplifting ending would have been more appealing. I guess the truth hurts.
________________________
Feb 2022 Review:
"It was amazing." - 5 out of 5 star rating.
Wow, just wow. I had low expectations coming into this course, I've been exposed to quite a bit of similar material such as Screenwriting 101 (also excellent) and also Writing Great Fiction (of these 3... would be the *worst*, but still decent).
I would say that is the best "how to write" content I've been exposed to.
Wait, what? But, this is about publishing.... right?
Well, yes it is. However, make makes this such an unexpected treasure to discover is how much knowledge and experience is shared about writing itself.
Jane Friedman did an absolute amazing job on this, but with content provided and also as a speaker. Extremely motivating for aspiring writers and I would also say for seasoned veterans too, who are about to cross the finish line on really strategizing delivery of your work.
If you ever dreamed about writing your own book, pick this up immediately. Highly recommend.
Key Highlights from my unedited notes:
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews