MSI Press Blog

    It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.  This week follows an email conversation with a young lady who had a mildly interesting book, but it needed some work and she had no platform. When I suggested that she might want to get some help first from a developmental editor, she balked. When I stated that without a platform and with no name recognition, she would not be a candidate for traditional publication (i.e. with us), she turned hostile stated in a huff something along the lines like, "Well, something just has to change!" No, sweetie, it is not going to change (I did not really say that to her; in fact, I did not respond at all.) Many p ublishers are reluctant to tak

  (photo by Frank Perez) Because we work with first-time authors, we are exposed to some wild ideas about what publishers should be doing for them -- and how quickly. Let's look, then, at reality. What authors can/should expect publishers to do for them:  Provide you with a fair contract (you should be able toheck out the terms with a legal advisor if you wish) that  states the rights that are being purchased (do NOT sell ALL rights) and for what period of time (and under what conditions rights will be reverted); describes details of the process of publication -- what is expected of authors and what is expected of the publisher; and provide times and deadlines.      Professionally prepare your book for publication by editing and copyediting the text; typeset the text (allowing you to make necessary corrections); and prepare a cover.            Professionally print your book.  Promote your book within parameters discussed and agreed to by contract; this generally includes  making th