Ever since that childhood debacle with the lemonade stand, there are plenty of nonfiction authors and to-be authors who hate the idea of self-promotion and marketing, so what should they do?
Cranky Editorial Guy Archive
What Publishers Really Want to See in Your Book Proposal (But Won’t Tell You)
All nonfiction book proposals ask for the same basic bits of information, but what are publishers really looking for? What are the words, commitments, and things that make them sit up and take notice and what makes for a damn good proposal? In this webinar on September 10, 2025, Jeevan Sivasubramaniam (who has reviewed, no […]
Literary Agents: Do You Need One? What Should You Expect? And How Do You Know You Have a Good One (or a Bad One)?
Agents can figure out if your book will sell, refine your proposal, introduce your book to the editors that are the best fit, and help you ensure you get a fair contract. They can’t work miracles.
Threat, Benefit, or Both? What AI Means for Your Book and the Publishing Industry
Is AI the end of book publishing and authors as we know it? This conversation features Jeevan Sivasubramaniam, VP of Editorial at Berrett-Koehler Publishers, and Thad McIlroy, a published author and journalist, founding partner of Publishing Technology Partners, a contributing editor to Publishers Weekly, a board member at Johns Hopkins Press, and the principal of The Future of Publishing.
Are Editors Even Important or Needed Any More?
It’s a good question: Are they? Many authors have indicated how even with traditional houses, they receive minimal editorial guidance or work. And I hate to admit it, but I have looked at many traditionally published books over the last couple of years and wondered—did an editor even look at this? Is this also turning the tide towards self-publishing since editorial shaping was one of the hallmark advantages of traditional publishing houses?