![]() Furthermore, you may or may not need a literary agent to pitch a smaller press.Ĭonversely, what are some of the disadvantages of publishing with a small press? (Small advances? Limited distribution?) I ’ve found that the size of the press often isn ’t the defining factor when it comes to the overall dynamics of the relationship. Additionally, a smaller publisher may be more open to negotiating certain terms of the publishing contract, which often works in the author ’s favor. Publishers that treat their authors well, by being more responsive, by giving their authors more attention for marketing and publicity, or even consulting with their authors on cover designs, demonstrate that they understand the give-and-take of a creative relationship. Some small presses give their authors a lot of attention, partially because of their smaller list, and partially because this is just how they do business. JCT: I think this varies on a case-by-case basis. What you do know is that you are a bigger fish in a smaller pond, and it’s more likely that you’ll have contact with the owner of the press and be more involved in the publication process. MB: What I’ve learned is that this can vary widely across small publishers. What are some advantages of publishing with a small press as opposed to a corporate publisher? (For example, is the author given more personalized attention? Creative control?) For instance, when I served as Of Counsel to The New Press, which is considered an independent publisher (but is also a nonprofit publisher), it was clear that the books they were acquiring were social justice-oriented and centered on issues important to the public interest. The vast majority of small presses function independently, but I also know of other small presses that may be nonprofits or be beholden to a certain mission. Small presses may not have the same distribution reach that a Big Five publisher does, and they may or may not have more than one imprint.Įven though every small press is different, many are publishing important books that may be overlooked by bigger publishing houses. ![]() Some small presses follow a traditional model and provide advances, functioning much like larger publishers. Jennifer Chen Tran: In my view, a small press is a press that focuses on publishing a limited number of titles each year and usually generates less revenue than major publishers, due to having a smaller list. There are independent publishers that I would not consider “a small press,” because they have bigger or medium-size budgets that can compete with Big 5 imprints. Michelle Brower: Small presses, to me, are both independent entities that publish fewer titles than most imprints at a Big Five publisher. ![]() Is this a traditional publisher that operates much like a corporate publisher but on a smaller scale? How else would you differentiate a small press from, for example, a Big Five publisher and one of its imprints? Is it correct to say that all small presses are independent presses? Let’s start with your definition of a small press. As with all my Q&As, neither knew the other’s identity until after they submitted their answers to my questions below. ![]() To get a better sense of the nuances of small press publishing, I spoke with literary agents Michelle Brower of Aetivas Literary Management, whose “Insider Advice for Small Press Publishers” panel I virtually attended at the AWP Conference this past spring, and Jennifer Chen Tran of Bradford Literary, who worked at an independent press before becoming an agent. In some cases, signing with a small press can hinder rather than help a writer’s career, as the Writer Beware website and blog warns. But not all small presses achieve the same level of success. A tiny indie press is responsible for one of the titles longlisted for this year’s Booker Prize. Small presses have produced Pulitzer Prize winners and International Booker Prize finalists, in spite of sometimes limited budgets or distribution. Many small presses invite unsolicited manuscripts during specified reading periods or year-round, offering writers the ability to bypass securing representation before being published. And for those who prioritize being traditionally published but aren’t concerned with the size of their advance, it can be a win-win situation. Today’s guest post is a Q&A by Sangeeta Mehta ( a former acquiring editor of children’s books at Little, Brown and Simon & Schuster, who runs her own editorial services company.Īs Big Five publishers merge and the competition to land a book deal becomes increasingly fierce, small press publishing can seem like an ideal option for some writers.
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