I’m a novelist, so I do something very different from what you do. I started by publishing with smaller independent publishers, then did five books with Knopf, and the last three with smaller publishers. My editor at Knopf is a genius, and we became close friends. What I learned from his editorial expertise was invaluable. But dealing with the publicity arm of the publisher grew worse and worse. I won some awards for my work and was a PEN/Faulkner finalist for my 2004 novel PRISONERS OF WAR, but the last time I did a book with them, they didn’t even try to get it reviewed, and so for the most part it got ignored, though it did win one significant award. So now I’m back with smaller publishers. Until I read this piece, I had never considered publishing a novel here, and I am still not sure that would work for fiction. But this is a great piece, like everything you write, and I am going to start telling younger writers to read it.
This may prove to be a life-changing post. For years I’ve been thinking, I have a book in me, but I’m basically too lazy and don’t have the fortitude to get over the hurdles required. How do I start? Will anyone want to read something by me? Are my thoughts even worth the paper required to print them? I realize that I don’t need to worry about all of that. I just need to write. Substack can provide the platform. Easy peasy.
Aug 18, 2022·edited Aug 18, 2022Liked by Ted Gioia
This is fantastic, timely, informative, and inspirational news, Ted. I have been releasing music independently since 2007 and have been toying with the possibility of publishing/promoting a book in the same way. The thought is a bit exhausting because I know how much work is involved--but for those of us with an entrepreneurial bent (read: anti-corporate rebellious streak), it's also another opportunity to be creative.
I'm old enough to harbor some snobbery against self-publishing, but I realize that's just the flip side of an unhelpful nostalgia. Great editors are indispensable, but these days your agent or publisher may send you out to get that help and pay for it independently anyway, even with a contract on offer.
I self-published books that paid my way through college. Like you, my next book, currently in development, will be on Substack - and for almost exactly the same reasons.
10 years ago I remember discussing - on the now-defunct Google+ - how I thought publishing was top-heavy and ripe for disruption.
Most of my commenters wanted to explain to me all the important things that publishers did to a book during that year of release. They weren't getting it. Editing has value, for sure. Is that what's happening now? Does it take a year, and a couple dozen people involved?
This is incredible feedback for writers and musicians. Is Bandcamp the closest thing to Substack for us musicians? My royalties from respectable small jazz labels continue to be between 00.00 and 00.77. Just kidding. But not really. Not at all. Then again I don't have 50,000 followers anywhere.
Looking forward to your new book! Have purchased and read both your blues history and your jazz history. And often go back to them, just open up to any page and enjoy over again. But, as a dinosaur, I must say, I prefer the tactile pleasure that come from a book in hand, and the turning of pages. Also, when photos, charts, or maps are involved, the experience is much better with paper. Being able to get right to the photo/map etc...with a book is a far better experience than doing so electronically.
Slightly longer: I love everything about this, but also I thought of your sobering feature a while back on the Long Tail theory, which you completely poo-poohed, and rightly so. Do you see any parallels here? Are we all dreaming in technicolor?
(according to several experienced NY editors) writes articles that are poorly suited for commercial success—they are too long, too dense, too strange.
But the numbers don’t lie. I always believed there were readers who didn’t want writing downsized or dumbed down. And now I see it confirmed in the metrics every day.
This is exactly why I subscribed to you and will get my act together and pay. Especially now that I learned there is an annual subscription. Would rather you know that I have bought your book in advance than rely on me to continue to subscribe or have to speculate about numbers.
For your past works I may not have been totally interested in a topic but as soon as I would start the way you write and the writing itself make the subject and your premise interesting enough that before I realize the article is finished. Every single one of them.
Unlike most of the writing today after finishing your articles (especially this one) I come away with a point of view I may not have considered, more knowledgeable about the written subject, and with a deeper appreciation.
For that I thank you.
The only advice I can offer is to ditch comic sans and continue to be yourself, the “Honest Broker” we enjoy. The truth is refreshing.
I love your work. You became known to me via Rick Beato and his You-Tube channel. Did your Substack readership take off like a rocket concurrent with Rick’s recommendation?
Thank you for this. As an author currently finishing my fourth book, it provides a lot of food for thought. I have been contemplating using the year until it comes out to finish my fifth book (an expanded, rewritten version of the first) and publish on my substack. You may have given me the final inspiration I need. Thanks for that, Ted.
What a great article, Ted which gives me so much hope. I began actually writing my crime novel here on Substack back in May posting 2 instalments a week and it has definitely helped to spur me on to finish it - I am 45,000 words in so far. It is gaining traction and I am getting more and more subscribers. All I need now is an agent or publisher to pick it up and I would be over the moon! I know that’s never going to happen but I live in hope. I have subscribed to your Substack and look forward to hearing more from you. Best wishes, Rosy Gee.
I’m a novelist, so I do something very different from what you do. I started by publishing with smaller independent publishers, then did five books with Knopf, and the last three with smaller publishers. My editor at Knopf is a genius, and we became close friends. What I learned from his editorial expertise was invaluable. But dealing with the publicity arm of the publisher grew worse and worse. I won some awards for my work and was a PEN/Faulkner finalist for my 2004 novel PRISONERS OF WAR, but the last time I did a book with them, they didn’t even try to get it reviewed, and so for the most part it got ignored, though it did win one significant award. So now I’m back with smaller publishers. Until I read this piece, I had never considered publishing a novel here, and I am still not sure that would work for fiction. But this is a great piece, like everything you write, and I am going to start telling younger writers to read it.
This may prove to be a life-changing post. For years I’ve been thinking, I have a book in me, but I’m basically too lazy and don’t have the fortitude to get over the hurdles required. How do I start? Will anyone want to read something by me? Are my thoughts even worth the paper required to print them? I realize that I don’t need to worry about all of that. I just need to write. Substack can provide the platform. Easy peasy.
This is fantastic, timely, informative, and inspirational news, Ted. I have been releasing music independently since 2007 and have been toying with the possibility of publishing/promoting a book in the same way. The thought is a bit exhausting because I know how much work is involved--but for those of us with an entrepreneurial bent (read: anti-corporate rebellious streak), it's also another opportunity to be creative.
I'm old enough to harbor some snobbery against self-publishing, but I realize that's just the flip side of an unhelpful nostalgia. Great editors are indispensable, but these days your agent or publisher may send you out to get that help and pay for it independently anyway, even with a contract on offer.
Very much looking forward to your book!
Sandhya (Sandy) Asirvatham
I self-published books that paid my way through college. Like you, my next book, currently in development, will be on Substack - and for almost exactly the same reasons.
10 years ago I remember discussing - on the now-defunct Google+ - how I thought publishing was top-heavy and ripe for disruption.
Most of my commenters wanted to explain to me all the important things that publishers did to a book during that year of release. They weren't getting it. Editing has value, for sure. Is that what's happening now? Does it take a year, and a couple dozen people involved?
Best of luck, Ted. That outline looks delicious.
This is the most inspiring thing I've read in a while.
This is incredible feedback for writers and musicians. Is Bandcamp the closest thing to Substack for us musicians? My royalties from respectable small jazz labels continue to be between 00.00 and 00.77. Just kidding. But not really. Not at all. Then again I don't have 50,000 followers anywhere.
Morality clauses in book contracts? That's shocking if not entirely surprising.
Looking forward to your new book! Have purchased and read both your blues history and your jazz history. And often go back to them, just open up to any page and enjoy over again. But, as a dinosaur, I must say, I prefer the tactile pleasure that come from a book in hand, and the turning of pages. Also, when photos, charts, or maps are involved, the experience is much better with paper. Being able to get right to the photo/map etc...with a book is a far better experience than doing so electronically.
Short response to this: Holy fuck!
Slightly longer: I love everything about this, but also I thought of your sobering feature a while back on the Long Tail theory, which you completely poo-poohed, and rightly so. Do you see any parallels here? Are we all dreaming in technicolor?
(according to several experienced NY editors) writes articles that are poorly suited for commercial success—they are too long, too dense, too strange.
But the numbers don’t lie. I always believed there were readers who didn’t want writing downsized or dumbed down. And now I see it confirmed in the metrics every day.
This is exactly why I subscribed to you and will get my act together and pay. Especially now that I learned there is an annual subscription. Would rather you know that I have bought your book in advance than rely on me to continue to subscribe or have to speculate about numbers.
For your past works I may not have been totally interested in a topic but as soon as I would start the way you write and the writing itself make the subject and your premise interesting enough that before I realize the article is finished. Every single one of them.
Unlike most of the writing today after finishing your articles (especially this one) I come away with a point of view I may not have considered, more knowledgeable about the written subject, and with a deeper appreciation.
For that I thank you.
The only advice I can offer is to ditch comic sans and continue to be yourself, the “Honest Broker” we enjoy. The truth is refreshing.
I love your work. You became known to me via Rick Beato and his You-Tube channel. Did your Substack readership take off like a rocket concurrent with Rick’s recommendation?
Thank you for this. As an author currently finishing my fourth book, it provides a lot of food for thought. I have been contemplating using the year until it comes out to finish my fifth book (an expanded, rewritten version of the first) and publish on my substack. You may have given me the final inspiration I need. Thanks for that, Ted.
What an exciting Post Ted! Thanks for sharing your book first with your subscribers!
Speaking of publishing your work, I’m currently reading “West Coast Jazz” and it’s fantastic!
What a great article, Ted which gives me so much hope. I began actually writing my crime novel here on Substack back in May posting 2 instalments a week and it has definitely helped to spur me on to finish it - I am 45,000 words in so far. It is gaining traction and I am getting more and more subscribers. All I need now is an agent or publisher to pick it up and I would be over the moon! I know that’s never going to happen but I live in hope. I have subscribed to your Substack and look forward to hearing more from you. Best wishes, Rosy Gee.