Track Changes: Publishing 101

We meet Jennifer de Leon as she prepares for the release of her
debut young adult novel, Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From, on August
4. Though Jennifer has been writing for years, she quickly learns
that there’s a lot about Capital-P-Publishing that she doesn’t
know. (Hear her First Draft interview here.)


For some publishing basics, we turn to Courtney Maum, author of
Costalgere, I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You, and more.
Her most recent book, Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s
Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your
First Book is a comprehensive guide for new authors.


This episode of Track Changes was brought to you by Scrivener,
the app for writers of all kinds. Use code FIRSTDRAFT to get 20%
off!


 


Discussed in this episode:


The three tiers of publishers (in the United States):




The Big Five publishers are: Penguin Random House;
HarperCollins; Macmillan; Simon & Schuster; and Hachette.
Within each big five publisher are dozens of imprints, which
are groups within the publisher who publish similar genres or
categories of books. Thanks to artist Ali Almossawi, we have
this incredible interactive flow chart that shows the
relationship between the Big Five and their many, many
imprints.




Independent publishers like Scholastic, Catapult, ABRAMS
books, Tin House




Micropresses like: Two Dollar Radio; StalkingHorse Press




The four main publications that offer starred reviews of books
are:




Publisher’s Weekly




Kirkus




Booklist




School Library Journal




 


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Track Changes is produced by Hayley Hershman. Zan Romanoff is the
story editor. The music was composed by Dan Bailey, and the logo
was designed by Collin Keith.