So, you’ve written your smash hit. Your desk is buried under teacups and biscuit crumbs, and you’re about to send your book baby off into the big, grand world of publishing. But hey wait—what exactly are these big publishers looking for? Everyone heard rumors: they want good writing, unique voices, marketable stories, and authors who secretly double as marketing geniuses. But is that all really it?
1. Writing That Doesn’t Make Editors Cry
Let’s start with the minimum basics: you need to write well. And by “well,” I don’t mean you have to compose words so poetic that Shakespeare’s soul rises from the grave to high-five you. I mean spelling, grammar, and punctuation that don’t make an editor question their career choices.
Publishers love words that’s easy to read. Notice I didn’t say simple. Your story can be complex—twisty plots, layers of meaning, and deeply flawed characters are great. But if your writing style reads like a bad game of Scrabble, no one is going to stick around to see how the murder mystery ends. Aim for clarity and flow, not a medal in gymnastics.
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A Voice That’s Pure You
Publishers are on the hunt for different and unique voices like talent judges looking for the next pop sensation. Your voice is the special ingredient that makes your writing stand out. Think of it like this: a hundred people can write a book about a magical boarding school, but only one J.K. Rowling did it with that voice.
So, what makes a great voice? Authenticity. Don’t try to sound like your favorite author or copy the tone of the latest bestseller. If you write like yourself—whether that’s quirky, poetic, or heartfelt—you’ll capture attention. Publishers want voices and tones that stick in readers’ minds, not ones that feel like an AI wrote them.
3. The Promise of More
Here’s one dirty little secret about publishing: your book isn’t just your book. It’s a test. Publishers want to know if you’re a one-hit wonder or someone they can invest in. A great manuscript is important, but equally important is the promise that you’ll have more ideas up your sleeve.
They’re not just asking, Is this book good? They’re asking, Will this author make me rich? So, if you’ve got other story ideas, mention them. Publishers love writers who seem like they’ve got a long career ahead—and not just because your next book will pay for their office cheques.
4. A Story That’s Sellable
S-word: salability. Let’s be frank—publishing is a business. Publishers have a P&L (profit and loss) statement for every book, which means they’re crunching numbers while you’re agonizing over whether your lead’s cat should be named Whiskers or Gray.
Here are some questions a publisher might ask themselves about your book:
- Does it touch on hot-button cultural themes?
- Does it have something in common with bestselling books? (No shame in being a bit trendy, folks.)
- Is the premise clear and easy to explain in one sentence? (If you need a whiteboard and three flowcharts, rethink your pitch.)
- Is the author charging a ludicrous advance? (Hint: don’t do this unless you’re Taylor Swift.)
Pro tip: Don’t force your story to chase trends. By the time your book is published, the trend might be as dead as skinny jeans. Instead, write something timeless but relevant enough to feel fresh. Let the audience inspire you, but don’t let it boss you around.
5. Characters Who Feel Like Real People
Listen, readers can forgive a lot—predictable plot twists, cheesy dialogue, even that typo on page 12. But flat characters? That’s a big dealbreaker. If your lead feels like a cardboard cutout, no one’s going to care about their journey to save the world/find love/avenge their love.
Here’s a trick: make your characters flawed, complex, and, above all, human (even if they’re aliens). Your readers—and publishers—need to root for them. So, whether your hero is a stoic detective with a soft spot for puzzles or a talking ghost with existential angst, make them come alive on the page.
6. A Clear Understanding of Your Audience
You might be writing the next great novel, but if you don’t know who it’s for, publishers will be scratching their heads. Is your book for middle-schoolers who love dragons? Adults who binge psychological thrillers? Dogs that enjoy chewable paperbacks? (Hey, there’s a market for everything.)
Publishers love authors who “get” their audience. It’s not just about genre—it’s about tone, pacing, and depth. Writing YA? Keep it snappy and heartfelt. Writing for fans of horror? Crank up the haunting. Understand your audience, and publishers will see you as a writer who knows their lane.
7. Something Called “Platform”
A word you’ll hear a lot: platform. In the publishing world, a platform is like your pre-existing fan club. Maybe you’ve got a popular blog, a TikTok account with 50k followers, or a newsletter that people actually open. A platform means you’ve got readers waiting for your book, which is basically food for publishers.
Don’t have a platform? Don’t panic. It’s not a dealbreaker, but building one certainly helps. Even a modest following shows that you’re actively engaging with potential readers, which publishers love. And hey, now’s a great time to finally figure out how instagram threads work.
8. A Little Bit of Luck
A part no one likes to talk about. Sometimes, publishing is about being in the right place at the right time. Maybe your manuscript lands on the desk of an editor who’s obsessed with stories about the mafia. Maybe your novel’s themes accidentally align with a huge cultural moment.
Luck isn’t something you can control, but you can control how prepared you are. Write a great book, do your research, and put yourself out there. Luck will follow.
9. Business Side
The cold, hard truth? publishers love writers, but they also love authors who understand the business side of things. If you’re going into publishing thinking it’s all about art and not about sales, you’re in for a mean awakening. Publishing is like dating: the chemistry has to be there, but so does the reality.
Know your market. Understand your genre. Be really aware of how your book fits into the current book landscape. But don’t let these things block your creativity. Write the book you want to write—just do it with one eye on the field.
10. Just Be You
At the end of the day, publishers want rawness. They want authors who are passionate about their work, who are willing to grow, and who understand artistry and commerce.
Write a story only you can write. Edit it until it shines. Then send it out into the world with a thick skin and a healthy mind of optimism. Publishing is tough, but somewhere out there is a publisher who’s looking for exactly what you’ve written.
