Can anyone get a book deal? What it takes to be a novelist in 2026

Consolidation, fewer imprints and editorial bottlenecks are reshaping how fiction book deals are acquired and developed in today’s publishing market.

“From Pitch to Publication” is a series taking readers behind the curtain of modern publishing as a business. 

I’m so accustomed to rejection that I brace myself for every email – even before opening. Even when good news may be waiting after that click.

Writers, and all creatives to an extent, have to get accustomed to “no.”

About 81% of Americans feel that they have a book in them, according to an often cited survey reported in The New York Times (from the early 2000s). Many aspire to write and publish a book in their lifetime, but only a small fraction see their work formally acquired and announced each year. A little over 2,000 fiction writers announced deals in 2025 on Publishers Marketplace.

What's it like to write a bestseller? We followed Lucy Score for a year to find out

This year, one of those deals announced is mine: My debut young adult novel, “How to Kill a Chupacabras," was acquired by independent publisher Tiny Ghost Press. I almost dismissed the email confirming the offer as another rejection. 

To read the full article on eu.usatoday.com, click here