Self-Publishing Update
By G. Miki Hayden
Instructor at Writer's Digest University online and private writing coach
firstwriter.com – Monday August 7, 2023
According to an April 2023 survey by the (UK) Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), income of self-published authors increased substantially in 2022 over 2021, coming in at a median amount of $12,749, a figure actually higher than those of authors at traditional publishers. The 2,200 respondents to the survey were from all major English-speaking countries (with more than half from the U.S.).
A quarter of those replying had released their first book in 2020, while 60 percent reported first publishing in 2015-2022. Over half said they’d published more than 10 books on their own, while 20 percent had published more than 30 titles. Romance, fantasy/sci fi/speculative, and crime/thriller/detective novels were by far the most prevalent genres in which self-publishers were active.
Author M. J. Rose may have started the drive to self-publish, or some of it, when in 1998, she self-published her erotic-suspense novel Lip Service about the world of phone sex, a novel that had been rejected by all the agents and publishers she’d queried. Online, she sold 2,500 books (which is quite a lot), and the novel was after that acquired by Pocket Books. Other authors jumped into the self-publishing arena, or tried, and later Rose said, “I couldn’t do it now.” She did it because then the field was ripe and not yet harvested. However, Rose did set a model for other authors to imitate; and following persistently, some authors flourished. Not all thrived, however, and though self-publishing became and stayed “a thing,” the niche not too long after seemed to have lost its luster.
But now, something appears to be going on. Authors are self-publishing again. Some are bringing out their backlists, and others are simply spending a little money and getting into the game. I talked to four self-publishing authors. See if you can identify with or be inspired by any of their paths.
New Publisher Listing: Guinness World Records
firstwriter.com – Monday August 7, 2023
Publishes books of amazing facts, figures, and feats of outstanding human endeavour.
New Magazine Listing: Oxford Review of Books
firstwriter.com – Monday August 7, 2023
Publishes reviews of films, books, TV shows (think culture in the broadest sense); interviews with politicians, actors, philosophers, historians, poets, classicists, and activists; essays that provide a new and fresh take on current affairs; and poetry and fiction. Submit 3-4 poems, or pitches for prose, by email. Pitches are accepted on a rolling basis for online, and during specific windows for print. See website for more details.
New Literary Agent Listing: Aoife Inman
firstwriter.com – Monday August 7, 2023
I’m looking towards building a list of fiction and non-fiction writers, as well as a select number of poets who are working on projects across forms. In fiction I am interested in propulsive, character-driven stories with an emphasis on sharp, unsentimental writing and bold imagery. I’m drawn to novels set in small communities, and those that dissect the intensity of close family dynamics. I also enjoy work that experiments with form and language, particularly as a means of telling polyphonic stories. In non-fiction, my taste is broad. I am interested in narrative cultural histories that are led by a strong first-person voice, (particularly those that engage with queer spaces and perspectives), as well as essay collections, memoirs, cultural criticism, music and nature writing.
New crime writing prize launched by A M Heath, Orion and Crime Monthly
thebookseller.com – Friday August 4, 2023
A M Heath literary agency, the Orion Publishing Group and Crime Monthly have teamed up to launch Criminal Lines 2023, a new £3,500 crime writing prize open to unagented, debut authors, born or resident in the UK and Ireland.
From psychological thrillers, cosy crime to serial killer thrillers, entrants are invited to submit the opening 5,000 words of a novel with “criminal intent”, plus a synopsis of no more than 1,000 words here.
Entries open on 3rd August 2023 and close on 7th December 2023. The winner will be selected by a panel of judges including A M Heath agents Euan Thorneycroft and Oli Munson, Crime Monthly assistant editor Lisa Howells, Orion Fiction editors Leodora Darlington and Sam Eades, and authors Vaseem Khan and Mari Hannah.
How to Pitch an Article to a Magazine
omegaunderground.com – Friday August 4, 2023
As a writer, you want to get your words in front of as many readers as possible. But this can be challenging when the competition from other writers is so great—to say nothing of the competition from other media like TV, social media, and smartphones.
But you must start somewhere. And one of the best ways to get your name out there as an author is to pitch articles to magazines.
Penzler Publishers is launching Crime Ink
lunch.publishersmarketplace.com – Friday August 4, 2023
Penzler Publishers is launching Crime Ink, an imprint publishing literary true crime. Tom Wickersham will head the line as editor; he was formerly the manager of The Mysterious Bookshop. Charles Perry becomes publisher, adding to his role as publisher of other Penzler imprints (The Mysterious Press, American Mystery Classics, Scarlet, and MysteriousPress.com).
New Literary Agent Listing: Valerie Frankel
firstwriter.com – Friday August 4, 2023
Literary agent based in Brooklyn, New York. Has 35 years of editorial experience, and has collaborated with celebrities, public figures, and experts on more than thirty books, including two #1 New York Times bestsellers. She’s interested in non-fiction (memoir, health and wellness, business, lifestyle) and fiction (thriller, mystery, romance, YA).
New Publishing Imprint Listing: Graffeg Childrens
firstwriter.com – Thursday August 3, 2023
Welcomes submissions for children's books.
New Literary Agent Listing: Alice Caprio
firstwriter.com – Thursday August 3, 2023
I am actively building a list that spans middle grade and YA fiction across all genres, commercial adult fiction, and romance and fantasy for all ages. I am on the hunt for stories that are smart, commercial and bold, with a clear international appeal. When reading romance, I am drawn to lively secondary characters, unusual set-ups, engaging dialogue and irresistible chemistry between the leads. Humour is a plus and I enjoy a good trope, if explored creatively. I am always on the look-out for romantasy, high concept YA, dystopian YA, and retellings that feel distinctive. I am open to working with authors within these genres who have previously self-published, particularly if they have a TikTok or online presence. I tend to favour well-plotted, immersive fantasy novels with nuanced female leads, imaginative magic systems, high-stake adventures and courtly intrigue. I am not the agent for hard sci-fi but would be open to grounded sci-fi, particularly in the YA space. At the other end of the spectrum, I am interested in cosy, low-stakes fantasy with heart. In middle grade, I am drawn to sweeping adventures, stories with a speculative and magical twist or a spooky feel. I appreciate middle grade novels that do not talk down to the reader but remain fast-paced and fun. I am also on the search for contemporary stories with a timeless universal quality. I am not open to picture books and illustrated fiction.
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