> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.racketpublishing.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Racket Publishing's Next Chapter - URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-next-chapter/ - Published: 2025-06-09T20:52:01.000Z - Updated: 2026-01-16T23:14:09.000Z - Description: Exciting news on where we're going. - Author: Phil Simon - Tags: News, WordPress, RacketHub, Ghostwriting, Notion, Ghost, Websites, AI, Perks 📅 ****Updated:** December 21, 2025 Three years ago, I started Racket Publishing with several lofty goals: - To provide [unreasonable hospitality](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/unreasonable/) to our clients. - To do everything possible to help them publish their nonfiction books *on their terms*. - To use modern technology to make the [research](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/research-ingestion-engines/), writing, and publishing processes less painful. I never intended to create a hybrid publisher on the scale of Greenleaf, Page Two, or other behemoths. On the contrary, I made the conscious decision to provide [concierge services](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/concierge/) to a limited number of Racket clients. Reading the book [*Small Giants*](http://www.amazon.com/dp/014310960X/ref=nosim?tag=phisim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) in 2010 profoundly changed the way that I look at running a professional services company. Optimizing for revenue and profits [isn't the only way to operate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%5FCorporation%5F%28certification%29?ref=racketpublishing.com). ## Reflections and Accomplishments Since 2022, Racket has released [five books](https://www.racketpublishing.com/titles/) and helped a decent number of authors in different capacities. During that time, I've also developed RacketHub—a robust tool that our clients use to manage every aspect of the writing, publishing, and research processes. (Publishers, authors, and book coaches can as well, but I've found that these folks are generally stuck in their ways.) After [successfully working](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/unpacking/) with [Amanda Wick](https://amandawick.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) on her book [*The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order*](https://www.racketpublishing.com/titles/#section-five-title), I began thinking about different ways to help authors beyond publishing their books. > How can Racket evolve? Sure, I've done my fair share of [book coaching](https://www.racketpublishing.com/services/) over the years, but working with clients on an individual basis doesn't scale. [Courses](https://www.racketpublishing.com/products-courses/) help, but by definition they're discrete: you record them, and they exist. Constantly modifying them just doesn't fly. Blogging fills that void. To this end, I've penned [more than 100 posts](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog) on this site on [AI](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/ai), marketing, project management, [writing](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/writing), and other topics. I never put any posts behind a paywall. That's one of the core tenets of [content marketing](https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/what-is-content-marketing?ref=racketpublishing.com). ## What's Changing? The short answer: a few things. ### Content For starters, expect the frequency of blog posts and the number of new templates to increase starting now. Like [many publications these days](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/19/opinion/subscriptions-netflix-apple-cost.html?ref=racketpublishing.com), Racket is moving to a subscription and membership model. In the spirit of keeping things simple and avoiding a [*Black Mirror*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common%5FPeople%5F%28Black%5FMirror%29?ref=racketpublishing.com) scenario, the three plans are: - Free. - Plus. - Premium. [VIEW EACH PLAN'S BENEFITS](https://www.racketpublishing.com/portal/) Looking into the future, I envision a more diverse set of clients: [many guppies and a few big fish](https://www.philsimon.com/blog/trends/three-freelancing-models/?ref=racketpublishing.com). The goal is to cultivate a loyal following of folks willing to pay for valuable insights. Ideally, a few will engage [the Racket team](https://www.racketpublishing.com/about/#section-two-title) to ghostwrite and publish their books when they recognize what we bring to the table. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/wordpress.png) ### A New Engine This strategic decision necessitated making one other big change: replacing the tech underpinning this website. By way of background, in 2022, I built the original Racket site on [WordPress](http://www.wordpress.org/?ref=racketpublishing.com)—the most popular content management system (CMS) on the planet. It seemed like a logical choice. I had been using WordPress since 2009\. I also ran [the Divi theme](https://www.elegantthemes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=31960&ref=racketpublishing.com) and a slew of plugins under the hood. Despite this considerable setup (and related monthly maintenance to address a stream of issues), WordPress required *even more* plugins to meet Racket's future needs: - Allow for easy sign-ups. - Offer different content to different tiers of members. - Cultivate more meaningful relationships with this site's readers. - Offer promotions to convert Free members to Plus and Premium ones. As but one example, WordPress has long lacked native newsletter capabilities—[although that has recently changed](https://ppc.land/wordpress-unveils-enhanced-newsletter-features-to-rival-substack/?ref=racketpublishing.com#:~:text=WordPress.com%20Newsletter%20expands%20capabilities,fees%20as%20platform%20competition%20intensifies.). As a result, scores of website owners also need to use Mailchimp, [Substack](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/jan/03/substack-user-revolt-anti-censorship-stance-neo-nazis?ref=racketpublishing.com), Beehiiv, Constant Contact, and others to reach their fans. [Unpacking the Reasons for a Successful Book Project - Racket PublishingWhy did Amanda Wick stick the landing on her new book?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-14.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/suitcase-5.jpg)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/unpacking/) ### Enter Ghost In April 2025, I seriously began looking at WordPress alternatives. The new model required a solution that provided for a simpler, more integrated experience. It didn't take long for me to land on Ghost. [Ghost: The best open source blog & newsletter platformBeautiful, modern publishing with email newsletters and paid subscriptions built-in. Used by Platformer, 404Media, Lever News, Tangle, The Browser, and thousands more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/favicon.ico)Ghost - The Professional Publishing Platform![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/ghost.png)](https://ghost.org/?ref=racketpublishing.com) Ghost aptly bills itself as “independent technology for modern publishing.” I couldn't agree more. Racket's new CMS is [lightning-fast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTaARSh5HIY&ref=racketpublishing.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/fast-AF.png) Site Speed: Monday, June 9, 2025 What's more, it's packed with the features that it needs to succeed in its next chapter. Ghost's support staff couldn't have been friendlier, and [Cathy Sarisky](https://www.spectralwebservices.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) is a godsend. (As an aside, I'll have more to say about author websites in future posts.) ## What's Remaining the Same? Books remain important artifacts. Racket will continue to work with select authors on their books. Short of books, we'll offer the same services as we have in previous years. ## Elevate Your Writing Game Sign up to receive expert advice on publishing, writing, AI, technology, marketing, and more. SUBSCRIBE Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ## Weighing the Risks It's always a gamble to make such a fundamental shift, but it's the right one for Racket. Moving to a subscription model is the best way to help committed ones *in a meaningful way*. [Answering their questions](https://www.racketpublishing.com/submit-post-idea/) in a quasi-public forum is a solid starting point—and just one of the many [benefits of subscribing](https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits/). (Related FAQ here.) Put differently, I'm deliberately choosing engagement *quality* over *quantity*. ## June Promotion For the month of June, purchase an annual subscription to the Plus plan and you'll receive a 20 percent discount. Get 20% off the Plus plan until the end of June 2025. [LET'S DO THIS ](https://racket-publishing.ghost.io/racketrelaunch?ref=racketpublishing.com) ## Final Thoughts Thank you for reading this lengthy post. If you find an error with the website, please let me know. Ditto if anything is unclear. More than ever, I'm excited about the future of Racket Publishing.