Brainstorming
Today I am thrilled, proud and downright giddy to announce the launch of a new venture: She Writes Press.
About six months ago, Brooke Warner, formerly the Executive Editor of Seal Press (one of my favorite presses, by the way), came to me with an idea. What if, she asked, we started a press for authors who want to try their hand at publishing outside the traditional system, but who also want to be part of a high-quality, curated imprint? And what if we started this press as a an offshoot of the She Writes community, so its authors could leverage the support, networks, and knowledge of She Writers from all over the world? Authors would pay She Writes Press to edit, print and distribute their work, but She Writes Press would not publish anything that wasn't up to a high, "She Writes-y" standard.
Best of both worlds, right?
I said I was on sabbatical. Then I said I would think about it.
And think about it I did, even as I was diving more deeply into the writing of my book. I started to think: when my novel is finished, do I want to shop it around to publishers who will most likely give me a small advance, take all but 7.5% of the net profits from paperback sales (mine is not a hardcover sort of book), and, in return, frustrate me to no end by relying on ME to do all the hard work of promotion? Having spent some time trying to raise venture capital for a business idea associated with She Writes, I know that no entrepreneur would ever give away such a huge percentage of her idea for so little in return. And I was having a hard time imagining myself doing the same. I know publishers care deeply about books; I know some authors get the kind of publicity and support that makes the tradeoff worth making. I also know that for some authors, laying out capital from the beginning just isn't possible. (More on that in a minute.) But my experience publishing my first book was more like that of most authors I know: I had to bend over backwards to "sell" my book to people who stood to make a lot more money off it than I ever would...by convincing them that I would do all the work when it came to selling it. And do all the work I did, paying out of my own pocket for a website, an independent publicist, and my own travel as I took my book on the road.
If I'm going to invest so much time and money in my work, why not own and control it? And if I can do it under the She Writes brand, giving my book credibility, and publish it in a supportive, community environment, giving my book reach, why not?
I couldn't think of a good reason.
She Writes Press is not going to be a press for "other people," people who couldn't get a deal with a traditional house (which, these days, seems to have as much to do with pitching yourself to a marketing department as it does with the quality of your work). Like She Writes, which Deborah Siegel and I created because we needed it, I am founding She Writes Press with Brooke because I need it too. And when my novel is done, SWP is where I will go to publish it. That said, SWP won't be the right press for everybody, and She Writes will always be here for ALL women writers, no matter how they choose to publish.
Last but not least...I could never start a venture like this without making sure we found a way to support all authors with books we love, even those without the resources to invest in their books up front. So each year, we will choose one to two projects that we will edit, publish and distribute for free (in the spirit of what we did with The Passion Project).
And now it's time, too, for my sabbatical to end! I will be working on my novel, of course, but I will also be blogging every other week about my adventures in writing it, and Brooke will be blogging every other week too. More on other changes to the SW blog, and additions to our team, coming soon.
If you think She Writes Press might be right for you, please, visit the new site! And please, tell me what you think.
Thanks @Shane! I have been feeling frustrated by those old maxims too, but all of a sudden, with new technology, they start to seem true to me again--good stories can find a home this way, rather than having one of two choices: 1) traditional publisher "anoints" you; 2) drawer.
@Janet, I'm glad you raised the question of price. In terms of what you would earn: it would depend on how you chose to price your book, but we are giving 70% of royalties to our authors. On a $9.99 ebook, you would get almost $7, or 70% of the net, with the caveat that the net will be less if the book sells on a platform like Amazon, and Amazon takes its cut first. In terms of having books in bookstores: we are very excited to have an experienced distribution partner on the backend, carefully vetted by Brooke and me after talking to lots of potential partners. (A lot of people wanted our business!) You can read about how it works for ebooks here, and for print books here.
One more thought...we did a lot of research on pricing, and we think our offering is competitive, at a number that will make the business sustainable for us and for the women who will work for us on the editorial side (we have no intention of outsourcing to the Philippines, as some of the big self-publishing behemoths are know to do). That being said, we also know that for many authors, the advance a traditional publisher can offer outweighs the potential upside on sales, and of course sales are *always* a risk. It is hard to make money on a book. It is also my belief, however, that having a book in print, with a reputable publisher, can open a lot of doors to other ways of earning, like teaching, speaking, etc., that make the overall endeavor worthwhile.
Not only that, the kind of editors we will connect with our authors--women who are at the top of their fields, with deep experience as writers, teachers and mentors--will ensure SWP writers will emerge books they can be proud of. My first book wasn't a blockbuster. It was out of print before it had been out for two years. But because I had a wonderful team of fellow writers who helped me make it the best book it could be, I still feel very proud of it, and that is something I value tremendously, and want to make available to others if I can.
dear Kamy, Congratulations on finishing your novel. Certainly many of us look forward to reading it. Glad to hear about the new She Writes Press.
Dear Brooke, Am glad to know you will manage the new She Writes Press. I've bought and read Seal Press books for years and respect your talents. We all need sisterhood in this politically divided time. For five years I helped organize events, art shows, and book tables at the Woman's Salon, Manhattan. I've written 12 books (medical nonfiction, literary novels, feminist mysteries) from major and smaller publishers, inc. Women's Press, England, and Daughters, Inc. here plus short work (fiction, articles, poems, reviews, interviews) in about 200 periodicals, anthologies, and online). These include several prize-winning pieces. I also teach fiction writing through Dartmouth College's adult ed dept. and lead an ms. reading group. Do let me know how your editing (and writing?) life in New York goes. I CARE. Good wishes from Carole Spearin McCauley in NH.
Fantastic... good for you ladies... of course it's always a good idea... this community is filled with excellent writers, discovered and not yet to be... for many, this will be exactly what they were looking for!
Congrats :D
If you need a cover artist or designer for your new house, let me know :D
Kamy and Brooke – I want to thank you both for the thrill of possibility that this announcement gave me.
I’m sure there are many of us here on She Writes who have been toiling away on our novels trying to believe all the old maxims – that if we tell a story that we would want to read, if we work on our craft so that we can tell that story in the best way possible, if we persevere – then a good story will always/still find its place in the world (and then of course we try to believe that our work fits into that category – which we only manage on maybe Tuesday afternoons and Sunday mornings!)
She Writes Press feels like something that could make this happen – make it true.
Thanks again and let us know when the BUY NOW button is up and running!
I am very interested in this! All the best to all involved!
Congratulations on your new venture! Will remember to steer new writers to you, for sure.
that is an amazing idea...very fitting! i've been following She Writes for a year now and its kept me focused and motivated...can't wait to see what you are up to next! Thanks for the vision you provide! Laurel
Wow, what an amazing adventure and opportunity for this wonderful community. Finally a model of self-publishing I'd be confident trying out.
Hmmm, close to $4000 (if you include the $25 submission fee). How many copies would an author need to sell to recoup that?
Who are the distributors you'll be using and will they accept returns? Otherwise, it seems unlikely that bookstores will stock these books.
Fabulous news! Thanks Kamy....as someone who did a small press for my first book and self-published my most recent one, this is super to hear.
Wow! What a tremendous achievement. I am so happy for you. I wish you all of the very best! Now...GO GET EM'! I will be in line to purchase your book!
Super idea! Thanks.
Thank YOU so much for being here and being part of She Writes -- it is the community that will make this press special.
Congratulations. As someone who has just self published her second novel, and is struggling to get it seen, I will definitly be checking this out! Best of luck to both you and Brooke.
Thank you for doing this! Would love to
publish my novel this way, too! Wishing you all the best!
This is wonderful! Congratulations!
I think this is a giant step forward! It will empower women and their writing; give them a professional, new place to publish with pride. Thanks!
Kamy and Brooke --
Congratulations and best wishes for a successful She Writes Press. It is an empowering next step in the evolution of She Writes. You both bring to this new press a depth of understanding of what is needed in this ever-changing world of publishing.
--Matilda
Wonderful news! Thank you, thank you.
@Michele Tracy Berger--You put it best: sisterhood, community and support. We need more of all three today.
Giddy it is then! AWESOME!
Fantastic news, Kamy!
Again your vision is cutting edge. I can't think of another publishing venture like that that includes the prospect of sisterhood, community and support such as She Writes can offer. Very exciting!
When will the 'buy now' button be ready! :)
This sounds absolutely fabulous!