How to Get a Book Deal in 2023 (yes, 2023)

If you want to get a book deal in 2023, you need to start now.

And yes, I said 2023, not 2022.

One of the reasons that traditional publishing takes substantially longer than self-publishing is that we take the time to do it right. (Sorry not sorry.) Traditional publishers require authors to have an audience to sell to and an author platform to promote from because they want the book to be successful. That’s it. That’s all. No one is trying to take away your rights, control what offers you make in your business, or stop you from putting your work out in the world.

The entirety of traditional publishing — from me as an advisor and collaborator to literary agents, editors, and executives — want what’s best for authors and their books.

When you get a traditional book deal, there’s usually 20 people working on your book — not just in editing but in designing the cover, picking fonts for the actual text, strategizing on how to get an overloaded sales department to champion your book, even handling the printing and distribution for thousands of copies. Those people aren’t working for a paycheck — each and every single one loves books as much as you do.

An editor at Penguin Random House recently shared that for every book they publish, the publisher invests $130,000 in…