A People's Guide to Publishing

The past year has been plagued with U.S. labor shortages. Publishers can't get a break. But neither can workers. Conditions haven't markedly improved in decades and publishers and distributors are having huge troubles with warehouse staffing, leading to weeks of fulfillment delays. We take a look at why the same systems are no longer working and what can be done about it! 

Because of Amazon's relentless marketing campaign, one of the most common questions is "What can a publisher actually offer that self-publishing cannot?" so this week on the pod, we tackle the considerations, pros and cons of a publisher or self-publishing as well as other things to consider.

We just returned from the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association show (PNBA), the first in-person trade show in nearly two years! So this week on the pod, we talk about what we observed, what we learned, and what it will likely all mean in the long term, as publishing continues to evolve from COVID!

Most books have multiple contributors in varying capacities. Some have two authors. Many have an author and an illustrator. This week on the pod, we answer a reader question about how to create fair agreements and structure them so that no one is left in the lurch no matter if the book is very successful, very unsuccessful, or the most likely scenario unfolds. We take a look at what to consider, how to communicate, and how to put it in writing.

Often, when you create something and the world likes it, they have a strong tendency to use it without asking. Or conversely, people have questions about when or how they can use someone's else's writing or art in their own and what constitutes fair use or what is just theft. So this week on the pod, we tackle all this and more! 

When you create something, like writing a book or drawing an illustration, you have the power to decide who gets to use it and how. This week on the pod, we talk about the many things to consider, what standard agreements look like, and how to best make decisions about the future of your work!

We frequently hear concerns from authors about how their books are handled. They think that "signing" with a publisher is giving up their ability to handle and own their book. Nothing is further from the truth. In almost every contract, an author still owns their own work and licenses aspects of it to a publisher for the purpose of the publisher (hopefully) having greater ability to increase its value. This week on the pod, we take a deep dive walkthrough over these issues! 

The past five years have become a vigilant fight to claim the word "Indie" in publishing. Who is Indie? What are they independent of? What are they dependent on? How are these terms confusing? How is this phrase used in misleading ways? This week on the pod, we have some real talk about dependence and independence!