Strategies for Success in an Evolving Publishing World With Brooke Warner
Sue interviews publishing veteran Brooke Warner at the Write Anyway Summit about obstacles writers face and how publishing has shifted toward marketing-driven, risk-averse decision-making. Warner explains why she founded She Writes Press to emphasize a book’s merits and help authors build platform through publication, and she outlines today’s main options: Big Five via agents, traditional publishing by submitting directly to small or university presses, hybrid publishing (with cautions about predatory “hybrids” and the importance of distribution), and self-publishing for entrepreneurial authors with access to audiences. They discuss how marketing is now largely the author’s responsibility, evolving royalty/advance models, and the need to treat publishing as a business. Warner highlights success traits—realistic expectations, courage to promote, proactivity, and addressing personal hangups like technology—while urging writers to avoid industry doom narratives, compare less, stay consistent, and leverage expanded access and autonomy.
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:46 Why She Writes Press
03:26 Platform and Mindset Shifts
05:02 Publishing Paths Explained
06:30 Hybrid Publishing Reality
10:02 Royalties and Business Math
12:08 Stop Being Taken Care Of
14:15 Traits of Successful Authors
16:53 Finding Your Real Resistance
18:11 Opportunities in a Noisy Industry
21:43 Consistency and Building Audience
23:08 Final Thoughts and Where to Connect