Introducing THE PUBLISHING PLAYBOOK: Demystifying Publishing with Red Hen Press

The Publishing Playbook is an invitation—to ask better questions, to understand the system more fully, and to see publishing not as a mystery reserved for few, but as a collaborative process. Join us!

At times, book publishing can feel like a locked room: opaque, intimidating, and guarded by insider language that’s hard to decode unless you already know the rules. For writers, it can seem impossibly distant. For readers, mysterious. For students who are hoping to one day work in publishing, overwhelming. This series begins with a simple belief: publishing should not be a black box.

We’re so excited to launch our new educational series, The Publishing Playbook, which hopes to demystify the process of publishing—how books, essays, and ideas move from draft to desk, from slush pile to bookshelf. We’ll talk honestly about the paths in and through the industry: the roles people play, the decisions that shape what gets published, and the realities (creative, economic, and human) that influence those outcomes. No mythology, no gatekeeping, no pretending there’s only one “right” way in.

At the heart of this series are insights from publishing professionals, including editors, agents, publicists, marketers, designers, and others who work behind the scenes to bring writing into the world. They’ll share expert insights not as distant authorities, but as people who’ve learned through experience: what surprised them, what they wish they’d known earlier, and what actually matters day-to-day in an industry that’s constantly evolving.

Exclusive content—including video lessons from our Red Hen Press staff, step-by-step breakdowns of the publishing process, in-depth interviews with authors and agents, and techniques to help future publishing professionals get their footing in the industry—will be accessible to our paid subscribers. Content will start rolling out the first week in February, so make sure you sign up now!

The Publishing Playbook is an invitation—to ask better questions, to understand the system more fully, and to see publishing not as a mystery reserved for a few, but as a collaborative process shaped by many voices. We’re glad you’re here. This space is for writers seeking clarity, readers curious about how stories are shaped, students and working professionals trying to imagine a future in publishing, and anyone who wants a clearer picture of how ideas become objects we can hold, recommend, argue with, and love. You don’t need to be “inside” to be here. Curiosity is enough.