Success in publishing can become a creative trap. Publishers often reject new projects from their bestselling authors if they deviate from an established genre. This risk-averse behavior pigeonholes proven talent and stifles their creative evolution, forcing them to stick to what's safe.

The publishing industry's restrictive and often unsupportive model generates 'cynicism at scale.' This pushes talented writers, who feel stifled or abandoned, toward platforms like Substack where they can maintain creative control and build a sustainable career on their own terms.

Creativity is a struggle between time and resources. A publisher's explicit goal should be making authors millionaires, not for luxury, but for sustainability. Financial independence allows talented writers to dedicate their time to their craft, creating a virtuous cycle for both author and publisher.

Publishers often reject projects from their own successful authors if they deviate from a proven genre. This 'stay in your lane' mentality prioritizes predictable revenue over an author's creative evolution, which can be psychologically damaging and lead to great works never being created.

In recurring business relationships, winning every last penny is a short-sighted victory. Intentionally allowing the other party to feel they received good value builds goodwill and a positive reputation, leading to better and more frequent opportunities in the future. It inoculates you against being price-gouged upfront.

Instead of viewing a lowball offer from a traditional publisher as a failure, treat it as validation of your work's potential. Use that energy to 'double down' on self-publishing, competitively aiming to create a product superior to what they would have offered.

The label "problem author" was once negative, but now it's a strategic necessity. With authors often commanding larger audiences than their publishers, they must leverage this power to challenge outdated, opaque processes and force necessary industry-wide improvements for their book's success.

Publishers and agents now prioritize an author's social media following over most other factors. The size of an author's advance and their book's sales potential are seen as directly correlated to their online footprint. Aspiring authors must build a following before they even start writing.

The myth of robust publisher marketing support is largely false for authors without massive advances. In the current landscape, an author is an entrepreneur by default. They are responsible for building an audience and driving sales, and can be a "good" or "bad" one, but cannot opt out of the role.