THREE REASONS WHY THE PUBLISHING WORLD IS LIKE AN EPISODE OF SHARK TANK

By Michelle Lazurek

Have you ever seen the show Shark Tank? This reality show features five billionaires that hear pitches from entrepreneurs looking to get their big break and have their product released to the masses. It is one of my favorite reality shows, but I have one confession to make:

Their choices often baffle me.

Mr. Wonderful claims there’s nothing proprietary about the product, yet Lori declares the product is a “hero.” Robert chides them on a lack of sales, yet Mark makes an offer, then pressures the entrepreneurs to make a decision fast because “the shot clock is running.”

All the while I scratch my head in disbelief, screaming at the TV: “why are you investing in that?”

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Sometimes they invest in the business with huge sales numbers, while other times they invest if the business may only have a prototype yet the product is unique and innovative and has the potential to take the world by storm. Other times they invest simply because they like the people selling the product.

The publishing world acts in a similar way. After all, publishers need to make money to keep their businesses flourishing year after year. They must be selective in the authors they invest in. Yet, it may seem confusing as to whom they select. Here are three reasons publishers will be motivated to sign you:

You have a proven audience. Sales numbers are among the first indicators that a publisher will recover their investment in your project. If you are a previously published author (whether traditionally or self-published) your sales numbers of those books will prove whether you have a fan base that loves you and your work. The bigger the sales numbers, the better the chances of receiving a contract.

Your writing displays a unique voice. Maybe you have never been published before, and the word platform makes you cringe yet your book idea is unique and offers a fresh perspective on your topic. Publishers take this into account as well. Although this may happen less often, your stellar writing may be just the ticket to get you into a publisher’s door.

Your brand is familiar. Establishing a brand is crucial in getting you to set yourself apart from the crowd. You as a person are a brand within yourself. If publishers have heard of you and know your articles and blog posts tend to be shared often, publishers may invest in you as a person, even if you have limited publishing experience. They are taking a risk that you alone will be enough to sell copies and bring forth your message to the right audiences.

Although it might seem daunting to figure out the puzzle of getting published, you must do the hard work of establishing yourself in front of readers. You may one day find yourself exclaiming, “I’ll take that deal!”