The Secrets Behind Book Publishing
With authors, agents, and editors from Knopf, HarperCollins, Random House and The New York Times Book Review
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PRICE SYNOPSIS This panel of distinguished agents, editors, and authors is for at writers interested in breaking into the publishing business with their first book, and seasoned journalists, reviewers, and authors curious about the behind-the-scenes secrets of the publishing process. We'll cover the most common mistakes new authors make, how many pages you need to approach an agent, if it ever makes sense to go directly to editors or to self-publish. What determines the advance, buzz, and publicity campaign behind a book? And -- aside from praying, bribing or sleeping your way to the middle -- what exactly writers can do to enhance their chances of getting a book deal. DURATION/TIME DATE OF PANEL |
)Speakers
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| Susan
Shapiro (moderator) author, Only As Good As Your Word |
Dawn Davis editorial director, HarperCollins' Amistad Press |
Henry
Dunow agent, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency |
Deborah
Garrison poetry editor, Knopf; senior fiction editor, Pantheon Books |
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| Gail Hochman agent, Brandt & Hochman Literary Agency |
Daniel
Menaker former editor, Random House, The New Yorker |
Sam Tanenhaus editor, The New York Times Book Review |
Table of Contents
| Sections | Length | Size | |
| PREVIEW | |||
Highlights from the Panel 
FREE! Watch a free preview of The Secrets Behind Book Publishing panel discussion. |
5:03 | 19 MB | |
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Crib Sheet (PDF) Download this outline and use it to take notes. Includes resources and other information. |
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| 1. | Introductions
Jessica Eule of mediabistro.com introduces moderator Susan Shapiro. Shapiro introduces the panel of agents, editors, and authors. |
7:43 | 29 MB | 2. | Research before writing: How much is enough?
The panel tackles the issue of pre-writing research and how research can affect an author's decision to start a project. |
12:30 | 48 MB |
| 3. | Would agents rather see a proposal or read the entire finished
memoir?
Shapiro gives examples of two of her mediabistro.com students who got substantial advances by writing short proposals for their memoirs, which were subsequently published. The panel talks about what the industry prefers. |
13:05 | 51 MB |
| 4. | Tricks of the trade
Do the agents and editors on the panel prefer a finished manuscript before purchasing a book (either fiction or non-fiction)? Is getting part of your work published in a magazine or some other publication helpful in selling a book? Do agents look for new voices in smaller publications? |
6:41 | 26 MB |
| 5. | Is it best to use an agent or fly solo?
The panelists discuss when to use an agent and how to find the right agent for your project. They cover how to market your book and how to determine what category it falls into. Finally, they explain what an author can do to make it easier to sell a book and how much advance blurbs help. |
13:59 | 54 MB |
| 6. | Making your writing publication-ready
From classes, ghost editors, and mentors to just plain ol' obsessive revision, the panelists offer their suggestions for making your writing publication-ready. |
7:17 | 28 MB |
| 7. | Juggling a full-time job and writing a book
The panel gives ideas about how to make a living while writing or waiting for your book to be published. They also provide tips on how to manage the work-life balance, especially if you're a parent. With additional information on how to find an agent. |
14:45 | 57 MB |
| 8. | Audience questions: Self-publishing
Questions from the audience about self-publishing: Will agents and editors review self-published books? What are some tips for self-publishing? Are there any publishing houses that will take on self-published books? |
8:29 | 33 MB |
| 9. | More audience questions: Variety pack
Audience members want to know: Is the short story dead? How relevant are blogs to getting published? Are book tours dead? Is it good to send your manuscript to several agents? Are photography and art books handled differently than narrative tomes? |
11:02 | 43 MB |
| 10. | Final audience questions
Are book tours dead? Do agents specialize in art and photography? How do you sell your book project if you get your project to an editor or agent? |
9:46 | 38 MB |
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