Green-Light Your Book: How Writers Can Succeed in the New Era of Publishing

by Brooke Warner

Green-Light Your Book is a straight-shooting guide to a changing industry. Written for aspiring authors, previously published authors, and independent publishers, it explains the ever-shifting publishing landscape and helps indie authors understand that they’re up against the status quo, and how to work within the system but also how to subvert the system in order to succeed. Publishing expert and independent publisher Brooke Warner is fearless in her critique of an industry that’s lost its mandate, and in so doing has opened the door wide for indie publishers to thrive. While she does not shy away from calling out the bias against indie authors, she also asserts that it’s never been a more exciting time to be in book publishing―and her passion and enthusiasm are contagious. “If you’re going to green-light your work, you have to wow,” Warner writes. But to surpass expectations, you also need to be a student of publishing and to be able to hold your own with book buyers, event coordinators, librarians, wholesalers, distributors, and reviewers. Green-Light Your Book seeks to equip authors and publishers with the language, knowledge, and skill sets they need to play big.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

264 pages, Paperback

Published June 14, 2016

Reviews

[Laurie Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aspiring or well-established, published or not; if you’re a writer, you need this book. In her straightforward, from-the-hip style, Brooke Warner—publisher at She Writes Press—generously shares her industry savvy. From publishing models, to publicity, and everything in-between, including author mindset, GREEN-LIGHT YOUR BOOK is the keep-at-hand guide for those of us who write.

[Codi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for anyone looking to publish in today’s uncertain and undulating landscape. Brooke Warner is generous with her industry knowledge and passionate about advocating for authors.

[Jennifer Dwight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packed with information for the novice, seasoned or aspiring author, and book publisher, Brooke Warner's wise book enlightens readers about the state of the book publishing industry today. She defines many terms which mystify those new to publishing, explains the mechanics of how a manuscript becomes a book on the book store shelf, and offers philosophical and attitudinal advice on the traits an author must develop in order to become "successful." I especially appreciated the chapter on "Community and Connection" and its exhortation that authors become literary ambassadors by cultivating generosity, humility, and the belief that there is plenty for everyone.

[Amy Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

You wrote, or you're thinking about writing, a book? Great! Welcome to the confusing, fluctuating, impenetrable world of publishing.

There is no quick and easy way to learn this business, and to examine your options, but Brooke Warner's book is a wise place to begin.

Many books of this type speak in useless generalities. GREENLIGHT gets deeper into the meat of what you need to know.

I read this book and will be reading it again.

[Emily Buehler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected, and helped me more than I’d anticipated. I had heard of the book many times; I took a few webinars with the author and listen to her Write Minded podcast. So when I saw Green-Light Your Book at the library (on the shelf next to the book I was looking for, Letters to a Young Novelist by Vargas), I checked it out.

I’ve read a lot about the current state of publishing and about self-publishing and other new models, and I expected this book to be more of that information; perhaps it would fill in some gaps in my knowledge. The author worked for years in traditional publishing before starting a reputable hybrid press, and is an advocate of self-publishing as well.

I was wrong. This book is for authors and includes information they need, at a deep and insightful level, no matter what method of publishing they choose. It discusses topics that I’d heard over and over but never really understood. Reading the book made me feel hope in situations that had previously felt hopeless, like developing an author platform as a non-famous introvert.

A few of the parts that were particularly helpful to me were these:

1. There are descriptions of the major genres and how publishing them differs. I can now see that my first book (Bread Science) sells in spite of its amateur cover because it is a how-to book that contains information people want. I did not have the same luck with my memoir (Somewhere and Nowhere, which is in a genre in which a book must stand out to be noticed, and a bad cover can ruin you. The books I’m currently working on (new adult, romance) are each in their own genre, which I’ll have to research before publishing.
2. The book breaks the concept of author platform into parts, and some of the parts are not impossible for a beginner, such as “ability to execute” or “expertise.” Even authors writing fiction have expertise, and they can use this expertise to come up with blog posts or other content.
3. Authors must consider their “online presence.” This is something I’ve struggled with because I now have four books (two self-published, two in progress) in four different genres, as well as a freelance editing business. I use my blog to post news as well as tips for writers and editors, and now I need to add content that will attract readers of my fiction books. I saw that I can’t treat all my subscribers the same--readers of writing tips are not the same people interested in new adult fiction--so I decided to add functionality to my blog to allow subscribers to choose categories.
4. Everyone talks about the importance of metadata, but no one ever just clearly tells you what it is and how to deal with it. This book does.

I recommend this book for all new authors. It’s also easy to read!

[Angela Broyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

publishing must read!!

Everything you think you know!! Warner tells all in her Green-Light. If you follow it you might find yourself pleasantly surprised when you release your book.

[Sydney Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time with this, because each page held so many gems. Writers, buy and read this book. It’s essential.

[Ron Bahar · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I was never a "neat" person until adulthood, I had always had a healthy respect for the appearance of my books. I had done everything within my power to prevent their physical damage: no dents, no highlighting, and, God forbid, no dog-ears. Now that my own book will be released next spring, I assumed that I would have a better understanding of the work that goes in to making them beautiful, and that my fear of damaging them would only become more entrenched.

Well, Brooke Warner has shifted my own paradigm. I just finished her book, Green-Light Your Book: How Writers Can Succeed in the New Era of Publishing, and I confess that I dog-eared the hell out of it. This work simply contained too much important information about platform development, publicity, and the publishing industry as a whole to prevent a fledgling novelist like me from doing so.

Thank you, Brooke, for creating this incredibly helpful and inspiring book.

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book spoke to my soul. It helped me understand the similarities and differences between traditional publishing, self publishing and "hybrid" publishing. Brooke Warner has worked in traditional publishing and she co-founded She Writes Press. Warner speaks about the five P's of publishing: patience, perseverance, platform, publicity, and prolificness. She shares insights about different author personalities and how that plays out during the publishing and marketing process.

The "indie author" market needs venues to share their works, similar to Sundance and Tribeca for indie filmmakers. Warner provides perspective on how to change existing publishing norms and systems be working from the inside and always being a vocal champion for change and fairness.

Highly recommend Green-Light Your Book!

[Michelle Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantatstic! I have already published a book with She Writes Press, so I read it with some hesitation, thinking I would already know a lot of the information. Was I wrong! This book is full of great information for ANY writer, no matter what your publishing path has been or will be. It is clear and easy to digest. Brooke Warner's honest, witty style comes through beautifully. Five stars.

[Diana Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have published a book or are contemplating publishng a book, then “Green-Light Your Book” is absolutely required reading. Focusing on promotion, marketing, and distribution in the age of Internet publishing and metadata, Warner’s analysis and recommendations are presented in almost forensic detail. It is said that the difference between a writer and an author is the former writes and the latter is read. “Green-Light Your Book” is destined to become an author’s “bible”.

[Patty Pacelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book at the Publishing University 2017 conference by the author, who also gave the keynote at the conference. I am an author and small publisher and still learning a lot about the business, so this book was perfect for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned so much. The writing was very clear, honest, inspiring and pleasant to read while educating and giving me confidence in what I am doing.

[CE Depner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valuable resource!

[JoAnn Ainsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

My publisher’s words of wisdom to writers just getting into the publishing whirl.

[Lorraine Devon Wilke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been a self-published author for many years, putting out two well-received books that followed as many of the ‘best practices’ as I was aware of at the times I launched each book, I was surprised, frankly, by how much new perspective I gained from reading Warner’s book. In fact, I thought several times to myself that I wished I’d had it as a reference back in 2014 when I first entered the arena!

From my perspective, this is less a step-by-step instructional manual for those looking for a “how-to create and publish a book,” (although there’s much there on that end) and more an honest, unvarnished take on the industry from both sides of the divide, one that offers perspective rarely shared with authors looking to get in. Having done much of my own research and exploration of both the traditional and the indie publishing worlds over the years, I was impressed by how detailed, specific, and honest Warner was in “tellin’ it like it is,” rather than sugar-coating or softening the hard facts of this extraordinarily challenging industry. For those debating which route to take, where to turn, or how to assess what experience you want to have as an author, Greenlight offers surprising candor, with insights that, interestingly, have matched my own experiences as I’ve traveled both roads.

I was particularly taken by Warner’s “activist” spirit when it comes to book publishing, something I feel pretty strongly about myself. Given the harsh statistics regarding lack of diversity in representation, increasing exclusivity, unpredictable production and success rates within the traditional publishing world, it’s clear some rethinking needs to go into how it’s done, certainly for the majority outside the gates, and I appreciated the innovative, creative structure Warner brings to her position as the president of She Writes Press, which she talks about in the book.

At a time when women remain underrepresented in the traditional book world (despite women being the lion’s share of readers), there’s something beautifully revolutionary about a hybrid press that actually invites women writers in, offers them a much higher royalty rate in exchange for investment partnership, comes with traditional distribution and a wealth of community support, and does it with a sense of “welcome… let’s change the world while we put out great books!” Personally, I found that exciting!

Given her clear bona fides in the field, and her passionate stance as a lover of books and writers, I was impressed by the frankness of her platform and the information shared to writers looking for authentic perspective on how to reach your writing goals, wherever they take you.

A high recommend.

[Cori Spenzich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brooke Warner writes with authority, and with many years of experience in both traditional publishing and indie.

Items I took note of:
- Five things To Do When You're Hiring a Publicist
- Author Expertise: Brooke considers this 25% of an author's platform. For a novelist, the questions becomes, "Why am I writing this book? What does this book mean to me?" Being able to talk about and share that with others can help in reaching an audience. This is interesting since it provides a similar path to those who write memoir or non-fiction, without needing their books to be either of those in category
- The importance of getting everything done, all the way down to an LCCN (Library of Congress Control Number).
- Know your genre, and research the hell out of it
- Know your metadata, and research the hell out of it

Some links she provides in relation to the metadata funhouse:
Google Keyword Tool (Unofficial)
Make Your Book More Discoverable with Keywords (Amazon Official / KDP)

She also talks about subverting the publishing industry from within, instead of being a "renegade author" that bucks the rules entirely (often resulting in little to no readers, because it can look amateur vs. visionary). Along with finding your tribe, which includes fellow indie authors.

I think this is an excellent, and necessary book for those evaluating the self-publishing and/or micro/small-press path to getting books out into the world.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an aspiring author, I was excited to pick up a copy of Brooke Warner's "Green-Light Your Book: How Writers Can Succeed in the New Era of Publishing," but I was not ready for her direct, to-the-point honesty. The blunt truths contained in these pages were not at all what I expected, or often what I wanted to hear, but they were exactly what I needed to be told. As someone who is currently working on drafts for three separate books (2 memoirs, 1 novel), it is easy to get bogged down in the hard parts of writing: getting the words on the page, editing drafts, but Warner's guide made me realize that writing the thing is not end of the process, but just the beginning. Getting the book published is an even greater undertaking. Knowing what you don't know is an important first step to tackling a new challenge, and I now realize how little I understood about the entire industry responsible for getting a book out into the world, from agents to editors, cover designers, publicists, and publishers (of all persuasions). I am glad I bought a copy of this book, rather than checking it out of the library, because I know I will be re-reading it and consulting it every step of the way along my publishing journey. I am so grateful I came across this invaluable resource at this stage of my writing. I highly recommend this book as a must-have for anyone who aspires to publish, whether that be an e-book, a self- hybrid- or traditionally-published book, or otherwise.

[Vania Rheault · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book! Brooke really hits the nail on the head when she says not to let agents and publishers put a value on your work. The publishing industry and its gatekeepers only want to make money. That's not to say your book wouldn't make money, but between two books they are considering, maybe it wouldn't make them the *most* money. Brooke explains it very well, and it's a must read for any author who is querying and is discouraged by the process.

While self-publishing is always "free" there are certain aspects you may want to hire out to produce a quality product.

Brooke Warner owns her own self-publishing company and promotes it in her book. Any indie author needs to decide how much money they can afford to spend writing their book and making it as publishable as they can. While she gives no quotes, a reader can easily go to her site and see how much she charges. Any author needs to do their homework and decide how to publish their own books, and how much they want to spend on the process.

She gives good advice, but please keep in mind that if you do decide to publish, there is no wrong way as long as you are producing the best work you can. Your readers deserve that, no matter how you get there.

[Jean Minton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having recently completed my first draft of my first book, I found Brook Warner's Green-light Your Book incredibly inspiring. Warner walks the reader through definitions of the three types of publishing: self, traditional, and the new "hybrid." While she understandably makes a very good case for publishing a book through a hybrid publishing company like She Writes Press (thank you Brooke for creating SWP, since learning of SWP, I've already read several outstanding SWP books), Green-light Your Book provides valuable information for any first time author. Warner describes the distribution process for books, the importance of a well-designed book cover and book interior, the intricacies of metadata, and how to build an author platform. I highly recommend it to any author wanting to learn more about how to be successful in publishing a book.

[Dave Bartell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brooke masterfully illuminates book publishing for what it is - a business. At the 2018 SF Writer's conference, she spoke on several panels and led a session I attended. She is articulate, pragmatic and passionate about writing and publishing. She advocates change in publishing - get indie-book publishing the same respect as indie-film and indie-music - AND to hold a high standard for quality. Example, would you listen to a crappy recording of a band? No.

Her book packages all the advice given in the session. For a Newbie to publishing, like me, the coaching is entirely worth the purchase price. Her book taught me:

- Writing is product development (in the garage tinkering and beta/customer testing)
- Publishing is packaging and distribution
- Maketing and Sales is exactly that

[Deanna Madden · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Green-light Your Book' is full of helpful information about today's publishing world with special emphasis on hybrid and indie publishing. Written by Brooke Warner, founder of She Writes Press, a hybrid publisher, the book discusses many issues surrounding the changes taking place in the publishing world today. She gives lots of good advice to writers new to this world about how to succeed. A very empowering book that encourages writers not to wait to be validated by literary agents and traditional publishers but to validate themselves and "green-light" their books once they have taken all the steps to match the quality of traditionally published books.

[Rozette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was assigned this book to read as part of my English class as the second of two books we read. I feel like this book was more beneficial in that the author makes things very easy to grasp and understand with her straightforward manner of presenting the information. This book definitely helped me feel more confident about the publishing industry and how to navigate it. With how fast and how much the publishing world is changing, this book definitely helped me understand much more easily. One thing that particularly stood out to me was chapter four, in that it helped me narrow down exactly which genre I'm writing in.

[Heidi McCrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say this is a must-read for anyone contemplating publishing, whether with a traditional publisher or with one of today’s hybrid publishers, is an understatement. I only wish I had read this many years ago as I repeatedly banged my head against the literary wall trying to land an agent. Too many agents are only looking for hot-button genres, ignoring the great stories that fall outside of Sci-Fi and Fantasy.

Brooke Warner hits all the Do's and Don’ts for writers looking to publish, and throws open the curtain, showing what is really going on in the publishing industry today. A great read.

[Jennifer Peacock-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

There wasn't anything new that I read, however, and that is a big however, there is a LOT of contradictory information out there and much of it is opinion (and often good opinion) but it is not explained well. And often it is rumor. So I found this book explains things in a way that I found really helpful. My gut was telling me all sorts of things and this affirmed most of them. I feel that my knowledge is well founded now and I explain it better. As an author in this modern age it was a really important read for me.

[Sheila Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the sharing of the author's publishing knowledge and the practical applications. But I most enjoyed this book because it left me feeling more inspired about book publishing and promotion than I've ever been. Even though Warner spells out how difficult it can be to succeed as a writer, there is still hope -- even for an introvert like me! Warner is also an excellent speaker. I was fortunate to see her keynote and education session at IBPA's 2017 Publishing University.

[Francie Arenson Dickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring and instructive!

Brooke Warner offers thoughtful, detailed yet easy to understand guidance for any author but especially a first time author. It’s a great introduction to the publishing industry and it’s a pep talk to anyone hesitant to put her manuscript out there, to get active on social media, to think of a book as a product—in other words, to make the leap from writer to published author.

[Darin Simms · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an exceptional book designed to inspire writers to become authors. Warner walks her readers through the process of publishing, managing expectations, building a platform, and so much more. I marked this book up and dog-eared pages throughout. Chapter 10 is basically a conclusion, summarizing the main points of the book and giving last words of encouragement. Every author or aspiring author would do well to read this and apply the wisdom.

[Linda Street-Ely · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, although now over 4 years old, is still helpful for indie authors. There's a lot of cheerleading - encouragement. The meatiest sections which I found the most helpful were chapters 5 and 6. Through her book, Ms. Warner has followed her own advice, adhering to her own principles by giving to and supporting the community of independent authors (and publishers). While it's an easy and quick read, it's one you can also easily go back to over and over.

[Shelley Blanton-Stroud · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Warner's most-objective, at least fair, tone, layered on top of an awful lot of information about the publishing industry today. It was so instructive on topics I had no idea about, especially distribution. This is a good one if you'd like to know how publishing works right now. (Though it will likely be different next week.)

[A.M. Bochnak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed my perception about the publishing industry in ways I never imagined. I had decided long ago that I would never walk the traditional publishing path, a journey that causes me to cringe. This book is filled with years of knowledge and experience and the tools that any author at any stage in their career could benefit from!