The Benefits of an Old Publishing Model 📰
Why Elle Griffin is serializing her novels on Substack
Hi Bleeders,
Ever worry publishing is dead? Or maybe just… not the best business model.
News flash: You don’t need a publisher! And the latest episode is the perfect inspiration to help us envision more sustainable publishing models.
🎧 How Elle Griffin is Serializing Her Novels on Substack.
When Elle set out to query her gothic novel, she made some disappointing discoveries about the publishing industry that led her down this unconventional path that definitely has some upsides, like making $19K her first year on Substack and retaining the rights to her work!
“I mean, Taylor Swift is rerecording all of her old albums right now because a venture capitalist firm owns her masters, and she can’t even do what she wants to with them — they wouldn’t even let her perform her old songs at a festival she wanted to. Why would you want to lock your art away with somebody who could do anything that they want to it to try to make money, and you have no control over it anymore — and in fact, only get a 15% of the royalties?”
In this episode, Elle also shares why Anne Lamott's shitty first draft advice does not work for her, what it's been like writing her second serialized novel as she's publishing it, and more.
Where I write:
I’m asking each guest to give us a peek behind the scenes. Elle writes at her dining room table, and oh my YES, I can totally see how she wrote a gothic novel and a utopian novel-in-progress overlooking this dark and luscious living room.
Episode links:
🔔 Subscribe to Elle’s “The Novellist” newsletter on Substack.
💻 Check out Elle’s website for more about her writing and editing.
🎧 And, of course, pop in those earbuds and listen to You Don't Need a Publisher: How Elle Griffin is Serializing Her Novels on Substack on your favorite podcast platform.
Online reading about writing:
Write Every Day? Tracy Deonn Recommends Thinking Instead. - Fantasy novelist Tracy Deonn told Elisabeth Egan of The New York Times Book Review that her protagonist had to rumble around in her head for a decade before she was able to put her on the page.
It’s a Lot of Work Being a Woman on Instagram - Our very own Shelby Hinte interviewed upcoming guest Allie Rowbottom about her debut novel Aesthetica (with a crazy f*cking plot) for Electric Literature.
✈️ Travel vicariously via this reading list:
Until next time, HAPPY BLEEDING!
So… ROLL CALL! 🗣️
Are YOU on Substack? If so, drop your link!
Let’s connect on social media! I’m at @courtneykocak on Twitter and Instagram. For more, check out my website courtneykocak.com.