What Are Your Burning Questions About Publishing?

I'm creating a 6-week INTRO TO PUBLISHING course. What would you want to know? Who would you like to hear from? What are your burning questions about publishing?

Photo by Robert Anasch on Unsplash

Hey, everyone, thanks for being here. And, a very special welcome to my newest subscribers and followers. It’s GREAT to have you here.

Whether you’re new here or a long-time subscriber, please introduce yourself in the comments. And, if you write, please include links with your comment. Do you have a website? A Substack? A blog? A book? A digitally published piece? Please share your literary life with the rest of us. I love building community, and I’m always looking for new and established writers to interview for my Writers On Writing series!

I Need Your Help!

I’m designing a 6-week INTRO TO PUBLISHING course, and I’d love to know your burning questions about publishing.

Every question is valid. Nothing’s too basic or remedial.

Some of you are already published authors (many times over). Others may not move in literary circles but might still be curious about the path to publication. I’d love to hear all your questions.

I plan to premiere this INTRO TO PUBLISHING course at Northwestern University, and I also plan to offer it through this Substack.

So, please ask me anything! I’d really appreciate your input.

Here are just some of the topics I’m considering including. I’d love to know what you’d want to see prioritized:

1. Overview of the Publishing Industry

• History and evolution of publishing

• Differences between traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing

• Key players: major publishers, independent presses, literary agents, and self-published authors

2. The Editorial Process

• Acquisitions and how books get selected for publication

• Developmental editing vs. copyediting vs. proofreading

• The role of a literary agent and how book deals work

3. The Business of Publishing

• How publishers make money (advances, royalties, rights sales)

• Contract basics (royalty structures, subsidiary rights, agent negotiations)

• Distribution and bookselling (bookstores, libraries, direct-to-consumer)

4. Book Production

• Manuscript to finished book: formatting, typesetting, and printing

• Cover design and interior layout

• The impact of print-on-demand and digital-first models

5. Marketing & Publicity

• Traditional vs. digital marketing strategies

• Author branding and social media presence

• Book launches, reviews, and media outreach

6. Self-Publishing & Indie Presses

• Platforms (Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital)

• DIY vs. hiring professionals (editors, cover designers, formatters)

• Building an audience without traditional support

7. The Digital Revolution

• The rise of eBooks and audiobooks

• Subscription models (Kindle Unlimited, Scribd, BookBub)

• The role of AI and emerging tech in publishing

8. Ethics & Trends in Publishing

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion in publishing

• Censorship and book banning

• Trends shaping the future (self-publishing, AI-generated content, sustainability)

Of the topics above, what are you most interested in hearing about?

Call For Published Authors, Publishing Execs, and Those In Roles That Support Writers On Their Paths To Publication

Do you like to speak about your experience? If so, please fill out this form. I’m looking to book guest speakers for my INTRO TO PUBLISHING COURSE.

For example, here’s my discussion with literary agent and publishing attorney Joe Perry of Perry Literary (you might have to click to watch it on YouTube):

Thanks for being a part of Writers’ Haven. I really look forward to your feedback.

Sincerely,

Christine

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Christine Wolf is a memoir coach and founder of Writers’ Haven, a coworking space for women writers. A former board member of the Chicago chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Wolf’s writing has been awarded for excellence by the Chicago Tribune, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and The Moth. She’s a writing instructor at Northwestern University and runs Write to Heal Workshops and Retreats. A former freelance columnist with the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune, she’s the co-author of Politics, Partnerships, & Power: The Lives of Ralph E. and Marguerite Stitt Church. Get in touch with Christine at www.christinewolf.com/contact