The Basics: Is Your Book Idea Ready for Traditional Publishing?
In this episode of Kind Of A Big Book Deal, host Meghan Stevenson breaks down the first key element of landing a traditional book deal: Potential. She explains how to determine if your idea is truly book-worthy, why having a built-in audience is crucial, and how to assess whether similar books have been successful. Meghan shares real-world examples, including an unusual book pitch she once received about stadium security fencing, and why not every idea is meant to be a book.
She also discusses the reality of book sales, revealing that women are the primary book buyers and how this impacts the types of books publishers are willing to take on. Additionally, she touches on industry trends, the role of competitive titles (comps), and why chasing trends in publishing can be risky. If you’ve ever wondered whether your book idea has a real shot at getting published, this episode gives you a clear framework to assess your chances.
Stay tuned for the next episode, where Meghan tackles the most asked-about topic in publishing—author platform.
