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August 11, 2011
Trends: Women and Publishing
 If Kathryn Stockett had stopped trying to get published after her 20th, 40th or even 60th rejection, her New York Times bestselling novel The Help would never have hit shelves – or been made into a major motion picture.
What do women need to know to get published?
When The New Republic surveyed 13 big publishing houses earlier this year, the only house close to parity had a 45 percent publishing rate of women’s books. The numbers went downhill from there, the lowest being Harvard University Press at 15 percent.
The trend is discouraging, as women buy 68 percent of all books sold. Some say it's due to fewer women submitting work. Others, like Red Hen Press Founder and Publisher Kate Gale, say it’s because many women aren’t assertive enough.
“It's hard to get published no matter who you are, and being a woman makes that harder,” Gale tells PINK. “Men are not smarter; they are not better writers; they're just more aggressive.”
Her top tips? “Avoid agents or editors who deal mostly with men,” advises Gale. She suggests having another writer recommend you to a publishing company and getting a professional to read over your work before you submit, rather than a friend or family member.
Do genre market research and avoid editing as you write, says Right Reading. Others advise keeping the query letter to a page, making sure to address it to a particular person and scanning bookstores to find publishers that print the type of books you like to read.
Groups like Chicago Women in Publishing and Exceptional Women in Publishing hold events to network with industry insiders and get tips from women who have been published.
Bonus PINK Link: Learn how another author turned rejection into a bestseller and movie deal in Emily Giffin’s Top Woman Profile.
By Amanda Wikman
"A ratio of failures is built into the process of writing.
The wastebasket has evolved for a reason." Margaret Atwood
*Supporting images from FreeDigitalPhotos.net, nuchylee, Paul and healingdream.
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Comments
Women getting published
Not assertive enough? Is that why women comprise a lower percentage of the bulk of published writers than men? As one of several thousand members of Romance Writers of America, I know we are writing, working, submitting, and resubmitting our work. But 59 rejections and still trying? Wow! Before I got published I would give up on a ms. after ten. I will now adjust my strategy, retrieve all my rejected works and... Look out, publishers and lit agents, here come my pages!
A. Y. Stratton
What about self publishing?
I really enjoyed this article but I noticed you didn't talk about self publishing. I wrote a book and am taking the hard road of self publishing because I didn't think the road would have been any easier trying to find a publisher. The challenge of finding a publisher, especially in this economy, is more challenging that ever if you are not famous. Look at the number of books about a member of the Jersey Shore show or a Kardashian sibling.
I have a plan to be my own promotion machine with the goal of being the largest selling self published author. My book is oriented towards women containing an innovation personal relationship managment tool that both men and women will find simple and straighforward. Keep an eye out for my name because very soon it will be very well known!
Regards,
Kim Korte
Women in Publishing
I'm a writer and I know other fellow writers who are bypassing traditional publishing and self-publishing through Amazon and B&N. Even those writers who were previously published the traditional way through publishing houses are leaning more towards Amazon and B&N because there you get 70% of the royalties and have complete control over your book which with publishers you get no where near that percentage of a royalty especially if you are just starting out. A couple of my friends have been approached by book publishers after having success on their own but the publishing contract couldn't come close to that 70% royalty and they figured they were much better off on their own. Some of my writer friends made more money self-publishing through Amazon and B&N than they made with 6 books published the traditional way. For some, being able to say I'm with ABC publisher is more rewarding than getting a fat pay day so it's worth ever works for you. For me, I opt for complete control over my work, I set my own price and I don't have to share the royalties with anyone. Better still, the book that no publisher wanted is making a very nice pay day for me.
Women in Publishing
Today's email couldn't have come at a better time. I'm a published author with seven traditionally published books. Most publishing houses refer to fiction for women over 40 as matron lit. I call it still a chick lit. Because like most women north of forty, I didn't hand in my chick card for hot flashes, hormones or bifocals.
I received Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award for Not His Type in 2007. I'm honored and humbled by the many emails I get from readers who enjoy my books. Yet when it was time to look for a larger publisher so I could raise my profile, I've been met with a wall of rejection despite a proven record of sales and good reviews for all my books.
I keep pressing forward in the hope that someone will give me a chance. I'm a 16 year uterine cancer survivor who has been living with MS for 15 years now. I know a little something about tenacity, otherwise I wouldn't be here. I write for passion and want the opportunity to share my voice with as many women as possible. I applaud the ladies over 40 who have managed to keep their bikini ready bodies, but I concentrate on the ladies with the three b's boobs, bellies and butts. We are just as sexy and confident as our size 2 counterparts.
Getting published
Selling books and collecting on the fame and fortune isnt the only reason for women to pursue publication. Establishing expertise is another benefit of being published. Fortunately the advent of self digital publishing opens doors for newcomers to the marketplace. Requires a compelling topic, good content and smart online marketing