Three Myths About New York Publishers

As I travel the country speaking to writer's groups inwere bought with the assistance of an agent, but the
workshops and seminars, I'm struck by the amount oftruth is that the big guys are constantly looking for
misinformation that is floating around. Having spentproduct. If your book, blog, or magazine article, attracts
25-years working for two of the largest publishers inthe attention of an editor or publisher, then you can
the world, I thought it would be important to set thesave the 15% and sign without an agent. You do not
record straight and write about three of the mosthave to have an agent to sign a publishing contract
common myths.with a big company. But you're going to need plenty of
It's not about who published your book, but will it makepatience, a whole bunch of perseverance, and lots of
moneymarketplace knowledge to make that happen, but it
First, there seems to be this impression that if ancan happen without an agent.
author publishes with a print-on-demand company - orThe contract is only the beginning of your work
god forbid self-publish their own manuscript - the bigThird, most authors that I encounter through my
publishers will never be interested in their book. This isconsulting have the feeling that once they sign that big
wrong! The fact is that the biggest companies in thetime publishing contract, they will be taken care of. In
world are focused on making money. If they discoverfact, this is the biggest wrong of all! The New York
a title they feel has potential to gain widespreadpublishers are in the business of making money; if you
distribution and sell lots of copies, they don't care whocan help them, terrific, but if not, you are as
published it, they want it. The big publishers rarely lookexpendable as the next author. In fact once you sign a
at who published what, for them, it's about dollars and ifcontract, your work is just starting. You must help your
they feel your writing has the potential, they'll publish it.publisher market your book and that could many a
An agent is not requirednumber of things. So the contract is not the end, but
Second, writers have the impression they absolutelythe beginning. Your publisher is not in the business of
have to have an agent to attract the attention of a bigtaking care of authors.
New York publisher. Again, this is wrong! If you have aThe next time you hear something foolish at your
book and a voice and a platform as an author, and awriter's group meeting, or conference, send me an
big company sees your potential, they will come to youemail. I answer them all personally and I'll be more than
without the need of an agent. Now, clearly more thanhappy to pass along my 25-years of New York
90% of the books the New York companies publishexperience and give you the facts.