I’m a struggling author trying to break into the traditional publishing world. It’s an uphill battle (two hills, actually). The first, and arguably the steepest, is landing a literary agent. That step can be more difficult than securing a contract with one of the Big Five publishers.
My debut novel, The Secrets of Wilford Creek, won first place in a Seattle literary contest. My third book, Rosters of the Dead, took third place in the same contest in 2024. But in the eyes of the industry, those accolades won’t buy me a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
The Big Five Publishing Houses (as of 2025)
- Penguin Random House
- HarperCollins
- Simon & Schuster
- Hachette Book Group
- Macmillan Publishers
I’m a struggling author trying to break into the traditional publishing world. It’s an uphill battle (two hills, actually). The first, and arguably the steepest, is landing a literary agent. That step can be more difficult than securing a contract with one of the Big Five publishers.
My debut novel, The Secrets of Wilford Creek, won first place in a Seattle literary contest. My third book, Rosters of the Dead, took third place in the same...