Before and After the Book Deal

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about publishing—but were too afraid to ask—is in this funny, candid guide featuring advice from 150 contributors, including Anthony Doerr, Roxane Gay, and Rebecca Makkai.

There are countless books on the market about how to write better but very few books on how to break into the marketplace with your first book. Cutting through the noise (and very mixed advice) online, while both dispelling rumors and remaining positive, Courtney Maum’s Before and After the Book Deal is a one-of-a-kind resource that can help you get your book published.

Discover words of wisdom from over 150 contributors throughout the industry, including bestselling authors Anthony Doerr, Roxane Gay, Lisa Ko, R. O. Kwon, Rebecca Makkai, and Ottessa Moshfegh; cult favorites Sarah Gerard, Melissa Febos, Mitchell S. Jackson, and Mira Jacob; agents, film scouts, film producers, translators, disability and minority activists, and editors. Together, they offer advice and share intimate anecdotes about even the most taboo topics in the industry, answering common questions ranging from the logistical to the existential:

Are MFA programs worth the time and money? How do people actually sit down and finish a novel? Did you get a good advance? What do you do when you feel envious of other writers? Why the heck aren’t your friends saying anything about your book?

The definitive guide for anyone who has ever wanted to know what it’s really like to be an author, Before and After the Book Deal will help you find a foothold in the publishing world and navigate the challenges of life before and after publication with sanity and grace.