Market Research for Writers

All writers considering a professional career path must not only learn their craft, but they must also learn to navigate the landscape of the publishing world, researching the industry’s history and its future. A professional writer, including those interested in self-publishing, must understand the relationships between agents, editors, publishing houses, and booksellers. They must understand the process of manuscript submission and acquisition, learning copyright and contractual basics. A career writer must also develop an author platform, cultivating that professional, public persona critical to success. Important Note: This course provides students with critical information they need to understand the publishing industry and thrive within it as professional writers. While it does not deal directly with content-oriented research related to project development, the analytical and synthesizing skills it teaches can help to enhance that kind of research as well.