The publishing industry remains a mystery to many—including authors themselves. Through sharing my recent experience landing a deal with an independent press, I hope to offer both insight and inspiration into the realities of modern publishing.
This series will take you behind the scenes of my journey, covering both the exciting milestones and the sobering realities of working with publishers, editors, designers, and publicists. I’ve broken it into three parts to share the complete story of how a book goes from manuscript to published work.
A Bit of Context
Although this blog primarily focuses on fiction writing, this article is based on my experiences working with a small publisher specializing in non-fiction—as I write both. While there may be some differences in the querying process, most of the information here applies to any kind of book deal. I chose to write about this particular experience because it was my first published book, making it especially relevant for readers who might doubt their work is “good enough” for a “real” press (a fear that plagues even the most experienced authors).
Finding My Path to Publication
When I first completed my manuscript, I had self-publishing in mind. My book covered a technical niche subject (sports history), which I knew could work in my favor. Specialized audiences often mean more focused publishing opportunities—and this applies to fiction too!
While the “Big Five” publishers might seem like the dream, smaller presses that focus on specific genres or topics can be more accessible and often more suitable, especially for first-time authors. These specialized publishers are typically more willing to take chances on new authors, and better yet, they generally don’t require an agent for submissions. This means you can query them directly, and your work often lands higher up the chain of command, bypassing various levels of gatekeeping before reaching the decision-makers.
My wife, being a designer, collaborated with me on my book. We put great detail into the interior, cover, and content, making it polished and ready for publication. I’d also been through several rounds with beta readers (i.e., test readers), proofreaders, and a professional editor. For beta reading and proofreading, I reached out to people interested in the subject matter who wanted to gain editing experience. This approach helped significantly reduce expenses on my part.
As my book was going through its final proofreading stage, I noticed something while browsing my bookshelf—a number of similar books I owned were all published by the same small press. A light bulb went on. Though anxious to get my book out, and convinced I had little chance of becoming a “real author,” I decided to take a risk and sent off an email to the publisher.
Not expecting anything to come from my query, I finished the final preparations. I bought an ISBN, set up an Amazon pre-order, and was days away from release when I got the email that changed everything.
The Initial Meeting
What followed still feels surreal: the CEO of the press responded directly and requested an online meeting. Apparently, he and his team had read the book and thought both the content and design were great. For those familiar with traditional publishing, this might sound unusual—and it is. It’s one of the perks of working with a smaller press; with a larger company, you’d never expect this type of response unless you’d written something truly incredible.
Being based halfway around the world, I dragged myself out of bed at four AM for the video call, only to realize I’d miscalculated—the US was a full twenty-four hours behind me, and I was up waiting for the call a day early. Embarrassed, I went back to bed.
The next morning, after another fairly restless night and enough caffeine to fuel an army, I was ready for the meeting. It went great. We discussed not just the current book but potential follow-ups and series opportunities. The message was clear: they wanted to publish my book… but I needed to make some changes.
Then the whole process moved at an unexpected pace. From first contact to receiving a contract in my inbox took just six weeks—another advantage of working with a smaller publisher.
The Reality Check: Contracts and Terms
The contract arrival brought me back to earth quickly. As a first-time author with a completed manuscript, I wasn’t offered an advance—not unusual in today’s publishing landscape, especially with smaller presses. This was also likely partly due to my book being nearly complete, meaning I didn’t need an advance to sustain me through the writing process. Still, having researched vanity presses, I carefully reviewed the contract. I was relieved to find they didn’t want me to pay anything—this might sound obvious, but one major red flag of vanity presses is their request to “collaborate,” “share responsibility,” or “invest” in your own book. All of these are essentially tricks to part authors from their money.
After experiencing the promise of Amazon’s 70% eBook royalty during my self-publishing preparations, the contract’s 10-15% royalty rates initially shocked me. However, research revealed these terms weren’t just standard for traditional publishing—they were actually on the higher end of the spectrum.
Not knowing anything about publishing contracts, I did more research into the practical side of things. Everything I read said I should find a specialist lawyer, but one glance at their fees quickly ended that idea. Instead, I reached out to my cousin, who practices political law, hoping she could at least spot any major red flags. She confirmed most of it seemed above board, though she opened my eyes to something I hadn’t considered—copyright laws that could last up to seventy years after my death. Although this is standard (it’s why we often see sudden waves of re-releases from deceased artists like Elvis—their catalogs are about to enter public domain, prompting one final push from the intellectual property owners), it was still eye-opening.
Armed with this knowledge, I approached the publisher with my concerns. We negotiated a clause that would return the rights to me if annual sales dropped below one hundred copies, allowing me to do what I wanted with the book thereafter. This negotiation revealed two positive signs: they were open to discussing authors’ needs, and they planned to market my book long-term. They also included a “first refusal” clause for future works—which actually pleased me, as it meant less querying down the road.
With negotiations complete, I signed the contract. The book was scheduled for release a full year later—a timeline I didn’t realize at the time I would desperately need!
Key Takeaways
- Polish Your Work
Make your manuscript as professional as possible before submission. This means multiple rounds of beta readers, professional editing if feasible, and careful attention to presentation. Consider making your book “self-publishing ready” – this high standard of preparation can impress traditional publishers too.
- Research First, Query Later
Before submitting your work, thoroughly research potential publishers. Identify those specializing in your genre, study their existing catalog, and verify their reputation. Do not just ‘blanket email’ as many as you can find. Querying may be slow and draining, but if you want someone to invest their time and effort in your book, you have to invest your time and effort in finding the right people too.
- Consider Small Presses
Don’t overlook independent publishers. They often offer more personal attention, faster response times, and direct access to decision-makers. Many don’t require agents, making them excellent options for first-time authors. However, be wary and learn to recognize red flags like requests for author payment or “shared investment.” A proper publisher, will NEVER ask you to pay to publish your book.
- Don’t be afraid to take Risks
Don’t let imposter syndrome prevent you from pursuing traditional publishing. Be open to opportunities outside your original plan, but prepare for longer timelines and lower royalties than self-publishing. Most importantly, be ready and open to adapt your work based on professional feedback.
- Looking Ahead
In Part Two: The Editorial Process, I’ll take you through the reality of working with professional editors, the unexpected challenges of market adaptation, and what it really means to “finish” a book. We’ll also discuss book sales and marketing strategies in the final installment of this series.
What about you?
Did you find this helpful? Share your own publishing experiences in the comments below. Are you currently querying publishers? I’d love to hear about your journey.
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A.J. Roe