This week Jess shares some hard truths about traditional publishing. Only about 300 memoir deals are made each year in traditional publishing. Many go to celebrities with built-in audiences, or authors whose stories have a strong cultural hook or tie to current events. Publishers want more than just your story—they need a clear angle that will sell. If you’re aiming to land a deal, here are five key things to keep in mind:

1. Grow your audience. Publishers want to see that you already have a community of readers who are eager for your book.
2. Your story must serve the reader. Editors look for more than just a personal narrative—they want a book that connects to the reader’s own journey.
3. Think in categories. Position your story beyond your life experience. Can your memoir also function as self-help, leadership, or cultural commentary?
4. Get professional polish. A well-edited, submission-ready manuscript shows publishers you’re serious.
5. Prepare for rejection. Even strong proposals face many no’s before they get a yes.

But here’s the good news: your story matters. And you don’t need to wait for permission to share it.

If you’re tired of sitting on the sidelines while waiting for the industry gatekeepers, come talk to us at Soul Speak Press. We’re here to help you bring your book into the world.

This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something.

Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six

Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast.