For the dreamers who sat down to tell a story that no one asked them to write. — Courtney Maum

The most helpful, enjoyable, and specific book about writing and publishing on my bookshelf.

There are craft books that teach you how to structure a story or create a wholesome scene; there are books that walk you through the business of writing — and then there is this book. It’s an emotional support guide written as though your fun big sister is holding your hand throughout the entire process of writing, publishing, and promoting your first book.

The book is Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book Deal and it was written by

Courtney Maum

.

I first read it in 2022, long before I’d completed my first novel and before I began querying literary agents. I recently reread it because I’m in a different stage than I was then, and it felt like an entirely different experience the second time around. I have a whole new perspective about just how useful this book is.

Courtney interviewed authors, editors, agents, agent’s assistants, publicists — all of the people who make up the book publishing industry — and she compiled all their nuggets of wisdom into this 365-page book which, honestly, I could have kept reading for another hundo.

With section titles like How will I get health insurance as a writer? and How to stay sane while you’re waiting for an agent’s response and If I have children, will I ever write again?, Courtney addresses every question of the debut novel process — many of which you probably didn’t even know you had.

The title of this post, by the way, is Courtney’s dedication. This book is for all of us who put words on paper and agonize over it for years and years, even though nobody asked us to do it. We’re a special group of people and this book was blessedly written for us to try to relieve us of some of the countless unknowns we are to experience while publishing our first books.

Courtney explains in extreme detail what to expect from quite literally every part of the process. As an example, in the section on setting up editorial phone calls once editors are showing interest in your book, she says “The editor might share their editorial vision, as well as initial marketing and publicity ideas. If they don’t bring up these topics, ask them for their thoughts.”

How would I have known to ask for an editor’s publicity ideas? Had I not read this book, I would probably enter an editorial call offering to pay them for publishing my novel. The book is packed with tiny details like this, details which I’d never have known to ask about.

In many instances, Courtney gives readers permission to ask the questions, to speak up if something feels weird at any point in the whole publishing ordeal. She walks us through things like revision, sensitivity readers, and finding the time to write; she covers rejection, pitching, and follow-up etiquette. This is all before-the-book-deal stuff. The after-the-book-deal stuff deals with reining in your ego, meeting deadlines, and what the deal is with publicists. She tells you what to expect on book tour and how to manage your expectations on pub day. She digs into the publishing contract, detailing the option clause, audiobook rights, world rights, and serial-rights. And (somehow!) she makes it all interesting. As in, I didn’t want to put this book down even though I am not in the after-the-book-deal part of the process yet.

Another highly useful, extremely simple thing she does is provide a list of people and entities who you should thank in your acknowledgements. Knowing this list now, even if you’re still penning your debut, is helpful and will save you major anguish later in the process if you begin writing down those you wish to thank.

It’s the little notes like this that I so appreciate: “Many authors never thank their copyeditors or the designer of their book jacket. Editorial assistants are often left out, too.”

How else would a debut author have known to do this?

And of course, there’s a lot of support and inspiration. “Instead of comparing yourself with the people who have ‘more’ than you, consider the writers who are working to achieve the kinds of milestones and successes that you’ve already had,” and “If you can focus on the fact that you finally got the opportunity to share your art with the world (and that you might get that chance again!), and ignore how your book is doing commercially, you’ll have a swell debut.”

And then she shares ways to preserve your sanity once your book comes out: “Don’t bother scanning the big lists for your title; if your book was on them, you’d already know,” as well as what to expect emotionally: “The Great Big First-Book Comedown will hit full force by week six.”

All of the examples I shared are tidbits from Courtney herself; they don’t even touch the many, many professionals she interviewed, who share insider knowledge, pet peeves, and inspirational statements like this from author and artist Kristen Radtke: “Keep room for the art, every day, even when you’re answering one hundred emails and behind on six interviews and coming up on too many deadlines.”

I can’t think of another book that provides so much practical information and probes a process or industry as deeply as Courtney does in Before and After the Book Deal. It’s like one giant list of things I didn’t know I needed to know, but it turns out, I really did need to know. As I continue on my journey to becoming a debut author, I will be making this book a dear, close friend. Or sister.

Thank you Courtney for being a hand-holding big sister to all of us hopeful debut authors. This book makes me feel prepared, and being prepared makes me feel somewhat safe, which is reassuring when talking about this famously tumultuous industry.

What I’m reading: The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok, Self Care by Leigh Stein, and World Enough & Time: On Creativity and Slowing Down by Christian McEwen.

What are you reading? Listening to? Loving? Thank you for reading! Love,

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