Tips from a Book Publishing Industry Insider reveals what publishers don’t think to explain and writers don’t know to ask.

Publishing is an unusual industry in that the key players in the business don’t work under the same roof. Publishers (and their cohort of editors, designers, salespeople and accountants) work in one sphere while writers toil away, often on their own, in a separate sphere. They overlap only briefly around the publication of a book.

As a result, the inner workings of a publishing house are a mystery to many established authors, let alone aspiring writers. The journey to publication can be bewildering. Do you need an agent? Can you approach a publisher directly? How do royalties work? Is it better to self-publish?

Knowledge is power. A better understanding of what to expect when you have a finished manuscript and are preparing to engage with the army of people required to get a book onto shelves real and virtual will help you to make better decisions as an author, regardless of whether writing is your primary career or a passionate hobby.

While the rewards of being traditionally published can be tremendous, they can also be disappointing. Tips from a Book Publishing Industry Insider is a guide to how the publishing industry actually works so you, the author, can make an informed decision about the best publishing path for your career.