So you’ve just finished the latest offering by James Patterson, Robert Ludlum, or Pitticus Lore, and you’re wondering if it was traditionally authored, co-written, ghosted, or something else entirely. Good question. In the case of Patterson, who has put out 140 novels thus far – 15 in 2014 alone – he pays others to write the books for him. These writers don’t receive royalties, but their names are listed on the cover below their boss’s. Patterson’s process is to come up with the vision and a detailed outline for each book. He also edits. Robert Ludlum acknowledges his co-writers openly (on the covers), but an as yet unnamed writer has written at least five Ludlum books since the master’s death in 2001. The story goes that Ludlum left unpublished and/or partial manuscripts and detailed notes for the books; his estate then found a writer to edit and complete them. And then there’s James Frey, who survived an Oprah bashing for his alleged memoir, A Million Little Pieces, only to embark on a venture he refers to as his fiction factory, whereby he scouts promising MFA students and pays them $250 for completing a commercial novel on spec. If any of the novels are published, the authors get 30 – 40% of revenues, depending on whether the concept was theirs or Frey’s. Frey’s company, Full Fathom Five, has the right to decide whose name is listed on the cover, and a significant penalty applies if the author speaks up about it.…

Publishing, overall, is an industry that pivoted fairly quickly and easily to conducting business during a global pandemic. Despite postponing the release of some books and a logjam at printing presses, publishing is doing business much as usual. Acquisition editors are interested in new book projects. Book sales have been brisk, even with bookstores mostly closed. For many writers and editors, working remotely is nothing new. Getting publicity and promotions for a new book release, however, presents new challenges, but also opportunities. For writers on the path toward publication, the surface of the pavement is changing but the path is not. With author events now booked as zoom meetings, you don’t need to leave your reading chair at home to participate. It’s easier than ever to have a direct connection with an author of a book you’re reading. Writing workshops, classes, and conferences have gone online. No need for a big travel budget to attend. Now you have the luxury of attending virtually. Writers tend to work alone. But authors work with others — and that accounts in part for why they get published. Building your literary community before your book is released is incredibly important to its success. There’s no time like the present to expand your network while working from home. I highly recommend the online course offerings by WritingxWriters, The Loft Literary Center, and Gotham Writers Workshop. Depending on what genre you’re writing, there are lots of opportunities to attend conferences or participate in workshops. Likely for your job or school…

One of the things no one tells writers about becoming a successfully published author is the importance of building your literary community and participating in book culture long before you land an agent or a publishing contract. There are no shortcuts to creating a career as an author. I hate to disillusion you of the idea that you will be “discovered” and become rich and famous as an author. But it doesn’t happen that way. It takes a literary community to make a book great. Read the Acknowledgements of any book you’ve admired. It takes a good idea to get a publishing contract, but it takes more than that. You need to understand how the publishing industry works for the genre you write. That kind of knowledge is gained through participation in professional organizations and associations. There are many and some are essential to a writer’s career. Authors Guild, AWP, Society for Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Romance Writers of America, National Association of Science Writers, National Association of Memoir Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Historical Novel Society, Military Writers Society of America. Join at least one professional writing organization. You learn more about your craft and your profession. Understand what is expected of the author and a manuscript submission. Through literary centers and writing programs, you can find a community of writers. From novice to teaching faculty, you meet others who will help you advance your craft and learn the business of being an author. Those…