Write or Die Magazine (Forever Workshop)

Write or Die Magazine (Forever Workshop)

The State of Publishing Today

Decoding the Hype Around Debuts & What it Actually Reveals About Publishing For You

+ What Happens After A Debut is “Most Anticipated” | The State of Publishing Today #1

mort the write or die vulture's avatar
Caitlin's avatar
Shannan Mann's avatar
mort the write or die vulture, Caitlin, and Shannan Mann
Oct 12, 2026
∙ Paid

Welcome Writers! Happy Monday! Are you thankful for…everything (*points at general chaos of the universe*). Are ya!? Yes! Well good.

[Okay now, stop scaring people away with exclamation marks]

Today’s piece is our first edition of The State of Publishing Today. This is a column I’ve been hoping to bring to our readers for a very long time. I brainstormed what it could look like oh maybe years ago (idk, is 2.5 years considered “years ago”? bloody hope so). But I feel like, with the glut (the glorious glut but still glut) of publishing advice and analysis out there, it was a tall order to get a feature like this together that truly stood apart and was genuinely beneficial to writers in a way unlike any other. Something like that also takes a sh!t ton of time, and time is a damn luxury I can rarely afford.

Which is all to say, the stars have at last aligned dear ones, and a lot of it is thanks to the incredibly intelligent and V E R S A T I L E (I mean…award-winning poet + published author + data whiz + communications strategist + academic educator) Caitlin Scarano.

She has thoroughly researched and prepared today’s post with a focus on all things DEBUT. I thought this would be a fitting first topic because a) everyone seems obsessed with debuts (for justifiable reasons I suppose) and b) Write or Die Magazine is sort of debuting as this new amazing consolidated cool creature you see before you now.

Alright, on with it then. You’re in for a treat. And it’s going to be monthly!!

To celebrate the launch of this monthy Monday column, take 25% off a monthly or annual full subscription to Write or Die Magazine.

But hurry → This flash sale ends in ~24 hours.

I’m aware I’ve used this gif before but I LOVE me a Cumberbatch Sherlock so sue me (kidding, pls don’t sue me im a vulture)

25% off a paid subscription nowww

In Caitlin’s own words, The State of Publishing is:

Business guidance for writers can often fall into one of two traps: generic ‘you can do it’ encouragement or panic-driven reactions to current headlines. This column is neither. It offers instead a clear-eyed look at how writing careers are built, funded, and sustained over many years, no matter how the landscape changes. It doesn’t matter if you write short or long, go traditional or indie, or what genre and category you prefer: learn how to pursue a career that’s true to your own creative goals, without sacrificing your values.


Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Write or Die Magazine (Forever Workshop) to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2026 Chill Subs · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture