Debunking myths for thought leadership practitioners interested in publishing | Lucinda Halpern | 374

There are a lot of myths that first-time authors have about publishing: Having a literary agent guarantees you a book deal; book contracts are too complicated for a normal person to understand;authors need huge social media numbers to get published. Getting published can be a complicated process, but it doesn't have to be a confusing one!   To help us debunk these myths, we invited Lucinda Halpern to join us for a conversation. Linda is the president of Lucinda Literary LLC, a literary management firm that champions leading thinkers and emerging voices. As President of the organization, Lucinda relies on her deep knowledge of the industry, and decades of experience guiding authors to break-out success and long-lasting careers. We start our myth-busting by talking about book agents, and what happens during the lead time before a book hits the shelf. Lucinda explains that engaging a literary agent can help understand publishers' needs, and add an additional level of polish to your manuscript - but it doesn't guarantee you'll find a publishing deal. While thought leaders often want their book published immediately, Lucinda explains that it can take 12 to 18 months for the publishing process, even after your manuscript is written.  Next, we shine a light on the myths of platform and marketing. While publishers still require fantastic content, Lucinda shares the importance of creating a visible author presence. We get a brief overview of ways that publishers review a potential author's platform and reach, and where an aspiring author might focus in order to improve their chances of becoming published. In addition to publishing their manuscript, authors need to think about the long-term business plan for their book. Lucinda gives us insights into the long-view of business books, why lower than expected sales do not equate to failure, and how lead generation is the place to make real profit. We wrap up our conversation by discussing the frustrations that can arise when dealing with publicists. Lucinda helps us understand the steps an author should take to screen a potential PR company, the questions that need to be asked, and the routes you can take - depending on your budget. This conversation is a deep dive into what authors need to know and understand - from the moment they seek an agent, to the years following the publication of their book. Three Key Takeaways: *  Thought Leaders should work with a literary agent, to polish their manuscript and shop it to publishers. *  Authors need to look at publishing a book as a long-term investment in their thought leadership; books are best thought of as lead generation tools for speaking and workshops. *  If you are not interested in being part of marketing your thought leadership book, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage. Find a platform that allows you to shine.