Essential knowledge about scholarly book publishing that every author should have. Get weekly tips on writing and publishing your scholarly book from developmental editor and publishing consultant Laura Portwood-Stacer, PhD.
Whisper networks and book publishing
Published about 6 hours ago • 5 min read
The Manuscript Works Newsletter
Essential knowledge on scholarly book publishing that every author should have
Hello Manuscript Workers!
What's in this edition:
Why whisper networks are helpful when you want to publish a book
Frequently griped gripes: a summary of your responses from last week
As always, if you have a question or suggestion for a future newsletter, you can reply directly to this message. Thanks for reading!
This newsletter is coming to you from Laura Portwood-Stacer, PhD, professional developmental editor and publishing consultant. I help scholarly writers navigate the book publishing process with more ease and agency.
I hope you'll stick around for practical tips on writing and publishing your scholarly book, but if you'd like to adjust your subscription settings, you can do that at the bottom of this message.
A constant refrain of mine when advising scholarly book authors: do your research on publishers before ever sending out your book proposal. Understanding why a publisher is the right home for your book can strengthen your submission and communications with editors in immeasurable ways.
But as any skilled researcher knows, looking at official documentation — like what a publisher says about itself on its own website or what authors are willing to say about their publishing experiences in public forums — will only tell you part of the story. Tapping into your whisper networks and hearing how people really felt about working with their publisher (good and bad!) will give you a fuller picture of what you can expect when it’s your turn.
I encourage you to ask the published writers in your life what they’ve appreciated about their publishers and what they’ve struggled with. Every author and publishing experience is unique, but you can at least alert yourself to some red flags and green flags to be on the lookout for.
Can anyone predict what your publishing journey will look like with 100% accuracy? No. But the beauty of having worked with hundreds of scholars who have submitted book proposals to a wide variety of publishers is that I’ve gathered a lot of anecdotal glimpses into what it’s like to publish with many presses and editors. I can tell you that I’ve seen Editor X give really kind and constructive advice on a first-time author's manuscript, even though she didn’t publish her book. I can say that I’ve seen Editor Y provide helpful framing so an author could move forward after receiving peer reviews that were less than insightful. I can share that I’ve heard complaints about Editor Z from multiple women of color authors I’ve worked with. I am always happy to talk through the potential pros and cons of any press that my authors are considering so they can make the right decision for them.
Want to join my whisper network? Sign up for my free 5-day challenge, Find the Perfect-Fit Publisher for your Academic Book, which is happening next week. On the last day of the challenge (April 24), I’ll be holding a private Q&A just for challenge participants. You’ll have worked up a short list of your top presses over the course of the week; during the Q&A, I can help you think through your reservations about any you’re still on the fence about. This includes sharing relevant feedback from authors I've worked with previously (while maintaining their confidentiality of course).
Need help identifying the right publishers for your book? Join my free 5-day challenge this month.
For those who want even more sustained and individualized support with developing a book proposal and getting clarity on your publishing options, my Book Proposal Accelerator is starting May 18th. Enrollment is now open, so do check it out.
Read my books 👉 publish your book
Request Make Your Manuscript Work and The Book Proposal Book from your local library or purchase on Bookshop to support indie bookstores (and me, by using my affiliate link). Once you've got your copies, you can download free worksheets to go with them!
Upcoming course for scholarly authors
Next session runs May 18–June 30. Registration now open.
Looking for professional support with your book or article manuscript, but not sure who can help? When you fill out my referral request form, you'll be sent a curated list of trusted editors—matched to your specific field and needs—whom you can contact right away.
Keep in mind that experienced developmental editors may book up months in advance, so if you're even starting to contemplate working with someone, now is the time to reach out.
Frequently asked question
Last week I asked readers to share their book publishing gripes with me. Instead of answering a frequently asked question in this newsletter (as I usually do), I thought I'd share a brief summary of the gripes I heard about.
The most frequent complaints I heard were around communication, specifically a lack of communication from editors throughout the publishing process, from the submission stage, to peer review, to manuscript revision, to production, to promotion. Authors told me that they understood their editor was probably overburdened and the deficient communication may not have been the individual editor's fault, but that didn't make it any easier to deal with when it was their book they felt they were left in the dark about. In my experience, scholarly authors (at least the ones who read this newsletter) want to be involved in making their book a success but often feel that lack of communication from the publisher denies them the opportunity to do so.
I share tips on communicating with editors regularly in this newsletter, and I try to demystify the publishing process so that even if your editor doesn't let you know what's going on you have some idea about how things work and can play your role as the author accordingly. But sometimes the outcomes really are beyond your control. I hope it at least helps to know that if you are experiencing frustration about communication with your publisher, you are far from alone (and it's almost certainly not your fault).
The other complaints I heard mostly had to do with not having enough time or support to write. That problem is so real and so difficult to solve, especially on an individual level. My hope is that my resources and programs help you make the most efficient use of the time you do have as a writer. I know that for many of you, your writing time is your most precious and rare asset, so I hope every minute you choose to spend with me (even reading this newsletter) feels worthwhile.
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Essential knowledge about scholarly book publishing that every author should have. Get weekly tips on writing and publishing your scholarly book from developmental editor and publishing consultant Laura Portwood-Stacer, PhD.