So You Want to Publish a Book?

by Anne Trubek

In So You Want to Publish a Book? , Anne Trubek, founder of Belt Publishing, demystifies the publishing process. This insightful guide offers concrete, witty advice and information to authors, prospective authors, and those curious about the inner workings of the industry. Learn the differences between Big Five and independent presses, and how advances and royalties really work . Discover the surprising methods that actually move books off the shelves. Develop the lingo to make editors swoon, and challenge yourself to find the errors intentionally embedded in the text! Armed with a more transparent understanding of how books are made and sold, readers will be better prepared to publish, promote, and purchase them wisely and successfully.

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

150 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Anne Trubek is the author of A Skeptic's Guide To Writers' Houses and co-editor of Rust Belt Chic: The Cleveland Anthology. She has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, Wired and numerous other publications.

Reviews

[Nathan Shuherk · Rating 5 out of 5]

To both understand your prospects as a potential author to simply understanding how the industry works, this is incredibly insightful and very helpful. A lot of books on writing, not a lot of books on actually publishing.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I've ever read about publishing, and I've read a fair number. If you have any curiosity about how publishing works, I urge you to read this book, it packs a lot into very few pages, and the author is so charming you will enjoy everything you learn.

Of course, I might be a little bit biased, because the book is written from the trenches by an author and publisher of a really great small press, so it reflects more of the realities of my own experience. That is, it describes the world of the big publishers quite well, but from a distance. Whereas it describes the world of publishing that I know very, very well, and from a front row seat. My own career in publishing started with a formerly independent publisher that had been bought by a big conglomerate and housed under the umbrella of one of the Big Five. Later, in the endless churning of small imprints between the larger players, our little company ended up being owned by a mid-size company. That is, a huge global operation with a ton of imprints, but barely middle-sized compared to any of the Big Five. Sadly, that company decided it didn't want to be a publisher anymore ("knowledge solutions provider" was the trendy thing to be at the time), so I was relieved when they laid me off along with scores of others. I had the further good fortune to be hired by a small independent publisher, so I am now happily experiencing a different perspective on book publishing, much more akin to that of the author of this book. Okay, I'm finally done with my story, and back to the subject of this wonderful book. Even though I have been working in publishing for over 20 years now, I feel that I learned from reading this book. But even if I hadn't learned anything, I would have enjoyed the clarity with which the author uses her own experiences to illustrate how book publishing works. Thank you, Anne Trubek! And thanks for all the great books you are bringing out through Belt Publishing (see beltpublishing.com)!

[Brendan Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

As author (and publisher) Anne Trubek notes when discussing the research she put into the niche for this book, there was no book out there discussing, as she does in this new book, how the running of a small press works and providing insight into the broader publishing industry. The view she provides is fascinating. Having just this year had my own first novel brought out by a small press and also helped my wife self-publish a novel, this helped fill in the gaps of what I'd learned and provided me with key insights into the publisher side of the process.

My only complaint against the book is that I wish it were more detailed. I wish I had learned more about the types of printers in the US and the choices small presses like Belt face when going American versus overseas for their printing, how books are stored and then shipped (by the publisher? by the distributor?) and how marketing builds up a following of customers interested in the particular niche of the publisher.

[W. Whalin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Unusual How-To Book

Don’t be fooled with the plain title, SO YOU WANT TO PUBLISHING A BOOK? Anne Trubek knows her craft and builds it into the fiber of this book. From the opening page, there are little graphics tucked into the type—intriguing. These little graphics are common publishing definitions and scattered throughout the text. From the Contents page, there is a final section called “A Note About the Text (which I actually read first in thi book). It normally tells about the typeface (which it did) but it also included something I’ve never seen in a book: “We have also strategically placed 7 typographical errs throughout the book for the aspiring proofreaders among you. If you think you have found them all, check out the answer key at: beltpublishing/SYWTAPABtypos.” (Page 149) I could tell from these opening features, I was going to learn a great deal from SO YOU WANT TO PUBLISH A BOOK?

This book is full of insights about how the publishing process works, what is the profitability for a book and how a publisher does their profit/loss statement, returns, distribution, metadata and much more. As Trubek wrote, “I believe understanding book publishing from behind the scenes will enable more people to hve a part in it, whether as an author, editor, publicist, designer or publisher.” (Page 14)

I have been reading books about publishing for decades and SO YOU WANT TO PUBLISH A BOOK? Has information I have not seen in other books yet important if you want to understand publishing. I highly recommend it.

W. Terry Whalin is an editor and the author of more than 60 books including his latest 10 Publishing Myths, Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed.

[Aumaine Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable! A practical guide to small press publishing with an eye to how it differs from Big 5, etc.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

How Does A Book Go From Idea to Bookstore?

There are a lot of guides on the art of writing or how to write a book (my favorite is still Stephen King’s “On Writing”). But there aren’t many guides to the process that publishers, distributors and bookstores go though to get a book published, that understanding that process is as important as writing the book. That’s where Anne Trubek, the head of a small publisher of non-fiction books, a former academic, and a published author, comes in.

“So You Want To Publish A Book?” discusses the process that gets books put together, published, distributed and sold. It’s also a guide to the business of publishing, discussing the “Big 5” publishing companies that produce the vast majority of the books you see at the bookstore and Amazon, the scores of independent publishers that provide debuting writers and writers of niche topics their shot at publishing books, as well as how the financial side of the business works ( for example, most titles are generally money losers for publishers, but the 20% of books published a year and successful titles from publishers’ back catalogs pay for those losses and keep big publishers in business). It talks about the folks who take the manuscript and create the book you read, and what part they play, such as editors and graphic artists. Last but not least, Anne advocates for the little publishing houses as the ones who are the future of the publishing industry, and how their perspective on publishing is different from the Big 5 as well as why the perspective is important.

“So You Want To Publish A Book?” is a quick read, but an interesting one - I never really understood the process of publishing from the publisher’s perspective, and Anne’s writing style takes a topic that could easily become one that gets bogged deep in the weeds of minutiae and provides a perspective that’s accessible to the average reader and the aspiring author.

About the only thing detracting from Anne’s book is that it was written just after the COVID pandemic occurred; at the time, it was clear that COVID would impact the publishing industry, but it wasn’t clear how - I wish that Anne would update the book to fill in that part of the story. Anne’s publishing company was also bought out a couple of years ago by Arcadia Publishing (that’s the company that puts out all those paperbacks full of historical photos of communities nationwide); since media consolidation is a major issue for book publishers as well as other forms of media, it’d be interesting to hear more about the impact of consolidation on what gets published as well as the business as a whole.
Recommended for folks interested in knowing more about the process of how books get produced; I have to wonder how long this book will remain available, though, given that Anne shares what she and many others in the industry think of the negative impact Amazon’s effective monopoly as a distributor and bookseller has had on the industry. Recommended!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne Trubek started Belt Publishing here in Cleveland. I discovered this small press while waiting to be interviewed by a former Mayor of Cleveland for a job having just moved back to my home city. On the waiting area table was a little anthology of Cleveland Neighborhoods (I think that may be the title) and I skimmed it to see what I had missed. When I left Cleveland, Tremont was still populated by subsidized public housing and artists. Only one above market restaurant had opened and they sold potato pancakes of all types and flavors. I learned how it's gentrification became complete. I wanted to know more about this publisher.

And so I have. Since 2017 when I moved into my Shaker Square apartment, I have read more than 8 publications of Belt and have 2 or 3 more sitting on my "to read" shelf. This one, "So You Want to Publish a Book" by the publisher herself, is definitely my favorite so far. Anne combines her snarky but humble humor with the lessons she's learned about everything to do with publishing from the "Big Five" to why there are blank pages at the beginning and end of so many books. No, not for note taking buy hey, if it works for you, why not. She spells it out for us aspiring writers, publishers, agents, or just about anyone interested in the book publishing business. There are some interesting surprises along the way and you will stay with her to the very end, I promise. It is that well written and informative, exactly what I have come to expect from Belt. Thank you Anne and team.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Trubek's book is a great education for writers that would like to understand the publishing process better. As a writer turned publisher, Anne offers a behind the scenes view of what it takes to make publishing work based on her experiences running Belt Publishing for several years. We get to hear the perspective of various types of editors and find out much more than we perhaps wanted to know about the minutia of typefaces and other aspects that make up the printed pages we want to see as readers and writers.

For example, she notes the differences between offset and print on demand (POD) approaches and offers criteria on which approach makes the most sense based upon a few key factors. This book should prove invaluable to anybody who wants to try self-publishing and is also a fine introduction to the world of independent publishers. There are even several tips that will be helpful for those writers who manage to run the gauntlet and get a deal with one of the Big 5 publishers.

[Eszter Hargittai · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable, informative and quick read about the book-publishing process from the perspective of an independent book publisher. Too many parts of the publishing process - from financial specifics to logistics - remain a mystery even to those who write books that get published (read the book to appreciate why I didn't simply say "those who publish books";-). One thing you learn is that much of it is as much art as science, and I don't mean from the perspective of designing the book cover. It's helpful to hear about marketing experiences from the point of view of the publisher's bottom line and how several approaches (e.g., bookstore events) that conventional wisdom would suggest are important may not be (although may have their merits in other ways). A very accessible read, highly recommended!

[Eric Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who both writes and publishes books, I was keen to read a well-reviewed, short text aimed at people like myself. I was not disappointed. This is a clear, well-written introduction to the world of publishing, full of information that both publishers and authors need to know. Anne Trubek is both, and writes from experience. I learned much more about book distributors, the system of returns, and galleys than I thought possible. The bottom line – for an author – seems to be this: Read lots of books. Write the best one you can. Get the biggest advance you can from your publisher – because that may be the only money you will ever see from your book. And finally, pray for sales. Nothing else seems to work.

[Turquoise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful look at how a book gets from the author's desk to the bookstore shelf, whether physical or virtual. It is helpful to see the approximate costs associated with work at the back-end. The author's experience is with a small press she founded and much of what's reported in the book concerns those specifics. The book is a bit heavy-handed on some points and not so heavy-handed on editing out typos. There are some purposefully inserted to test the reader's attention to detail (?), but others were presumably unintentional and an unfortunate way to promote one's press, which seems to be part of the goal of the book.

[Nic Rueth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It does what it sets out to do very well—with the caveat that the book is much more for newbie publishers than it is writers or editors trying to sell a book. Still, there's plenty in there for them, too. I really just learned a lot about publishing in less than 150 pages. Really impressive, well-written and a fun, casual writing style that feels like a friend is giving me insider industry knowledge. Perhaps most importantly, this books reminds me to BUY DIRECTLY FROM THE PUBLISHER. (I also appreciate the nuanced position on Amazon that recognizes it as a hegemonic monopoly that also gives small authors and publishers a way to publish and sell their books.)

[Tiffany]

Came across Belt books in a giveaway on Twitter--just the most LOVELY edition of The Marrow of Tradition by Charles Chesnutt. Decided to buy a bunch of Belt books direct, including this one by the publisher of the press. It was enjoyable and offered some helpful and interesting looks behind the scene. Consider reading for a look into the independent press scene (compared to the Big Five).

Who knew that "Public Radio sells books"?! This, and other magic awaits.

(And I'm so relieved that the typographical errors in the book were an INTENTIONAL easter egg hunt!)

[Gabrielle Jarrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Trubek's book is extremely informative and clearly written. She cuts to the chase without chatter or bloviating. Each step and it's options are explained and assigned monetary values so the reader can see where the money goes in the selling process. Each writer must determine her own sense of success in the writing and publishing process. Trubek's publishing house, Belt Publishing, is for non-fiction books. However, the publishing map is pretty much the same for fiction writers after finding a publisher. I learned. I enjoyed. I liked.

[Tim Lapetino · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great, breezy but surprisingly comprehensive book by Anne Trubek, whose publishing email digest I’ve enjoyed for a couple years. Having gone through the publishing process a couple times, I thought I knew more than I did. Trubek covered a ton of great ground in a thoughtful style without trying to speak to every publisher or experience. Definitely recommended for anyone interested in the industry or hoping to write and publish a book someday.

[Charlotte Donlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely recommend So You Want to Publish a Book to anyone who wants helpful information about publishing a book. Anne Trubeck knows what she’s talking about. I’m sure there are people out there hosting online classes on this topic. Skip the online classes and buy this book. I also really appreciate her perspective on Amazon and its effect on the publishing industry.

[Steve]

Hundreds of books about writing on bookstore shelves but not many about the nuts-and-bolts of the publishing industry as it exists today. This was a quick and informative read about how books get made. Whether you want to publish a book or not, you will come away with a greater understanding of how book publishing works.

[Donovan Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beckoning call to all independent and aspiring independent publishers, this book is a must-read! A beautifully quick and fun read! As Trubek makes clear at the beginning of the book, this work isn't meant just for writers/authors but for anyone interested in the nuance and obscurity of the publishing world.

[Bridgitte Rodguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I subscribe to Anne Trubek’s Substack— huge fan. A friend of mine put me on to her. This book is a sort of compilation of her Substack articles. A great behind the scenes look at publishing— not writing. How the publishing business and process works. I love knowing big picture and small details. This is an easy read, easy to digest, frank look at publishing in a small press.

[Jenna Goldsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend for anybody interested in the publishing industry, both from a reader's, writer's, and publisher's standpoint. As somebody with a chapbook coming out in the near future, I found the chapter on marketing to be most useful.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great intro to the world of publishing. I just started my first job in publishing at a small independent press, so it was very much geared toward what I’m experiencing right now, but also insightful into the industry as a whole.

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endlessly grossing.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast, fierce, and funny - independent presses forever.

[Lescribbler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent insider view of independent press publishing and how the industry works as a whole.

[Angela Natividad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This helped me understand the machinery of a sector that’s different from my own, but not nearly as much as I thought. I was also quite grateful for the clarity and frankness of the author.

[Julie Silverman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I wish I knew going into this book is that it’s focused more on the non-fiction side of the industry, but that doesn’t take away from how informative it is! This book speaks to you as if it’s your friend sitting down to coffee with you and explains the complex publishing industry in simple terms. It takes you through every single step of the process and breaks them down by using definitions, examples and easy to understand numbers. I learned a ton and it definitely helped put some burning questions to rest.

[John Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic and concise overview of the publishing process

I wish I had found this book a year ago. I just published my first book with a hybrid publisher a few months ago. Having this book would have helped me evaluate my publishing options better and guide my expectations. I learned a lot that will be useful as I embark on my next book.