This article reads like a keynote talk, Brooke! It's such an honest summary of all you've gone through with She Writes Press, and of the hybrid model in general. I always learn from you, and I so appreciate your passion, knowledge and willingness to share it. This sentence really stood out for me, because it sums up what I admire about you and what you have built with She Writes Press: "A publisher will not survive if they don’t care about their authors, the books they publish, or their own brand." You live this, which is why She Writes Press is thriving and why so many of us admire you. Hugs and appreciation from me!
This is so true, Susan! As I was reading I thought "this sounds like an amazing keynote speech on the current publishing landscape" with a refreshingly positive vibe.
What great work you’ve done, Brooke. Thanks again for supporting authors writing great books that deserve to be published. You’ve made such a contribution to the industry.
One line stood out to me: “Hybrid-published authors are successful, and many of them are happy.” Not sure what you meant, but I’ll take happy over successful any day.
Thanks Brooke. With my 3rd book I will for the first time be threading the hybrid middle, which you have fought to forge. But where is the He Writes Press for my feminist and anti-clerical love story?
Thank you for your post on hybrid publishing. I know that it's easy to confuse hybrid with vanity publishing, but the former can be legitimate, while the latter falls into the predatory category. One myth that authors believe about traditional publishing is that they can just submit their manuscript and the publisher will take care of the rest. As for self-publishing, where I'm involved, it's a lot more work to publish a book than just putting it up on KDP. In my opinion, I see a good hybrid publisher as a provider of services - editing, formatting, marketing, distribution, etc.. But as a writer, I need transparency as to how a hybrid publisher handles all the steps.
Thank you for blazing this trail so many of us are lucky to now walk, Brooke. At SFWC in February, I felt proud to tell people I was a SWP author and heartened by the recognition and respect for you and this special press.
Thanks Brooke. As a coincidence I've been studying the hybrids. Hybrid publishers seem to be telling the truth, or at least more of the truth than is typically told. For that alone I'm a fan.
I've had the thrill of calling myself by three titles in my life: journalist, chef, author. All three industries they represent have gone through massive upheavals. Of course, they aren't the only ones. I would be hard-pressed to find a Steady Eddy in the work world. From education to medicine to technology to public service, every model I can think of has been beat down, torn apart, and resurrected, sometimes looking like Frankenstein's monster.
So I've come to accept upheaval, even if I'm reluctant. Somehow I got lucky enough to make it into the hybrid universe with She Writes Press. For once Brooke, I don't feel like I'm hanging on tight from the rear end, but riding the wave of change from the front crest. I'm very curious (and invested!) in seeing how this all goes. I hope a correction will occur in which the four-million number you used today will decline. Not because the barriers to entry have gone back up, but because the lower end of the slush pile gets tired of zero returns on effort. I hope good writing will be recognized more readily by readers, and we will not waste their time with drivel, AI-generated and otherwise.
And if my hopes are realized, it will be because of pioneers like you. No apple polishing here. As a character of John Wayne's once said, "It's the truth, it don't have to mean anything."
I agree, Brooke. You were ahead of your time in all your thinking. Thanks for staying in the fight long enough to see the arc bend—from stigma and misunderstanding to mainstream legitimacy to the future of publishing.
Excellent commentary on hybrid publishing. I’ve run across so many writers who have a terrible misconception about the topic believing that if someone asks for fees for services they are scammers. How ridiculous. Some honestly think it’s free to self publish and why pay anyone. This ignorant thought has prevailed because of the scammers and is difficult to counter. Thank you for this article. It gives me hope that writers will become more aware of the differences between opportunities and threats.
This is so great, Brooke, already sending to potential clients who are considering hybrid publishing and they've said it really helped with their decision making.
Stellar article, Brooke. Thank you for your advocacy and solidarity. And for including Page Two in your list of publishers who created alternative models before "hybrid" was a category.
I love how you've pioneered and championed this model. After spending two years querying agents and publishers with great feedback ("you're an excellent writer," "such a provocative story," blah-blah-blah) but no takers, I decided hybrid was the way to go. I recently signed with Atmosphere Press and my experience so far has been nothing but positive. The "co-pro" model has thrived in television for years. Why not publishing?? Thanks again for all you do to challenge the status quo.
I loved this post, Brooke. Your words, "What I didn’t say but was true then and now was that I also valued people being real about who gets published and why. Traditionally published authors get chosen for sets of reasons that exist outside a book’s worthiness to be published." I can't tell you how many Big Five books I've attempted to read only to discover they're poorly written and/or edited, and I realized the book wasn't chosen for its story and/or literary merit. The Big Five have lost their credibility.
This article reads like a keynote talk, Brooke! It's such an honest summary of all you've gone through with She Writes Press, and of the hybrid model in general. I always learn from you, and I so appreciate your passion, knowledge and willingness to share it. This sentence really stood out for me, because it sums up what I admire about you and what you have built with She Writes Press: "A publisher will not survive if they don’t care about their authors, the books they publish, or their own brand." You live this, which is why She Writes Press is thriving and why so many of us admire you. Hugs and appreciation from me!
Thank you, dear Susan!
^ ditto what she said!
Thanks, Sarah! :)
This is so true, Susan! As I was reading I thought "this sounds like an amazing keynote speech on the current publishing landscape" with a refreshingly positive vibe.
What great work you’ve done, Brooke. Thanks again for supporting authors writing great books that deserve to be published. You’ve made such a contribution to the industry.
One line stood out to me: “Hybrid-published authors are successful, and many of them are happy.” Not sure what you meant, but I’ll take happy over successful any day.
Best.
haha. I meant they are successful and happy with their experience, too. I realize it reads awkwardly now that you point it out. :)
Thanks Brooke. With my 3rd book I will for the first time be threading the hybrid middle, which you have fought to forge. But where is the He Writes Press for my feminist and anti-clerical love story?
Thank you for your post on hybrid publishing. I know that it's easy to confuse hybrid with vanity publishing, but the former can be legitimate, while the latter falls into the predatory category. One myth that authors believe about traditional publishing is that they can just submit their manuscript and the publisher will take care of the rest. As for self-publishing, where I'm involved, it's a lot more work to publish a book than just putting it up on KDP. In my opinion, I see a good hybrid publisher as a provider of services - editing, formatting, marketing, distribution, etc.. But as a writer, I need transparency as to how a hybrid publisher handles all the steps.
All good points, John. I agree with you!
You’re a pioneer in this frontier, Brooke. I am so thankful for you and your team, and I am proud to tell others I published through She Writes Press.
Thank you, Tory!
"A publisher will not survive if they don’t care about their authors, the books they publish, or their own brand."
Amen, siSTAR! ⭐
Thank you for blazing this trail so many of us are lucky to now walk, Brooke. At SFWC in February, I felt proud to tell people I was a SWP author and heartened by the recognition and respect for you and this special press.
Thanks, Jen!
Thanks Brooke. As a coincidence I've been studying the hybrids. Hybrid publishers seem to be telling the truth, or at least more of the truth than is typically told. For that alone I'm a fan.
I've had the thrill of calling myself by three titles in my life: journalist, chef, author. All three industries they represent have gone through massive upheavals. Of course, they aren't the only ones. I would be hard-pressed to find a Steady Eddy in the work world. From education to medicine to technology to public service, every model I can think of has been beat down, torn apart, and resurrected, sometimes looking like Frankenstein's monster.
So I've come to accept upheaval, even if I'm reluctant. Somehow I got lucky enough to make it into the hybrid universe with She Writes Press. For once Brooke, I don't feel like I'm hanging on tight from the rear end, but riding the wave of change from the front crest. I'm very curious (and invested!) in seeing how this all goes. I hope a correction will occur in which the four-million number you used today will decline. Not because the barriers to entry have gone back up, but because the lower end of the slush pile gets tired of zero returns on effort. I hope good writing will be recognized more readily by readers, and we will not waste their time with drivel, AI-generated and otherwise.
And if my hopes are realized, it will be because of pioneers like you. No apple polishing here. As a character of John Wayne's once said, "It's the truth, it don't have to mean anything."
❤️❤️ Thank you for this.
I agree, Brooke. You were ahead of your time in all your thinking. Thanks for staying in the fight long enough to see the arc bend—from stigma and misunderstanding to mainstream legitimacy to the future of publishing.
Excellent commentary on hybrid publishing. I’ve run across so many writers who have a terrible misconception about the topic believing that if someone asks for fees for services they are scammers. How ridiculous. Some honestly think it’s free to self publish and why pay anyone. This ignorant thought has prevailed because of the scammers and is difficult to counter. Thank you for this article. It gives me hope that writers will become more aware of the differences between opportunities and threats.
This is so great, Brooke, already sending to potential clients who are considering hybrid publishing and they've said it really helped with their decision making.
https://ianmcniff.substack.com/p/why-i-write-this?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2lo6de
Stellar article, Brooke. Thank you for your advocacy and solidarity. And for including Page Two in your list of publishers who created alternative models before "hybrid" was a category.
Happy to be in the trenches with you, Jesse!
I love how you've pioneered and championed this model. After spending two years querying agents and publishers with great feedback ("you're an excellent writer," "such a provocative story," blah-blah-blah) but no takers, I decided hybrid was the way to go. I recently signed with Atmosphere Press and my experience so far has been nothing but positive. The "co-pro" model has thrived in television for years. Why not publishing?? Thanks again for all you do to challenge the status quo.
Great to hear this, Katharine!
I loved this post, Brooke. Your words, "What I didn’t say but was true then and now was that I also valued people being real about who gets published and why. Traditionally published authors get chosen for sets of reasons that exist outside a book’s worthiness to be published." I can't tell you how many Big Five books I've attempted to read only to discover they're poorly written and/or edited, and I realized the book wasn't chosen for its story and/or literary merit. The Big Five have lost their credibility.
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experience! This was so interesting and informative!