The publishing industry can feel like an opaque, black box to aspiring authors, with countless gatekeepers—agents, editors, publicists, book buyers and more—shaping the process behind the scenes. Even established authors can find the sector confusing as they attempt to read the tea leaves behind changing advance sizes, varying levels of publicity support and shifting print run amounts.
Fortunately, there are now dozens of newsletters that aim to demystify the publishing business. I’ve been fortunate enough to have found many of them through my book recommendation newsletter, What To Read If, and now love seeing their names pop up in my email. (Given the state of my inbox, this is the ultimate compliment.)
From publishers and publicists to authors and reviewers, the eight newsletters below provide valuable insights and analysis to anyone looking to get smarter about—or to survive in—the publishing world.
Counter Craft by Lincoln Michel
I first found Counter Craft when Lincoln Michel, author of The Body Scout, when he debunked viral claims that most books “only sell a dozen copies.” In the post, he broke down the surprisingly complex process of how book sales are tallied, delivering the explanation in a way that’s both accessible and funny. This newsletter is a combination of commentary on books, craft and the publishing sector. Think of it as a cross between an MFA and a publishing course. Paid subscribers ($40/annually or $5/monthly) receive exclusive posts and can join in the comments sections.
Genre Grapevine by Jason Sanford
Jason Sanford, author of Plague Birds and dozens of science fiction & fantasy stories, covers the genre in this newsletter. He provides monthly news and analysis of awards’ drama, ongoing issues at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association and broader publishing trends. Sanford also offers occasional stand-alone deep dive issues, such as a recent newsletter about allegations that Nebula-Award winner Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki had improperly submitted a story written by a white writer to a magazine for Black writers under his own byline. Even if you’re not a science fiction & fantasy reader or writer, you’ll still find Genre Grapevine a valuable resource.
The Not So Secret Agent by Sally Ekus
Current or aspiring cookbook writers will want to subscribe to The Not So Secret Agent, a newsletter from Sally Ekus, who runs the culinary and lifestyle division at The Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. She provides insights into how cookbooks get made, including tips on writing proposals, finding for an agent, and the process of getting those mouth-watering food photos for recipe guides.
Paid subscribers ($80 annually or $8 monthly) receive early access to events.
Pine State Publicity by Cassie Mannes Murray
Cassie Mannes Murray describes herself as having “worked in almost every capacity” in publishing—as a lit mag editor, accountant, designer, agent, bookstagrammer, English teacher and more. Now, she channels those expertise into Pine State Publicity, a publicity agency that supports independent presses and authors. In her newsletter, she provides DIY publicity advice for authors looking to get their books in front of readers, examining what makes a companion essay shine, how to improve marketing copy, and insights into the (dreaded) author brand. Mannes Murray pushes authors to think about publicity not in terms of sales, instead her “goal for publicity is building-onwards (building a career, building a platform, building towards something larger for the author, community-building, building a bigger portfolio of work, something something something).”
Poe Can Save Your Life by Catherine Baab-Muguira
Catherine Baab-Muguira offers “gothic self-help for writers and other creators” in Poe Can Save Your Life, an extension of her book with the same name. Baab-Muguira writes in a frank and entertaining way about the challenges of being a writer in today’s media environment. Her newsletter features Q+A interviews with books authors about their publishing journey. I particularly appreciate Baab-Muguira’s honesty about money, sharing posts about making an estimated $6.86/hour on her book and earning out her advance. As she notes,” I share this information because to the extent I have an author brand, it’s in sharing this kind of information, and because oh God this is SUCH an opaque business…. All this makes it hard for authors to understand their sales and earnings in context. And it makes it hard for aspiring writers to understand what they’re getting into.”
Publishing Confidential by Kathleen Schmidt
During her more than two-decade career at editorial houses, Kathleen Schmidt worked in publicity and marketing, promoting books by writers like Jodi Picoult and even celebrities like Prince. Now, she’s sharing her takes on the best ways to market books, alongside in-depth analyses of the ever-evolving publishing landscape. Recent posts delve into TikTok’s publishing program, the future of book publicity and the role of Substack in marketing a book.
Free subscribers receive one post per week, while paid subscribers ($70 annually or $6 monthly) have access to additional posts and regular “Book Therapy” AMA sessions with Schmidt.
Romancing the Phone by Alyssa Morris
Alyssa Morris’s Romancing the Phone, a newsletter focused on BookTok, the romance genre and where they intersect, is new but has already become a must-read for anyone interested in online reading culture. Morris, a former writer and marketing strategist at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, offers critical analyses of America’s most popular genre. She decodes why some books go viral on BookTok while others flop and investigates trends, such as the current surge in popularity of hockey and cowboy romances. Notably, Morris comes as an obsessive romance reader and brings that passion to her writing.
Paid subscribers ($50/annually or $5/monthly) receive exclusive posts linking to viral TikToks and trending books. For as long as BookTok drives titles to the top of bestseller lists, this one will be worth reading.
SHuSH by Ken Whyte
Ken Whyte launched Sutherland House, a Canadian nonfiction publisher, after tenures at Maclean’s, The National Post, and Saturday Night Magazine. Whyte is also the author of two nonfiction books, meaning he’s seen more angles of the book world than most, and his insights are shaped by his extensive experience across different corners of the industry. His deep dives include Taylor Swift’s foray into self-publishing and the transformation of Indigo, Canada’s leading book retailer.
Paid subscribers ($80/annually or $8/monthly) have access to the full archive, while free subscribers can read posts in the period before they go behind a paywall.
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