# Racket Publishing > Racket is a boutique hybrid publisher that has released five prescriptive nonfiction titles with more planned. At the heart of everything we do lies RacketHub—the most powerful and sophisticated book-management system created. Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### Connect URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect/ Last updated: 2026-02-15T19:52:27.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/connect_new.png) ## Connect How can Racket Publishing help you achieve your writing, publishing, and marketing goals? Fill out this form, and Racket founder Phil Simon will be in touch with you shortly. [LET'S LIGHT THIS CANDLE ](https://philsimon.notion.site/2b7fbefd2aed8082ae18f65c75fd8678?pvs=105&ref=racketpublishing.com) ### Titles URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/titles/ Last updated: 2026-04-09T12:29:51.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/10/titles-1.jpeg) ## Titles Racket has published five prescriptive nonfiction books so far. More are coming. ## "A room without books is like a body without a soul." —Cicero ### Jump to a Title - [Project Management in the Hybrid Workplace 🏆](#section-one-title) - [Low-Code/No-Code](#section-two-title) - [The Nine 🏆](#section-three-title) - [Reimagining Payments](#section-four-title) - [The Catalysts 🏆](#section-five-title) ## Project Management in the Hybrid Workplace 🏆 THE FUTURE OF WORK, BOOK #2 #### by Phil Simon ****Winner, 2023 NYC Big Book Award** “A clear-eyed call to reevaluate project-based teams in the days of remote work.” ****–Publishers Weekly, BookLife review** ![Descriptive alt text](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/size/w600/2025/05/1.png) For decades, organizations of all sizes and in all industries have struggled at managing projects. Even though employees primarily worked together in physical offices, rare was the project that came in on time and on budget and delivered what stakeholders expected. The M-F/9-5 in-person world of work is gone forever. Depending on the country, more than nine in ten people would rather quit their jobs than return to the office five days per week. Brass tacks: Remote and hybrid workplaces are here to stay, and they pose formidable obstacles that complicate managing projects and launching new products. Against this backdrop arrives [*Project Management in the Hybrid Workplace*](https://www.amazon.com/Project-Management-Hybrid-Workplace-Simon/dp/B0B1S3V2J8/ref=tmm%5Fpap%5Fswatch%5F0?%5Fencoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=&ref=racket-publishing.ghost.io), Phil Simon’s timely and highly anticipated follow-up to his award-winning book *Reimagining Collaboration*. In his inimitable style, Simon adeptly fuses critical research and concepts from a slew of diverse and seemingly unrelated fields. Examples include Agile software development, human resources, supply chain management, cognitive psychology, organizational behavior, and labor economics. Brimming with detailed case studies, penetrating insights, and practical advice, Simon’s twelfth effort is a tour de force. Product owners, new and seasoned PMs, service providers, freelancers, small business owners, and students taking PM classes will benefit from *Project Management in the Hybrid Workplace.* #### Buy the Book [AMAZON](https://www.amazon.com/Project-Management-Hybrid-Workplace-Simon/dp/B0B1S3V2J8/ref=tmm%5Fpap%5Fswatch%5F0?%5Fencoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=&ref=racketpublishing.com) [B&N](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/project-management-in-the-hybrid-workplace-phil-simon/1141467616?ref=racketpublishing.com) [AUDIBLE](https://www.audible.com/pd/Project-Management-in-the-Hybrid-Workplace-Audiobook/B0B5F9Z9Y5?tag=philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) [APPLE](https://books.apple.com/us/book/project-management-in-the-hybrid-workplace/id6442888308?ref=racketpublishing.com) [WALMART](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Project-Management-in-the-Hybrid-Workplace-Paperback-9798985814705/432120975?ref=racketpublishing.com) [BOOKSHOP](https://bookshop.org/p/books/project-management-in-the-hybrid-workplace-phil-simon/0fbf94aff6507cf6?ean=9798985814705&next=t&ref=racketpublishing.com) --- ## Low-Code/No-Code ### Citizen Developers and the Surprising Future of Business Applications THE FUTURE OF WORK, BOOK #3 #### by Phil Simon “The practical, persuasive case for empowering employees to develop custom apps in the workplace.” ****—Publishers Weekly BookLife Review** ![Descriptive alt text](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/13.png) Our relationship with workplace technology has always been, in a word, complicated. The pandemic only made it more so. The stats are astonishing. Two in three employers can’t find qualified candidates to fill their open IT positions. By 2024, the deficit of software developers in the US alone will hit 500,000\. Supply and demand for techies are out of whack and, most alarmingly, there’s no end in sight. The effects of this labor market imbalance are profound and difficult to overstate. Nearly three in four technology leaders can’t focus on their strategic priorities. Countless other firms, departments, teams, and leaders struggle because IT can’t deliver the tools they so desperately need. Adding salt to the wound, business units now need new applications to address the logistical challenges that pervasive remote and hybrid work pose. Organizations are at a crossroads. They need to solve these thorny tech problems. Now. But how? In [*Low-Code/No-Code: Citizen Developers and the Surprising Future of Business Applications*,](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B9R48W99/ref=dbs%5Fa%5Fdef%5Frwt%5Fbibl%5Fvppi%5Fi0?ref=racket-publishing.ghost.io) world-renowned workplace technology expert and award-winning author Phil Simon squares this circle. His thirteenth book deftly illustrates how, thanks to powerful new tools and a new breed of employees, organizations are finally fulfilling critical business needs and reducing their reliance on pricey software developers. *Low-Code/No-Code* is an invaluable treasure trove of insightful analysis, synthesis, examples, and advice that has arrived at the perfect time. #### Buy the Book [AMAZON](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B9R48W99/ref=dbs%5Fa%5Fdef%5Frwt%5Fbibl%5Fvppi%5Fi0?ref=racketpublishing.com) [B&N](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/low-code-no-code-phil-simon/1142604659?ean=9798985814743&ref=racketpublishing.com) [APPLE](https://books.apple.com/us/book/low-code-no-code/id6445018426?ref=racketpublishing.com) [WALMART](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Low-Code-No-Code-Citizen-Developers-and-the-Surprising-Future-of-Business-Applications-Hardcover-by-Phil-Simon-9798985814750/2898649522?ref=racketpublishing.com) [BOOKSHOP](https://bookshop.org/p/books/low-code-no-code-citizen-developers-and-the-surprising-future-of-business-applications-phil-simon/fdf28b9d587509c4?ean=9798985814736&next=t&ref=racketpublishing.com) ## The Nine 🏆 ### The Tectonic Forces Reshaping the Workplace THE FUTURE OF WORK, BOOK #4 #### by Phil Simon ****Winner, 2024 Axiom Award, Business Technology (Gold)** ****Winner, 2024 Axiom Award, Business Commentary (Silver)** “A canny, insightful, and very readable take on the brave new world of work.” ****—**[****Kirkus Reviews**](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/phil-simon/the-nine-Simon/?ref=racketpublishing.com) ![Descriptive alt text](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/nine3d.jpg) As COVID has receded, companies such as Apple, Amazon, Google, Salesforce, and Twitter have severely restricted or even eliminated remote work. Ditto for countless, less iconic firms and small businesses. At a high level, executives and managers at these organizations are trying to turn back the clock to 2019. There's just one problem, though: For a bevy of reasons, they won’t succeed. In many ways, the workplace of 2023 already differs from its pre-pandemic counterpart. In some cases, it’s downright unrecognizable. What’s more, this gap will only intensify in the coming years. Blame—or thank, if you like—powerful economic, societal, geopolitical, and technological forces. They include generative AI, automation, dispersed workforces, blockchain, immersive technologies, employee empowerment, and the return of systemic inflation. Brass tacks: The workplace is undergoing a massive, irrevocable shift. The only question for business leaders is, what should you do about it? In [*The Nine: The Tectonic Forces Reshaping the Workplace*](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRTHYMKH?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com), award-winning author and world-renowned workplace tech expert Phil Simon answers that question in spades. He peers into the dizzying and chaotic future of work. Simon slices through the hype surrounding nascent trends and newfangled technologies. Insightful, timely, and essential, *The Nine* clearly explains what’s really happening, why, and how business leaders can navigate the dramatically different workplace of the future. #### Buy the Book [AMAZON](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRTHYMKH?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) [B&N](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/The%20Nine:%20The%20Tectonic%20Forces%20Reshaping%20the%20Workplace?ref=racketpublishing.com) [AUDIBLE](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Nine-The-Tectonic-Forces-Reshaping-the-Workplace-Audiobook/B0C3SN7CTQ?qid=1767844457&sr=1-1&ref%5Fpageloadid=not%5Fapplicable&pf%5Frd%5Fp=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf%5Frd%5Fr=16H98GGB6VQ6QVEW4WKT&plink=DwGdoTLrmzdWmTp1&pageLoadId=53BYwIk9PJyozQJ2&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a%5Fsearch%5Fc3%5FlProduct%5F1%5F1) [APPLE](https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/the-nine-the-tectonic-forces-reshaping-the-workplace/id1682222742?ref=racketpublishing.com) [BOOKSHOP](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-nine-the-tectonic-forces-reshaping-the-workplace-phil-simon/20694184?ref=racketpublishing.com) --- ## Reimagining Payments ### The Business Case for Digital Currencies #### by Michelle Gitlitz “**Reimaging Payments* reveals how the coming digital future of value will provide enormous financial efficiencies while disrupting venerable market structures and present, most importantly, the critical challenges and opportunities this change poses for free societies the world over.” ****—J. Christopher Giancarlo, former chairman, US Commodity Futures Trading Commission** ![Descriptive alt text](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/Reimagining-Payments.png) Our way of paying for things is rapidly changing. Fewer of us are using cash. Instead, we’re relying on a growing array of electronic payment methods, including digital wallets, QR codes, mobile money, and, of course, Bitcoin and other digital currencies. Against this backdrop arrives *Reimagining Payments: The Business Case for Digital Currencies*, an exciting book from prominent cryptocurrency attorney and advisor Michelle Ann Gitlitz. No doubt you’ve heard of the challenges surrounding cryptocurrencies. Several projects have imploded, asset values and trading volumes have plummeted, and investor losses have abounded. These events serve as catnip for naysayers and an excuse to dismiss digital currencies outright. *Reimagining Payments* shows how this mindset is ultimately misguided. Digital currencies *already* serve important commercial purposes. At Chipotle, consumers are buying burritos with Bitcoin and other tokens. Some Equinox members pay their dues with digital currencies. Nearly 500 million Shopify users do the same at almost two million merchants. For their part, more than 90 percent of central banks are experimenting with central bank digital currencies to complement cash. Gitlitz gives the reader a fresh look at the $2 trillion payments industry and explains why it’s ripe for disruption. She deftly explores the benefits of accepting digital currency payments: reaching new consumers, providing more secure payment choices, and reducing transaction-related costs and friction. No theoretical text, *Reimagining Payments* imparts strategic and tactical advice on this critical topic. Brimming with rich case studies, analysis, and synthesis, this timely text has arrived at the perfect time for senior business leaders to embrace the future of commerce. #### Buy the Book [AMAZON](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW7LT8XR/ref=nosim?tag=phisim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) [B&N](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reimagining-payments-michelle-gitlitz/1144547104?ean=9798987864906&ref=racketpublishing.com) [BOOKSHOP](https://bookshop.org/p/books/reimagining-payments-the-business-case-for-digital-currencies-michelle-gitlitz/b206cfa09a41e787?aid=9608&ean=9798987864913&listref=books-from-racket-publishing&next=t&ref=racketpublishing.com) --- ## The Catalysts 🏆 ### The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order #### by Amanda Wick ****Winner, 2026 Axiom Award, International Business / Globalization (Gold)** ****2025 Finalist, 38th IBPA Awards: Political & Current Events** “A riveting wake-up call for anyone who still thinks the global financial system is stable. With the clarity of a prosecutor and the urgency of a frontline witness, Amanda Wick unpacks how political chaos, technological disruption, and eroding trust are rewriting the rules of money and power. **The Catalysts* isn’t just a book about finance—it’s a roadmap to understanding the forces reshaping our world.” ****—The Honorable Stephanie Murphy, former US Representative from Florida** ![The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/the-cat.png) Since the end of WWII, the United States has dominated the global economic stage. Not coincidentally, the US dollar has served as the world’s default currency. America has routinely rattled its saber to wage and win wars, cripple economies, leverage its soft power, and nudge its allies. Enemies who have dared to bear the brunt of America’s stifling economic sanctions have suffered the consequences. For a bevy of reasons, however, America’s global financial reign is rapidly coming to a close. It’s not a question of if, but when. No dynasty lasts forever, and the US is proving to be no exception to this rule. Blame—or thank, depending on your point of view—a diverse set of powerful catalysts. They include American political dysfunction, the invention of cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance, the rise of tribalism, and others. Any one of these forces alone would challenge the mightiest of empires. Their combination, however, is accelerating the birth of a new financial world order. But what will this new, uncertain financial system look like? What are the rules? Where are the minefields and opportunities? Moreover, how can a nation, its elected officials, a non-governmental organization, or a think tank navigate this often chaotic milieu? Policymakers’ and advisors’ answers to these existential questions are wanting. ## “A solid argument for embracing new technological developments in the face of global economic change.” —[Kirkus Reviews](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/amanda-wick/the-catalysts/?ref=racketpublishing.com) [Amanda Wick](https://www.amandawick.com/?ref=racket-publishing.ghost.io) has seen these forces play out firsthand, both domestically and internationally. As a senior investigative counsel for the US House of Representatives and a staff member of the January 6th Committee, she witnessed how a once-great nation attempted to whitewash an insurrection. On the global stage, she has advised organizations of all sorts and spoken frequently about the rise of cryptocurrency, web3, and blockchain technology. Wick’s debut book—*The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New Financial World Order*—could not have arrived at a more opportune moment. Insightful, timely, and essential, *The Catalysts* clearly explains what’s really happening, why, and what policy professionals can do to best position their constituents for the vastly different world ahead. #### Buy the Book [AMAZON](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D88Z7LYF/ref=nosim?tag=phisim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) [B&N](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-catalysts-amanda-wick/1147357882?ean=9798990924208&ref=racketpublishing.com) [BOOKSHOP](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-catalysts-the-accelerating-forces-forging-the-new-world-financial-order-amanda-wick/b9418f8932736cf8?aid=9608&ean=9798990924208&listref=books-from-racket-publishing&next=t&ref=racketpublishing.com) --- [SEE ALL BOOKS ON BOOKSHOP.ORG](https://bookshop.org/lists/books-from-racket-publishing?ref=racketpublishing.com) --- ![Your Book Here](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/a_book_with_the_title-1.jpg) interested in adding your name to this burgeoning list? Click the button below to get this party started. [CONNECT ](https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect) ### Blog URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ Last updated: 2026-01-21T03:03:42.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/blog.png) ## Blog Expert insights and advice on [the evolving publishing landscape](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/publishing), [the craft of writing](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/writing), [AI](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/ai), technology, [marketing](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/marketing), and more. Click [here](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog-index/) to view all blog tags and [here](https://www.racketpublishing.com/rss/) to access its RSS feed. #### What do the the emojis near the blog posts signify? 🌍 = Public content that anyone can view without signing up for any plan. 🎁 = Reading the whole post requires creating a Free account & logging in to it. ➕ = Reading the whole post requires creating a Plus account & logging in to it. ⭐️ = Reading the whole post requires creating a Premium account & logging in to it. ### Services URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/services/ Last updated: 2026-06-09T21:30:22.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/services.png) ## Services How Racket Publishing helps first-time and experienced scribes. #### Fun Fact When [Marillion](https://www.marillion.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com "Marillion") keyboardist and crowdfunding co-inventor Mark Kelly was writing his memoir, the title and subtitle eluded him. Racket founder—and huge Marillion fan—Phil Simon suggested [*Marillion, Misadventures & Marathons: The Life & Times of Mad Jack*](https://www.amazon.com/Marillion-Misadventures-Marathons/dp/1838491813?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com), and Mark loved it. ![Marillion](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/image-2.png) ![Marillion](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/image-3.png) Mark sent Phil a signed copy of the book: ![Marillion](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/image-4.png) But it gets even better. Mark thanked Phil in the book's written acknowledgements: ![Marillion](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/image-5.png) #lifehighlight ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/02/typewriter-1.jpg) #### Ghostwriting You’ve got ideas for a full-length, non-fiction book. The desire? Check. Lamentably, you lack the time or experience to take your writing project into the end zone. In the words of the late great [Daniel Kahneman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel%5FKahneman?ref=racketpublishing.com), "Thinking is to humans as swimming is to cats; they can do it, but they’d prefer not to.” Go ahead and give it a go on your own if you like, but it’s a heavy lift. Ghostwriting a quality book requires wearing [many different hats](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/ghostwriter-hats/). The odds that you’ll independently stick the landing are exactly zero. Ditto if your well-intentioned friends have generously offered to help you out on the side. At a bare minimum, when you finish writing, you’ll need [an expensive development edit](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/developmental-edit/). Let award-winning author, serial ghostwriter, and Racket founder Phil Simon help you publish a quality text that will make you proud. ****Price:** Starting at $60,000 for a 50,000-word manuscript. ## Fast, cheap, and good. Pick any two of the three. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/coach-2.png) #### Author Coaching Writing a book takes a tremendous amount of effort—and then there’s the publishing and the marketing. (Yikes.) Even formatting the manuscript improperly can result in [a world of pain](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/how-to-format-your-manuscript/). Let Racket founder Phil Simon help you avoid the mistakes that plague most first-time and even experienced scribes. ****Price:** $350/hour (discounts available for five- and ten-hour blocks) [BOOK AN HOUR OF COACHING](https://tidycal.com/philsimon/60-minutes-new-clients?ref=racketpublishing.com) ## A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people. —THOMAS MANN ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/pencil-1.png) #### Developmental Editing You wrote tens of thousands of words, but readers find your manuscript confusing. There’s no throughline to connect the chapters, ideas, stories, and data in your book. The word **morass* comes to mind. You realize that a Band-Aid won’t work; it’s time for major freakin’ surgery. Let Racket help separate the wheat from the chaff in your nonfiction manuscript. ****Price:** Starting at $9,500 for a 50,000-word manuscript****.** --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/typewriter-2.png) #### Rapid Writing Do you find yourself wasting a great deal of time on manual writing tasks? Does this inefficiency distract you from your flow state and introduce thorny formatting errors into your manuscript? Odds are that you’re unaware of some useful Microsoft Word hacks. Ditto for some sweet time-saving apps, shortcuts, and websites. Let self-described geek and Racket founder Phil Simon teach you ways to save hours as you write. The session lasts one hour, and you can record it. ****Price:** $450/hour --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/lightbulb-1.png) #### Book Brainstorming Far too many would-be nonfiction authors begin on the wrong foot: their core concept or big idea is flawed, hackneyed, outdated, and just plain boring. Let Racket founder and 14-time author help you find a compelling hook. You’ll walk away with the following: - Detailed personas of your future book’s target audience. - A title and subtitle that excites you and your prospective readers. - A 300-word(ish) synopsis of your book that will serve as its north star. The process typically takes about ten hours. ****Price:** $4,500 --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/revisions.jpg) #### Project Management Taking a book from idea to manuscript to finished product is no small endeavor for experienced scribes, let alone newbies. A few missed steps or incomplete tasks can cause a great deal of agita, not to mention many sleepless nights. Via [RacketHub](https://www.racketpublishing.com/products/rackethub), Racket founder Phil Simon will guide you through the research, writing, editing, and publication processes. Expect to hit your dates and goals and safely land the plane. ****Price:** Starting at $4,000 --- [HIRE RACKET PUBLISHING](https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect) ### About URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/about/ Last updated: 2026-05-05T14:31:25.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/about.png) ## About Why Racket exists and what it attempts to accomplish. ### Jump to a Section - [Philosophy](#section-one-title) - [Praise](#section-two-title) - [Team](#section-three-title) ## Philosophy: Our *raison d être* Traditional publishing has been broken for decades. If you don’t believe me, then ask any author who’s been through the process. With the notable exceptions of A-listers like Michael Lewis and Malcolm Gladwell, [complaints](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/horrors/?ref=racket-publishing.ghost.io) about marketing, production, order fulfillment, book quality, value, and overall experience are rampant. Author advances have plummeted and, in many cases, disappeared altogether. Making matters worse, industry stalwarts have become [even less likely to work with first-time and even mid-tier authors](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/mcgraw-hill/?ref=racket-publishing.ghost.io) or require them to [guarantee thousands of copies sold](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/blurring-lines/?ref=racket-publishing.ghost.io). Expect these trends to intensify. Against this backdrop, many rookie and even experienced authors have opted for [subsidy presses](https://shewritespress.com/whats-what-subsidy-publishing-true-self-publishing-and-hybrid-publishing/?ref=racket-publishing.ghost.io) and other self-publishing chop shops. These currents have intensified in [recent years](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/91574-self-publishing-is-thriving-according-to-bowker-report.html?ref=racket-publishing.ghost.io#:~:text=The%20industry%E2%80%99s%20self,decline%20from%202020.). To state the obvious, these low-cost, high-volume outfits are a different kettle of fish. They typically assign the next person up to work on key aspects of authors’ books: editing, interior and cover design, indexing, and the like. Maybe those folks are qualified to make your vision a reality. Maybe not. You’re rolling the dice. ### A Better Way to Publish Racket is a [boutique](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/the-benefit-of-boutiques/?ref=racket-publishing.ghost.io) [hybrid publisher](https://www.racketpublishing.com/about?ref=racket-publishing.ghost.io#hybrid) that operates in a fundamentally different way. Its [team of experienced professionals](https://www.racketpublishing.com/about/?ref=racket-publishing.ghost.io#team) has successfully completed hundreds of non-fiction books. Rest assured: You’re in excellent hands. Not only will the end result delight you, but you’ll also enjoy the process. Why? Because Racket has developed [RacketHub](https://www.racketpublishing.com/product-RacketHub), a proprietary book management system that: - Maximizes transparency, the chance that your writing project goes smoothly, and enjoyment. (Yes, writing a book is time-consuming and challenging, but it should also be fun.) - Serves as a single source of truth. - Eliminates frantically searching different apps for key documents and messages. - Organizes all of the information needed to complete your book. - Keeps the author and the entire team on the same page. - Minimizes the inefficiency and administration that increase the cost and time to complete each project. - Launches your book soon as possible. Racket’s über-talented team will make your book’s vision a reality much faster than if you had gone the traditional route. Thanks for reading. If this message sounds appealing, [we’d love to hear from you](https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect/?ref=racket-publishing.ghost.io). *Phil Simon* Founder, Racket Publishing [READ ABOUT OUR NEXT CHAPTER](https://www.racketpublishing.com/p/64b102f5-02e0-4675-993a-49e0e1d6fdf7/) ## WE KNOW BOOKS. ## Writing Partners, Not Clients By treating its authors as partners and not clients, Racket provides sage guidance on *all* aspects of the writing process. From planning to writing to post-production to marketing, It’s accurate to call our approach [unreasonably hospitable](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/unreasonable/). If you want to try your hand at indie or self-publishing, have at it. [Snakeoil salesmen](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/charlatans-hybrid-publishing/) abound. Through trial and error, though, you can find decent editors, indexers, e-book specialists, designers, and proofreaders. They can certainly meet your needs. But who’s overseeing the entire project—from idea to launch? More importantly, is your book idea any good? > Fast, cheap, and good. Pick any two of the three. Racket works with its clients on a holistic basis. First-time and experienced authors benefit from a true publishing partner, not just a service provider. That’s our jam. If this doesn’t sound cheap, trust your instincts. As in life, however, you get what you pay for. ## Tools Matter With rare exception, traditional publishers and the vast majority of publishing professionals are stuck in their ways. They cling to antiquated business processes, technologies, and mindsets. For example, emails and attachments continue to rule the day. There’s just one problem: It’s no longer 1998. Simon believes that there's a vastly better way to write and publish. By embracing new, user-friendly collaboration tools, it's possible to make publishing a book far more efficient, cost-effective, and even downright fun. Yes, fun. ## Praise Read what current and former clients have to say about their experiences with Racket Publishing. [PraiseKudos from former and current clients.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-31.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/thumb.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/about-praise/) ## Team ![Descriptive alt text](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/phil.png) ### Management & Ghostwriting [Phil Simon](https://www.philsimon.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) is the award-winning author of 14 books, most recently [*The Nine: The Tectonic Forces Reshaping the Workplace*](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRTHYMKH?philsim-20=&ref=racketpublishing.com). He founded Racket Publishing in 2022\. Before that, Simon started Motion Publishing in 2010, ultimately selling the company in 2017\. Over the course of his storied writing and publishing career, he’s worked on dozens books in different capacities. His work with authors includes ideation, brainstorming, title creation, positioning, and ghostwriting. Don’t get him started on *Breaking Bad*, Marillion, and Rush. --- ![Descriptive alt text](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/jessica.png) ### Design [Jessica Angerstein](https://dezinermama.com/?ref=racket-publishing.ghost.io) is an experienced graphic designer who loves to take complex topics and make them easy to understand. She excels at creating stories that inspire people. Her passion is wallpaper removal, but she loves to create book layouts and bring each page to life. She has worked on all five Racket titles. --- ![Luke](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/luke.jpeg) Luke Fletcher is a professional freelance graphic designer with two decades of related experience. He has designed the covers for dozens of books in his career, including the Racket titles *The Nine*, *Low-Code/No-Code*, and *Project Management in the Hybrid Workplace*. While not designing covers, you may find him spending time with his kids or watching *Breaking Bad* or *The Big Lebowski.* --- ![KD](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/kd.jpeg) ### Editing & Proofreading Karen Davis is an experienced and highly skilled editor. She has worked on more than 600 books over the course of her career. Her attention to detail and ability to distill a story are second to none. She enjoys biking and just loves dogs. She has worked on all five Racket titles. --- ![JVHD](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/johnna.png) ### Indexing Johnna VanHoose Dinse has been creating vibrant indexes for a little more than 20 years. She has worked on many notable consumer trade books, such as the *For Dummies* series and *Complete Idiot’s* guides, as well as those for academic and healthcare presses. Her philosophy of indexing: “I create a roadmap for the reader to use to navigate the information presented in all the ways they might need to use it.” She has worked on all five Racket titles. --- ![Vinnie](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/vinnie2.jpg) ### Ebook Conversion Vinnie Kinsella is a full-stack designer. Over his career, he’s successfully completed hundreds of ebooks, including all Racket titles. --- ![Jeffrey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/jk.jpeg) ### Advertisting Jeffrey Kimura is an experienced marketer with deep expertise in paid search, ad optimization, and keywords. ### Products URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/products/ Last updated: 2026-08-14T14:56:45.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/products.png) ## Products Powerful tools to help serious professionals research, write, manage, and market their books. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/RacketHub.png) #### RacketHub The most powerful, flexible, comprehensive, and intuitive book management system created for authors, book coaches, ghostwriters, and even other publishers. Ever. [LEARN MORE](https://racket-publishing.ghost.io/product-rackethub/?ref=racketpublishing.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/08/survey1000.jpg) #### Nonfiction Book Assessment A free tool to help authors size up their prospects. [LEARN MORE](https://www.racketpublishing.com/product-rpnba/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/track.png) #### Simple Publicity Tracker Tracking media pitches and placements has historically been a giant pain in the ass. Thanks to this powerful, customizable, and user-friendly Notion tool, it no longer has to be. [LEARN MORE](https://www.notion.com/templates/simple-publicity-tracker-977?ref=racket-publishing.ghost.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/macbook.png) #### Courses Racket offers two in-depth, asynchronous courses designed to get authors to write and market their book as quickly and effectively as possible. [LEARN MORE](https://racket-publishing.ghost.io/product-courses/?ref=racketpublishing.com) ### Racket Publishing URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/home/ Last updated: 2026-09-12T15:02:09.000Z # Serious books for serious authors. # Serious books for serious authors. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/10/titles-1-1.jpeg) Racket is a [boutique](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-benefit-of-boutiques/) hybrid publisher that has released five prescriptive nonfiction [titles](https://www.racketpublishing.com/titles/) with more planned. At the heart of everything we do lies [RacketHub](https://www.racketpublishing.com/product-rackethub/)—the most powerful and sophisticated book-management system created. Ever. [LEARN MORE](https://www.racketpublishing.com/services) ✏️ For busy professionals who want to write and communicate better, Racket offers [writing services](https://www.racketpublishing.com/services/), state-of-the-art [products](https://www.racketpublishing.com/products/), valuable [courses](https://www.racketpublishing.com/product-courses/), and unique [insights](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/). Plus and Premium subscribers benefit from an increasing array of [perks](https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits). ## Elevate Your Writing Game Sign up to receive expert advice on writing and adjacent topics, such as publishing, writing, AI, technology, and marketing. SUBSCRIBE Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### "I absolutely love how my book turned out." —Michelle Ann Gitlitz, author of *Reimagining Payments* [READ MORE TESTIMONIALS](https://www.racketpublishing.com/praise) --- TAKE THE Racket Publishing Nonfiction Book Assessment 🆕 Want a complimentary evaluation of your book idea? [LEARN MORE ](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/nonfiction-book-assessment/) ## Featured Products and Services ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/RacketHub.png) #### RacketHub The most powerful, flexible, comprehensive, and intuitive book management system created for authors, book coaches, ghostwriters, and even other publishers. Ever. [LEARN MORE](https://racket-publishing.ghost.io/products-rackethub/?ref=racketpublishing.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/wheel-1.jpg) #### The Author Flywheel ****How to Intelligently and Affordably Market Your Book** If you find marketing to be the most challenging aspect of the book world, take solace in the fact that you’ve got plenty of company. Nearly [four in five authors](https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/survey-results-the-state-of-indie-authorship/?utm%5Fsource=Gotham+Ghostwriters+Newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=0ab3579a44-EMAIL%5FCAMPAIGN%5F2023%5F07%5F11%5F04%5F28%5FCOPY%5F01&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fterm=0%5F-16a4d606e8-%5BLIST%5FEMAIL%5FID%5D#:~:text=the%20thing%20authors%20can%20most%20agree%20on%3A%20marketing%20is%20hard.%20nearly%2080%25%20of%20survey%20respondents%20said%20it%20was%20the%20most%20challenging%20part%20of%20the%20publishing%20process.%20second%20was%20writing%20the%20book%20at%2011%25.) feel the same way. While there are no guarantees, you can take steps to increase your book’s visibility. In this course, 14-time, award-winning author Phil Simon opens up his playbook of author marketing hacks. He offers his most valuable advice—especially on how to avoid making painful and expensive mistakes. If you’re looking to get as much bang for your marketing buck as possible, then this is the course for you. [LEARN MORE](https://racket-publishing.ghost.io/products-courses?ref=racketpublishing.com) ### "The team at Racket Publishing is phenomenal." —Amanda Wick, author, *The Catalysts* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/typewriter-1.jpg) #### Ghostwriting Just writing a book is a challenge—never mind a good one. Let Racket help you realize your dream of writing a professional, original, and insighful book. Oh, and you retain all of your book’s intellectual property. [LEARN MORE](https://racket-publishing.ghost.io/services?ref=racketpublishing.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/coach-1.png) #### Author Coaching Having a hard time conceptualizing your book? Need an experienced voice to help you break the logjam? Racket offers hourly coaching to help you overcome writing obstacles. [LEARN MORE](https://racket-publishing.ghost.io/services?ref=racketpublishing.com) ## If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it. —Toni Morrison ### Products: RacketHub URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/product-rackethub/ Last updated: 2026-01-16T16:19:22.000Z ![RacketHub Logo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/RacketHub-1.png) ## The Ultimate Book Management System Publishers, ghostwriters, book coaches, and authors rejoice. Quite simply, the most powerful, customizable, integrated, comprehensive, organized, and intuitive system of its kind ever created. Now with [AI agents](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/rackethub-agents-have-arrived/). [SCHEDULE A 15-MIN. DEMO](https://calendly.com/phil-qs6e/rackethub?ref=racketpublishing.com) ## **Everything. Everywhere. All in a single, searchable, and integrated repository.** Prospective titles & subtitles | Document revisions | Interviews | Research sources | Book covers | Book blurbs | Audiobook files | Manuscripts | Tables & figures | Galleys | Hours worked | Indexes | Vendor invoices | Meeting notes. You name it. [VIEW FAQ](https://www.racketpublishing.com/product-rackethub#faq) --- #### Page Contents - [Everything. Everywhere. All in a single, searchable, and integrated repository.](#everything-everywhere) - [Charts and Dashboards Galore](#charts-dashboards) - [Project Management Reimagined](#project-management) - [Report and Resolve Issues](#report-resolve-issues) - [Slay Manual Tasks via Insanely Useful Automations](#automations) - [Manage Project Vendors, Hours, Invoices, and Expenses](#manage-vendors) - [Quickly Solicit and Provide Critical Feedback to Team Members](#team-feedback) - [Consolidate Project Communications & Keep Everyone on the Same Page](#consolidate-communications) - [Ask the Agents 🆕](#agents) - [Navigate With Ease](#navigate-ease) - [Relish Your Research](#research) - [Jam-Packed With Cool, Unexpected Goodies](#unexpected-goodies) - [Easily Customize RacketHub as Needed](#customize-rackethub) - [FAQ](#faq) - [Pricing](#pricing) ## Charts and Dashboards Galore Visualize the progress of your project via simple, effective charts. Custom dashboards let everyone know only what they need when they need it. Need to know your chapter word count? No need to keep a spreadsheet. RacketHub serves up the answer. Click on any image below to enlarge it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/phases.png) Project Plan ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/rh33.png) ToC ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/RH52b.png) Editor Dashboard ## Project Management Reimagined The RacketHub Book Project Plan is [beyond comprehensive](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/252-tasks-business-book/). It ships with: - An extensive database containing over 250 curated, organized tasks for every conceivable publishing method. - Dozens of useful, role-based cuts of the data. Quickly remove tasks that don’t apply to your project *en masse.* For example, if you’re self-publishing or going with a hybrid publisher like Racket, you may want to retire certain tasks, such as writing a formal book proposal or looking for an agent. With a single click, see your upcoming tasks in loads of useful views, including Kanban boards, timelines, lists, and calendars. Smart alerts tell you when a task is due, a week overdue, and a month overdue. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/project-chart.png) Project Tasks ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/RH32A.png) Project Plan: Calendar ## Report and Resolve Issues Is there a specific problem with the ePub file, book cover, or a deeper issue altogether? RacketHub provides one-stop shopping to log, address, and ultimately resolve any and all issues that arise over the course of the project. Either enter them directly into the designated database or, if you like, use a form. Reporting an issue automatically kicks off a notification to your designer. Number of emails or other messages to send: Zero. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/new-issue.png) Report New ePub Issue ### “RacketHub kept me on track thoughout my entire book project. It helped me immensely.” #### —Former RacketHub User ## Slay Manual Tasks via Insanely Useful Automations Need to postpone your book’s publication date? No problem. Select the new date, hit a button, and let one of RacketHub’s many über-useful automations instantly push all incomplete task dates. Oh, and in the process, you’ll alert everyone who needs to know about the changes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/task-dashboard.png) Project Task Dashboard ## ## Manage Project Vendors, Hours, Invoices, and Expenses RacketHub tracks all vendors, invoices, and payments. Want to see how much you’ve paid your ghostwriter, editor, designer, or indexer? The answer is a click away. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/vendor-expenses.png) RH13B ## “No, I'd rather spend more of my time searching for messages and documents, said no project manager, author, editor, designer, publicist, or publishing professional ever.” ## Quickly Solicit and Provide Critical Feedback to Team Members RacketHub maximizes teamwork at every step. As but one example, authors can easily upload ideas for book covers—and respond to their designer’s concepts. Vote on covers and exchange real-time and asynchronous feedback. Minimize the misunderstandings that plague projects. Ditto for book figures, interior layouts, and just about everything else in the book universe. [SCHEDULE A 15-MIN. DEMO](https://calendly.com/phil-qs6e/rackethub?ref=racketpublishing.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/RH37.png) Book Covers ## Consolidate Project Communications & Keep Everyone on the Same Page A dedicated, multi-view message board obviates the need for Slack, MS Teams, or email hell. Timely, contextual alerts keep everyone on the team informed of key events, milestones, and problems. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/RH12.png) Project Message Board ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/notifications.png) Notifications # Say adios to tech and alert overload. Rackethub replaces Microsoft Teams, Slack, Asana, Trello, Basecamp, Google Docs, Dropbox, email, texts, and other third-party tools. # Say adios to tech and alert overload. Rackethub replaces Microsoft Teams, Slack, Asana, Trello, Google Docs, Basecamp, Dropbox, email, texts, and other third-party tools. ## ## Ask the Agents 🆕 Need help? Sure, you can search Notion, but what if you want to ask questions in natural language? After all, we live in an era of AI. As of January 2026, RacketHub ships with AI agents to help you: - Navigate the system. - Quickly find what you need. - Scour the web to research your book. - And more. Read more about the agents [here](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/rackethub-agents-have-arrived/). ## Navigate With Ease RacketHub is organized in [a logical, hierarchical way](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/on-buildings-and-books/). Thanks to oodles of Notion keyboard shortcuts, you’ll quickly learn how to get where you need to go. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/rh30.png) Essential Trackers ## Relish Your Research RacketHub runs on any device. The [research engine](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/research-ingestion-engines/) quickly captures research articles, podcasts, thoughts, books, and more on the fly, even from a web browser. Easily view the number and types of resources for each chapter before you begin writing it. Want to see which entries lack a source URL or document? The answer is one click away. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/RH34A.PNG) Research Tracker ## Jam-Packed With Cool, Unexpected Goodies RacketHub doesn’t just include essential trackers around manuscripts, tasks, book covers, and book figures. There’s more. Much, much more. Sprinkled through the book-management system are thoughtful, time-saving features that will make you smile, such as one-click duplicate resource identification. At every point, RacketHub lets you minimize manual work. Adding a new subtask to the project plan? Through a little magic, the new subtask automatically inherits key properties of its parent task. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/rh34c.png) Dupe Finder ## Easily Customize RacketHub as Needed By this point, one thing should be evident: RacketHub ships with oodles of functionality. Still, you may choose not to use some of it. Maybe book marketing or audiobook generation falls outside the purview of your book project. Perhaps your title won’t include proper figures. No worries. With a few clicks, you can disable features that you don’t plan on using—and resurrect them if things change. It’s also simple to modify existing functionality based on your specific needs. RacketHub creator Phil Simon can cover this over Zoom during your recordable onboarding sessions. [VIEW THE CHANGE LOG](https://philsimon.notion.site/c4328281bbd34612a0b73eaa6d756e90?v=017348d881214014a07ccfc209e6b60e&pvs=4&ref=racketpublishing.com) ## FAQ Click each toggle below to expand it. #### I run a publishing company. How would RacketHub benefit me? RacketHub vastly reduces the number of tools that you’ll need to use and the number of software licenses for which you’ll need to pay. By embracing a modern solution, you’ll be able to more easily manage projects, communicate with team members, and save time trying to find documents and messages from others. #### As a ghostwriter or book coach, how would RacketHub benefit me? Much of your job involves conducting research—a process that can quickly spiral out of control. Prolific author and ghostwriter Phil Simon designed RacketHub very much with this in mind. RacketHub serves many purposes for ghostwriters, but it’s particularly good at [tracking and analyzing research sources](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/research-ingestion-engines/). Beyond research, you’ll quickly warm to the system and track your clients’ projects in a way that you simply cannot with a hodgepodge of disparate, disconnected tools. #### Just what is Notion, anyway? [Notion](https://www.notion.so/?ref=racketpublishing.com) is an all-in-one magnet app with [more than 9 million users and 4 million customers](https://www.notionyou.com/blog/notion-statistics?ref=racketpublishing.com#:~:text=There%20are%20over%209%20million,productivity%20and%20collaboration%20software%20space.) as of this writing. From its onset, it has embraced [blocks](https://www.philsimon.com/blog/lc-nc/blocks-productivity-future-collaboration/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Notion turns the idea of a standalone Word Doc, Google Sheet, or database on its head. For more info, check out [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTahLEX3NXo&ref=racketpublishing.com). #### I've never heard of Notion. Will RacketHub be too advanced for me? No, being able to use RacketHub effectively does **not* necessitate an advanced understanding of—or experience with—Notion. With any new system, however, there’s always a learning curve. Notion and RacketHub are no exceptions to this rule. That’s why Racket Publishing founder Phil Simon provides four 45-minute personalized training sessions to all new RacketHub clients recorded over Zoom. Yep, your purchase includes three full hours of individual instruction. #### Can I view the license agreement? You can read this short document [here](https://philsimon.notion.site/RH02-RacketHub-EULA-03976a6b6b0a44ad80a84f26b4b43795?ref=racketpublishing.com). #### Does RacketHub make writing a book easy? No, but it makes the process **easier*. Big difference. #### I bought RacketHub. When do I get it? After making the purchase, Racket founder Phil Simon will contact you ASAP to arrange two 45-minute onboarding sessions. During that time, the two of you will either: - Set up a [new Notion Workspace](https://www.notion.so/help/intro-to-workspaces?ref=racketpublishing.com). - Add him as a guest to your exisitng workspace. After the requisite permissions get ironed out, Simon will import RacketHub into your Notion workspace and the first session begins. #### Does RacketHub only work on my desktop or laptop? Since RacketHub runs on the Notion app, you can access it on any device you like. #### Does RacketHub replace all other tools involved in writing a book? No. You’ll still probably want to write the manuscript in Microsoft Word or [Scrivener](https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview?ref=racketpublishing.com) and take meetings via Zoom. What’s more, your designer will lay out the book in Adobe InDesign. Still, RacketHub dramatically reduces the number of tools you’ll need to get your professional book out there. #### What are the Notion billing requirements? RacketHub requires a [paid Notion plan](https://www.notion.so/pricing?ref=racketpublishing.com). (The Plus plan should suffice, depending on your team’s size.) Depending on how much you use Notion’s native AI tools, you may want to [pony up](https://www.notion.so/product/ai?ref=racketpublishing.com) an additional $8 to $10 per month per member. #### Can I buy RacketHub as a template? No, you won’t find it on [the Notion Marketplace](https://www.notion.so/templates/?ref=racketpublishing.com) or anywhere else. Clients will get more out of RacketHub through the three hours of personal training that they receive when they buy it. #### Help me understand the tech behind RacketHub. RacketHub runs on Notion, and Notion runs on [Amazon Web Services](https://www.notion.so/help/security-and-privacy?ref=racketpublishing.com#:~:text=Hosting%3A%20Notion%20is%20hosted%20on,the%20major%20cloud%20service%20providers.). #### What's the deal with support? RacketHub lives on Notion. If there’s a Notion bug, then you’ll have to contact the company and open a support ticket. If RacketHub isn’t working properly, just fill out the simple form inside it. #### Can I try the product for free? Unfortunately, no. Racket founder Phil Simon will, however, give you a complimentary, customized 15-minute product demo. Click [here](https://calendly.com/phil-qs6e/rackethub?ref=racketpublishing.com) to set that up. #### Can I customize RacketHub after buying it? Yes. You bought it. You can tweak existing databases, add and remove fields (technically, called **properties* in Notionland), create new database views, add formulas, and whatever else you like. Note that you needn’t know how to code to make the vast majority of changes. But … Your changes may break existing RacketHub functionality. It’s always wise to duplicate a page or database in case you make a mistake. Proper Notion customers can also effectively travel back in time and [reverse an error](https://www.notion.so/help/duplicate-delete-and-restore-content?ref=racketpublishing.com). If you want additional customizations and tweaks, you can hire RacketHub creator Phil Simon [here](https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect/). #### Can I view the licensing agreement? Click here to [read](https://philsimon.notion.site/RH02-RacketHub-Licensing-Agreement-03976a6b6b0a44ad80a84f26b4b43795?ref=racketpublishing.com) it. #### What are the technology and system requirements? RacketHub sits on top of Notion and runs on any device. If you’d prefer not to download the standalone Notion app for your desktop or laptop, have at it in a contemporary browser. #### Can I use RacketHub for more than one book? Yes. You can use RacketHub for as many of **your* books as you like. The operative word in that last sentence is **your*. You cannot white-label or resell RacketHub. For more information on this topic, see [the license agreement](https://philsimon.notion.site/RH02-RacketHub-Licensing-Agreement-03976a6b6b0a44ad80a84f26b4b43795?pvs=4&ref=racketpublishing.com). Authors, book coaches, and publishers will want create separate Notion databases, pages, and templates for each title. Put differently, you’ll quickly confuse yourself—and the others on your team—if you attempt to fuse two or more book projects into the same buckets. You can do it, but the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze. #### Could I use RacketHub to write my entire manuscript? I can’t stop you, but I wouldn’t recommend it. TL;DR: You’ll encounter a bevy of problems and waste time. Just because you can [doesn’t mean you should](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PLvdmifDSk&ref=racketpublishing.com). Now for the longer answer. Notion ships with a decent number of [styles](https://www.notion.so/help/columns-headings-and-dividers?ref=racketpublishing.com)—and RacketHub embraces them. Still, never mistake Notion for a proper word-processing program. You wouldn’t use a stapler to build a house. Make no mistake: When writing a manuscript of 30,000 words or more, document [styles matter](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/how-to-format-your-manuscript/). This goes double when your book moves to the design phase. Laying out a book requires a professional program, typically Adobe InDesign. The latter can easily read Word’s styles. In theory, you could write a simple manuscript with minimal styles in Notion and then [export it to Word](https://super.so/blog/export-notion-to-word?ref=racketpublishing.com). You’re going to have to do a great deal of rework, though. #### Is RacketHub suitable for any type of book? It's best for non-fiction titles. #### Talk to me about the onboarding process. Do I have to learn RacketHub all on own? No, you don’t. Because RacketHub is pretty involved, licensing includes 90 minutes of personalized training over Zoom that I’ll record and send to you. #### What types of licenses are available and how much do they cost? You can find pricing information at the bottom of this page. #### Is there an affiliate program? Yes. If you refer a customer to Racket Publishing who buys RacketHub, you will earn a 10 percent commission. Click [here](https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect) to sign up. #### Where can I view the RacketHub version history? Right [here](https://philsimon.notion.site/rackethub-change-log?v=017348d881214014a07ccfc209e6b60e&ref=racketpublishing.com). ## Pricing [Here](https://www.notion.so/philsimon/9330150b36194a988b96e56f42efc4f8?v=ed048181e9274217b25f29b05aa47b56&source=copy%5Flink) is a licensing breakdown as a—surprise—Notion database. Short answer: It's not cheap, but each purchase includes four hours of recordable, personalized training. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/RacketHub-pricing-2.png) [BUY RACKETHUB](https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect) ### Products: Courses URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/product-courses/ Last updated: 2026-01-30T21:36:26.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/course1.png) ## Courses Essential knowledge to help authors effectively write and market their books. ## The great aim of education is not knowledge but action. —Herbert Spencer ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/wheel.jpg) #### The Author Flywheel ****How to Intelligently and Affordably Market Your Book** If you find marketing to be the most challenging aspect of the book world, take solace in the fact that you’ve got plenty of company. Nearly [four in five authors](https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/survey-results-the-state-of-indie-authorship/?utm%5Fsource=Gotham+Ghostwriters+Newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=0ab3579a44-EMAIL%5FCAMPAIGN%5F2023%5F07%5F11%5F04%5F28%5FCOPY%5F01&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fterm=0%5F-16a4d606e8-%5BLIST%5FEMAIL%5FID%5D#:~:text=the%20thing%20authors%20can%20most%20agree%20on%3A%20marketing%20is%20hard.%20nearly%2080%25%20of%20survey%20respondents%20said%20it%20was%20the%20most%20challenging%20part%20of%20the%20publishing%20process.%20second%20was%20writing%20the%20book%20at%2011%25.) feel the same way. While there are no guarantees, you can take steps to increase your book’s visibility. In this course, 14-time, award-winning author Phil Simon opens up his playbook of author marketing hacks. He offers his most valuable advice—especially on how to avoid making painful and expensive mistakes. If you’re looking to get as much bang for your marketing buck as possible, then this is the course for you. Watch the course trailer below: [LEARN MORE](https://www.notion.com/templates/the-author-flywheel?ref=racketpublishing.com) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/typewriter.jpg) #### How to Write a Business Book ****An Action-Packed Course From an Award-Winning, 14-Time Author** Got an idea for a business book but you are overwhelmed about where to even begin? Don’t feel bad. Many others—maybe even most—are in the same boat. In this souped-up version of his original 2019 course, award-winning author Phil Simon explains how to move from idea to outline to manuscript to final product. Oh, and he tells you the questions that you’ll need to answer along the way. Watch the course trailer below: [LEARN MORE](https://www.notion.com/templates/hwbb?ref=racketpublishing.com) ### Praise URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/about-praise/ Last updated: 2026-01-24T17:01:48.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/thumb.png) ## Praise Kudos from former and current clients. "Thank you, Phil Simon, for being my writing partner, ghostwriter, work husband, publisher, project manager, voice of reason, advisor, necessary naysayer, cheerleader, promoter, and friend." **—Amanda Wick, author of *The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order*** --- "The team at Racket Publishing is phenomenal. I absolutely love how *Reimagining Payments* turned out." **—Michelle Ann Gitlitz, author of *Reimagining Payments: The Business Case for Digital Currencies*** --- "Phil Simon was instrumental in helping us get our latest book published. From content organization to layout and editing to proofing, Simon and his crew were with us every step of the way. They even handled our last-minute requests with professionalism and a can-do attitude." **—Scott Batchelor, Marketing Communications Director, SAS** --- "Phil Simon helped us to publish our first MIKE2.0 book in 2013\. We didn’t really realize how much more work needs to be done to get a book published even after you have written all of the content. Simon and his team took excellent care of all the editing and proofreading, creating the cover art and dozens of diagrams, publishing, and distribution via print and e-book channels. And equally important, everyone provided advice and project management throughout the process. This was very reassuring. The team was easy to work with, very collaborative but also well organized. I highly recommend Simon to anyone who is thinking about publishing a book without the hassle of a large publishing house." **—Andreas Rindler, Cofounder, MIKE 2.0** --- "Publishing a book is no easy task. Just like anything else in life, your book will only get one shot with consumers. In many cases, this will happen before they ever pick it up and read a page. Your book must compel people to not only pick it up, but to also want to read more than the first and last paragraph. Motion offers you the ability to accomplish all of these goals. I was impressed with the high level of guidance and expertise that Simon and his team offer." **—Courtney R. Logan, Author, *Shaped by Fire*** --- "The Internet provides powerful capabilities to help people achieve their goals. Phil Simon and his team understand how technology enables creative endeavors like books. Simon gives great advice based on his considerable experience. His infusion of reality and no-holds-barred pragmatism will help you succeed." **—William McKnight, author and consultant** --- "Simon and his crew are a breath of fresh air. As a publishing consultant, Phil helped me better define my next book and broke the logjam." **—Mike Schrenk, author, speaker, and consultant** --- "Phil Simon provided enormous clarity in a confusing publishing landscape. It was able to simplify the publishing process, connect me to the right people, and reassure me that I was on track. As a result, my idea became a successfully published in under 90 days. I cannot recommend him highly enough." **—Krista Whitley, author, *Social Media Unicorn*** --- "As a first-time author, the best decision I made was enlisting the assistance of Phil Simon. His suggestions helped make my book better than I realized it could be." **—Jeffrey Pelletier, über Marillion fan and author of *The Invention of Crowdfunding*** --- "Phil Simon is laser-focused on bringing remarkable products to market." **—Nikos Acuña, author, *Mindshare*** ### Subscriber Benefits & Resources URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits/ Last updated: 2026-09-04T04:45:05.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/three_presents_sketch_800x800-5.png) ## Subscriber Perks Take your Racket membership to the next level and receive exclusive content, free Notion and AI tools, and discounts on courses and templates. ****Last updated:** January 21, 2026 [LEVEL-UP MY MEMBERSHIP](https://www.racketpublishing.com/portal/#/portal/signup) ### Benefits Overview [Submit an Idea for a Future Post](#section-four-title) | [Free Notion Templates](#section-one-title) | [Claude AI Tools ](#section-onefive-title) | [Videos](#section-two-title) | [Discounts](#section-three-title) #### What do the the emojis near the blog posts signify? 🌍 = Public content that anyone can view without signing up for any plan. 🎁 = Reading the whole post requires creating a Free account & logging in to it. ➕ = Reading the entire post requires creating a Plus account & logging in to it. ⭐️ = Reading the whole post requires creating a Premium account & logging in to it. The Free plan lets you read [a limited number of posts](https://www.racketpublishing.com/free-tier-posts/). Going Plus or Premium unlocks additional benefits and resources. The list includes: - Regular publishing, marketing, and writing insights in your inbox. - Exclusive [Plus](https://www.racketpublishing.com/plus-tier-posts/) and [Premium](https://www.racketpublishing.com/premium-tier-posts/) articles. - Free writing tools, including new Claude AI ones designed to improve your writing and save time citing sources in Microsoft Word manuscripts. - Free videos. - Discounts on [Racket courses](https://www.racketpublishing.com/products-courses/) and Notion templates. - Future post ideas about publishing, AI, marketing, the book business, or another related topic. - Votes in member polls to shape the future of posts and Notion templates. - Recordable, one-on-one coaching sessions with Racket founder and award-winning author Phil Simon. Click on the green Subscribe button in the menu to see each plan's benefits. Cancel your membership at any time without concern. Racket Publishing is [allergic to spam](https://www.racketpublishing.com/privacy-policy/). Got an idea for a future blog post? [ASK AWAY ](https://www.racketpublishing.com/submit-post-idea/) ⬇️ To access the rest of the benefits on this page, you have to subscribe to a paid Racket plan. --- _This page is for subscribers on the ➕ Plus and ⭐️ Premium tiers only._ ### Welcome: Plus URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/welcome-plus/ Last updated: 2025-12-21T18:12:34.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/mat-2.png) ## Welcome Thank you for becoming a Plus member of the Racket community. I'm stoked that you've decided to sign up for this paid plan. You can now unlock all [posts](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/), [freebies, and discounts](https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits/) on this site. If you like, you can [submit a future post idea](https://www.racketpublishing.com/submit-post-idea/) as well. If you signed up for an annual plan, 'll be in touch soon about scheduling your personalized 30-minute coaching session. In the meantime, if can be of any help, let me know. ![Signature](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/sig.png) Phil Simon Founder, Racket Publishing ### Privacy Policy URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/privacy-policy/ Last updated: 2026-06-18T12:32:47.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/02/safe.png) ## Privacy Policy Spam sucks. Here’s the obligatory, boring privacy page. ****Updated:** January 22, 2026 Racket Publishing values your privacy and treats all personal information furnished with the utmost care. By accessing, using, and downloading materials from this site, you agree to the terms of this privacy policy. You can visit this site without disclosing any information about yourself. In this case, Ghost collects the name of the IP address used to access the Internet and your previous and next sites. Racket can use this information to measure the number of visits, average time spent, page views, and other statistics about site visitors. (Data, baby.) With this information, Racket Publishing can also do the following: - [Manage](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdGrC9S4PYA&ref=phil-simon.ghost.io) site performance. - Make its site easier and more convenient to use. - Report information in aggregate form to partners or potential sponsors or advertisers. Racket Publishing doesn’t collect—nor does it use—any information submitted on this site for nefarious purposes. Really. ### Welcome: Premium URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/welcome-premium/ Last updated: 2025-12-21T18:14:18.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/welcome_wide.png) ## Welcome Thank you for subscribing to Racket's Premium plan. I'm stoked that you've decided to become a Premium member. You can now unlock [posts](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog) on this site, [freebies, and discounts](https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits) on this site. Go ahead and [submit a future post idea](https://www.racketpublishing.com/submit-post-idea/) if you like. I'll be in touch soon about scheduling the first of your personalized coaching sessions. I'll also provide additional single-use coupon codes so you can take either [Racket online course](https://www.racketpublishing.com/products-courses/) for free. Until then, if I can be of any help, [let me know](https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect). ![Signature](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/sig.png) Phil Simon Founder, Racket Publishing ### Submit a Post Idea URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/submit-post-idea/ Last updated: 2026-05-20T14:23:34.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/08/lb2.png) # Submit a Post Idea Subscribers can ask Racket Publishing founder Phil Simon a question about writing, publishing, AI, marketing, the book business, or another related topic. _This page is for subscribers only._ ### Welcome: Free URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/welcome-free/ Last updated: 2025-12-21T18:14:36.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/welcome_wide-1.png) ## Welcome Thank you for subscribing to Racket's Free plan. You can now unlock [Free posts](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/) and [submit ideas for blog posts](https://www.racketpublishing.com/submit-post-idea/). Maybe you'll eventually decide to upgrade your membership to one of the paid plans. That's my definition of a *hard sell*. In the meantime, if I can be of any assistance, let me know. ![Signature](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/sig.png) Phil Simon Founder, Racket Publishing ### Index URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog-index/ Last updated: 2026-02-09T00:27:36.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/02/scribble.png) ## Index As easy way to find the content on this site. ### FAQ URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/faq/ Last updated: 2026-01-12T04:27:37.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/wide-qs.png) ## FAQ You know the drill. ****Last Updated:** October 14, 2025 ### Jump to a Section [Subscriptions](#section-one-title) | [Publishing](#section-two-title) | [RacketHub](#section-three-title) | [Other](#section-four-title) ## Subscriptions #### I see an emoji near a blog post. What does it signify? 🌍 = Public content that anyone can view without signing up for any plan. 🎁 = Reading the whole post requires creating a Free account & logging in to it. ➕ = Reading the whole post requires creating a Plus account & logging in to it. ⭐️ = Reading the whole post requires creating a Premium account & logging in to it. #### What are the perks of becoming a paid subscriber? You can access a slew of discounts, freebies, templates, [new AI tools](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/perks/), and premium content. I don't know what you're trying to accomplish. Generally speaking, though, they will benefit you and save you money. That holds true even if Racket Publishing isn't releasing your book. View the whole list [here](https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits/). #### Why am I unable to read a blog post? In short, it's behind a paywall. Depending on the article, you'll need to sign up for at least a Free account to view it. #### I'm thinking about or working on a book, but I don't intend to release it through Racket Publishing. Would I still benefit by becoming an member? In a word, **yes*. #### Do you offer a referral program? Not at this time, but it's certainly possible in the near future. ## Publishing #### How long does it take to publish a book with Racket? That's an impossible question to answer with any precision. Way too many variables are at play. At a minimum, though, Racket operates at a speed that legacy publishers cannot come close to matching. Even some larger hybrid presses would be hard-pressed to match our velocity. #### What types of books does Racket publish? Prescriptive non-fiction is our wheelhouse. #### Does Racket offer author advances? No. #### If I publish my book with Racket, who owns the copyright and intellectual property? You do. Forever and ever. #### Will Racket take a percentage of my future book royalties? No. #### Will Racket consider working at a discount in exchange for a percentage of future royalties? For both philosophical and logistical reasons, the answer is **no*. #### Where can I view Racket's service rates? At the bottom of [this page](https://www.racketpublishing.com/services/). ## RacketHub #### Isn't [RacketHub](https://www.racketpublishing.com/product-rackethub/) just a fancy project-management tool? That's like calling a [McLaren P1](https://cars.mclaren.com/en/legacy/mclaren-p1?ref=racketpublishing.com) a coffee cup holder. Yeah, it will do that, but you're just scratching its surface. #### If I work with Racket, do I have to use [RacketHub](https://www.racketpublishing.com/rackethub/)? Technically no, but you'll spend far more money as a result and. the project won't go nearly as smoothly as it would have. #### After our project ends, can I use RacketHub on my own? Not unless you purchase a proper license. ❓ ****For more RacketHub FAQs, see the bottom of** [****this page**](https://www.racketpublishing.com/product-rackethub/)****.** ## Other #### What's the deal with the name **Racket*? Founder Phil Simon enjoys tennis. Plus, it's a hat tip to [Marillion's Racket Records](https://www.marillion.com/shop/?ref=racketpublishing.com). #### How does Racket price its services? We price high-variability services on an hourly basis. It's impossible to know in advance how long a given ghostwriting, project management, developmental editing, design, and other project will take. Book brainstorming jobs cost a flat rate of $3,500\. The variance for this type of work tends to be much lower, making hourly tracking less important. #### Who built this website? [Cathy Sarisky](https://www.spectralwebservices.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) managed the site's migration from WordPress to Ghost. She's amazing. #### I'd like to write a guest post for this site. Is that possible? Not at this time. ### AI Disclaimer URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/ai-disclaimer/ Last updated: 2026-01-17T14:42:46.000Z ![](https://www.philsimon.com/content/images/2025/08/invert-ai.png) # AI Disclaimer ### A note about how Racket uses generative tools on its website. 🤖 ****Updated:** August 16, 2025 More than ever, transparency is essential. Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and the like are powerful tools, and ignoring them would be a mistake. Still, it's imperative to use them responsibly. Racket occasionally uses them to: - Generate infographics. - Retitle blog posts. - Check grammar. - Analyze others' language. In each case, you'll find obvious labels on the posts and pages reflecting AI use. ### Free Tier Posts URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/free-tier-posts/ Last updated: 2026-01-12T23:57:11.000Z # Free Posts In order to read entire posts with this tag, you have to create a Free account and log into it. ## Posts ### When Intelligence and Clear Writing Collide URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/intelligence-clear-writing-collide/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T13:01:54.000Z A friend of mine recently sent me a Substack article about how employers are using AI to surveil their employees. (I'll keep the author's name to myself.) For a bunch of reasons, I was eager to read it. I trust her judgment, the piece's title piqued my interest, and the subjects overlapped with my book [*The Nine*](https://www.philsimon.com/book-the-nine/?ref=racketpublishing.com). As it turns out, that intrigue lasted about maybe 30 seconds. It took nary a minute for the author to lose me. His first, meandering, clause-laden sentence came in at a hearty 70 words—yes, 70\. Not quite [this bad](https://www.philsimon.com/how-not-to-start-a-book/?ref=racketpublishing.com), but still way too freakin' long for the opening salvo. ## Trusting My Instincts I tried to read the rest of Author X's lengthy piece, but I just couldn't. In the first few paragraphs, he did all the following: 1. Conflated em dashes with hyphens. 2. Inserted comma splices and superfluous words. 3. Relied way too much on the passive voice. 4. Generally confused the hell out of me. My gut instinct was right: Author X was both über intelligent and a truly terrible scribe. (I've profiled this criminal before.) What's more, others clearly shared that opinion. Case in point: the following reader comment on a prior post: I find your blog extremely frustrating. I read your book, and it was a revelation. Genuinely an essential read in the AI age. When I read your blog and occasionally decipher insights from your writing, they are usually uniquely and useful. But dear God, can you make your writing a bit clearer? Your pieces read like a stream of consciousness. You pack sentences with too many twists and turns, and so many quirky turns of phrase that it becomes really hard to follow you. And, finally, the *pièce de résistance*: For this post, I literally had to have Claude rewrite it and then read the Claude version. Obviously suboptimal. If I cared enough to understand Author X's point, I would have done the same thing. I don't. [On Horses and Clear WritingA short post on an obscure term.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-40a2569c-30f2-48dd-9835-5bf9c73326bc.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/a_horse-cc48aa5c-8dae-4c34-a3fd-f87f211fe71b.jpg)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/horses-clear-writing/) ## What You Need to Know Say that you're a smart cookie. You're accomplished and successful. As such, it's easy to get defensive and dismiss others' claims. Even if you accept readers' criticisms as valid, you might not care that they need to use a machine to rewrite your words just *to understand them*. Hell, you may routinely channel your inner Marshall McLuhan pride yourself on being intentionally opaque. No one can stop you. > Are my readers likely to truly pick up what I'm putting down? A better option: Care about the words you put out in the world. Don't make people use ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini to turn your terrible prose into something more intelligible. Ask yourself, “Are my readers likely to truly pick up what I'm putting down?” As B.F. Skinner [once wrote](https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/b%5Ff%5Fskinner%5F100029?ref=racketpublishing.com), “The real question is not whether machines think but whether men do.” Want a free assessment of your nonfiction book idea? [LET'S LIGHT THIS CANDLE ](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/nonfiction-book-assessment/) ### Five Ways to Repurpose Your Book URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/five-ways-to-repurpose-your-book/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T02:50:09.000Z Most first-time authors fail to appreciate the following grim reality: After the initial rush wears off, odds are that sales of their nonfiction titles will taper off considerably. Put differently, once a book hits the [backlist](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backlist?ref=racketpublishing.com), it may well sell a handful of copies of it per month. Rare is the text that explodes months or years after its publication. Because they wrote the book, however, there are still ample ways for them to *legally* turn their titles into a new products or services. ⚖️ ****Not Picking Nits** Yes, the legal distinction is a key one. Little stops others from illegally using your book in all sorts of unscrupulous ways. Ahem, [Meta](https://publishers.org/news/publishers-and-authors-file-class-action-lawsuit-against-meta-and-zuckerberg-for-willful-copyright-infringement-to-develop-llama-ai-models/?ref=racketpublishing.com). ## Good News and the New Reality In the past, the options I list below would have required considerable funds or have taken a great deal of time and effort. The widespread availability of powerful AI tools, however, has changed the game. Brass tacks: today it's relatively easy and inexpensive to do each of the following with your book: _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Introducing the Racket Publishing Nonfiction Book Assessment URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/nonfiction-book-assessment/ Last updated: 2026-08-13T22:55:50.000Z My first book dropped in 2009\. Since that time, I've written [a bunch more](https://www.philsimon.com/books?ref=racketpublishing.com), edited another, and ghostwritten a few. Over the last 17 years, I've also met more authors and would-be authors than I can count. When speaking with both experienced nonfiction scribes and newbies, one question invariably arises: Is my idea for a book a good one? What do you think? ## One Question Yields Many More It's a simple question, but its answer is decidedly complex. After all, there are so many variables to consider. Among the dozens of questions to consider are the following: - What's your book about? - Got a history of successfully moving copies? - What's your marketing budget? - Who are the ideal [personas](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writer-personas/) for your book? - What are the pros and cons of working with an agent? - What are they going to do with the information? - Are you only interested in [legacy publishers](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/traditional-publishers/), or will you consider other options? - When do you want your book to drop? - How big is your author platform? - How should I use AI? (That question alone warrants a long chat.) I could go on, but you get my drift. ## The Big Reveal and Other Essentials Today marks the release of the Racket Publishing Nonfiction Book Assessment. It's a 23-question survey designed to size up: 1. The quality and commercial viability of your nonfiction book idea. 2. Areas for improvement. 3. The likelihood that traditional publishers will show interest in your proposal. 4. Your best publishing options given your specific goals. 5. And more. The cost itself is free. After qualifying respondents (to weed out spammers and bots), I'll send the 700-ish-word RPNBA to them. From there, individuals can opt to discuss it with me for a cost of $350 (USD). I'll record it over Zoom and share it with you immediately after the call. It's launching today in beta. [LEARN MORE](https://philsimon.notion.site/3b9fbefd2aed808e95f7ed928c6652cc?pvs=105&ref=racketpublishing.com) [BOOK THE FOLLOW-UP SESSION](https://tidycal.com/philsimon/rpnba?ref=racketpublishing.com) ### On Horses and Clear Writing URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/horses-clear-writing/ Last updated: 2026-07-16T13:07:15.000Z As an unabashed wordsmith, I enjoy learning about arcane factoid origins. Many of these tidbits stem from my [Mental Floss Words for Words Calendar](https://www.mentalfloss.com/recommended/mental-floss-2026-desk-calendars-on-sale-now?ref=racketpublishing.com). The other day, it served up this absolute gem: The horse raced past the barn fell. These seven words may be grammatically correct, but they are concurrently confusing as hell. ## Naming the Offending Term As it turns out, there is a name for this type of linguistic offender: [the garden-path sentence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden-path%5Fsentence?ref=racketpublishing.com). From Wikipedia, here's its definition: ...a grammatically correct sentence that starts in such a way that a reader's most likely interpretation will be incorrect; the reader is lured into a parse that turns out to be a dead end or yields a clearly unintended meaning. Here's another gem from [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/linguistics/comments/12bqpr/rlinguistics%5Fgive%5Fme%5Fyour%5Fbest%5Fgarden%5Fpath/?ref=racketpublishing.com): Fat people eat accumulates. I can think of a few prominent authors who routinely construct their sentences in such an ambiguous manner. [On Title and Subtitle RedundancyThoughts on author term stuffing, specious claims, and lack of imagination.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-5f8303c1-0872-4bfd-b83a-20bca82bd73f.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/dupe-9a70ed56-336a-4dd1-bb42-96271c74c48a.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/on-title-and-subtitle-redundancy/) ## What You Need to Know Occasional variations and turns of phrases are fine. At the same time, you don't want your readers regularly wondering what the hell they just read. If I've learned anything in my writing career, it's this: Stick to clear, simple, and active sentences. In other words, nothing remotely close to [this peach](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writer-sloppiness/). Trying to be cute or a little too clever is bound to alienate more people than you please. ### Squaring the Distribution Circle URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/squaring-the-distribution-circle/ Last updated: 2026-06-15T13:28:28.000Z Authors looking to go the indie route often struggle to fully grasp the idea of distribution. (I certainly did when I started Motion Publishing in 2010.) At first glance, the concept seems straightforward. In reality, though, the subject is far more complex than most believe. Tanya Hall recently explained its nuances on [Jane Friedman's blog](https://janefriedman.com/one-way-to-tell-if-a-publisher-actually-has-distribution/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Her post is worth reading. TL;DR: Not all distribution is created equal. ## Passive Distribution There's a chasm between *passive* and *active* distribution. In the former, an organization—typically [IngramSpark](https://www.ingramspark.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com)—lists the author's book in its vast wholesale catalog. If an individual, retail outlet, university bookstore, or other party wants to buy the book, it does. IngramSpark then prints the ordered copies on demand. > Not all distribution is created equal. That's the good news. Here's the bad: Nary a single person at IngramSpark cares if your book sells at all. ## Active Distribution With active distribution, a publisher either: 1. Purchases and prints physical copies of the title—and we're not talking about a few dozen. Its internal, dedicated salesforce then works its channels and industry connections to move existing inventory. 2. Works with [Ingram Publisher Services](https://ingrampublishings.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com), [Independent Publishers Group](https://www.ipgbook.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com), Macmillan Publisher Services, or another third party to move copies of a title *en masse*. It's just another form of outsourcing. In either case, human beings care if the books in their purview sell—and not because they believe in the power of the written word or agree with the authors' messages. Those statements may apply, but make no mistake: it's about money. [On Title and Subtitle RedundancyThoughts on author term stuffing, specious claims, and lack of imagination.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-3cc7dc7a-1c79-48ca-a859-64cf4236b8a2.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/dupe-4487d8bc-121c-490c-9a95-2e259b13d949.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/on-title-and-subtitle-redundancy/) ## What You Need to Know Of course, all indie nonfiction authors want active distribution. Who *wouldn't* sign up for dedicated professionals hawking your book to booksellers of all types? Before you go all-in on it, though, here's the critical question that you need to ask: What happens to those unsold copies? You're going to either buy all of them back or pay to have them shredded. Reps at Macmillan Publisher Services won't incur the inventory costs out of the goodness of their hearts. Know as much before you sign anything with a hybrid publisher or distribution service. As always, there's no such thing as a free lunch. ### Google's Cautionary AI Tale URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/googles-cautionary-ai-tale/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T13:32:22.000Z You're problably not a software developer. I'm not either—although I know enough to be dangerous. If you're sitting on the outside, it's natural to believe that *anyone* can read, understand, and fix code. After all, how difficult can it be for a seasoned Python expert to debug errant programs or scripts in her native language? Harder than you expect, but don't believe me. As 404 Media reports, Google engineers are currently [facing this problem](https://www.404media.co/google-employees-internally-share-memes-about-how-its-ai-sucks/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Whyt? Because of the company's aggressive dive into AI. 🤖 Investors love AI mentions in quarterly reports and product announcements. Anthropic recently claimed that its tools generate [80 percent of its code](https://www.anthropic.com/institute/recursive-self-improvement?ref=racketpublishing.com). Here's the money quote from the 404 Media article: No one understands the code because no one wrote it. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### On Title and Subtitle Redundancy URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/on-title-and-subtitle-redundancy/ Last updated: 2026-06-01T17:14:01.000Z You needn't run a hybrid publisher to know that nailing the title-subtitle combination is essential and [really freakin' hard](https://www.philsimon.com/nailing-book-title-subtitle/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Think art more than science. Generative AI tools today make it easier to brainstorm than ever. That's not to say, though, that plenty of books with clunky monikers don't hit the shelves. As I explain in today's post, they most certainly do. ## Lack of Imagination _This post is for subscribers only._ ### You've Written an Incoherent Nonfiction Manuscript. Now What? URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/incoherent-nonfiction-manuscript/ Last updated: 2026-05-26T14:56:06.000Z You've always wanted to write a proper book. Maybe a few of your friends and colleagues have. If they could do it, then why couldn't I? Over the past few months or even a year, you sat down a banged out a manuscript for a prescriptive nonfiction book. You prioritized [writing over research](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/book-research/). And, of course, you asked some of your friends for their input. Strength in numbers, right? You're not delusional. You're aware that your current, ostensibly final manuscript isn't perfect. To be clear, I'm not talking about a few easily fixable typos, grammatical errors, and sections that just don't quite jibe. No, your creation is much worse. The massive Word or Google document is fundamentally flawed. Hiring an experienced [developmental editor](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/developmental-edit/) will *identify* your manuscript's structural issues, but it certainly won't *fix* them. In this post, I'll explain the seven options at your disposal as well as their pros and cons. Note that the costs below include writing and editing. I'm excluding proofreading, fact-checking, design, indexing, and ePub conversion. ## 1: Developmental Edit The ghostwriter or developmental editor provides extensive notes on the book's content, structure, tone, and the like.. ### Pros - Of all the options listed here involving a professional ghostwriter or developmental editor, this option minimizes the costs involved. - You'll know exactly where the problems lay. ### Cons - Reading notes and then applying them to chapters will be overwhelming given the state of the manuscript. Put differently, reading about how to run a marathon is one thing. Running those 26.2 miles is something else. ### Estimated Cost $9,000. ## 2: Hire a Ghostwriter to Perform Selective Surgery The ghostwriter rewrites only a few key chapters of your book. ### Pros - Minimizes cost compared to a full rewrite. - Gives you a limited sense of what your final product should look like. ### Cons - The rest of the book will remain uneven if you leave the other chapters as is or attempt to ape the ghost's style. - Readers will notice the pervasive voice inconsistency. - You need to write the remaining chapters. That takes time and skill that you most likely lack. ### Estimated Cost $12,000 to $18,000. ## 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. ## 3: Hybrid Writing The ghostwriter writes a model chapter and provides limited editorial notes on the rest. A cheaper writer completes the manuscript. ### Pros - Minimizes the ghostwriter’s hours. - Ditto for the overall out-of-pocket costs. ### Cons - A less experienced writer is unlikely to match the style of a professional nonfiction author and ghostwriter. - Readers will quickly notice the tone inconsistency. ### Estimated Cost $9,000 to $13,500. ## 4: Complete Ghostwriter Rewrite The ghostwriter takes the manuscript and makes it as professional as possible. The writing will be markedly better than it is in the current manuscript. ### Pros - Consistent voice and quality throughout the book. - You can focus most of your time on being a mother, running your firm, etc. - Best final product. - This is the most likely approach if you really want the book to help you achieve your professional goals. Ditto for realizing other [long-term benefits](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-tone-detection/). ### Cons - Expensive. - The ghost will still require your input at key points. ### Estimated Cost $35,000 to $45,000. ## 6: AI-Driven Rewrite You use AI to rewrite the manuscript. ### Pros - Much cheaper than hiring a ghost to do a complete teardown job. - Your book will probably be better than its prior incarnation. ### Cons - At present, Claude, ChatGPT, and other AI tools cannot ingest an entire 50,000-word manuscript and rewrite it. You'll quickly face [context rot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model%5Fcollapse?ref=racketpublishing.com). - AI quality and accuracy are unpredictable. - Still requires heavy review to be usable. - You can’t copyright AI-generated work. - Extensive fact-checking is required. - Reputable hybrid outfits focus on human-centered publishing, including Racket. You'll have to find [an agnostic publishing services company](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/myth-single-hybrid-publisher/). ### Estimated Cost $2,000—depending on how many tokens you'll need. TAKE THE PLUNGE Is 2026 finally the year you write and publish a professional nonfiction book? [LET'S LIGHT THIS CANDLE ](https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect) ## 6: Proceed Anyway Do nothing with the problematic manuscript. ### Pros - You will limit or eliminate any ghostwriting expenses. - At least you get your book out there. ### Cons - The book is unlikely to meet your goals. In fact, readers who discover the final product will leave with a negative impression of your professional credibility. In other words, you will have written a fundamentally flawed book—[not a serious one](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/serious-books-only/). - You don't get another bite at the apple. ## 7: Inaction Do nothing with the manuscript. In other words, wait. ### Pros - No more *immediate* expenses. - You don't release an incoherent mess and diminish your brand. - This option avoids putting out a book just for the sake of it. - You can return to the book when your schedule and budget let you. - You may realize that ghosts are worth their money. ### Major Cons - Opportunity cost of not acting now. - Much of your manuscript may be less relevant or irrelevant when you return to it. AI is just one topic that changes by the day. [What AI Thinks of Your WritingIt’s never been easier to run your prose through the wringer.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-101.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/ai-1.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-tone-detection/) ## What You Need to Know Based on your schedule, skills, other priorities, and budget, I cannot recommend the appropriate course of action for you. Just remember, though, that you're better off releasing no book than a decidedly disjointed and amateur effort. ### The One Sentence Publishers Love to Hear From Authors URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/one-sentence/ Last updated: 2026-05-20T13:40:31.000Z A few years ago, my friend Tommy inked a deal to write a book with a traditional publisher. I saw his book on Amazon and quickly noticed something alarming: the price. The hardcover retailed for $99, and the Kindle came in at $79. I'm *not* making these numbers up. Can someone say [*sticker shock*](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/author-horror-story-6-sticker-shock/)? I congratulated Tommy on his forthcoming release. Irrespective of the title's price, his accomplishment is worth celebrating. After a little back-and-forth, however, I broke the ice and asked him, “What's up with the cost?” He responded, “I told my acquisitions editor that profits aren't a primary motivation for me.” ## A Simple Litmus Test _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Is That All You Got? URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/is-that-all-you-got/ Last updated: 2026-08-25T21:40:46.000Z [*Succession*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7660850/?ref=racketpublishing.com)is a phenomenal show about truly horrible people. The minute you start to empathize with one of them, that person does something despicable. Only [Tom Wambsgans](https://succession.fandom.com/wiki/Tom%5FWambsgans?ref=racketpublishing.com) is remotely sympathetic, and he's hardly a saint. Perhaps there is no more loathsome character on the show than Jeremy Strong's Kendall Roy. In a particularly brutal scene from season two, a recently terminated Vaulter employee spits in his face. In response, a numb Roy simply asks, “Is that all you got?” In today's post, I'll examine that unfortunate five-word question in the context of prescriptive nonfiction books. ## The Stars Must Align I've said for nearly two decades that writing is easy. *Marketing* is hard. Just ponder the sequence of events that has to take place before someone reads your magnum opus in its entirety. It's no overstatement to claim that the stars must align. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/05/a_sky_with_stars.jpg) ## Discovers the Book _This post is for subscribers only._ ### More Accolades for The Catalysts URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/more-accolades-for-the-catalysts/ Last updated: 2026-04-09T12:25:18.000Z The Independent Book Publishers Association has selected [*The Catalysts*](https://www.racketpublishing.com/titles/#section-five-title) as a finalist for the 38th annual awards in the Political & Current Events category. It's the second honor for [Amanda Wick](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.amandawick.com/&ved=2ahUKEwiUzv-h4OCTAxVNKEQIHR9tKn0QFnoECB8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw1plNsqTxdNYi6n%5FppdotYl)'s timely book. Last month she took home an [Axiom award](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-catalysts-wins-axiom-award/). ### The Catalysts Wins Axiom Award URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-catalysts-wins-axiom-award/ Last updated: 2026-03-25T03:34:57.000Z ![Axiom](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/03/Axiom-Award.jpeg) Kudos to Racket author [Amanda Wick](https://amandawick.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Her book *The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order* has won a 2026 [Axiom Award](https://axiomawards.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com). The category: International Business / Globalization (Gold). I just spoke with her. In her words: “I could not have written *The Catalysts* or won this award without the team at Racket Publishing. I cannot thank them enough, and this award belongs to all of us.” Congrats, Amanda! ### AI Can (Mostly) Handle Bibliographies URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-bibliographies/ Last updated: 2026-01-26T16:08:08.000Z A year ago, I fired up ChatGPT in the hopes of generating an accurate bibliography for the forthcoming [Racket title](https://www.racketpublishing.com/titles/). My hopes were high. ChatGPT quickly dashed them. The popular chatbot was maybe 70 percent accurate. Some of its data was downright risible. My, how times have changed. I'm pleased to announce another new benefit for Racket subscribers. The latest one lets authors easily fine-tune this boring but essential part of writing a prescriptive nonfiction book. ## Creating a Bibliography From a Simple List As a test, I listed my books in a simple Word document: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/before.jpeg) Simple List of Books | Click on the image to enlarge it. I then ran the Claude Skill. After maybe four minutes, it dutifully returned the following results: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/after.jpeg) Claude Output | Click on the image to enlarge it. Not too shabby. One minor quibble: Claude italicized the names in the first title—not the book. (As an aside, *The Chicago Manual of Style* makes putting [ISBNs in bibliographies](https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Documentation/faq0460.html?ref=racketpublishing.com#:~:text=In%20general%2C%20an%20ISBN%20or,1.) optional.) ## Verifying Existing Entries Say that you've already done the grunt work of generating the bibliography. Still, you'd like another set of eyes on it. No problem. Ask the Skill, and it will automatically identify issues with *existing* bibliography entries. I fed Claude the first nine entries in the draft bibliography for [*The Nine: The Tectonic Forces Reshaping the Workplace*](https://www.philsimon.com/book-the-nine/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Here's what it returned: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/image.png) Summary Results | Click on the image to enlarge it. Scrolling down provided the requisite detail: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/bibliography-2.jpeg) Individual Results With Confirmations | Click on the image to enlarge it. As a reminder, you need to be on a paid Claude plan to install and access its Custom Skills. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### RacketHub Agents Have Arrived URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/rackethub-agents-have-arrived/ Last updated: 2026-02-01T21:15:46.000Z Whether you're a first-time author or an experienced scribe, writing a book can be overwhelming. A little under two years ago, I created [RacketHub](https://www.racketpublishing.com/products-rackethub/) to help Racket Publishing clients write their books and manage all related subprocesses: research, writing, editing, design, and promotion—you name it. It's all there. My rationale was simple: putting every [manuscript](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/how-to-format-your-manuscript/), book cover, [galley](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/galley-issues/), research source, PR lead, and the like in a single folder is madness. Relying on [email](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/folly/) to manage a project is a recipe for disaster. To help organize the project and maintain everyone's sanity, RacketHub relies on dozens of interconnected databases. Everyone who has used RacketHub has recognized its utility. At the same time, though, they've all told me that it is initially a little overwhelming. Point taken. ## RacketHub Helper Today, I'm pleased to announce that RacketHub now ships with two AI agents. The first one addresses users' chief gripe. They can now ask RacketHub questions in plain English. The new agent—RacketHub Helper—then points to answers with clickable links to pages and databases. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/helper.jpeg) RacketHub Helper: Overview ⚠️ Just like any genAI tool, though, it's not perfect. ### An Example If you're considering writing a prescriptive nonfiction book, you need to see what other titles are out there. Failure to do your homework on existing *comps* is malpractice—and will come back to bite you in the ass. > RacketHub Helper then points to answers with clickable links to pages and databases. Yes, there's a place in RacketHub to store comparable titles. Users could always search for the correct database—or anything else, for that matter—via Notion's native functionality: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/search.jpeg) Native Notion Search Now, however, they can just ask the RacketHub Helper agent what they want: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/claude-hpvu.jpeg) RacketHub Helper Chat ### Manuscripts Ditto for other databases, such as the one that stores manuscripts: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/claude-hqbv.jpeg) RacketHub Helper Chat These are just simple examples. I've been training RacketHub Helper to make it even smarter. I'll keep at it. As I've learned from using Claude, agents and other AI tools need time to learn the right way to do things. ## RacketHub Research Agent AI providing better contextual assistance is all fine and dandy, but [Notion Custom Agents](https://www.notion.com/product/custom-agents?ref=racketpublishing.com) can do so much more. (Going to [Make With Notion 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ3hAy%5FXZwI&ref=racketpublishing.com) blew my mind.) Doing the requisite research for your book will take a great deal of time. You'll need to process [oodles of articles, books, research papers, and more](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/book-research/) *before* you begin writing. Against this backdrop, the RacketHub Research Agent scours the web for sources relevant to your book. It then automatically returns them to the dedicated Research Sources database. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/claude-hzfb.jpeg) RacketHub Research Agent Overview See below. The agent autonomously found relevant articles on the future of work and returned them. As you can see, it's easy to determine which entries RacketHub Research Agent found. Users decide whether to keep them or not. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2026/01/RacketHub-Research-Agent.jpeg) RacketHub Research Agent Results Even better, you can customize the RacketHub Research Agent in many ways, including: - The number of research sources you retrieve. - The source of those research sources. (Pretty meta, right?) - The agent's frequency. (If you want to run it on-demand, knock yourself out.) - The topics the agent returns. The world is really your oyster. Finally, the agent returns citations for endnotes and bibliographies that comply with *The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition*. [LinkedIn Profile EvaluatorThe professional social network is rife with scammers targeting writers. This new subscriber benefit helps scribes separate the wheat from the chaff.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-92.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/LI.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/linkedin-profile-evaluator/) ## The Final Verdict Does the presence of AI agents make writing a timely, important, and well-received nonfiction text easy? Hell, no. It still requires a great deal of work. There's no doubt, however, that powerful AI agents can be insanely useful. The next Racket client will learn as much first-hand. More agents are coming. ### Adiós, Citation Hell URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/adios-citation-hell/ Last updated: 2026-01-24T16:29:26.000Z Earlier this year, I described how to use AI to [format endnotes](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-ai-razor-revisited/) in a way that adheres to [*The Chicago Manual of Style*](https://www.amazon.com/Chicago-Manual-Style-17th/dp/022628705X?ref=racketpublishing.com). AI has evolved a great deal since then. Surely, I could build an even better mousetrap so many months later. In today's post, I'll describe a way to save even more time while citing sources in your prescriptive nonfiction book. ## The Perils of Self-Editing I can think of no denser, less interesting, more sleep-inducing, yet essential book than [*The Chicago Manual of Style*](https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html?ref=racketpublishing.com). ([This one](https://www.philsimon.com/how-not-to-start-a-book/?ref=racketpublishing.com) comes in a close second.) The 18th edition clocks in at—ready for this?—1,192 pages. If you want to know [how to use a semicolon properly](https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/search.html?clause=semicolon&ref=racketpublishing.com), you'll find it in there in excruciating detail. Only a true grammar geek would enjoy researching such arcane topics. A good copyeditor will tell you when you're breaking one of the myriad *CMOS* rules and make the fix for you. Sadly, though, many self-published nonfiction authors eschew proper editors. In effect, these folks [ignore the style guide altogether](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/footnotes-endnotes/). As a result, their books look amateurish. Errors will invariably appear in these books—or even plague them. Still, I understand the misguided mindset. After all, adhering to such detailed rules is downright taxing. Who wants to cite every endnote the right way? For example, the custom Claude Skill took shortened URLs from the [*Reimagining Collaboration*](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08THRXQ69/ref=nosim?tag=phisim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) manuscript and turned them all into proper *CMOS*\-approved citations: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/12/shortlinks.png) Shortlinks in MS Word Document Before Running Claude Skill ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/12/footnotes.png) Shortlinks in MS Word Document After Running Claude Skill The skill becomes even more useful when you consider the following mind-scratching fact: *The Chicago Manual of Style* treats different types of citations differently. Subtle differences exist when citing academic journals, books, podcasts, blog posts, magazines, and the like. In a word, *ick*. 📖 ****Seriously?** You may think that no one cares about such minutiae. Who's got time to look at citations, much less examine all of them for **CMOS* compliance? Judges of book contests, for starters. I know of an author who entered her first title in a book contest. The judge liked it but dinged her because her endnotes failed to comply with that dreaded style guide. [Serious Books OnlyThoughts on a near collaboration this year, an HBO show, and preserving the integrity of my boutique hybrid outfit.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-80.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/books-1.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/serious-books-only/) ## The Solution [Claude Skills](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/agents-and-tools/agent-skills/overview?ref=racketpublishing.com) are freaking amazing. Watch this video if you don't believe me. Racket's latest [subscriber benefit](https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits/) is a custom skill that examines existing Microsoft Word documents to see which citations violate *CMOS*. It then makes all needed changes *within the uploaded Word document*. 🎾 RacketHub users don't need this Claude Skill because the functionality is baked in as of January 24, 2026. Read more about it at [this public Notion page](https://philsimon.notion.site/cmos?source=copy%5Flink). Just download the skill below. After that: - Install it in your Claude desktop application. (You need to be on your computer to use it.) - Upload your Word document to Claude. - Let the Claude Skill fix your errant citations. Note that you need to be on [a paid Claude plan](https://claude.com/pricing?ref=racketpublishing.com) to run this custom skill. [DOWNLOAD THE SKILL](https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits) ## One Quick Note The mini-program only works on citations. Here's Claude describing what the custom formatting skill *doesn't* do: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/12/image.png) Claude Skill Limitations Building such a skill would take a great deal of time, and I wouldn't include it in the current bundles. ### AI as a Manuscript Cleansing Tool URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-manuscript-cleansing-tool/ Last updated: 2025-12-29T04:44:25.000Z This new Racket Publishing subscriber benefit lets you easily kill extraneous styles in Microsoft Word documents. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### LinkedIn Profile Evaluator URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/linkedin-profile-evaluator/ Last updated: 2026-01-30T20:24:55.000Z Whether you've written a book or have announced plans to do so, one thing is becoming increasingly likely: bad actors will target you. Depending on your reach, expect quite a few unsolicited emails from folks offering their—er—services. The [Racket Publishing Author Spam Assessment Tool](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/author-spam-assessment-tool/) provides assistance to your inbox. It does not, however, help you evaluate LinkedIn profiles. I decided to change that. ## The Solution Authors looking to separate the wheat from the chaff on the increasingly spammy professional social network will benefit from The Racket Publishing LinkedIn Profile Assessor. Here's a quick overview of how it works. I saved my LinkedIn profile as a PDF and uploaded it. The second image displays its results. Turns out that I'm not a scammer or spammer. (Phew. I wasn't sure.) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/12/1-1.jpeg) Racket Publishing LinkedIn Profile Assessor First Screen | Click on the image to enlarge it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/12/2-1.jpeg) Racket Publishing LinkedIn Profile Assessor Results: Phil Simon | Click on the image to enlarge it. Technically, you can use it on any LinkedIn profile. It works best, however, for people who have written a book or plan to do so for one simple reason: I trained the tool on author-related connection requests. I'm talking about sketchy people hawking their book promotion and marketing services. [ACCESS THIS BENEFIT](https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits/) ### Author Spam Assessment Tool URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/author-spam-assessment-tool/ Last updated: 2026-01-20T02:23:35.000Z More than two decades ago, [Bill Gates](https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/26/business/gates-predicts-that-spam-will-go-away.html?ref=racketpublishing.com) predicted that spam would soon disappear. Whoops. These days, plausible-sounding book review scams like the one below are [rampant](https://writerbeware.blog/2025/09/19/return-of-the-nigerian-prince-redux-beware-book-club-and-book-review-scams/?ref=racketpublishing.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/12/image-1.png) Email Scam | Source: Writer Beware | Click on the image to enlarge it. Mary—no doubt a pseudonym—is not affiliated with [Macmillan Publishers](https://us.macmillan.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com). The Gmail address is a dead giveaway, but many recipients won't pick up on that fact. Go ahead and [search LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/people/?origin=FACETED%5FSEARCH¤tCompany=%5B%229018%22%5D&ref=racketpublishing.com) for her profile, but don't be surprised if it's nonexistent or a spoof. ## The (Partial) Solution Expect this problem to only exacerbate. Thanks to AI, it doesn't take much effort for these unscrupulous folks to gin up ostensibly legitimate emails, Discord communities, and book reviews. Sadly, authors desperate for their books to find a larger audience often bite. In that vein, allow me to introduce the latest Racket Publishing subscriber benefit. It's a simple but effective tool that lets Claude suss out whether that message is legit or not. The first screenshot below shows the UI; the displays Claude's results. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/12/Racket-Publishing-Spam-Assessor.jpeg) Racket Publishing Spam Detector Screenshot | Click on the image to enlarge it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/12/results.jpeg) Racket Publishing Spam Detector Partial Results | Click on the image to enlarge it. Racket Publishing members can use it on any email, but I trained the tool on book award scams. [LinkedIn Profile EvaluatorThis new Racket Publishing subscriber benefit helps authors discern serious LinkedIn profiles from bogus ones.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-82.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/linkedin.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/linkedin-profile-evaluator/) [ACCESS THE BENEFIT](https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits/) ## A Note To state the obvious, the tool is not 100 percent effective. No anti-spam mechanism is. I found, though, that it saved me time evaluating whether someone liked one of my books or was just trying to scam me. ### AI Nonfiction Writing Evaluator URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-nonfiction-writing-evaluator/ Last updated: 2026-01-12T23:52:00.000Z If the 2025 [study](https://gothamghostwriters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/AI-Writing-Survey.pdf?ref=racketpublishing.com) on AI and writing proved anything, it's that scribes are decidedly split on how to use these powerful chatbots for their research and prose. I understand the resistance, but it's foolish and even dangerous to ignore these tools. Use AI, but responsibly. Like any new technology, it is [neither good nor bad nor neutral](https://www.philsimon.com/kranzbergs-six-laws-of-technology/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Against that backdrop, the latest Racket Publishing subscriber benefit is a bespoke writing evaluation tool. It stems from my desire to read blog posts and newsletters with valuable content muddied by their authors' mediocre or downright awful prose. ## Uses At a high level, you can use the Racket Article Evaluation & Rewrite Tool in two main ways. ### Self-Assessments The Claude Artifact evaluates text pasted into a webpage tab. (Again, it need not be yours.) It then: 1. Assigns the writing a rating between one and ten. 2. Finds the strengths and weaknesses in its writing. 3. In a separate tab, it creates a stronger version than the original. 🕥 Note that using the tool requires an active Claude account. Also, longer and more complicated blocks of text will consume more tokens than shorter, simpler ones. Expect lengthy response times on [truly atrocious writing](https://www.philsimon.com/ai-improve-atrocious-writing/?ref=racketpublishing.com). That's it. Technically you can use it on any genre you like. Just remember that I specifically built it to analyze nonfiction text. You'll get the best results if you keep that in mind, but you don't have to use it only on the words you've written or are thinking about writing. ### Author Comparisons: What Makes Others' Writing So Strong? Why have Author X's books, articles, and social media posts resonated so strongly with you? Why have you experienced PTSD when reading anything from Author Y? One post is more effective than another, but why is that? Use the Racket Article Evaluation & Rewrite Tool to ask and answer these kinds questions. Maybe you gravitate more towards [Scott Galloway](https://profgalloway.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) and other provocative scribes. Perhaps the more measured approach of [Jane Friedman](https://janefriedman.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) is your particular cup of tea. ## Methodology and Screenshots I custom-trained this AI chatbot over the last few weeks. It reflects a bevy of examples of both quality and subpar nonfiction writing. (I'll keep the names of the counterexamples to myself.) Using it will help you avoid common and [not-so-common writing mistakes](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/sentences-come-alive/). These screenshots display how the evaluation tool works. Navigate back and forth by using the arrows. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/12/1.jpeg) 1\. Pasted Text from [Seth Godin Post](https://seths.blog/2025/12/timing-your-overnight-success/?ref=racketpublishing.com) | Click on the image to enlarge it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/12/2.jpeg) 2\. Claude Skill Evaluating Pasted Text | Click on the image to enlarge it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/12/3.jpeg) 3\. Claude Text Evaluation Score | Click on the image to enlarge it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/12/4.jpeg) 4\. Claude Suggested Rewrite | Click on the image to enlarge it. --- [ACCESS THIS BENEFIT](https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits/#section-onefive-title) ### A Better Way to Research Podcasts URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/better-way-to-research-podcasts/ Last updated: 2025-12-15T14:04:08.000Z If you want to write [a serious nonfiction book](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/serious-books-only/), you need to do [lots of research](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/book-research/)—and that takes a great deal of time. Even on [arcane subjects](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/on-books-and-oceans/), you can likely find plenty of valuable existing fodder. I'm talking about other texts, surveys, datasets, academic journals, blog posts, and, [increasingly](https://riverside.com/blog/podcast-statistics?ref=racketpublishing.com), podcasts. Five years ago, researching podcasts wasn't terribly efficient. You'd scour the web for ostensibly related episodes on your topic. You'd read canned synopses. Say that you found a promising 45-minute pod. About halfway through, though, no one said anything interesting—or at least relevant to your book. The juice wasn't worth the squeeze, and you couldn't hit rewind on the lost time. If only there were a way to search audio content like you can search its written counterpart. ## Say Goodbye to Manual Podcast Transcription _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Long-Tail Benefits of Professional Nonfiction Books URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-long-tail-benefits-of-professional-nonfiction-books/ Last updated: 2025-12-26T00:48:33.000Z Warren Buffett famously said, “Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” The Oracle of Omaha—and those who express similar sentiments—preach patience and long-term investing. Good things often take time to happen. That mindset is a tough sell in the book world. The immediacy imperative is pervasive. You needn't be an esteemed literary agent to know that most book sales take place upon their release. Acquisitions editors at large publishers typically don't last if their titles don't pop. Rare is the book that blows up months or years after its release. That grim reality, however, doesn't negate one of the main benefits of writing a book. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### 2025: The Year in Review URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/2025-the-year-in-review/ Last updated: 2026-05-24T17:00:10.000Z As the holidays approach, it's time to review and celebrate what the Racket team and its clients have accomplished over the past twelve months. ## The Star of the Show The publication of our fifth [title](https://www.racketpublishing.com/titles)—Amanda Wick's [*The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order*](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-catalysts-the-accelerating-forces-forging-the-new-world-financial-order-amanda-wick/b9418f8932736cf8?aid=9608&ean=9798990924208&listref=books-from-racket-publishing&next=t&ref=racketpublishing.com)—serves as the year's highlight. The May release represented the culmination of 18 months of work. (Even better, I finally got to meet her in person a few weeks ago in Florida.) I am especially proud of this timely release. As I write these words, Wick is putting the finishing touches on the audiobook. ## RacketHub Improvements Going into the year, [RacketHub](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/rackethub/) was already the best book-management system on the planet. (Yeah, I'm biased due to the [IKEA effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKEA%5Feffect?ref=racketpublishing.com), but that fact doesn't make me wrong.) > Hybrid publishers are not the same as publishing-service outfits. I kept my [foot on the pedal](https://philsimon.notion.site/rackethub-change-log?v=017348d881214014a07ccfc209e6b60e&ref=racketpublishing.com) this year and added a bunch of useful functionality. Some changes stemmed from newly released Notion features. I also: - Rewrote some modules to make them a tad more intuitive - Added a library of training videos. ([Tella](https://tella.tv/?via=phil&ref=racketpublishing.com) rocks.) ## New Website Underpinnings In June, rock star [Cathy Sarisky](https://www.spectralwebservices.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) and I moved the Racket Publishing website from WordPress to Ghost. The switch made it far easier for Racket to adopt a subscription model. Read the lengthy post about it [here](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-next-chapter/). ## Client Work I've been able to help a few authors [conceptualize their books](https://www.racketpublishing.com/services/). I've also helped a college professor lay the foundation for his forthcoming leadership text. ## New Subscriber Benefits Members of the Plus and Paid plans will now find a growing body of powerful AI writing tools, including: - Racket Article Evaluation & Rewrite Tool - Citation Formatter - Microsoft Word Manuscript Style Cleanser - Spam Detector - [LinkedIn Profile Evaluator](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/linkedin-profile-evaluator/) [VIEW ALL SUBSCRIBER PERKS](https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits/) ## Blog Posts I have penned [71 blog posts](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/) on this site since January 1, 2025\. Many involved [AI](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/ai), of course. [The Great Author Substack Question](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-great-substack-question/) received the most page views, but my favorite articles include: - [The Incredulous Math Behind One Book's Amazon Reviews](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/incredulous-math/). - [On Gates, Books, and Priorities](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/gates/). - [Legacy Publishers' Shrinking List of Responsibilities](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/what-do-legacy-publishers-do-anymore/). - [Is Your Book an Asset or a Liability?](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/asset-or-liability/) - [Author Mistake #1: Superfluous Word Repetition](https://racket-publishing.ghost.io/ghost/?ref=racketpublishing.com#/editor/post/68358b13f2ab260001f47cff). - [On Author Contrivances](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/how-to-credit-your-ghostwriter/). ## New Notion Templates I've released a few new ones to help existing and aspiring authors: - [AI Settlement Tracker](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-book-settlement-tracker/). - [Simple Service Provider Evaluation Tool](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/new-notion-template-simple-service-provider-evaluation-tool/). ⌨️ To see all of my Notion templates, click [here](https://www.notion.so/profile/templates?ref=racketpublishing.com). ## 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. ## Meeting My Peers In May, I headed to Minnesota for IBPA's annual [PubU](https://www.publishinguniversity.org/?ref=racketpublishing.com) conference—the first time I attended. (Yeah, that's me on [the front page of the website](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/11/pubu.jpeg?ref=racketpublishing.com).) I enjoyed meeting many of my contemporaries, many of whom I only knew from our Slack workspace. The docket included talks and panels about copyright law, AI, rising production costs, and the disturbing rise of book censorship efforts from an unhinged, hypocritical political party that ostensibly advocates free speech. Crazy times, to be sure. [AI and the Speed ConundrumLegacy publishers have routinely struggled to beat the clock. AI only exacerbates their problem.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-74.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/launch-1-1.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-and-the-speed-conundrum/) ## Looking Forward A previous Racket client will be returning early next year to work on a second edition of her book. Beyond that, I suspect that our sixth title will arrive in the months ahead. TAKE THE PLUNGE Is 2026 finally the year you write and publish a professional nonfiction book? [LET'S LIGHT THIS CANDLE ](https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect) ### Serious Books Only URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/serious-books-only/ Last updated: 2026-01-12T23:50:53.000Z I started Racket four years ago with a vision: to create a [deliberately boutique](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-benefit-of-boutiques/) and [tech-savvy](https://www.racketpublishing.com/product-rackethub/) hybrid publisher. We wouldn't work on every conceivable type of book to maximize revenue or profits. Rather, we would collaborate exclusively with [committed authors](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/gates/) to publish well-researched and important prescriptive nonfiction [titles](https://www.racketpublishing.com/titles/). If that meant releasing fewer books, then so be it. Small but mighty, as the kids say. ## A Different Kind of Publisher Racket couldn't guarantee beaucoup book sales because no publisher can. Ditto for [dubious bestseller achievements](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/charlatans-hybrid-publishing/). Our publications could, however, realistically do each of the following: 1. Stand out in the increasingly saturated book marketplace. 2. Look every bit as professional as those from legacy publishers, if not more so. 3. [Advance their authors' careers](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/asset-or-liability/). 4. Attract interest and potential endorsements from heavy hitters. (On our latest release, [a former US congresswoman](https://www.amandawick.com/book?ref=racketpublishing.com) proved me right once again.) 5. Give authors far more control over their books than legacy publishers do—not to mention ownership of all their intellectual property. In today's post, I'll explain why being picky doesn't mesh with all would-be authors—and the rationale behind this conscious branding choice. ## Assessing Fit With a Potential Racket Client Let's rewind to the start of the year. I held several discussions with a prospective author who wanted to publish his first nonfiction book—something about closing deals. He had penned a light, 15,000-word manuscript that he felt was ready for immediate publication. I was skeptical and sensed that Author X didn't want to write a serious business book. In the end, the collaboration didn't happen; the fit just wasn't right. After our conversations ended, he set his sights on one of the many publishing service companies willing to take his money. A few months ago, Author X's short book finally dropped. I wish him all the best because he wrote and released precisely the text he wanted to write. Many people lack the courage to put their thoughts out there for all the world to see. And yet… When I saw the final product, a sense of relief instantly hit me. My spidey sense was right, and I'm glad we didn't collaborate. The title is something between a fluffy, self-promotional marketing brochure and a glorified term paper. Oodles of full-page pull quotes goosed the book's page count. What's more, it was rife with [conspicuous absences](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/conspicuous-absences/).[1](#fn:1) In short, it didn't qualify as a serious nonfiction book. As such, it would have appeared decidedly out of place in the admittedly limited Racket canon. ## Intentional Exclusivity Call me a book snob if you like. I can handle it. Racket is unapologetically exclusive *by design*. As such, each title needs to enhance our brand—not detract from it. > Each new title needs to enhance our brand. The book reminded me of a recurring theme in the HBO show [*Succession*](https://www.hbomax.com/shows/succession/a8484031-f244-4661-9fb7-0932bd1ba872?ref=racketpublishing.com). Family patriarch Logan Roy—played by Bryan Cox—frequently dismisses his children because “they are not serious people.” Here's one particularly brutal example: [AI and Author EmpowermentA short post about preserving our humanity.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-75.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/fist-2.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-and-author-empowerment/) ## What You Need to Know This little yarn illustrates a distinction lost on the majority of first-time authors: respected [hybrid publishers](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/myth-single-hybrid-publisher/) differ from non-discerning publishing-service outfits. Publishing mediocre books or pablum for the sake of making a few bucks is a disservice to the authors who have already put their trust in us. Discernment matters. That's why you won't find a 𝚂𝚞𝚋𝚖𝚒𝚝 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚞𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚙𝚝 button on the Racket website—and you never will. #### Footnotes - It also lacked an index, footnotes, endnotes, source notes, and a bibliography.[↩](#fnref:1 "Jump back to content") ### How to Credit Your Ghostwriter URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/how-to-credit-your-ghostwriter/ Last updated: 2026-02-01T16:20:51.000Z Experienced ghostwriters who agree to help their clients pen nonfiction books implicitly agree to [wear many hats](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ghostwriter-hats/). New ghosts quickly learn that they'll do much more than churn out quality prose. By contract, professional courtesy, or both, ghostwriters also [keep their work confidential](https://www.thewritersforhire.com/navigating-confidentiality-how-a-professional-ghostwriter-handles-sensitive-information/?ref=racketpublishing.com). As part of the deal, their clients—the named authors—receive all the credit. (I'll leave royalties alone here.) That doesn't mean, however, that authors can't publicly praise their collaborators for a job well done. Many do. In today's post, I'll address if and how you should credit your ghostwriter. But first, a few words about the role of writing partners today. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### On Author Contrivances URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/on-author-contrivances/ Last updated: 2026-01-13T21:50:07.000Z Say that you coin a clever phrase that explains a cultural and business phenomenon. It perfectly encapsulates something that most of us are feeling. The neologism then enters the zeitgeist and even goes viral. The *Macquarie Dictionary* even declares it the word of the year. Cory Doctorow pulled off this rare feat in 2022 with [*enshittification*](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/nov/26/enshittification-macquarie-dictionary-word-of-the-year-explained?ref=racketpublishing.com). If you've never heard of him, Doctorow is an accomplished author who has displayed a consistent history of moving nonfiction books. You needn't run a large publishing house to see dollar signs. Lo and behold, [*Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It*](https://www.amazon.com/Enshittification-Everything-Suddenly-Worse-About/dp/0374619328?ref=racketpublishing.com) just dropped. Given the buzz around his word and his track record, I'm surprised that the title didn't arrive sooner. *Enshittification* will surely sell a boatload of copies, but it's not without its flaws. Today, I'll describe its biggest—one [I've seen other nonfiction authors make over the years](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/first-sin-word-repetition/). _This post is for subscribers only._ ### On Book Pricing Gaffes URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/book-pricing-gaffes/ Last updated: 2025-11-23T13:10:23.000Z Authors who work with traditional publishers almost always forgo any control over the price of their books. As I've written before, the resulting [sticker shock](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/author-horror-story-6-sticker-shock/) can be downright jarring. But are unrealistic prices the sole purview of the old guard? That's the question at the heart of today's post. ## Bits vs. Atoms You needn't be a publishing expert to understand the economics of ebooks compared to their physical brethren. In a nutshell, it's bits vs. atoms. With the former, authors and publishers avoid the following costs: _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Why Prolific Bloggers Struggle to Write a Quality Book: A Theory URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/why-prolific-bloggers-struggle-to-write-a-quality-book-a-theory/ Last updated: 2025-10-27T05:00:07.000Z Over the years, I've met my fair share of popular bloggers—and even a few influencers. (Yes, [I still despise that term](https://www.philsimon.com/why-i-despise-the-term-influencer/?ref=racketpublishing.com).) Many at the time were working on their debut nonfiction books. In this post, I'll explain the main difficulty they encountered and its solution. 🗒️ Note that I'm lumping in newsletter writers with bloggers. For all intents and purposes, the difference between the two groups is neglible. ## Blogging Basics In a nutshell, not all words are created equal. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Myth of the Single Hybrid Publisher URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/myth-single-hybrid-publisher/ Last updated: 2025-12-29T12:56:55.000Z Hybrid publishing has become [an increasingly popular option](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/90296-hybrid-publishing-spreads-its-wings.html?ref=racketpublishing.com) for both rookie and experienced scribes. That's not to say, though, that all [hybrid presses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid%5Fpublishing'?ref=racketpublishing.com) are created equal.[1](#fn:1) Today I'll describe the key attributes by which you should evaluate your potential publishing partner. ## Size: From Boutique to Behemoth This is an obvious starting point. Some hybrids are larger than others. Page Two is a large publisher that, from what I can tell, concurrently works with a dozen or more authors at any given time. Two other behemoths just announced plans to [merge](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/civica-media-acquires-greenleaf-book-group-and-amplify-publishing-group-to-create-the-leader-in-thought-leadership-and-hybrid-book-publishing-302566069.html?ref=racketpublishing.com). On the other end of the spectrum are hybrids such as Racket. We're boutique by design. Somewhere in between niche and behemoth are hybrid publishers that handle five to seven projects at once. Larger companies possess more resources than their smaller brethren, but [you'll receive more individual attention at the latter](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-benefit-of-boutiques/). When choosing your publishing partner, it's easy to mistake size for permanence or infallibility. Don't. Large hybrids fail. Case in point: Scribe Media—a big player founded in 2014—went kaput in 2023\. Things quickly got ugly. Scribe [laid off its 90 employees](https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2023/05/30/scribe-media-shuts-down-and-lays-off-90-employees.html?ref=racketpublishing.com), and its [clients had to scramble](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/scribe-media-clients/). The company is now attempting to [revive itself](https://medium.com/@ericjorgenson/what-happened-to-scribe-media-updated-2024-4ea6e8784171?ref=racketpublishing.com). ℹ️ One size isn't inherently better than the others. They're just different. ## Money Matters Some hybrids allegedly charge their clients a *minimum* of [$125,000](https://selfpublishing.com/advantage-forbes-books/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Others produce books for a far lower flat fee, subject to certain restrictions around revisions and word counts. Racket prices projects on an hourly basis. The rationale here is simple: a prescriptive nonfiction book is a complex beast of a project. Most variables are unknown. It's impossible to accurately predict in advance how much time and effort it will take to complete. In other words, as [software developers](https://agilealliance.org/glossary/relative-estimation/?ref=racketpublishing.com) have known for years, making absolute estimates is a fool's errand. To my knowledge, no hybrid publisher currently offers authors proper advances against future royalties. If you're looking for money up front, seek a deal with a legacy publisher—[probably with significant strings attached](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/blurring-lines/) and [far lower royalties](https://bernoff.com/blog/traditional-publishing-hybrids-and-risk?ref=racketpublishing.com). ## Sales, Distribution, and Returns Larger hybrids *may* be able to distribute your title via traditional channels and place it in bookstores and libraries. Think of this as *active* distribution. Someone at the press is working her existing relationships to move your books *en masse*. Hybrid presses that offer this service act in a way similar to legacy publishers. Of course, all hybrid presses can help you *passively* distribute your title to many outlets. [Print-on-demand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Print%5Fon%5Fdemand?ref=racketpublishing.com) technologies make this possible. Hybrids typically get their clients to create accounts with [IngramSpark](https://www.ingramspark.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Doing so allows them to make their titles available at Barnes & Noble, [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/lists/books-from-racket-publishing?ref=racketpublishing.com), Target, Walmart, and scores of other places. (Amazon isn't one of them, though. They need to create a [KDP](https://kdp.amazon.com/en%5FUS/bookshelf?ref=racketpublishing.com) account for that.) ℹ️ Don't conflate availability with sales. Regardless of the specific hybrid publisher behind your book, getting brick-and-mortar stores to stock it will be really freakin' difficult. If you're able to pull it off, congrats. Know this much going in. No booksellers will stock your physical book via IngramSpark unless you do *both* of the following: 1. Offer them a steep discount off the cover price. ([Fifty-five percent](https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/why-should-i-discount-my-book?ref=racketpublishing.com) is industry standard.) 2. Agree to accept returns. You need to select option two or three below. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/10/ingram2.png) [****Ingram Spark Return Options**](https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/making-your-book-returnable?ref=racketpublishing.com) Let's say that a bookseller orders 30 copies of your book. What happens if it only sells ten of them? Short answer: You're on the hook for the 20 unsold copies. If you selected option two, then expect returns subject to the geographic restrictions detailed above. In either event, your IngramSpark royalty statement will reflect all return-related charges. ![book lot on table](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1495446815901-a7297e633e8d?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDN8fGJvb2tzfGVufDB8fHx8MTc2MDY2MDMwNXww&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000) Photo by [Tom Hermans](https://unsplash.com/@tomhermans?ref=racketpublishing.com) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit) ## Specialization and Your Team Large hybrids produce books in all sorts of genres. Examples include fiction, nonfiction, and memoirs. Many publish titles under different imprints to avoid confusing others and muddying their brands. Racket focuses on prescriptive fiction books. Reputable hybrids only employ experienced professionals: editors, designers, indexers, proofreaders, and the like. [Racket](https://www.racketpublishing.com/about/#section-three-title) falls into this boat. Less reputable ones try to save money by either: - Cycling through cheap subcontractors with questionable backgrounds. - Replacing people with AI with decidedly mixed results. As always, you get what you pay for. ## Book Quality Solid hybrid publishers produce books of a quality indistinguishable from traditional publishers. Ditto for their ebooks. Before signing up with a hybrid press, review the quality of its existing physical and electronic titles. Buy one. Download digital excerpts on Kindle. How does the formatting look on different devices? If the books look amateurish in any way, be happy. You've just saved yourself months of stress and thousands of dollars. ## Legitimacy Here's a decent litmus test of whether a hybrid publisher is legit: Does it belong to an industry group? Racket has been a proud [IBPA](https://www.ibpa-online.org/?ref=racketpublishing.com) member for years. Be careful, though. Group membership or affiliation is no guarantee that your publishing experience will be positive. There are plenty of [charlatans](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/charlatans-hybrid-publishing/) out there. ## Copyright and Intellectual Property If you publish your book with *any* hybrid press, the copyright should be in your name—not the publisher's. What's more, you should own all the intellectual property. Period. Read any agreement carefully. If you clearly won't own the book and the core ideas behind it, run. ## Tech Irrespective of size, rare is the hybrid press that views its tech as a source of competitive advantage. Your potential publishing partner may well rely upon dated tools and communication methods to manage your projects. By contrast, Racket believes that [better tech](https://www.racketpublishing.com/product-rackethub/) can yield better books, lower costs, and a smoother process for its clients. ## Editorial Standards True hybrid publishers enforce editorial standards. Much like legacy publishers, they won't just publish anything. No hybrid has built a solid reputation by releasing amateur texts that sold a handful of copies. 📗 ****Vanity Publishing Rebranded** In this way, credible hybrids differ markedly from AuthorHouse, [iUniverse](https://www.iuniverse.com/en?ref=racketpublishing.com), and other companies that take an extremely egalitarian approach to publishing. Thirty years ago, we called these outfits [**vanity publishers*](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1%5FgmyJD%5Fv5ddWgEge1DOlT7UdWOxnlu8s/view?ref=racketpublishing.com). Does that mean that **all* titles from AuthorHouse and its ilk suck? Of course not, but many of them do. Irrespective of their moniker, these companies provide **à la carte* services. They gladly release glorified term papers that [lack the essential ingredients](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/conspicuous-absences/) one expects from professional nonfiction texts. I'm talking about indexes, proper editing and design, a professional cover, and the like. No shocker here. What do you expect when a vanity press promises to crank out a physical book in [as little as two weeks](https://www.authorhouse.com/en/publish-your-book?ref=racketpublishing.com)? [Is Your Book an Asset or a Liability?A little yarn about how discerning folks will view your titles down the road.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-63.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/plus-minus-1.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/asset-or-liability/) ## What You Need to Know Apples, oranges, and coconuts are all round fruits, but that's where the similarities end. The same holds true for hybrid presses. When selecting among them, consider the factors in this post *before* pulling the trigger. #### Footnotes 1. Jane Friedman's [recent blog post](https://janefriedman.com/hybrid-publishing-today-doesnt-mean-just-one-thing-thats-a-problem-for-hybrids-seeking-legitimacy/?ref=racketpublishing.com) addresses this subject as well. [↩](#fnref:1 "Jump back to content") ### Conspicuous Absences URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/conspicuous-absences/ Last updated: 2025-10-27T14:19:44.000Z Poking around Amazon the other day, I saw a new sales book from a rookie author. She is a seasoned, forty-something trainer and coach who worked with a hybrid publisher. She neglected to include any book blurbs. Ditto for her website. Today's post explains why the omission is a major gaffe. ## Explanations At least Author X isn't alone. A lack of endorsements is particularly common among self-published titles. In my experience, one of two factors is at play here. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Is Your Book an Asset or a Liability? URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/asset-or-liability/ Last updated: 2026-01-12T03:53:10.000Z In May 2016, I flew to Phoenix. I wasn't leaving my extended family à la [Michael Bluth](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP6gtNbp-jM&ref=racketpublishing.com). Rather, I was interviewing for a job as a college professor. The next day, I'd be talking to the staff at ASU's [W. P. Carey School of Business, Department of Information Systems](https://wpcarey.asu.edu/information-systems-degrees?ref=racketpublishing.com). [Las Vegas](https://www.philsimon.com/why-i-moved-to-las-vegas/?ref=racketpublishing.com) had run its course. I wanted the gig, and I wasn't leaving anything to chance. That meant bringing a proper suit, a pressed shirt, and my best dress shoes. Next, I spent a good amount of time creating and rehearsing my presentation. Finally, I did something that, to my knowledge, no other candidate in the IS Department had done before: I sent physical copies of each of [my previous seven titles](http://www.philsimon.com/books?ref=racketpublishing.com). ## Expectations Based on my prior interviews in higher education, I expected a discerning crowd. I had known for years that academia is a [notoriously critical place](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayre%27s%5Flaw?ref=racketpublishing.com). As I saw during previous interviews at other schools over the prior four months, accomplished professors would freely—often, rudely—challenge my claims and credentials.[1](#fn:1) _This post is for subscribers only._ ### AI Book Settlement Tracker URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-book-settlement-tracker/ Last updated: 2025-10-04T13:46:23.000Z News broke recently that [the Anthropic settlement is back on](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-approves-1-5-billion-dollar-settlement-anthropic-pirated-books/?ref=racketpublishing.com). That's hardly the only lawsuit that [authors, publishers, and other groups](https://authorsguild.org/news/ai-class-action-lawsuits/?ref=racketpublishing.com) have filed against tech companies for illegally using their works to train their large language models. ⚖️ Take a look at [this searchable database](https://secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/?ref=racketpublishing.com) to determine if any of your titles qualify for payment under the Anthropic settlement. (I suspect that other firms will provide similar pages for their lawsuits.) ## What You Should Be Tracking If you're an author, at a minimum, you should be keeping tabs on the following: 1. Which of your books qualify for which settlements. 2. Whether you submitted your works to law firms representing the class. 3. Related documentation. 4. How much you're due for each publication *for each settlement* 5. How much you're due for each publication in total. 6. Total payments by traditional publisher (if you've gone that route). 7. Whether agents are involved and how much they'll receive. 8. The status of each payment. 9. Other information as you see fit. You can certainly use a “system” (ahem) based on email, physical papers, Dropbox, or Google Drive. I can't stop you from relying on your memory. I'd highly recommend, though, keeping everything in a single, organized, searchable place that you can access anywhere. Enter [Notion](https://notion.grsm.io/philsimon?ref=racketpublishing.com). ## A Simple Tracking System I've used my favorite no-code tool to create a simple three-database system. It allows authors to track each book, lawsuit, payment amount, and status. Of course, it does more, but I'll let you watch the quick overview video: I've included plenty of charts, although users on [the Free Notion plan](https://www.notion.com/pricing?ref=racketpublishing.com) can only access one of them. Here's one: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/10/SCR-20251002-qscz.png) Notion Chart of Funds Due by Publisher (Dummy Data) As with any Notion template, you can customize it to meet your needs—and I'm not just talking about your specific titles and new lawsuits. Add new charts, automations, templates, properties, settlement override amounts, and database views to your heart's content. Invite co-authors or agents to collaborate on it if you like. > It's foolish to rely upon your memory to track this key information. The cost is $9.94\. [BUY THE TEMPLATE](https://www.notion.so/templates/ai-book-settlement-tracker?ref=racketpublishing.com) 💸 Subscribers of this site can access a 25%-off coupon [here](https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits/). [On Wordle and Inflection PointsAll authors face problems when writing their manuscripts. Ignoring them and pushing ahead will bite you in the ass.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-55.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/step.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/wordle-inflection-points/) ## What You Need to Know Whether you buy and use my Notion template or not, do yourself a favor and track lawsuit information and the payments coming your way. Don't rely on your memory. ### On Wordle and Inflection Points URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/wordle-inflection-points/ Last updated: 2025-10-03T20:59:20.000Z Odds are that you've heard of the *New York Times* game [*Wordle*](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/31/business/media/new-york-times-wordle.html?ref=racketpublishing.com) or its [many spinoffs](https://medium.com/floodgates/the-complete-and-authoritative-list-of-wordle-spinoffs-fb00bfafc448?ref=racketpublishing.com). In the original, players get six chances to guess a five-letter word. Today I'll draw a parallel between solving the word puzzle and overcoming challenges in your book's manuscript. ## A Recent Puzzle Because *Wordle* only allows for six attempts, players need to be judicious when picking their words. Rookies often run out of choices and wind up rolling the dice at the end. For instance, here's a recent oneand my first three attempts to solve it: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/09/wordle-2.jpeg) Wordle: September 2, 2025 | Source: The New York Times _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Incredulous Math Behind One Book's Amazon Reviews URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/incredulous-math/ Last updated: 2025-12-29T13:30:35.000Z Few books in the last decade have affected me more than [*The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less, Revised Edition*](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TDGGVU/ref=nosim?tag=phisim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com). Barry Schwartz's classic explains how consumers today are inundated with options. With so many alternatives, we need cues to ensure that we don't make incorrect or suboptimal decisions. We're afraid of making a mistake. Before we hit the *Buy* button, we generally want validation or [social proof](https://www.gartner.com/en/digital-markets/insights/what-is-social-proof?ref=racketpublishing.com)—often in the form of product reviews. The data supports this assertion. Researchers at [Northwestern University](https://spiegel.medill.northwestern.edu/how-online-reviews-influence-sales/?ref=racketpublishing.com) in 2021 found that: ... online reviews have a significant and quantifiable impact on purchase decisions—but the degree of that impact depends on a number of factors, such as star ratings, the nature of the review content, the number of reviews, the price of the item, and the source of the review. Brass tacks: It's complicated, but product reviews can boost sales. ## Book Reviews and Author Nudges _This post is for subscribers only._ ### A Simple Model for Writing a Nonfiction Book URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/a-simple-model-for-writing-a-nonfiction-book/ Last updated: 2025-12-26T20:15:56.000Z Read enough Amazon reviews of nonfiction texts, and you'll eventually see one that vehemently expresses the following sentiment: The book should have been a blog post. There's plenty of validity in many of these claims—and even [some posts that specifically address them](https://medium.com/startupsco/how-to-know-whether-that-business-book-is-worth-your-time-or-not-6c12603bc6ec?ref=racketpublishing.com). An author needlessly stretches a simple idea into a fluffy, full-length book. Typical tropes with these titles include: _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Writer Sloppiness Remains Alive and Well URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writer-sloppiness/ Last updated: 2026-01-14T03:16:06.000Z I will start today's post with the tiniest of flexes. A few Saturdays back, I took my normal early-morning class. The one-hour, [high-intensity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity%5Finterval%5Ftraining?ref=racketpublishing.com) session is hardcore. The instructor's routine that day included—ready for this?—double-legged donkey kicks while wearing a 12-pound vest and ankle weights. Oh, and if that's not enough, the class temperature was 95 degrees. Not exactly what we now call [*active recovery*](https://www.healthline.com/health/active-recovery?ref=racketpublishing.com). Welcome to [Zone 5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart%5Frate?ref=racketpublishing.com). All participants walked out of the class with empty tanks. I rehydrated, showered, changed, and headed for the exit when I noticed an oddly worded sign by the cafe door. I read it and somehow summoned the energy to snap the following photo: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/08/confusing.jpeg) Sign at Gym | Photo Source: Me I lacked the mental capacity to translate that perplexing sentence at the time. My initial reaction, though, resembled the classic *Office Space* scene: After getting some rest and nourishment, I think I figured it out: The gym is passing credit card fees on to customers without any markup. A few questions come to mind? - Why not just write that simple sentence? - If someone can pen a lucid book on [the new world financial order](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/necessary-reader-confusion/), then why is it so difficult to write a few words on how credit card charges work? Lest you think I'm overreacting, this nationally recognized isn't winning any communication awards. I noted a while back that [its physical signage](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-wrong-kind-of-workout/) would have benefited from a proper copywriter, proofreader, or basic tech tool. Alternatively, its management could have simply asked a few actual gym members if *they* understood the sign *before* affixing it to the wall. ![woman in white and blue shirt holding pink and white plastic tube](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1614328530473-dcb1fd958818?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDJ8fHJlZmVyZWV8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzU1NDQyMTA4fDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000) Photo by [CFPhotosin Photography](https://unsplash.com/@cfphotosin?ref=racketpublishing.com) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit) ## Another Writing Foul A few hours later, I was reading an experienced tech journalist's latest Substack. (I'll keep the author's name to myself.) He has amassed a decent following. Author X wrote reasonably well and supported his assertions with data. In his 1,100-word article, he linked to exactly zero sources. Author X's cited numbers may well have been true, but this [citation sloth](https://www.philsimon.com/citation-sloths/?ref=racketpublishing.com) firmly placed the onus on the reader to play detective. Why? [Ignorance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon%27s%5Frazor?ref=racketpublishing.com)? Linking to articles, studies, academic studies, and polls isn't difficult to do. (For Mac users like me, hitting ⌘ + K and then ⌘ + K gets it done.) No one needs to learn HTML to insert a hyperlink. It isn't 1993\. > Let's demand more from others' writing. Riddle me this: You've got the time to write a lengthy, well-argued post, but you're too busy to link to the sources you cite? I commented on the post and politely asked Author X for the source for one of his stats. After not hearing back, I unsubscribed from his newsletter because he clearly doesn't respect his intelligent readers. ## 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. ## Commonalities These language fouls were different and took place on different mediums. Still, they reflect a common writing malady that, sadly, remains alive and well: laziness. In our age of AI, it's easy to run your content through a proofreading tool before publishing it. Here's what Claude said about the unfortunately worded sign: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/08/claude-confused-1.jpeg) Claude Prompt and Response | Click on the image to enlarge it. Author X lacks my gym's financial resources. Still, an experienced, independent journo shouldn't need a reminder about the need to cite his sources, especially today. [The Myth of the Necessary Reader ConfusionCertain books’ subjects require feeling perplexed while reading them, right? In a word, no.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-49.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/confused.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/necessary-reader-confusion/) ## A Clarion Call A typo or grammatical error from a member of Generation Alpha posting on Instagram is one thing. Large organizations and professional journalists being sloppy with their printed signage is quite another. Let's demand more from writers and the messages they put out there. ### AI and the Speed Conundrum URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-and-the-speed-conundrum/ Last updated: 2026-01-30T20:26:09.000Z In late July, I wrote a post about [a sports-related AI](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/necessary-reader-confusion/) hallucination. TL;DR: AI still makes basic mistakes. My piece dropped on August 14, 2025—seven days after [OpenAI released ChatGPT 5](https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-5/?ref=racketpublishing.com). The latest version of the popular AI chatbot remains far from perfect, but I would have written my article differently if I had started *a mere week later*. ## Time Matters Today, a 300-word blog post may be partially or completely dated not long after the author writes it. > If speed is imperative, consider the hybrid route. What does that mean for your chapter, part, or book? And what are the odds that you're the only one working on a text like yours? ## 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. Traditional publishers have historically needed [a year or more to complete the cycle](https://stevelaube.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-published/?ref=racketpublishing.com). (Forget agents shopping your manuscript and prolonged negotiations for the moment.) Are you confident what you're writing now will be as relevant in 12 months? [Be Wary of Bestseller ClaimsOverly generic ones engender the same suspicions as their overly specific counterparts.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-45.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/award-2.jpg)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/specious-bestseller-claims/) ## What You Need to Know Think about those questions when you're deciding on a publisher. If you're writing a timeless nonfiction book, then speed may not matter to you. Memoirs are a good example. Who really cares if it arrives next month or next year? If speed is imperative, though, you are probably better off eschewing traditional publishers and going the hybrid route. ### The Better Book Question URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-better-book-question/ Last updated: 2025-09-14T21:09:43.000Z Selling books *en masse* has always been hard. Don't let anyone tell you different. Intellectually, that statement probably makes sense to you. If you're a first-time author or haven't penned a book in a while, though, it's unlikely that you know *how* hard it is. Give [Helen Lewis' article](https://helenlewis.substack.com/p/the-bluestocking-379-the-economics) a read if you want to know the particulars. TL;DR: Even many rock stars struggle today to get others to buy, read, and recommend their excellent texts. For every [Andy Weir](https://andyweirauthor.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com), there are thousands of scribes scraping by. Regardless of their choice of publishing methods, rare are the nonfiction authors who don't ask themselves the following question: _This post is for subscribers only._ ### AI and Author Empowerment URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-and-author-empowerment/ Last updated: 2025-10-07T15:32:21.000Z Any creation ultimately and fundamentally reflects its creator. That simple statement applies to a song, a piece of art, a film, a book, or a technology product. ## Example Take the latest Racket title, [*The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order*](http://www.amazon.com/dp//ref=nosim?tag=phisim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com). If you ever meet [Amanda Wick](http://www.amandawick.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com), you'll quickly realize that her debut effort represents a physical manifestation of her mind—or about the closest possible thing to it. Ask her a question about any topic in her 430-page text. She'll gladly explain why she included it and how it relates to the book's other subjects. At no point will she say, “Because AI told me to do it.” Because it never did. Will everyone agree with her choices? > There's something empowering about making your own writing choices. Of course not, but *she* made them—not a large language model that illegally gobbled up petabytes of data. What's more, her writing is [exceptionally clear](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/necessary-reader-confusion/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/08/jane-reg.webp) Krysten Ritter as Jane Margolis, **El Camino* | Image Source: **TV Guide* Call me old school, but there's something fundamentally empowering about individual agency when it comes to creative endeavors. To paraphrase Jane Margolis of *Breaking Bad*, [it's better to make those decisions yourself](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie3KPR-xnJ4&ref=racketpublishing.com). ## 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. ## Relying Too Much on AI Robs Writers of Their Humanity There's no doubt that AI is helping writers [in many ways](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-ai-razor-revisited/). You'll never hear me say otherwise. Still, relying mostly or exclusively on it to write your book is a grave error. Apart from [being generic](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-generic-books/), your final product won't reflect *you* because it will have decided: - What to include. - What to exclude. - How your book is organized. - The tone of your writing. You know, little things. And where's the humanity in that? ### The Myth of the Necessary Reader Confusion URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/necessary-reader-confusion/ Last updated: 2026-05-08T20:13:40.000Z Somewhere along the line, you probably read a book about a relatively esoteric or inaccessible subject. Perhaps its author was a successful lawyer, a self-important academic, or a [business dude with an affinity for jargon](https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/08/business-dudes-need-to-stop-talking-like-this/676840/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Regardless of the writer or the topic, the result was the same: you struggled to comprehend the words on the page, but you slogged through each stilted paragraph and baffling sentence. You thought the nature of the book's content *required* opaque, even occasionally abysmal writing that perplexed readers like you. There was just no way around it. The fleas came with the dog, right? Call it *the myth of necessary reader confusion*. Let me reassure you: it's bullshit. ![a painting of a man with a surprised look on his face](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1641893588018-b958a5845cab?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDJ8fGVpbnN0ZWlufGVufDB8fHx8MTc1NDQwMDcwNHww&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000) Photo by [Collab Media](https://unsplash.com/@collab%5Fmedia?ref=racketpublishing.com) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit) ## Unpacking the Reasons for Poorly Written Nonfiction Books Don't get me wrong. There's no shortage of explanations for poorly written nonfiction titles. The list includes: - An author's laziness, inexperience, pomposity, ignorance, stubbornness, or deliberate disregard for the reader. - An editor's refusal to speak up—or the publisher's willingness to support her when she does. - Deadline issues that prevent proper edits. - A publisher's indifference, limited budget, or other short-term thinking. See what the list *excludes*? The book's subject itself. No text needs to be confusing. As Albert Einstein once said, “If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.” ![white and red greeting card](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1599172995721-49309fff2f21?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDZ8fG1lbnV8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzU0ODY5NjAxfDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000) Photo by [Karen Z](https://unsplash.com/@kivvii?ref=racketpublishing.com) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit) ## A Recent Example Racket's latest [release](https://www.racketpublishing.com/titles/) is [Amanda Wick's](https://amandawick.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) *The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order*. As its title and subtitle suggest, the book discusses heady, interwoven, and rapidly evolving topics. Cryptocurrency, existing regulatory frameworks, [DeFi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decentralized%5Ffinance?ref=racketpublishing.com), the rise of authoritarianism, social engineering, the erosion of trust, and Big Tech gone wild are all on the menu. > Recognize the need for clarity from the start of your writing project. Not exactly a breezy beach read. And yet, many reviewers of the 430-page opus specifically call out the clarity of Amanda's writing. Here are its last three Amazon ones: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/08/review.jpeg) Recent Amazon Review of **The Catalysts* | Click on the image to enlarge it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/08/other-review-1.jpeg) Recent Amazon Review of **The Catalysts* | Click on the image to enlarge it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/08/review3.jpeg) Recent Amazon Review of **The Catalysts* | Click on the image to enlarge it. ## A Lesson for All Authors To her credit, Amanda recognized the need for clarity from the get-go. She simply refused to put her name on the cover of a nonfiction text that [lost its readers on page one](https://www.philsimon.com/how-not-to-start-a-book/?ref=racketpublishing.com). On that goal, Amanda was completely in sync with [her writing coach](https://www.racketpublishing.com/services)—yours truly. Looking for a ghostwriter or coach for your nonfiction writing project? [LET'S CHAT ](https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect) And it's not just everyday readers who have lauded the book's readability. Professional reviewers have taken notice. [Kirkus](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/amanda-wick/the-catalysts/?ref=racketpublishing.com) called the book “surprisingly accessible, considering the density of its information—a tribute to Wick’s command of the material and her skill at organizing and presenting her arguments.” ## Realistic Goals So all reviewers love *The Catalysts* and give it five stars, right? Of course not. Amanda and never expected *every* reader to accept all her conclusions and recommendations. To believe otherwise is downright naïve. We couldn't control their reactions, but we *could* make the final product as intelligible as possible. Mission accomplished. As far as Amanda and I know, the number of readers who have criticized the quality of the prose is zero. [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-1-44.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/suitcase-6.jpg)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/unpacking/) ## What You Need to Know It's [hard enough](https://helenlewis.substack.com/p/the-bluestocking-379-the-economics) marketing a well-written book. No one can stop you from penning an impenetrable one, but expect to sell only a handful of copies—at best. Dense titles like *The Black Swan* serve as [the exception that proves the rule](https://kadavy.net/blog/posts/the-black-swan-book-summary/?ref=racketpublishing.com). ### Can AI Improve an Awful Audiobook Cover? URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-audiobook-cover/ Last updated: 2025-12-23T14:02:06.000Z In 2017, Wiley published my eighth book—[*Analytics: The Agile Way*](https://tinyurl.com/phil-agile-amzn?ref=racketpublishing.com). Here's the quick backstory behind it. ## How That Text Came to Be After cranking out seven [books](http://www.philsimon.com/books?ref=racketpublishing.com) in seven years, writing another one soon after [accepting an offer to join the ASU faculty](https://www.philsimon.com/blog/higher-education/professor-simon/?ref=racketpublishing.com) was the last thing on my mind. That all changed a few weeks after I started prepping to teach CIS450: Analytics Capstone. When I viewed the existing course materials, I was aghast. The text that prior instructors had been using was utterly useless. Students—all seniors—found it confusing, vapid, and poorly organized. Above all, they weren't wrong. I wasn't looking at ASU as a one- or two-year gig. To that end, I began scouring Amazon for better existing titles. One had to exist. A few looked promising, and the books' publishers sent me copies gratis. It took me about a month to realize that the book I wanted to use in the class just didn't exist. Cue [Toni Morrison quote](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/321-if-there-s-a-book-that-you-want-to-read-but?ref=racketpublishing.com). Over winter break after my first semester, I banged out the manuscript to what was objectively a far better textbook. Here's its cover: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/07/Analytics-The-Agile-Way.jpg) #### _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Skinny on Book Forewords URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/book-forewords-skinny/ Last updated: 2026-01-14T14:37:44.000Z Do you *really* need one for my forthcoming non-fiction title? What's the protocol? These are common questions, especially among rookie authors. I've lost count of the number of times I've discussed the topics with Racket clients and others working on books. In today's post, I'll answer them. ## My Own History With Book Forewords By way of background, each of my first four books contained forewords from prominent industry folks. My rationale was two-fold. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### How Much Research Do You Need to Do Before You Begin Writing Your Book? URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/book-research/ Last updated: 2026-01-17T02:52:40.000Z Writing a proper non-fiction text requires a great deal of research, but how much? How much research do you need to do *before* you start writing in earnest? The answer is not [42](https://news.mit.edu/2019/answer-life-universe-and-everything-sum-three-cubes-mathematics-0910?ref=racketpublishing.com). In fact, there isn't a correct one. Much hinges on the topic, type of book, publisher, book length, and other factors. Writing a single chapter without a fat outline, a money quote, and adequate research, though, is a recipe for disaster. Ditto for not tracking that research in [a single, unified place](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/research-ingestion-engines/). Authors who use a systematic tool like [RacketHub](https://www.racketpublishing.com/product-rackethub/) can ask and—even better—easily answer these types of questions. Let's do that below. ## The Catalysts The fifth Racket title dropped about a month ago. It's called [*The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order*](https://amzn.to/4hwVTqo?ref=racketpublishing.com). In total, Amanda Wick and I identified hundreds of different research sources for her book. Here's a chapter breakdown: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/sources.png) Research Sources From **The Catalysts.* Click on the image to enlarge it. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Be Wary of Bestseller Claims URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/specious-bestseller-claims/ Last updated: 2026-02-01T16:21:48.000Z What does it mean when a book attains this bestseller status? In some cases, it truly blows up. [*The Let Them Theory*](http://www.amazon.com/dp/1401971369/ref=nosim?tag=phisim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) is a case in point. In others, though, the *bestseller* label is meaningless, misleading, or even downright fabricated. Authors, publishers, or both are playing fast and loose with the truth. In today's post, I'll cover two common sleights of hand. Get your popcorn ready for today's rant. ![A book with writing on it sitting on a table](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1728816658265-873fbca07dbf?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDJ8fGFsZ2VicmF8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzUyNDUwNTY1fDA&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=80&w=2000) Photo by [Gabriela](https://unsplash.com/@gabigi?ref=racketpublishing.com) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit) ## Author X: Vague Declarations and Funky Math A few years back, a prominent author claimed that hus latest release had reached *national bestseller* status.[1](#fn:1) I'll intentionally omit the individuals's name and the title of his book. I was skeptical for several reasons. For starters, Author X repeatedly claimed that his previous releases had won awards, but he never provided any detail. This wasn't just a matter of website neglect. I checked. Google searches confirmed as much. He was misleading others. As for Author X's current release, its generic *national bestseller* assertion lacked an affiliation. I wanted to know: *According to whom*? If his title really made the *Wall Street Journal* list like [this book did](http://www.amazon.com/dp/1940858100/ref=nosim?tag=phisim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com), then why not flex a little? Make that impressive achievement abundantly clear to consumers and your adoring fans. The absence puzzled me. I'm no lawyer, but copyright or trademark issues wouldn't apply. [Making a factual claim on the cover of a book is legal](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/advertising-faqs-guide-small-business?ref=racketpublishing.com). (Case in point: See the cover of *The Let Them Theory*.) ### Errors of Omission From Those Who Should Know Better Even worse, Author X's publisher isn't a new kid on the block. On the contrary, it's been operating for decades. Its post-publication addition of the words *national bestseller* on the (revised) cover was at best sloppy and at worst deceptive. > If a bestseller claim lacks a specific affiliation, be very suspicious of its veracity. The book's Amazon page was also deficient. It omitted any additional information about the source of the assertion—again, something any sane author and publisher would eagerly promote. Riddle me this: Why would the latter change the physical cover of the book after its release, but leave the text on its Amazon page unchanged? ### Let's Talk About Amazon Reviews Author X's newest release sported a paltry 30 Amazon reviews a full year after it dropped.2 Could a book with so few of them had organically landed on a *reputable* bestseller list? With a solid book launch, the answer is *yes*, but here's the key point: its dearth of Amazon reviews also raised massive red flags. At best, Author X's title spent a week on a real bestseller list. (Pro tip: In this case, with all due respect to [Neil Young](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ123T3zD2k&ref=racketpublishing.com), it's actually better to fade away than burn out.) Consider the following stats from my book [*Zoom For Dummies*](https://www.amazon.com/Zoom-Dummies-Computer-Tech/dp/1119742145?ref=racketpublishing.com): Within a year of its publication, more than 700 people had reviewed the English version on Amazon. That number didn't surprise me. It had sold a boatload of copies, including nearly 1,000 in a single week after the inimitable Ron Charles of CBS filmed a nationally televised segment with me. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/07/ron-charles.jpeg) CBS's Ron Charles talks to me during the pandemic about **Zoom For Dummies.* _This post is for subscribers only._ ### How Much Text Should You Put on the Back of Your Book? URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/book-back-text/ Last updated: 2025-07-12T20:20:21.000Z Design tastes evolve. Odds are that you're not wearing the same clothes you did twenty years ago. Even if you're happy with your phone's operating system, [a radical new one may be coming soon](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/06/apple-introduces-a-delightful-and-elegant-new-software-design/?ref=racketpublishing.com). For whatever reason, [my book covers](http://www.philsimon.com/books?ref=racketpublishing.com) **usually* sport orange and black.[1](#fn:1) My color preference hasn't changed all that much over the years, but one thing has. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### What AI Thinks of Your Writing URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-tone-detection/ Last updated: 2025-08-31T13:41:24.000Z In [*Asian Comedian Destroys America!*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11248800/?ref=racketpublishing.com), the comedian Ronny Chieng discusses his tone of voice and the problems it causes in his marriage. I can't do justice to his bit here. Netflix subscribers would do well to check it out. The former *Daily Show* correspondent filmed his hysterical special in 2019\. At the time, today's crop of generative AI tools didn't exist. Now, however, it's an entirely different kettle of fish. In today's post, I'll describe how this technology can easily help writers assess the words they're about to publish. ## The Process I uploaded an excerpt of [*The Nine: The Tectonic Forces Reshaping the Workplace*](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRTHYMKH?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com)and entered the following prompt: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/prompt.png) Claude Prompt Note that I'm currently on Claude's [Pro plan](https://www.anthropic.com/pricing?ref=racketpublishing.com). A few minutes later, Claude spit out its analysis. I'm including it as an image rather than text because I didn't write the following words. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/partial-response.png) Claude Partial Response Read the whole breakdown [here](https://claude.ai/share/eb94f360-d46d-4b9d-b483-41c805883e4d?ref=racketpublishing.com). ## Lessons, Insights, and Thoughts Claude's summary is certainly accurate, but not unique. (Grammarly is well aware of [my style](https://racket-publishing.ghost.io/blog/whats-your-writing-style/?ref=racketpublishing.com), as am I.) It's not the first tool or person to point out that I enjoy referencing pop culture. Yes, my [allusions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ-SqmplWN0&ref=racketpublishing.com) will invariably fall flat with some readers. Along these lines, when I ghostwrite books, I ask my clients at the start of my projects if I should tone down the snark. Next up, let's talk about my use of data. Any prescriptive non-fiction text ought to liberally reference statistics and include charts—especially early on when authors argue their cases. Again, I didn't need AI to tell me that I regularly support my assertions with plenty of numbers. All nonfiction scribes should follow this practice. Without being defensive, I wouldn't call my writing *meandering*, but Claude's interpretation doesn't surprise me. Foolish are the writers who believe they can placate everyone. I've seen some be particularly blunt in passages when deeper explorations would have served them well. Interestingly, after I let Claude examine my emails, it told me that my communication style isn't close to *meandering*. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/claude-email.png) Claude Email Assessment > Increasingly, your only limit is your imagination. Now, let's put the two analyses together. I explore topics more fully in full-length texts than I do in email. To that, I say *good*. ## 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. ## Beyond Book Excerpts Of course, you needn't stop there. Increasingly, your only limit is your imagination. Case in point: On April 15, 2025, [Claude can offer similar insights on your Gmail](https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/15/anthropics-claude-now-read-your-gmail/?ref=racketpublishing.com). In case you're curious, evidently I'm a friendly but direct communicator—not that I needed AI to tell me that. [Writing Lessons From WhiplashThoughts on when to cut text from your manuscript.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-28.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/camera.jpg)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing-lessons-from-whiplash/) ## What You Need to Know Sure, AI can [ape your writing](https://www.philsimon.com/blog/ai/can-ai-write-in-my-voice/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Still, become a slave to it, and you won't like the results: readers will likely find your writing stilted, although probably not to [this degree](https://www.philsimon.com/blog/communication/how-not-to-start-a-book/?ref=racketpublishing.com). That's one extreme. At the same time, don't be afraid to ask it questions. Its insights may surprise you. You can always ignore its recommendations, just as you would with Grammarly or a similar tool. ### The Great Author Substack Question URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-great-substack-question/ Last updated: 2025-12-27T13:21:44.000Z Books don't magically market themselves. On rare occasion, [an FBI investigation](https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/03/23/documents-released-hubspot-probe-involving-author-dan-lyons/VZH4CN4kR5p7iyhsKEdwJI/story.html?ref=racketpublishing.com) has generated buzz for a new title, or a powerful company has tried to [prevent an author from promoting her book](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/12/arbitrator-prohibits-meta-whistleblower-from-promoting-tell-all-book.html?ref=racketpublishing.com). Rather than quell interest, the opposite generally happens. [The Streisand effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand%5Feffect?ref=racketpublishing.com) remains alive and well. Absent these black-swan events, authors and publishers have to pound the pavement for their new releases. Their goals overlap: attract readers, nab premium book reviews, move copies, and the like. The only difference between now and the 19th century is the tools at their disposal. Which brings us to Substack. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/18-pictures-of-young-stephen-king-u1.jpeg) Photo: Metaweb | [GNU Free Documentation License](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/fdl-1.3.en.html?ref=racketpublishing.com) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Do Ghostwriters and Clients Need to Vibe With Each Other? URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/do-ghostwriters-and-clients-need-to-vibe-with-each-other/ Last updated: 2026-02-01T17:54:05.000Z You're thinking of finally taking the leap and writing that book after all those years. To do it properly, you know that you'll need help. After all, relying on AI will only yield [a generic book](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-generic-books/). In this post, I'll discuss whether you and your ghostwriter need to click. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Writing Lessons From Whiplash URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing-lessons-from-whiplash/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T20:46:45.000Z More than a decade after its release, [*Whiplash*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582802/?ref=racketpublishing.com) remains one of my favorite movies. The tight story about an eager beaver aspiring drummer and his abusive teacher took home [plenty of hardware](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2015/L?qt-honorees=1&ref=racketpublishing.com#block-quicktabs-honorees). Interestingly, several excellent scenes didn't make the final cut. Here's one of them. Listen to the commentary and you'll understand why Jason Reitman and Damien Chazelle chose to kill such a poignant moment from their movie. The brief moment muddied the movie in a way that would ultimately hurt it. Great, but how does this scene relate to books? _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Ultimate Argument for Hybrid Publishing URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-ultimate-argument-for-hybrid-publishing/ Last updated: 2026-01-19T19:38:05.000Z For years, I've been advocating for hybrid publishing. I wouldn't have started Racket—and [Motion](http://www.motionpub.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) before that. ## Why Go Hybrid? Count the following among the major benefits of hybrid publishing: - Far more autonomy over the publishing process. - The ability to [control your book's schedule](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/overlooked-benefit/) and [its price](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/author-horror-story-6-sticker-shock/). - Ownership of all intellectual property. - Far higher royalties. - Greater transparency. ## Today's Publishing Landscape I haven't banged one specific drum all that much: the financial one. In theory, the publisher that fronts you an advance will be solvent when your book releases a year or two from now. As such, you'll receive your royalties if your book earns out (although that's exceedingly difficult to do.) Historically, this assumption has been reasonable. As I write these words, it no longer is. ## Bankruptcies: The *Other* Kind of Chapter The bankruptcies of Unbound and [Albert Whitman & Co](https://www.albertwhitman.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) have sadly demonstrated that authors who work with legacy publishers are rolling the dice. Unbound folded and became Boundless, but the new legal entity isn't [honoring the financial obligations of its predecessor](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/97775-u-k-s-bankrupt-unbound-still-owes-millions-to-creditors.html?ref=racketpublishing.com). If you had signed a contract with Unbound, then the following message will infuriate you: ![Image depicting errors](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/07/boundless.jpeg) **Source:** [Writer Beware](https://tinyurl.com/racket-boundless?ref=racketpublishing.com) This legal hair-splitting has justifiably irked Unbound's authors. How could it not? [Be Wary of Bestseller ClaimsOverly generic ones engender the same suspicions as their overly specific counterparts.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-36.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/award.jpg)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/specious-bestseller-claims/) ## What You Need to Know Authors find it frustrating as hell when publishers charge an exorbitant price for their books.[\[1\]](#fn1) Ditto if they delay titles' releases without explanation. Still, Boundless's move is especially unconscionable. Maybe it's legal, maybe not. I'm no lawyer. I am certain, however, that authors who eschewed Boundless for reputable hybrid presses like Racket feel like they've dodged a bullet precisely because they have. Pursue a deal with a traditional publisher if you like. Just know in advance you may well face these types of financial shenanigans and all the stress that comes along with it. --- 1. Especially since their royalty rates are so low. It's akin to realtors [not caring if their clients sell their homes for as much as they can](https://forum.nachi.org/t/exerpt-from-freakonomics-book-regarding-real-estate-agents/56492?ref=racketpublishing.com). [↩︎](#fnref1) ### The Mystery of the Bulk Book Sale URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-mystery-of-the-bulk-book-sale/ Last updated: 2026-01-19T19:38:15.000Z One of my go-to business reads is Chris Anderson's [*The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More*](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JMKSE2/ref=nosim?tag=phisim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com). Thanks to the unlimited virtual shelf space the Web provides, merchants can afford to sell only a handeful of copies of an item. Such a scenario is impossible in the physical world. Turning to books, even the largest Barnes & Nobles store can only stock about 150,000 titles at a time. (The corporation's warehousing capabilities extend [much further](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/h/help/about/barnesandnoble?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com).) Even one million books, though, represents a fraction of the texts published *each year*. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### A Simple Tip to Make Your Sentences Come Alive URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/sentences-come-alive/ Last updated: 2025-12-27T13:24:46.000Z Over the years, I've encountered more than my fair share of weak writing. Sure, there's the jargon that infects academia, the legal profession, and just about every management consultant. Even decent scribes, though, far too often write in a way that weakens their ideas. In this post, I'll explain one of the main culprits of weak prose and how you can easily avoid it in your writing. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### More Shaving With the AI Razor URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/more-ai-shaving/ Last updated: 2025-07-16T20:48:26.000Z While migrating from WordPress to Ghost this month, I expected some bumps in the road. When I viewed [the About page](https://www.racketpublishing.com/about/) on my iPhone, I noticed something weird: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/NBS.jpeg) About Page Issue In this post, I'll explain: - The source of the error. - How I quickly resolved it. - Lessons you can learn from this little episode. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Make Your Designer's Life Easier URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/make-your-designers-life-easier/ Last updated: 2025-08-01T20:43:20.000Z Many great non-fiction books tell amazing stories with only their words. Ours is a visual world, though. Done properly, figures and graphics convey a point in a way that mere words alone cannot. Am I biased? Of course. In 2014, I wrote a book about the importance of [modern data visualization](http://www.amazon.com/dp/1118794389/ref=nosim?ref=racketpublishing.com). Today, I'll show you how to make your designer's much life easier. You'll also learn how to save yourself some time and potential frustration. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### New Notion Template: Simple Service Provider Evaluation Tool URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/new-notion-template-simple-service-provider-evaluation-tool/ Last updated: 2026-01-13T20:12:22.000Z Book projects break bad for [all sorts of reasons](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/horrors/). Two of the biggest include: - Handling editing and proofreading tasks yourself. - Trusting that your friend who majored in English 20 years ago can handle the job. It's best to hire professionals, even if you're self-publishing. This means interviewing and hiring individuals. ## Managing the Process Manage this process on a pen and paper if you like, but it's best to rely upon a simple system that: - Tracks each candidate status. - Lets you assess each candidate's attributes. - Allows you to enter notes as needed. ## 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. Against this backdrop, I've created a new Notion template. The Simple Service Provider Evaluation Tool provides enough structure to keep things organized. At the same time, its intuitive nature means that you won't be overwhelmed. 💡 Even better, you can use it to assess anyone: housekeepers, babysitters, landscapers, or any service provider you like. Watch the overview video: The non-member price for the Simple Service Provider Evaluation Tool is $29.95\. All current and new Racket members can save an additional 20 percent. Just log in and visit [the benefits page](https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits/). Scroll down and you'll see: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/blur.png) Copy the coupon unredacted code and apply it when you check out on the Notion Marketplace. [On Books, Success, and Ego - Racket PublishingThoughts on successful folks determined to write a book—not necessarily a good one.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-19.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/ego_new-2.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ego/) [BUY THE TEMPLATE](https://bit.ly/3T3RBfU?ref=racketpublishing.com) ### Racket Publishing's Next Chapter URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-next-chapter/ Last updated: 2026-01-16T23:14:09.000Z 📅 ****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. ### Unpacking the Reasons for a Successful Book Project URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/unpacking/ Last updated: 2025-12-27T13:26:08.000Z As I write these words, the Racket team is putting the finishing touches on [*The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order*](https://www.amandawick.com/book?ref=racketpublishing.com). Over the course of the last 15 months, Amanda Wick has worked closely with us turning her idea into a remarkably timely 440-page book. Conceptualizing, [researching](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/252-tasks-business-book/), writing, editing, and designing such a meaty tome offers many opportunities for confusion, rework, and delays. Editor comments may get lost in the shuffle. Key deadlines pass without completed tasks. Last-minute changes cause superfluous stress. In short, things break bad. With Amanda's book, however, none of these things happened despite the following: - She has been a [digital nomad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital%5Fnomad?ref=racketpublishing.com) for the past year. - I have yet to meet her in person. Logistical challenges haven't prevented us from staying on track and, as a direct result, comfortably hitting our pub date. The obvious question—and subject of this post—is why? ## Why Amanda and the Racket Team Stuck the Landing _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Publication of The Catalysts URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-catalysts/ Last updated: 2025-06-15T21:20:26.000Z ![The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/thecatalysts.jpg) Am pleased to announce the publication of the fifth Racket title, *The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order* by [Amanda Wick](https://www.amandawick.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Over the last 15 months, Amanda worked closely with [the Racket team](https://www.racketpublishing.com/about/#section-three-title) to bring her first book to market. Given current events, *The Catalysts* could not have arrived at a more critical time. I hope that you'll check Amanda's courageous and important debut book. [BUY THE BOOK](https://amzn.to/4mhFCbW?ref=racketpublishing.com) ### On Ghostwriters, Selectivity, and Unicorns URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/on-ghostwriters-selectivity-and-unicorns/ Last updated: 2025-06-06T19:51:10.000Z A large ghostwriting agency recently blasted out a mass email to its cadre of talented scribes. Here's a screenshot from its message: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1.png) Talk about a tall order. The word *unicorn* comes to mind. The first three requirements certainly narrow down the field, but the last two limit the probable number to zero. I forwarded that email along with my thoughts on the matter to a fellow ghost. He agreed. Even if a ghost magically met the first four prerequisites, he or she would have to be able to start now. ## The Inevitable Outcome _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Case for a Concierge URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/concierge/ Last updated: 2026-01-22T02:26:32.000Z Say that you decide to clear your head and spend a week in a new city. On a whim, you book a hotel room. Your mantra for the week: just go with the flow. Armed with your smartphone, you rely on Yelp, Reddit, Facebook, and even AI for recommendations. You spend a good deal of time researching places to go and things to do. Over the next seven days, you take in a play, go on long walks, try new restaurants, take a tour, sleep late, and visit a museum or two. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Every Book Project Is Different URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/every-book-project-is-different/ Last updated: 2025-07-15T15:06:56.000Z Of all the things I enjoy about running [a boutique hybrid publisher](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/the-benefit-of-boutiques/), perhaps my favorite is that each project is different. I'm not just talking about author personalities, book topics, and other obvious traites. Problems invariably arise, but I like to think of them as opportunities. Best of all, there's ample opportunity to find and implement solutions. ## The Catalysts For example, consider the latest Racket release, *The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order.* To be sure, [Amanda Wick](https://amandawick.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) and [the Racket team](https://www.racketpublishing.com/about/#section-two-title) followed [a reliable process](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/on-buildings-and-books/) to work effectively, quickly, asynchronously, affordably, and in an organized way. Still, the project required making several critical adjustments that no one could have reasonably anticipated at the beginning. I could cite dozens of examples, but the most notable included: _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Revisiting My Unifying Theory of Business URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/unifying-theory/ Last updated: 2025-07-13T14:39:09.000Z Before I fancied myself an author, I paid my bills by helping companies implement new systems. During that decade, I developed a simple theory of business. Everyone falls into one of the following three groups: - Those that get it. - Those that don’t get it but want to get it. - Those that don’t get it and don’t want to get it. In today's post, I'll put that theory to the test against authors and their willingness to embrace new tools. I'll be referecing the comments from my article on Jane Friedman's site about [the power of Notion](https://janefriedman.com/why-all-authors-should-try-notion/?ref=racketpublishing.com). (I'll also reference some of the opinions her readers expressed in [her LinkedIn post](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7310633963130081281/?ref=racketpublishing.com).) ## Notion Fans As expected, a piece detailing the power of Notion to its current users resonated a great deal. I was preaching to the choir. [More than 100 million people](https://www.notion.com/blog/100-million-of-you?ref=racketpublishing.com) would echo my general sentiments. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Five Levels of Nonfiction Author Marketing URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/five-levels/ Last updated: 2026-01-14T02:34:26.000Z First-time authors may think of marketing as a binary, but nothing could be further from the truth. In today's post, I'll describe the five levels of author marketing. (Note that my course [The Author Flywheel](https://www.notion.com/templates/the-author-flywheel?ref=racketpublishing.com) and a classic bit by the comedian [Larry Miller](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWhTTW-T88c&ref=racketpublishing.com) inspired this lengthy post.) ## Level 0: Marketing, Schmarketing ### Audience A common approach for authors whose sole goal involves publishing their books. In some cases, these people naïvely think that the quality of their writing or the timeliness of their topics will make their texts sell themselves. Save for a few outliers, they couldn't be more wrong. Because of the author's lack of effort, I'm labeling this Level 0, not Level 1. ### Pre-Launch Activities - None. ### Post-Launch Activities - Mentioning the book to a few friends. ### Out-of-Pocket Expenses Zero. No shocker here. ## Level 1: Starter Marketing ### Audience Typical for authors who lack considerable financial resources, time, and desire to promote their books. Still, they understand the import of marketing. They want to do *something* because it's better than doing nothing. Also, newbies working with traditional publishers might go this route because they expect the former to actually promote their books. ### Pre-Launch Activities - Very few. These folks erroneously believe that marketing takes place *after* their book releases. To be fair, it's a common mistake. - Building a website if the author currently lacks one. ### Post-Launch Activities - Mentioning the book on social media or in person to friends and family. - Encouraging others to spread the word. - Appearing on a few podcasts that lack much reach. - Announcing the book on the website and newsletter. - Independently sending a few complimentary copies to journalists in a desperate attempt to land placement. ### Out-of-Pocket Expenses Minimal: $500 to $2,000. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### How Notion Benefits Authors URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/how-notion-benefits-authors/ Last updated: 2025-06-09T11:05:49.000Z One of the most powerful tools authors can use these days is [Notion](https://notion.grsm.io/philsimon?ref=racketpublishing.com). One could write a lengthy book about its robust features. For just some of how you can use Notion for all sorts of writing-related purposes, check out the guest post I wrote on Jane Friedman's blog. [READ THE POST](https://janefriedman.com/why-all-authors-should-try-notion/?ref=racketpublishing.com) ### It's Galley Time: Types of Issues Authors Can Expect to Encounter URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/galley-issues/ Last updated: 2025-12-28T23:07:16.000Z The day has finally arrived. Months or years of hard work have finally come to fruition. Your Microsoft Word manuscript is now a proper *galley* or *proof*. (I use the two terms interchangeably, although [subtle differences exist](https://www.perplexity.ai/search/861ffe8d-0f0d-4d7b-8e82-b6ef3034f90b?ref=racketpublishing.com).) I'm talking about the near-final PDF the printer uses to create the physical version of your book. In today's post, I'll describe what to expect as you review this critical document and edge toward the finish line. ## Anticipate a Slew of Minor Galley Issues Whether you're writing a 30,000- or 90,000-word book, the initial galley won't be perfekt. (Yes, that typo is intentional.) All things being equal, longer, more complex books yield more issues than shorter, simpler ones. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Parallels Between Books and Databases URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/books-and-databases/ Last updated: 2026-02-01T21:16:49.000Z Long before I wrote books for myself and others, I built databases for clients. In today's post, I'll discuss some similarities between the two. ## Development Approaches Vary Go under the hood of a [CRM system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer%5Frelationship%5Fmanagement?ref=racketpublishing.com) or look at its entity relationship diagram, and odds are there's a customer master table at its core. I guarantee that if you compare [Zoho](https://www.zoho.com/crm/?ref=racketpublishing.com), Salesforce, and [my Simple Notion CRM](https://www.notion.com/templates/simple-crm-project-tracker-639?ref=racketpublishing.com), you'll likely find some major differences. Across categories, you won't find many similarities. [RacketHub](https://www.racketpublishing.com/products/rackethub/) looks nothing like a CRM or [ERP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise%5Fresource%5Fplanning?ref=racketpublishing.com) system. Differences abound between books—even those that fall within the same series. For example, all *For Dummies* titles follow the same basic template, but there are differences among them. Sometimes, [they are stark](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/the-discerning-author-revisited/). _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Pre-Order The Catalysts URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/pre-order-the-catalysts/ Last updated: 2025-07-12T00:26:06.000Z ![The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/catallysts_3d.png) The fifth Racket title drops at the end of next month. [Amanda Wick's](https://www.amandawick.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) **The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order* could not have arrived at a more opportune time. Pre-order the paperback below. [PRE-ORDER](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D88Z7LYF?tag=phisim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) ### On Gates, Books, and Priorities URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/gates/ Last updated: 2025-06-15T21:22:52.000Z In *traditional* software development, teams must complete the first milestone before continuing to the second. The chain continues to the end. For instance, building an application or system necessitates gathering all business requirements first. (Forget more modern Agile methods like [Scrum](https://www.scrum.org/resources/what-scrum-module?ref=racketpublishing.com) for the time being.) A [*phase-gate*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-gate%5Fprocess?ref=racketpublishing.com) or *waterfall* process is rigid and sequential by design. Think [Gantt charts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gantt%5Fchart?ref=racketpublishing.com). Everything is supposed to go according to plan. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Legacy Publishers' Shrinking List of Responsibilities URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/what-do-legacy-publishers-do-anymore/ Last updated: 2025-07-15T15:18:30.000Z Back in 2009, I entered the publishing world. At the time, I was a naïve rookie author. I assumed that my publisher would help me market my book. After all, the company whose logo adorned my book's spine would earn the vast majority of the book's profits. Boy, I was wrong. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Tech Questions to Ask Your Potential Ghostwriter URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/tech-questions-ghostwriter/ Last updated: 2026-01-20T02:36:13.000Z Last week, I covered some questions you should ask when evaluating ghostwriters. (Read it [here](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/key-questions-ghostwriter/).) Today, I'll cover three tech-related ones. ## How Do You Use AI? Three years ago, this question wouldn't appear on anyone's list. Today, it's an essential query. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Simon's First Law of Case Studies URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/case-studies/ Last updated: 2025-06-13T16:51:02.000Z Few people want to read a preachy non-fiction book. A text filled with "Do this, not that" and other trite bromides quickly becomes boring. Done properly, original and penetrating case studies engage readers and prove your book's overall thesis. (Yes, this means conducting your own research.) Unfortunately, some authors rely too much upon this tactic—and their works suffer for it. A morass of ostensibly disconnected yarns frustrates the discerning reader. I was recently perusing a book on author marketing that suffered from this very affliction. So many parables, but so few real insights. Too much micro, not enough macro. When it comes to these essential anecdotes, is there a middle ground? ## Striking a Balance > There is a middle ground. Embrace it. To that query, I answer an emphatic *yes*. Think of [a bell curve](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bell-curve.asp?ref=racketpublishing.com#:~:text=A%20bell%20curve%20is%20a%20graph%20depicting%20the%20normal%20distribution,relative%20width%20around%20the%20mean.). Call it *Simon's First Law of Case Studies*: Authors need to include a certain number. Incorporating too many lessens a book's effectiveness. Ditto when there's a dearth of them. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Key Questions to Ask Your Potential Ghostwriter URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/key-questions-ghostwriter/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T00:51:47.000Z If selecting a ghostwriter seems like a daunting decision, trust you judgment. Recommendations certainly matter, but you should do your own research. Ultimately, your writing partner should pass [the Wow Test](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/the-wow-test/). Here are six questions to ask. They don't represent a definitive list. Rather, think of them as an early barometer to gauge potential fit. ## What Genres of Books Do You Read? The ghostwriter who has only read celebrity memoirs for the last 15 years is unlikely to be a good fit for your cryptocurrency book. One who exclusively pens scientific books probably won't do well on a marketing text. You get my drift. ## What Are You Working on Right Now? > Experienced ghosts probably aren't waiting for your call. Experienced ghosts probably aren't waiting for your call. Assume that your prospective writing partner isn't totally free at the present moment. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Benefit of Boutiques URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-benefit-of-boutiques/ Last updated: 2026-02-26T00:37:15.000Z Long before websites like Etsy arrived, boutique brick-and-mortar stores offered eclectic selections of sundries. I'm talking about one-of-a-kind items unlikely to pop up everywhere else. People looking for a generic blanket or office chair visited Walmart, Target, or another big-box retailer. ## Consulting Parallels I was thinking about the difference between these two types of shops the other day. In the consulting world, Deloitte, Accenture, and massive firms can handle any project—or at least they claim they can. By contrast, boutique shops specialize in a niche and typically reject projects outside their domain expertise. Does the same dynamic exist in publishing? _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The AI Razor Revisited URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-ai-razor-revisited/ Last updated: 2025-12-29T12:48:51.000Z More than ever, authors can use AI to [save time](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai/razor/) and [reduce grunt work](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/project-management/grunt-work/). Here’s another goodie that will help non-fiction scribes. Properly formatting endnotes is cumbersome, and, not surprisingly, some authors are [downright lazy](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/footnotes-endnotes/) about it. What's more, once you figure out the format, the goalposts may move. *The Chicago Manual of Style* is no monolith. What if there were a way to quickly and professionally churn them out? ## Enter AI I gave [Perplexity](https://www.perplexity.ai/?ref=racketpublishing.com) this prompt: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/prompt.png) The result is below: _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Six Ways to Write a Book Today URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/six-ways-to-write-a-book-today/ Last updated: 2026-01-17T02:49:32.000Z Say that you're a relatively senior marketing executive. You'd like to advance your career, land lucrative speaking gigs, impress your peers, raise your profile, generate passive income, and cement your status as a leading thinker in the field. Writing a book *can* certainly help you achieve your ambitious goals, although there are no guarantees. But *how* exactly would you go about it? In today's post, I'll provide the mainstream options available to you—the hypothetical marketing bigwig. Regardless of your profession, though, this post will apply to you if you're thinking about writing a book. ## The Nike Method You adopt the company's iconic slogan: Just do it. That is, you sit down and just start pecking away. ### Is This Approach Likely to Result in a Professional Book? No. This method all but guarantees that you'll end up with a morass of overlapping ideas, redundant text, chasms, sequencing issues, and other massive problems. It's hard to see your efforts bearing fruit. Even experienced scribes benefit from extensive planning—or [prewriting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prewriting?ref=racketpublishing.com). _This post is for subscribers only._ ### What Authors Can Learn From an Iconic Hockey Announcer URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/what-authors-can-learn-from-an-iconic-hockey-announcer/ Last updated: 2025-06-15T21:35:03.000Z ![Descriptive alt text](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/mike_lange_1_2011-12-03.jpg) On February 19, 2025, legendary Pittsburgh Penguins broadcaster [Mike Lange passed away at 76](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/%5F/id/43929257/mike-lange-hall-famer-penguins-broadcaster-dies-76?ref=racketpublishing.com). I am sad, but I will always remember him. I’m not a big hockey fan. I haven’t watched an entire game in more than a decade, but I could never forget Lange. While in college, I fondly recall watching the games he worked. I almost always laughed after Mario Lemieux or Jaromir Jagr scored. Lange—an unabashed Pittsburgh fan—would wait for the perfect moment to utter one of his iconic lines. My favorote: “Ahhh, get in the fast lane, Grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll.” _This post is for subscribers only._ ### On AI, Workout Apps, and Generic Books URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-generic-books/ Last updated: 2025-07-15T15:20:35.000Z Not all that long ago, you needed some coding chops if you wanted to build a proper app. [Those days, however, are long gone](https://www.philsimon.com/books/low-code-no-code/?ref=racketpublishing.com). ## Adventures in AI App Creation Today anyone can enter a few simple prompts and spin up a variety of different apps. For instance, in about 15 minutes, I created a rudimentary fitness tracker on [Replit](https://replit.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Here's a screenshot: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/worout.png) Workout Tracker | Click on the image to enlarge it. My little AI-generated fitness app stores workouts and even offers some simple data visualizations, but so what? _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The 46 Non-Writing Hats Skilled Non-Fiction Ghostwriters Wear URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ghostwriter-hats/ Last updated: 2026-01-12T00:16:03.000Z The life of a non-fiction ghostwriter is nothing if not fascinating. Being successful requires wearing a wide variety of hats at different times. In no particular order, they include: 1. [Researcher](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/research-ingestion-engines/) and interviewer. 2. Market researcher. (Yeah, there's overlap here.) 3. Trend observer/prognosticator. 4. Translator/mind reader. 5. Visionary. 6. Realist. 7. Synthesizer. 8. Analyst. 9. Summarizer. 10. Storyteller. 11. [Planner and project manager](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/252-tasks-business-book/). 12. Consultant. 13. [AI experimenter](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai/ai-experiments/). 14. Motivational coach. 15. Hitting coach, because clients sometimes need help keeping their eyes on the ball. 16. Client advocate, because sometimes you have to go to bat for them when working with partners. 17. Occasional but respectful bad cop. 18. Sporadic punching bag. 19. Occasional noodge. 20. Expert wordsmith. 21. Comedian, because a little humor can diffuse tense situations. 22. Editor. 23. Grammarian. 24. Expert in Microsoft Word or a similar program. (Nothing in [this post](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/how-to-format-your-manuscript/) should surprise your prospective ghostwriter.) 25. Application expert, because ghostwriting goes way beyond using a word-processing program. 26. Explainer/trainer/teacher. 27. Listener. 28. [Chef](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/the-ghostwriter-as-a-chef/). 29. Brainstormer, idea generator, and sounding board. 30. Publishing and process expert. 31. [Accountant](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/document-dangers/). 32. Perennial voice of the book's ultimate readers. 33. Networker/bridge builder. 34. Fixer/problem solver. 35. Paralegal, especially with respect to fair use. 36. Bullshit detector and fact-checker. 37. Devil's advocate. 38. Dispenser of tough love when necessary. 39. Provocateur. 40. Master organizer. 41. Tech-support specialist. 42. Amateur designer. 43. Data wrangler (to create figure prototypes for proper designer to tweak.) 44. Video creator, because sometimes a proper Zoom meeting isn't necessary. ([Tella](https://refer.tella.com/phil?ref=racketpublishing.com) rocks here.) 45. Intermittent marketer. 46. Rapid typist. (I can't put a precise number on the ideal speed. Still, exceeding [the average words-per-minute](https://www.asaporg.com/efficiency-skills/average-words-per-minute-typing-how-fast-is-fast-enough?ref=racketpublishing.com) is table stakes.) _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Dangers of Disparate Documents URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/document-dangers/ Last updated: 2026-01-19T19:40:27.000Z Say that you're a realtor. You keep separate spreadsheets for travel expenses, marketing expenses, houses sold, current listings, current and previous clients, commissions paid, and the like. Every year, you spend dozens of hours cobbling together these documents to satisfy your accountant. What are the odds that you stick the landing? The correct answer is *not high*. Even if you do magically thread the needle, you've doubtless wasted oodles of time resolving errors, tracking down receipts, removing duplicate entries, and the like. I'll also bet that you paid your accountant more than you should have. One would hope that realtors would use a system to make their lives less chaotic. Ideally, a few irritated clients or colleagues would provide the requisite motivation to get their houses in order (pun intended). _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Wow Test URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-wow-test/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:05:58.000Z A Google query for "[find a ghostwriter](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22find+a+ghostwriter%22&oq=%22find+a+ghostwriter%22&gs%5Flcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQABiABDIICAIQABgHGB4yCAgDEAAYBxgeMggIBBAAGAcYHjIICAUQABgHGB4yCAgGEAAYBxgeMggIBxAAGAcYHjIICAgQABgHGB4yCAgJEAAYBxge0gEINjc1NWowajGoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&ref=racketpublishing.com)" returns boatloads of results. Sadly, I can't tell you how many because the world's most popular search engine recently [nixed that functionality](https://web.swipeinsight.app/posts/google-now-fully-removes-result-count-from-search-page-5527?ref=racketpublishing.com#:~:text=What%20change%20did%20Google%20make,found%20for%20a%20given%20query.). (As a proxy, [Bing returns more than 10 million entries](https://www.bing.com/search?q=%22find+a+ghostwriter%22&form=QBLH&sp=-1&ghc=1&lq=0&pq=%22find+a+ghostwriter%22&sc=12-20&qs=n&sk=&cvid=1907783D2DFF4A5D81C4870579610B4E&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl=&ref=racketpublishing.com).) In this post, I'll offer some advice about how to choose the *right* one. ## Selection Criteria for Your Future Ghostwriter Experienced ghosts cost a pretty penny. (Double that for ghostwriters that have penned true bestsellers.) As the old bromide goes: Fast, cheap, and good—pick any two of the three. If you're only willing to pay the bare minimum, expect commensurate results. It's worth your while to do your due diligence, but there's a catch: Most ghostwriters don't *publicly* advertise their clients. And there's the rub. If you're considering a specific ghost (including me), ask for private introductions to previous clients. When speaking with them, abide by what I call *The Wow Test*. Here's the money question to ask those folks: Did the ghostwriter's work wow you? _This post is for subscribers only._ ### New RacketHub Features: Project Pulse and Participant Polling URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/rackethub-polling/ Last updated: 2025-06-23T01:25:44.000Z In an excellent bit, the comedian Kevin Hart talks about how small problems become big problems. I can't do it justice, so here it is below: Hart isn't talking about project management or books; he's talking about couples. Make no mistake, though: the same maxim applies on all projects and books in particular. I've seen this movie before: A series of misunderstandings brings a project to its breaking point. Clients walk away angry, slam their service providers, and refuse to pay for services not rendered to their satisfaction. What to do? ## The Solution Today, I'm pleased to announce that [RacketHub](https://www.racketpublishing.com/products/rackethub/) now ships with a simple daily poll feature. In short, it allows project managers, clients, ghostwriters, and publishers to identify small problems before they morph into larger ones. By answering a one-question poll every day, the project manager or publisher can take everyone's pulse. The survey couldn't be simpler. RacketHub clients and project participants just fill out this daily form: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/survey.png) RacketHub Daily Project Pulse Survey Database entries automatically popular a simple line graph in Notion; no exports or imports are necessary. [On Books, Success, and Ego - Racket PublishingThoughts on successful folks determined to write a book—not necessarily a good one.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/image-2-65.jpg)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/ego_new.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/ego/) In the example below, see how two people are equally satisfied with the direction of the project when it begins. After a few days, though, a gap appears. It only widens over time. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/diversion-1.png) This simple functionality certainly won't eliminate every potential source of conflict on a book project. If used regularly, however, it will help the parties involved resolve issues before they metastasize—especially on remote and hybrid projects. [𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗔 15-𝗠𝗜𝗡. 𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗕 𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗢](https://calendly.com/phil-qs6e/rackethub?ref=racketpublishing.com) ### On Books, Success, and Ego URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ego/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T00:52:26.000Z Many features differentiate hybrid and legacy publishers. For starters, with the former, authors are paying for a service. Hybrid publishers don't pay advances; they *receive* money for services provided. In this way, hybrid publishers are like attorneys, dentists, and massage therapists. With legacy publishers, the money arrow flows in the opposite direction in the form of advances. Prospective authors need to prepare book proposals, pass an extensive vetting process, and often work with an agent. (Lest I overstate the difference, the line between hybrid and legacy publishers has been [blurring](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/blurring-lines/) for quite some time now.) Large hybrid publishers tend to be pretty inclusive. The big outfits aren't terribly selective about their clients, although reputable ones don't behave like [the charlatans](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/charlatans-hybrid-publishing/) do. A successful individual who can cut a big check can, over the course of a year or more, eventually become a published author. But is their ultimate product—the book—any good? Despite the considerable fees paid, many times it is not. The book is just an exercise in self-indulgence. ## An Example I'm reminded here of a ghostwriting project from a few years back. The author couldn't decide what type of book he wanted to write; he just knew that he wanted to write *a* book. A large hybrid publisher approached me about the project and I signed up for a sub-market, flat-rate fee. I soon regretted it. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### On Quickie Book Services URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/quickie/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:01:40.000Z When you've been in the publishing world as long as I have, you've seen all types of actors. In the past, I've written about [the charlatans of hybrid publishing](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/charlatans-hybrid-publishing/). Today, I'll focus on [quickie book services](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/quickie/). ## Compressed Timelines I'm talking about folks who promise to ghostwrite *and* publish a book in an insanely short period of time—sometimes two to three months. In the past, these service providers typically interviewed their clients and summarized those conversations into chapters. In the past 18 months or so, some of these outfits have adopted AI-driven approaches. Clients provide content in the form of blog posts, podcast audio transcripts, white papers, interviews, slides, and other content. Out pops a morass of long-form content. A human being then curates that text into something resembling a book. If you want to go that route, have at it. Your total cost will be a fraction of what you'd expect to spend at reputable hybrid publishers, including Racket. You'll spend far less time than you would as well. For the following reasons, though, the money and time saved from a paint-by-numbers approach are a classic example of the juice not being worth the squeeze. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### On Buildings and Books URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/on-buildings-and-books/ Last updated: 2026-01-19T19:41:32.000Z I am a big fan of metaphors. Used correctly, they illustrate points in ways that make your audience your point. In this post, I'll use one of my faves analogies to illustrate the process of planning, researching, writing, publishing, and promoting a book. ## Hotels Say that you decide to build a new hotel. Yours is a greenfield project, not a makeover or fixer-upper. You wouldn't just head to the local Home Depot, buy supplies, and roll up to some ostensibly available land. It behooves you to first do a little prior research on the competitive landscape. Are there other hotels in the area? How are they doing? What do they charge? Is the crime rate high? What are the laws around renting out homes [via Airbnb](https://bit.ly/4jJdUUe?ref=racketpublishing.com)? No red flags yet? Good. Next, you'd want to purchase a lot, deal with any local zoning laws, and the like. What restrictions exist? Which ones are likely to come? I suspect that you'd hire an attorney to ensure that you've dotted your i's and crossed your t's. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Algebra of Ghostwriting URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-algebra-of-ghostwriting/ Last updated: 2025-06-23T01:45:15.000Z If I have learned anything about the ghostwriting business, it's that costs vary. A recent [*WSJ* article](https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/ghostwriters-conference-salaries-business-39e841e0?ref=racketpublishing.com) delves deeper into the topic. In this post, I'll shed some light on the subject. ## Exploring the Range of Ghostwriting Fees At the upper end of the scale are ghosts who’ve consistently penned *New York Times* bestsellers—often for celebrities, CEOs, and other über-wealthy folks. Hiring one of these rockstars requires a six-figure commitment, even if you intend to write a relatively short book. You and your ghost will probably spend a good deal of time together. You'll spend beaucoup bucks, but there's no guarantee that your book will sell oodles of copies. > As is always the case, you’ll get what you pay for. Let's move to the bottom. Plenty of quickie ghostwriters will spend about three months or so with their clients. Expect weekly interviews for an hour to write each chapter. After this relatively short period of time, clients receive a completed manuscript. For $15,000 to $20,000, you’ll spend a fraction of what you would with the first group. As is always the case, though, you’ll get what you pay for. (I can tell you from personal experience that you don't write a quality chapter for a client by effectively transcribing a one-hour interview. On my current project, I average about 11 hours of writing for each 5,000-word, near-final chapter with proper citations, endnotes, and foonotes.) Somewhere in the middle are professional scribes such as myself. I’m talking about people whose starting points fall in between $100,000 and $20,000\. Let’s split the difference and land on $60,000\. Even then, the cost of completing the manuscript will vary, but there's actually a pretty consistent way to determine what you're going to spend. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### New Notion Template: Manuscript Word-Count Tracker URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/word-count-notion/ Last updated: 2025-07-14T00:28:13.000Z How do you write a 50,000-word manuscript? The glib answer is *one word at a time*. Here's the longer one. Yes, you should [do your research](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/research-ingestion-engines/) first. Write willy-nilly and you'll need an expensive [developmental edit](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/developmental-edit/). ## Let the Writing Begin There comes a point, though, when you'll have to start the process. Over the years, I have found tracking daily word counts to be beneficial. Every day, you inch towards the massive goal of completing it. Simple charts can reinforce the notion that you're getting closer. (The template includes two, but you've got to be a paid [Notion](https://notion.grsm.io/philsimon?ref=racketpublishing.com) plan to view more than one. Of course, you can create as many ones as you like.) OK. I'll take off my motivational hat. ## 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. [RacketHub](https://www.racketpublishing.com/products/rackethub) includes dozens of interrelated and sophisticated trackers. I've decided to make the word-count one available for free as a Notion template. [On Tennis Rackets and Publishing Tech - Racket PublishingParallels between legacy publishers and a ’70s legend who tried to pretend that the world remained stagnant.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/image-2-60.jpg)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/tennis2.jpg)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/tennis-rackets/) ## Watch Me Here's a quick video overview: Click [here](https://www.tella.tv/video/automatically-creating-daily-entries-7bvd?ref=racketpublishing.com) for a demo of how to enable default daily entries by date. It's a useful feature that takes maybe 15 seconds to enable. [𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗜𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘](https://www.racketpublishing.com/) [𝗦𝗘𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗢𝗙 𝗠𝗬 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦](https://www.notion.so/@philsimon?ref=racketpublishing.com) ### Why Writers Abandon Their Books URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/abandon/ Last updated: 2026-02-01T21:21:18.000Z While I was on vacation a few weeks ago, an interesting [report](https://authorroi.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) dropped examining the economics of business books. Among its findings, authors who worked with hybrid publishers such as Racket reported greater satisfaction than those who worked with [traditional ones](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/horrors). (No shocker to serial authors and grizzled industry vets like myself.) Count [flexbile timing](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/overlooked-benefit/) among the many advantages of hiring experts. ## An Unasked Question As I poured over the data and charts, I couldn't help but think of an unasked question: Why do well-intentioned writers ultimately fail to complete their books? _This post is for subscribers only._ ### On GenAI and Mislabeled Receipts URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/mislabeled-receipts/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:00:24.000Z Yesterday, I was perusing the photos on my iPhone when I stumbled across a folder called *Receipts*. That surprised me, as I've used [Expensify](https://www.expensify.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) to capture bills while traveling since it came out. So what was this mysterious receipt? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/receipt.png) The photo above contains words and numbers, but it isn't a receipt. Rather, it's a playlist from an excellent [Marillion](https://www.marillion.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) concert I attended in Montreal a few years ago. (I met the [lucky man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1wXhkehWOo&ref=racketpublishing.com) who landed this keepsake after the show. As he proudly told me, he's got a bunch of them.) > AI doesn't know the difference between right and wrong. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Footnotes, Endnotes, and Other Publishing Gaffes URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/footnotes-endnotes/ Last updated: 2025-09-14T22:46:55.000Z There's nothing inherently wrong with opting to forgo legacy publishers. I've done it six times—and I'm hardly an anomaly. Eschewing the publishing establishment is both liberating and a smidge daunting. You can create the book exactly as you wish. There are so many things to know and do. In this post, I'll describe a subtle yet important element of book design that separates nonfiction pros from poseurs. ## Footnotes Footnotes ought to reference optional facts that just don't make sense to include in the main text. Here's a perfect example from the fourth Racket title, [*Reimagining Payments*](https://www.amazon.com/Reimagining-Payments-Business-Digital-Currencies-ebook/dp/B0BW7LT8XR?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/footnote1.png) Excerpted from **Reimagining Payments*. In this case, the derivation of *custodian* isn't essential to know. What's more, you or your designer should place them at the bottom of each referenced page—and not the following printed one. Doing so allows the curious reader to delve deeper. In a properly formatted ebook, each footnote is a clickable link. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Why You Should Start Small With Your Ghostwriter URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/starting-small/ Last updated: 2025-06-10T00:56:10.000Z In early 2020, I agreed to ghostwrite a 220-page book for a C-level exec. I mistakenly accepted the gig for a below-market flat rate. Long story short: The project didn't go well because my client kept moving the goalposts and reneging on past decisions. After three increasingly frustrating months, I walked away and left a good chunk of change on the table. I figured that my sanity was worth more than I was losing. (If you want to read the whole account, click [here](https://gothamghostwriters.com/beyond-writers-block-challenges-writers-face-in-their-careers/?ref=racketpublishing.com).) I learned a great deal from that experience. As someone who prides himself on self-improvement (cue [Homer Simpson quote](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0768553/?ref=racketpublishing.com)), I vowed to revamp how I worked with future ghostwriting clients. In this post, I explain how and why I now date before I get married. The *how* is simple: Before agreeing to take ghostwriting projects over the past four-plus years, I insist that my clients and I conduct a [book brainstorming session](https://www.racketpublishing.com/services#bookbrainstorming). Clients walk away with a book title, subtitle, synopsis, and [reader personas](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/writer-personas/) that excite them. After that period, either one or both of us can call it a day. So far, though, all of my them have opted to proceed with the whole kit and kaboodle. ## The Benefits of Starting Small If I ask a potential client the following questions before we begin working together in earnest, what do you think their responses will be? _This post is for subscribers only._ ### How to Vet Hybrid Publishers URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/vet-hybrid-publishers/ Last updated: 2025-07-12T00:29:21.000Z Hybrid publishing has exploded in recent years. There are plenty of solid outfits out there and more than a few [charlatans](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/charlatans-hybrid-publishing/). Brass tacks: There's no one right way to get your book out there, but some ways are much better than others. So, how do you distinguish one hybrid publisher from another? ## Starting Points Its website and the experience of [its staff](https://www.racketpublishing.com/about/#team) should be your starting points. Does the publisher list its employees? Can you see their backgrounds on LinkedIn? If not, then consider it a red flag. Previous titles are also worth examining. Look at their covers. Are they anodyne, or do they pop? If it's the latter, then go deeper. Do the books' interiors look professional? Download a few samples from Amazon and see how they're formatted. If you see a bevy of issues, then run. > If you see a bevy of issues, run. What about the publisher's blog? Has it gone all zombie? Does it [frequently](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog) offer useful tips, tricks, and insights on publishing and writing matters? The answer matters. Next up: testimonials. If you don't see any [praise](https://www.racketpublishing.com/praise/) from *named* previous clients, think carefully. Why is that the case? What about recency? Has the publisher released any books in the last year or two? If not, consider it another potential red flag. ## 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. ## Let's Talk About Tools Another valuable but oft-ignored gauge of any publisher is the quality of its internal tools. Have they evolved, or are they the same ones developed in the 1990s? Answering that question isn't easy. Generally speaking, publishers won't tell you *how* they make their sausages until you've signed up with them. You might have to do some digging on Reddit or ask the publisher's authors for an honest assessment. Thomas Carlyle famously said, "Man is a tool-using animal. Without tools he is nothing; with tools he is all.” Against this backdrop, let's compare Racket to most other publishers. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/07/comparison.png) Note that this table is a generalization. Although many publishers continue to use hoary tools, not all do. [How to Review Your Galley Like a Pro - Racket PublishingYour book is close to becoming a reality. Make it easy for everyone involved to do their jobs—including you.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/image-2-55.jpg)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/pdf-2-2.jpg)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/how-to-review-your-galley/) ## What You Need to Know For any project, choosing the right tools is more art than science. Books are no exception to this rule. You can't use a single one to create a quality non-fiction text. If anyone tells you otherwise, run. By the same token, using five for the same purpose is overkill and bound to create confusion. Think about that when you're evaluating potential publishers for a long-term partnership. The quality of its tools shouldn't be the only factor in your decision, but it's foolish to ignore its tech altogether. ### On Tennis Rackets and Publishing Tech URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/tennis-rackets/ Last updated: 2026-01-12T21:32:53.000Z In January 1983, tennis legend [Björn Borg](https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/bjorn-borg?ref=racketpublishing.com) retired at the remarkably young [age of 26](https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/bjorn-borg?ref=racketpublishing.com). To call the move *unexpected* was an understatement. The word *shocking* is more apropos. He subsequently claimed that his life had become [a circus](https://www.claytenis.com/interviews/bjorn-borg-interview/?ref=racketpublishing.com). The Swede decided to attempt a comeback in April 1991 at the age of 34\. As you'll see in the video below, it did not go well. ## A Different World In his first nine matches, the once-great Borg won nary a single set. One of the main culprits: He still sported his wooden racket—making him an iconoclast. All the top players had moved to more advanced materials. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Now Available: New Speaking Gig Task Database URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/speaking-gig-task-database/ Last updated: 2026-08-14T15:48:00.000Z Over the last two decades, I've done hundreds of [speaking gigs](https://www.philsimon.com/speaking?ref=phil-simon.ghost.io). My friend, bestselling author [Jay Baer](https://www.jaybaer.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com), has done thousands. Few have gone off without a hitch. Probably half of them have posed [thorny A/V issues](https://phil-simon.ghost.io/when-av-issues-attack/?ref=racketpublishing.com). At different times, the following have also proved difficult: - Ordering and shipping books. - Getting paid. - Getting quality video of the talk for my website and social media. I could go on, but you get the point. No checklist will solve every conceivable speaking-related problem. If someone says otherwise, run. Still, relying on memory is bound to increase the risk that something breaks bad. Ditto when a key member of the team leaves and critical information lies in her inbox. > No checklist will solve every conceivable speaking-related problem. ## New Speaking Gig Task Database Today, I'm pleased to announce my latest Notion template. It's a simple task database that speakers can share with their clients, speaker bureaus, support staff, partners, and publishers. Oh, and it's simple to customize as you see fit. You can easily replicate it for each gig, or you can turn it into a template for your Notion CRM system. Here's a simple screenshot: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/speaker-template.png) Overdue tasks in New Speaking Gig Task Database. Click to embiggen. The price is $14.95 (USD). [BUY THE TEMPLATE](https://www.notion.so/templates/new-speaking-gig-task-database-v-1-1?ref=phil-simon.ghost.io) Go nuts. Free, Plus, and Premium members receive 20 percent off. View the coupon at [the Perks page](https://www.racketpublishing.com/benefits). ### Author Mistake #1: Superfluous Word Repetition URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/first-sin-word-repetition/ Last updated: 2025-11-21T20:34:05.000Z The other day I met [a former student](https://www.philsimon.com/academia/?ref=racketpublishing.com) for happy hour. A few minutes before our scheduled time, I wandered into the local Barnes & Noble. As usual, I found myself in the business section, where a 200-page book caught my eye. (I'll refrain from naming it here.) I perused its contents and decided to check a few readers' Amazon reviews. I typically find the two- and three-star ones more interesting than five-star unabashed love affairs. One of the former pointed out the author's incessant use of the term *accordingly*. I put down my phone and started thumbing through the book's pages. Was the criticism a fair one? _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Case for a Data-Oriented Approach to Research and Writing URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/data-oriented/ Last updated: 2025-06-13T16:51:27.000Z ![SAS book](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/sas.jpg) In 2011, my client SAS hired me to turn the best posts from its [Data Roundtable blog](https://blogs.sas.com/content/datamanagement/?ref=racketpublishing.com) into a proper book. At that point, I ran Motion Publishing. The book dropped in September of that year. [*101 Lightbulb Moments in Data Management: Tales from the Data Roundtable*](https://amzn.to/3Z2LXyY?ref=racketpublishing.com) was never going to be a best-seller, but its results pleased SAS. (My primary client contact [sang my praises](https://www.racketpublishing.com/praise/).) In today's post, I'll talk about how that experience informed Racket's unique, data-centric approach to researching, writing, and publishing non-fiction books. Basically, everything. ## Hello, Data As the book's title implies, it contains 101 blog posts on the umbrella topic of *data management*. Within that broad category, however, I felt compelled to track a number of dimensions. They included: _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Overlooked Benefit of Hybrid Publishing URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/overlooked-benefit/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:12:49.000Z The other day, I spoke with a potential client about publishing a book. During our conversation, he asked about the pros and cons of different publishing options available to authors these days. I get it. It can be confusing. He was a bit surprised when I revealed an oft-overlooked benefit of hybrid publishing. When you work with a legacy publisher, you sign a contract in which you're beholden to a schedule. *Its* schedule—not yours. If this situation sounds like a power asymmetry, trust your instincts. Miss a deadline, and you've breached the contract. Expect bad things to happen. Of course, should your acquisitions editor suddenly decide to move the goalposts, tough noogies. (Admittedly, it's a rare occurrence, but [it does happen](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/author-horror-story-1/). As you'd expect, authors are displeased.) _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Charlatans of Hybrid Publishing URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/charlatans-hybrid-publishing/ Last updated: 2026-01-27T01:04:14.000Z A few years ago, I befriended a successful senior executive at my gym. (Sweating together on a treadmill or in an Ultra Fit class makes for rapid bonding.) I'll call the guy Dave here, but it's a pseudonym. Dave told me that he had considered writing a book at different points in his career, but he didn't know where to start. What's more, several ostensibly reputable publishers had recently contacted him about getting started. (In fact, they were hybrid outfits that would charge him upwards of six figures to write his book.) An aggressive rep at Publisher X told him that his rough title for a business book “would be a bestseller.” In between sprints, Dave conveyed the crux of that conversation to me. After catching my breath, I advised old him to immediately run—and not just on his current treadmill. ## The Promise It wasn't the price tag that made me caution my new friend. In fact, hiring [an experienced ghostwriter](https://www.racketpublishing.com/services#ghostwriting) to pen a quality manuscript alone is an expensive endeavor. When you factor in different types of editing, interior and cover design, figure creation, indexing, and ebook conversion, $100,000 isn't entirely unreasonable. Now include decent budgets for marketing, advertising, and public relations, and you may blow past that number. Plenty of successful authors have. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Congrats to Racket Client Dr. Alli Kert URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/alli-kert/ Last updated: 2024-08-08T22:36:36.000Z Six months ago, [Dr. Alli Kert](https://www.allikertphd.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) approached me about turning her idea for a children's book into reality. I'm pleased to announce that [*The Magic of Shrinking Worry*](https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Shrinking-Worry-Alli-Kert/dp/B0DBSVPNZB/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=2G5W65RDGSM9M&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UB8ZecxRSY5bRWEAdTcZMw.S%5FuA7Gb8lvnkMxfHYFKjFuYIm3Cl1Ool9hm6UgXnxdY&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=alli+kert&qid=1723156101&sprefix=alli+kert%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-1?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) is now out. Here's the cover: ![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61BVVFbXwpL._SY466_.jpg) Alli worked closely with the [Racket team](https://www.racketpublishing.com/about/#team) in executing her vision. She' ecstatic with the results of her full-color book. https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/marketing/publicity-tracking-mess/ If we can help you become a published author, click [here](https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect). ### Solving the Publicity Tracking Mess URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publicity-tracking-mess/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T17:14:20.000Z I have said it many times: Writing isn't inherently difficult; marketing is. Unfortunately, all too many marketing and PR folks exacerbate the problem by using antediluvian tools. ## My History With PR Firms Over the years, I've worked with several to help me get the word out when I've dropped a new book. To be sure, they were all nice people and, for the most part, competent professionals. Still, I didn't hire them for their [charming personalities](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYraMPliR5k&ref=racketpublishing.com). I wanted them to help me gain top-tier placements. In some cases, they landed some high-profile media outlets. Appearing on CNBC in 2013 to talk about [*Too Big to Ignore*](https://www.philsimon.com/books/too-big-to-ignore?ref=racketpublishing.com) was a highlight. On the other hand, none of these pricey outlets used what I would consider to be an organized, contemporary system of tracking pitches and publications. Not even close. (If they did, they sure didn't share their mythical creations.) In each case, I lacked transparency into what was—and wasn't—happening. Although I received weekly or biweekly status reports, real-time visibility into my pitches constantly eluded me. Believe me. I asked. #diva A few examples will illustrate my point: - Firm A routinely emailed me weekly reports as Word attachments. Its employees were oblivious to [the beauty of structured data](https://www.philsimon.com/blog/data/big-data/beauty-structured-data/?ref=racketpublishing.com). - Firm B used Slack, but poorly. The leadership eschewed anything resembling order; chaos ensued. (Pro tip: Sending a deluge of DMs doesn't let anyone answer the simple question, "Where are we with X?") - Firm C thought that the very idea of using Google Sheets to track media placements in 2023 was too cutting-edge. Of course, better mousetraps existed; these firms' employees just didn't want any part of them. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Can You Write Your Manuscript in Notion? URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/manuscript-notion/ Last updated: 2025-06-13T16:50:37.000Z Readers of this blog know that Racket extensively uses the magnet app [Notion](https://notion.grsm.io/philsimon?ref=racketpublishing.com) with its clients. Its recent launch of [suggested edits](https://www.racketpublishing.com/products/rackethub/) opens up some exciting new possibilities. For example, it put the final nail in Google Docs for me. Today I'll address the question: Can you write your entire manuscript in Notion? _This post is for subscribers only._ ### PopClip URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/popclip/ Last updated: 2025-08-15T20:23:40.000Z Over the course of writing a nonfiction book, you're going to grab text from plenty of sources as you do research. Examples include: _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Lessons From Helping 50 Non-Fiction Authors URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/50-authors/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:07:24.000Z A few weeks ago, a woman I casually know from [my gym](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/the-wrong-kind-of-workout/) approached me before her class began. Skyler (a pseudonym) knew that I had written a bunch of books. She wanted to know more about the logistics and cost of penning a proper one. As an intermittent faster, I'm a sucker for a big post-workout meal. We made plans to grab breakfast the following week. I brought a backpack with a deliberate sampling of books. Some I wrote; others were from [Racket clients](https://www.racketpublishing.com/). I made sure to bring at least one book each from: - True self-publishing services or subsidy presses. - Traditional publishers. - Hybrid publishers, such as Racket. Over the course of the meal, I listened to Skyler’s questions—the first of which involved the pros and cons of each publishing method. After a while, her general curiosity began to resemble those of the 50 or so prospective authors I’ve helped in over the last dozen years. (I fondly remember [a writing seminar](https://www.motionpub.com/blog/announcements/las-vegas-publishing-and-writing-seminar/?ref=racketpublishing.com) I hosted in 2013 in Vegas.) In this post, I'll offer some observations that will help would-be scribes. ## The Required Resources Typically Surprise Prospective Authors “How much time and money will writing and publishing a good book take?” _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Next Book Format URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-next-book-format/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:05:40.000Z Look back over the history of books. Formats for the written word have continually evolved. We are nearly a century removed from only physical manifestations of texts. Consider a few examples: - In 1932, nascent audiobooks arrived when the American Foundation for the Blind started [a recording studio](https://bootcamp.uxdesign.cc/the-birth-of-audiobooks-and-how-it-became-famous-79b9487cf5cf?ref=racketpublishing.com). Fast-forward a few years later to 1975 when [Books on Tape](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books%5Fon%5FTape%5F%28company%29?ref=racketpublishing.com) launched. Now, audiobooks are everywhere, even if distributors sometimes use [untoward means to disseminate them](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/spotify-audiobooks/). - The [first ebook](https://bookscouter.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-ebooks/?ref=racketpublishing.com#:~:text=The%20first%20eBook%20was%20none,eBooks%20and%20develop%20new%20technology.) arrived four decades later. In 1971, [Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/about/?ref=racketpublishing.com#:~:text=Project%20Gutenberg%20was%20the%20first,eBooks%20and%20related%20content%20today.) launched to create and support open-source books. Cue obligatory [Stewart Brand](https://stewartmader.com/stewart-brand-information-wants-to-be-free-it-also-wants-to-be-expensive/?ref=racketpublishing.com) reference. - Although rare today, you can still purchase certain titles as CDs, like [*Zoom For Dummies*](https://www.amazon.com/Zoom-Dummies-Phil-Simon/dp/B08ZBJ4KD1?ref=racketpublishing.com). Different strokes, right? _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Unreasonably Hospitable Publisher URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/unreasonable/ Last updated: 2025-12-27T14:03:37.000Z The new season of [*The Bear*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14452776/?ref=racketpublishing.com) drops soon, and I can't wait. The show revolves around an eponymously named Chicago restaurant, and *Forks* is arguably its best episode. IMDB gives it a [9.7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26230388/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Here's a quick synopsis: Ebon Moss-Bachrach's character, [the volatile and stubborn Richie Jerimovich](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyB1qTXdWlo&ref=racketpublishing.com), finally buys in. He suddenly makes fundamental changes to his life. It's freakin' amazing to watch. And now a clip: At one point, Richie starts reading Will Guidara's bestseller [*Unreasonable Hospitality*](https://www.amazon.com/Unreasonable-Hospitality-Remarkable-Giving-People/dp/0593418573?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com)*.* (I'm nearly finished with the audiobook myself.) _This post is for subscribers only._ ### On Books and Wicked Environments URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/wicked/ Last updated: 2025-12-27T14:08:10.000Z In 2009, psychologists Gary Klein and [Daniel Kahneman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel%5FKahneman?ref=racketpublishing.com) collaborated on an important [paper](https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0016755&ref=racketpublishing.com). The two examined how experience, performance, and different types of environments all collided. Ultimately, they advanced the notion that the first two variables hinged upon the third. In other words, not all environments are created equal. Some types promote learning and success; others do not. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The AI Razor URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/razor/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:14:15.000Z Can a new technology, system, or process save us time and make work suck less? If there's one big, hairy question that has driven my career, that might be it. (Not surprisingly, that same simple query has also irritated a slew of hidebound colleagues and clients over the years, but I'll save that post for another day. Or beers.) I've written [before](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai/ai-experiments/) about how all folks in the publishing world should noodle with AI. Thanks to ChatGPT and its ilk, we are now able to automate many once time-intensive, manual processes. And by *we*, I'm including authors, editors, publishers, and ghostwriters. In today's post, I'll describe how less than half an hour of messing around will pay dividends on all future writing projects. ## Scenario In 1997, I started teaching myself the rudiments of [Visual Basic for Applications](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual%5FBasic%5Ffor%5FApplications?ref=racketpublishing.com). If you've ever written a [macro](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/quick-start-create-a-macro-741130ca-080d-49f5-9471-1e5fb3d581a8?ref=racketpublishing.com#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20tasks%20in,your%20mouse%20clicks%20and%20keystrokes.) in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Access, you've used VBA. Today, though, my VBA skills aren't what they once were. I spend far more time playing with [Python](https://www.philsimon.com/tag/python?ref=racketpublishing.com). > In an age of AI and powerful low-code/no-code tools, why not play around? _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Fifth Racket Title Coming URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/fifth-racket-title-coming/ Last updated: 2026-01-13T21:46:04.000Z I am pleased to announce the next Racket [title](https://www.racketpublishing.com/titles/). *The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order* by [Amanda Wick](https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandawick/?ref=racketpublishing.com) will arrive around early 2025\. As its title suggests, it's an ambitious text that examines a wide range of global changes and how policymakers, wonks, regulators, and elected officials can successfully navigate them. Here's the cover: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/catallysts_3d.png) The book will be available in four versions: - Hardcover - Paperback - eBook - Audiobook #### Synposis Since the end of WWII, the United States has dominated the global economic stage. Not coincidentally, the US dollar has served as the world’s default currency. America has routinely rattled its saber to wage and win wars, cripple economies, leverage its soft power, and nudge its allies. Enemies who have dared to bear the brunt of America’s stifling economic sanctions have suffered the consequences. For a bevy of reasons, however, America’s global financial reign is rapidly coming to a close. It’s not a question of if, but when. No dynasty lasts forever, and the US is proving to be no exception to this rule. Blame—or thank, depending on your point of view—a diverse set of powerful catalysts. They include American political dysfunction, the invention of cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance, the rise of tribalism, and others. Any one of these forces alone would challenge the mightiest of empires. Their combination, however, is accelerating the birth of a new financial world order. But what will this new, uncertain financial system look like? What are the rules? Where are the minefields and opportunities? Moreover, how can a nation, its elected officials, a non-governmental organization, or a think tank navigate this often chaotic milieu? Policymakers’ and advisors’ answers to these existential questions are wanting. Amanda Wick has seen these forces play out firsthand, both domestically and internationally. As a Senior Investigative Counsel for the US House of Representatives and a staff member of the January 6th Committee, she witnessed how a once-great nation attempted to whitewash an insurrection. On the global stage, she has advised organizations of all sorts and spoken frequently about the rise of cryptocurrency, web3, and blockchain technology. Wick’s debut book—**The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New Financial World Order*—could not have arrived at a more opportune moment. Insightful, timely, and essential, **The Catalysts* clearly explains what’s really happening, why, and what policy professionals can do to best position their constituents for the vastly different world ahead. [𝗕𝗨𝗬 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D88Z7LYF/?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) ### The Author as Gatekeeper URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/gatekeeper/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:16:42.000Z Say what you will about traditional publishers. For all of their [warts](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/horrors), they *can* bring many things to the table. Perhaps most important here, they serve the role of gatekeeper. Acquisitions editors [pass on](https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/what-is-the-slush-pile?ref=racketpublishing.com) many titles for each one they greenlight. (We'll ignore the fact that traditional publishers are [increasingly acting like glorified printers today](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/blurring-lines/). They are approving commercially dubious ideas with shocking contract clauses.) ## Meet Roger _This post is for subscribers only._ ### On Rookie Authors and Criminals URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/rookie-authors-criminals/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:12:25.000Z There are many epic scenes in *Better Call Saul.* One of my faves involves rookie criminal and corporate IT guy [Daniel Wormald](https://breakingbad.fandom.com/wiki/Daniel%5FWormald?ref=racketpublishing.com). _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Ten-Copy Rule URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-ten-copy-rule/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:08:56.000Z The author who writes a book "for everyone" really just penned a bunch of pages for no one. If you only remember a few words from this post, they should be, "Maintain your focus throughout the writing process." Seems obvious, right? Yes, but many writers wind up penning entire chapters that, while interesting on some level, don't matter to the book's intended audience. For this reason, it behooves authors to develop detailed [reader personas](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/writer-personas/) long before even outlining the book, much less writing its first draft. If you aren't sure about how to do this, [find a book coach](https://www.racketpublishing.com/services/) who will keep you on track. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### AI-Generated Amazon Book Review Summaries Have Arrived URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/amazon-ai-reviews/ Last updated: 2025-08-30T12:03:55.000Z As promised, Amazon has rolled out [AI-generated summaries of product reviews](https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/14/23831391/amazon-review-summaries-generative-ai?ref=racketpublishing.com). If they appear on a product page (more on that below), you'll find them above the human-generated reviews. Just look for the words *Customers say*. Here's the summary for my 2013 book [*Too Big to Ignore: The Business Case for Big Data*](https://www.amazon.com/Too-Big-Ignore-Business-Wiley-ebook/dp/B00BQZUL7K?ref%5F=ast%5Fauthor%5Fdp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fMAz2vFu-oZCMMkaMnoXpOduCl69419C9mJRKnM-JFDP7PcV0cLuR9hknRkFIjof4alJmq-VQf77cBMu0JeBe-BHzlQpzTs2ujT3SkF2RrMcU2GcsrLojrt6SPAnViSMSsa0gPDYvNXeINOxCA8Re4giYPxTOO5%5FD3esYEs6yZb-kNvFu3CCbAaainESghaEEiOMuFFXNQ3fI%5F%5FjLBvdoY7e-3vLEI9Iw0bJsxDGXRA.fzfU61eY%5FkTFQ8nEQzj1It21hLNLErHflzzUuk8tLvo&dib%5Ftag=AUTHOR?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/08/TBT.jpeg) **Too Big to Ignore* Amazon AI Summary | Click on the image to enlarge it. And the one for [*Message Not Received: Why Business Communication Is Broken and How to Fix It*](http://tinyurl.com/7mnrsimon?ref=racketpublishing.com): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/08/MNR.jpeg) **Message Not Received* Amazon AI Summary | Click on the image to enlarge it. ## First Impressions and Astonishing Errors A few things strike me. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Discerning Author Revisited URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-discerning-author-revisited/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T00:57:02.000Z Although their interests often [diverge](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/blurring-lines/), authors and publishers aren't all that different. For starters, both camps must make choices. Established authors often pass on firm offers (more on that below). For their part, publishing houses don't greenlight every conceivable book. Adding to the complexity, perfect information eludes all of us. As a result, the publishing landscape is littered with both: - Can't-miss titles that did. Many recent [celebrity memoirs](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/dec/09/have-we-fallen-out-of-love-with-celebrity-memoirs?ref=racketpublishing.com) fall into this bucket. - [Unexpected, breakout hits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda%5FHocking?ref=racketpublishing.com). In the end, every book is a judgment call. Ideally, authors and publishers alike learn how to call balls and strikes better over time. In this way, books resemble [movies](https://screenrant.com/biggest-movie-box-office-bombs-of-all-time/?ref=racketpublishing.com), [TV shows](https://observer.com/2021/06/netflix-jupiters-legacy-failure-viewership-budget-disney/?ref=racketpublishing.com), [tech products](https://slate.com/technology/2012/10/microsoft-zune-how-one-of-the-biggest-flops-in-tech-history-helped-revive-a-great-american-tech-company.html?ref=racketpublishing.com), and just about every new thing. ## Declining an Offer A while back, I wrote a post about how I politely declined an offer to write [a new *For Dummies* book](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai/the-discerning-author/). My decision didn't sway the series' enthusiastic acquisitions editor, and that title recently dropped. I was understandably curious about its initial performance. > An early review of the physical book criticizes the quality of its images. Based on the book's opening day Amazon sales rank, it appears that my instincts about its limited commercial viability were spot-on. If there were more than 200 pre-orders for it, I'll eat my hat. Plus, an early review of the physical book criticizes [the quality of its images](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wl1odao.png?ref=racketpublishing.com). Here's one of the title's confounding visuals: _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Myth of One URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-myth-of-one/ Last updated: 2026-01-14T03:15:05.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/scottface.png) I stepped into the local Barnes & Noble yesterday and picked up [Scott Galloway's latest book](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730881/the-algebra-of-wealth-by-scott-galloway/?ref=racketpublishing.com). I've read all of his previous ones and listened to a decent chunk of *The Algebra of Wealth*, but I wanted to see it IRL. Call me old school. You wouldn't be the first. The writing is crisp and [the figures](https://www.oliviareaney.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) really pop off the page. Fans of Prof G's popular newsletter and videos won't be surprised here. In this post, though, I'll skip to his book's back matter—specifically, the acknowledgments. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Blurring Lines Between Publishing Methods URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/blurring-lines/ Last updated: 2026-01-12T02:57:38.000Z About a year ago, I connected with a first-time author. Let's call him Darryl here, but it's a pseudonym. His first book was dropping soon—from a prominent publisher to boot. The topic of Darryl's forthcoming title dovetailed nicely into a ghostwriting project of mine at the time. Maybe the two of us should chat. I could see the possibilities for collaboration. ## Getting Into the Numbers During our conversation, Darryl told me that his publisher required him to guarantee sales of 3,000 copies in the first calendar year of his hardcover book's release. Let's unpack that sentence. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Book Coach or Ghostwriter? URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/book-coach-or-ghostwriter/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:04:54.000Z A new client and I recently finished [conceptualizing](https://www.racketpublishing.com/services/#bb) her forthcoming book. She was ecstatic and decided to hire me to go along for the ride. Initially, she wasn't sure about my forthcoming role in the project. Should I ghostwrite it or serve as her book coach? ## Diving in It sparked an interesting discussion. Parts of her background are so personal that I couldn't imagine *anyone* writing it for her, including me. At the same time, her other commitments and the daunting nature of the blank page meant that she couldn't just start writing. (As an aside, no non-fiction author should even think about starting the manuscript in earnest without first doing loads of intense research. Ever.) _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The AI-Driven Author Time Shift URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-author-time/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T00:59:59.000Z Up until the mid-1990s, non-fiction authors often visited libraries to do research. If someone checked out a key book or magazine in 1988, then you'd be out of luck. [Card catalogs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library%5Fcatalog?ref=racketpublishing.com) still mattered. If you wanted to interview an expert, you could email an author and ask for some time—if that person used email, that is. Fast-forward to the end of the century. With an increasing percentage of all content digitized, you no longer needed to visit a brick-and-mortar location to access content and do research. The idea of checking out a book, journal, or magazine applied less and less. At least you needed to *read* the content—or a summary of it—in order to properly cite it. Doing proper research became much, much easier thanks to Netscape, Yahoo!, [AlltheWeb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlltheWeb?ref=racketpublishing.com), and, of course, Google. ## Where Are We Now? We've entered an era of generative AI. You don't even need to read a book or academic study to cite it and pretend that you really understand it. Here's a quick visual: _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Author Marketing Lessons From The Wire URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/author-marketing-lessons-the-wire/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:13:52.000Z For my money, [*The Wire*](https://www.hbo.com/the-wire?ref=racketpublishing.com) is one of the best TV series ever created. Over the course of five intricate and dense seasons, showrunner David Simon and company explore complex social, educational, economic, and political issues. What seems like a throwaway scene in the first season may prove pivotal four years down the road. Light, easy viewing it is not. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Meet RacketHub URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/meet-rackethub/ Last updated: 2025-06-20T18:19:17.000Z For as long as I've been writing books, I have believed that most authors' tools hinder them more than help them. At best, they're neutral. More specifically, they're missing out on new technologies, data, and methods that would help them: - Vastly simplify the research, writing, and publishing processes. - Reduce the time spent trying to find key files, creating duplicate ones, and working on dated ones. - Communicate and collaborate better with everyone involved in the publication of a book. - Quickly organize their content. - Easily bring new team members up to speed. (If you think that you can produce a professional non-fiction book completely on your own, you're sadly mistaken.) - Provide transparency into who was doing what and when. - Reduce data entry and manual work in general. - Make fewer mistakes. - Spend less time and money on their projects. - Go to market quicker. At least scribes can take some solace in the fact they've got plenty of company. As a general rule, most publishers are in the same boat. > It’s high time for a better mousetrap. I'm not just shooting from the hip here. I have worked with legacy ones since 2010\. Sadly, many are in the Stone Age—and [authors often bear the brunt of their gaffes](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tag/horrors). I've even worked with a relatively new hybrid publisher a few years ago that clung to antediluvian tech and processes. (Yes, a little piece of me died inside when I saw how its employees worked.) ## Motivations for Starting Racket Publishing ![RacketHub](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/rackethub_logo_stack_1000x1300.png) I started this outfit—my second hybrid publisher—a few years back with a single, ambitious goal: To provide a fresh, author-centric, and tech-savvy approach to contemporary non-fiction publishing. When it comes to author and publisher tools, it’s high time for a better mousetrap. Over the past two years, I’ve been methodically building one and refining it with each [Racket title](https://www.racketpublishing.com/titles). Now it’s time to share it with the world. Today marks the launch of [RacketHub](https://www.racketpublishing.com/products/rackethub). It’s a sophisticated, user-friendly, customizable, and comprehensive book management system. I’m talking about a title’s conceptualization, research, writing, editing, design, project management, publishing, and marketing. Think of it as the central nervous system for your book *at every stage*. And yes, you can use it for as many books as you like. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/database2.png) ## RacketHub Benefits ​RacketHub is a holistic solution for both serious authors and publishers. (No, it's not cheap, but we'll return to pricing shortly.) It builds on the tools and methods I've used myself and with Racket clients to: - [Manage projects](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/252-tasks-business-book/) and handle project administration. - Conceptualize their books. - [Efficiently conduct research](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/research-ingestion-engines/). - Develop [reader personas](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/writer-personas/). - Minimize—and, ideally, eliminate—confusion, lost files, rework, and miscommunication. (Even on small teams, these issues can plague a project.) - Coordinate with everyone involved in the book project, including designers, indexers, editors, proofreaders, and the like. - Chat with colleagues and other team members via a simple message board. - Maximize the chance that your book hits meets its goals. - And much, much more. Authors, book coaches, ghostwriters, and publishers who like to fly by the seats of their pants won't benefit from RacketHub. Ditto for those who are looking to skimp on expenses to put out a passable book. ## Technical Underpinnings I built RacketHub on top of [Notion](https://notion.grsm.io/philsimon?ref=racketpublishing.com)—the flexible, contemporary, sleek, and customizable magnet app that has exploded in popularity and spawned [plenty of knockoffs](https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/microsoft-launches-notion-rival-loop-know-all-about-the-productivity-and-collaboration-app-71700199561509.html?ref=racketpublishing.com#:~:text=Microsoft%20Loop%20is%20here,Loop%20pages%2C%20and%20Loop%20workspaces.). I've been raving about Notion for [nearly two years](https://www.philsimon.com/blog/collaboration/why-im-all-in-on-notion/?ref=racketpublishing.com). (In case you're curious, [Notion runs on Amazon Web Services](https://www.notion.so/help/security-and-privacy?ref=racketpublishing.com#:~:text=Hosting%3A%20Notion%20is%20hosted%20on,the%20major%20cloud%20service%20providers.).) Packed with useful templates, powerful formulas, and rich information, RacketHub is the writing and publishing system I wish I had back when I started writing books in 2008. ## RacketHub in Action Here are a few screenshots (click on each to expand it) and a few videos. ### RacketHub Book Project Plan: Main Database View This robust database lists the 17 phases and more than 200 tasks you'll need to complete to research, write, edit, design, publish, and market your book—and more. Of course, you can add new tasks as needed, tweak existing ones, and archive ones that don't apply. For instance, if you don't want to do an audiobook, you can easily archive the phase and related tasks. Ditto if you're working with a traditional publisher and don't need to buy your own ISBNs. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/Main-Database-View.png) Main Database View ### RacketHub Book Project Plan: Late Task Database View Identify late tasks by simply clicking on this view. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/Late-Task-Database-View.png) Late Task Database View ### RacketHub Book Project Plan: Weekly Calendar View Along with the accompanying list view, this scrollable calendar tells you what's coming. Easily switch to a monthly view if you prefer. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/Weekly-Calendar-View.png) Weekly Calendar View ### RacketHub Link Clipper See a good article or dataset on the web? Quickly clip it into a database and assign key attributes to, including in which chapter in your book it should go. If you're away from your computer, don't fret. You can add content on the go via an app on your smartphone or tablet. ### Automations RacketHub also takes advantage of [Notion's new database buttons](https://www.notion.so/help/guides/make-work-more-efficient-database-button-property?ref=racketpublishing.com) to kick off automations. In the video below, I show how this functionality can save time, eliminate errors, and improve data quality. (Click [here](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/project-management/grunt-work/) to read more about this cool feature.) [𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗔 15-𝗠𝗜𝗡. 𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗢](https://calendly.com/phil-qs6e/rackethub?ref=racketpublishing.com) ## Available Now Starting today, all Racket clients will begin using RacketHub. Great, but what if you're working independently or with another publisher? Good news. You don't need to work with Racket Publishing to realize the benefits of RacketHub. Today, it's now available for purchase as follows: - **Single author, unlimited use.** - **Ghostwriter/book coach, unlimited use:** Typically works with two or three authors per year. - **Small publisher, unlimited use:** Typically works with five to ten authors per year. - **Medium publisher, unlimited use:** Typically publishes ten to 50 books per year. - **Large publisher, unlimited use:** Typically publishes more than 50 books per year. Each purchase includes four 45-minute onboarding sessions recorded in Zoom. Note that the price does *not* include a monthly or an annual Notion subscription. (Yes, you'll need to be on at least [the Notion Plus plan](https://www.notion.so/pricing?ref=racketpublishing.com) to get the most out RacketHub. For more on this subject, see the FAQ on [the product page](https://www.racketpublishing.com/products/rackethub).) ## Updated August 14, 2024 RacketHub now includes charts to track task progress, identify issues, and quickly assess project status. Click [here](https://www.racketpublishing.com/products/rackethub#updatedaug13) to see a few demos. --- [𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗔 15-𝗠𝗜𝗡. 𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗢](https://calendly.com/phil-qs6e/rackethub?ref=racketpublishing.com) Props to [Luke Flectcher](https://fletcherdesign.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) for the logo design. ## Buy RacketHub Now Includes thee hours of recorded Zoom training. ### Pricing This table displays the different pricing options. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/06/pricing-table.png) [𝗟𝗘𝗧'𝗦 𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗟𝗘](https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect) ### Why You Shouldn't Need a Developmental Edit URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/developmental-edit/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:10:22.000Z Say that you and your significant other decided to build a new home on the cheap. You hire the least expensive and—not coincidentally—the least *experienced* architectural firm in town. Yelp reviews be damned. You explain to your new partners that your new dwelling needs to contain: - Four bedrooms. - Three bathrooms. - A kitchen. - A dedicated office. - Some windows. - A garage. - A front door. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Why All Authors Should Conduct AI Experiments URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/ai-experiments/ Last updated: 2025-12-27T13:33:00.000Z If you've got a case of AI fatigue, [you're hardly alone](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22ai+fatique%22&newwindow=1&sca%5Fesv=0408ae9ee65735d4&ei=fY71ZbGRDtvNkPIP25Os0AE&ved=0ahUKEwjxw9mr4viEAxXbJkQIHdsJCxoQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=%22ai+fatique%22&gs%5Flp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiDCJhaSBmYXRpcXVlIjIHEAAYgAQYDTIIEAAYBxgeGAoyBhAAGB4YDTIGEAAYHhgNMggQABgIGB4YDTIIEAAYCBgeGA0yChAAGAUYHhgNGA8yCBAAGAgYHhgNMgsQABiABBiKBRiGAzILEAAYgAQYigUYhgNIsBFQ3gRYrw9wAXgAkAEAmAFeoAGwAaoBATK4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgOgArwBwgIKEAAYgAQYChiwA8ICCxAAGAcYHhiwAxgKwgIOEAAYgAQYigUYhgMYsAPCAgYQABgWGB7CAggQABgWGB4YD5gDAOIDBRIBMSBAiAYBkAYGkgcBM6AH1A4&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&ref=racketpublishing.com). [Google Trends](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&geo=US&gprop=news&q=ai&ref=racketpublishing.com) shows the precipitous rise in news stories over the past five years. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/trends.png)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images.png?ref=racketpublishing.com) Never mind blog posts like this one. #selfawareness Even for geeks like me, hearing every day or hour about some newfangled tchotchke, fail, prediction, or advancement gets old. I get it. Still, it's incumbent upon all writers to keep abreast of these increasingly powerful tools. Yes, even you. In this post, I'll explain why. ## Using AI to Change Tenses After Spotify's recent outrageous attempts to appropriate its authors' [audiobooks](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/changes-in-spotify-owned-findaway-voices-terms-of-use-sparks-industry-concern-302073381.html?ref=racketpublishing.com), the Authors Guild [forcefully responded](https://authorsguild.org/news/response-to-findaway-spotify-audiobook-terms-of-use/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Its statement finally nudged me to join the organization. For professional scribes, the [tax-deductible](https://go.authorsguild.org/dues/pay?next=your%5Finformation&ref=racketpublishing.com#:~:text=%2D%20The%20Authors%20Guild&text=Dues%20payments%20are%20tax%20deductible,to%20access%20the%20Upgrade%20Form.), annual fee is modest. More importantly, authors can only wear so many [hats](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/the-many-hats-of-indie-authors/). Hell, if doctors have joined [advocacy groups](https://www.ama-assn.org/?ref=racketpublishing.com) for nearly 200 years, why shouldn't scribes? Strength in numbers. All that jazz. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### How to Review Your Galley Like a Pro URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/how-to-review-your-galley/ Last updated: 2025-08-17T17:25:18.000Z A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about how to [format your manuscript like a pro](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/how-to-format-your-manuscript/). It got some nice traction. TL;DR: Precise use of Microsoft Word styles and attention to detail matter when writing your manuscript. Big time. That's only one way, though, that authors can save themselves considerable time, money, and frustration. Today's post focuses on a subsequent step in the publishing process: reviewing the galley. (I recently walked a new Racket client through this process, and she found this overview helpful.) ## The Galley [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galley%5Fproof?ref=racketpublishing.com) defines the galley—or proof, if you like—as “the preliminary version of a publication meant for review by authors, editors, and proofreaders.” That definition will suffice here. Think of it as the edited manuscript on steroids—the near-final file that becomes the physical book. The galley contains the book's final fonts, margins, figures, tables, and styles but not the index. (Ignore the index if you're writing a memoir, novel, or similar book.) At this point, the author, editor, and proofreader can still suggest changes to the designer, but they should be minor ones. Examples include: - Swapping out one word for another one—ideally of similar lengths. - Tweaking a figure or table. - Changing a heading, within reason. - Correcting a typo or grammatical error. - Adding a short footnote or endnote. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Does Your Book Need a Subtitle? URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/does-your-book-need-a-subtitle/ Last updated: 2026-06-01T19:42:44.000Z Over the years, authors have asked me this question dozens of times. For a nonfiction book, the answer is almost always *yes*. I don't purport to know much about fiction, but subtitles in this genre tend to be the exception, not the rule. Now, on to why non-fiction authors should almost always embrace subtitles. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Nine Wins Two Axiom Awards URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-nine-wins-axiom-award/ Last updated: 2025-06-09T19:21:50.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/the-9-grouping.png) The third Racket title—[*The Nine: The Tectonic Forces Reshaping the Workplace* ](https://www.philsimon.com/books/the-nine?ref=racketpublishing.com)*—*has won [two Axiom awards](https://axiomawards.com/blog/2024-medalists?ref=racketpublishing.com): - Gold, Business Technology - Silver, Business Commentary Congratulations to all the other winners. ### Books and Viruses URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/books-and-viruses/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:16:02.000Z Thanks to COVID-19, more of us know about R0—or at least we should. As [The Harvard Global Health Institute](https://globalhealth.harvard.edu/understanding-predictions-what-is-r-naught/?ref=racketpublishing.com) puts it: R-naught calculates how fast communicable diseases spread. It represents, on average, the number of people that a single infected person can be expected to transmit that disease to. In other words, it is a calculation of the average “spreadability” of an infectious disease. If that definition doesn't wet your whistle, try [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic%5Freproduction%5Fnumber?ref=racketpublishing.com). Either way, as we learned in the early days of COVID-19, when it comes to viruses, a large R-naught means trouble. If it's ten, then every person exposes the disease or virus to 10 others. Ten becomes 100, and then 1,000, and bad things happen. An R0 of 0.2, however, means that ten people expose the virus to 2, who then expose 0.2 people. If we can [flatten the curve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flattening%5Fthe%5Fcurve?ref=racketpublishing.com), then we can avert a crisis. ## Changing the Lens Think about R0 in a very different context, however: books. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Many Hats of Indie Authors URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-many-hats-of-indie-authors/ Last updated: 2025-08-17T17:25:38.000Z Indie authors wear an array of hats: primary writer, coordinator, marketer, [counterfeit book police](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/amazon-accused-of-selling-fake-copies-of-nyt-bestselling-book?ref=racketpublishing.com), website developer, and [chief product officer](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publishing/the-author-as-a-chief-product-officer/) are just a few of them. For lack of a better term, add *lawyer* or at least *paralegal* as another. Let me explain. A few weeks ago, Spotify's Findaway Voices announced the following changes to its [terms of service](https://web.archive.org/web/20240216073412/https://my.findawayvoices.com/terms-of-use): Accordingly, you hereby grant Spotify a non-exclusive, transferable, sublicensable, royalty-free, fully paid, irrevocable, worldwide license to reproduce, make available, perform and display, translate, modify, create derivative works from (such as transcripts of User Content), distribute, and otherwise use any such User Content through any medium, whether alone or in combination with other Content or materials, in any manner and by any means, method or technology, whether now known or hereafter created, in connection with the Service, the promotion, advertising or marketing of the Service, and the operation of Spotify’s (and its successors’ and affiliates’) business, including for systems and products management, improvement and development, testing, training, modeling and implementation in connection with the Spotify Service. Where applicable and to the extent permitted under applicable law, you also agree to waive, and not to enforce, any “moral rights” or equivalent rights, such as your right to object to derogatory treatment of such User Content. Nothing in these Terms prohibits any use of User Content by Spotify that may be taken without a license. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Author Horror Story #6: Sticker Shock URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/author-horror-story-6-sticker-shock/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:19:12.000Z Adrian's first self-published book about branding did surprisingly well in 2006\. No one would call its design, editing, and title *stellar*, but the title sold a respectable 3,000 copies—[far more than what experts said he would](https://letterreview.com/how-many-books-to-publish-to-make-money/?ref=racketpublishing.com#:~:text=Most%20self%2Dpublished%20authors%20sell,sell%20more%20than%20a%20million.). Despite its warts, Adrian more than recouped his production costs. Maybe he could make a living writing books or at least create a viable source of passive income. Even better, all of a sudden, traditional publishers were interested in his ideas. In a word, they saw *upside*. Ultimately, Adrian inked a deal with Foo Press for his second release. (No, that's not the real name. Guess what band I'm listening to as I write this post?) _This post is for subscribers only._ ### A Parable URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/a-parable/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:17:02.000Z As I write these words in my home, it's a little chilly. I suspect that it's 65 degrees, up a few from last night. It's been that way since Thursday when I noticed that the heater didn't seem to be working anymore. I called the gas company, but the rep told me that there was no area-wide outage. Nope, the problem was mine—and I'd need to get it fixed. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Author Horror Story #5: The Typo URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/author-horror-story-5-typo/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:16:14.000Z After class, Paul—one of Petra's best students—asked her the following odd question: "When is the publisher going to fix the typo on the book's cover?" Bemused, Petra responded with, "Pardon?" Was this some type of [sick joke](https://youtu.be/rreFXFnlKO4?t=237&ref=racketpublishing.com)? Paul then took out his copy of Petra's book. He pointed to the word "thier" on the front. To state the obvious, it should have been "their." _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Books and Regrets URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/books-and-regrets/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:14:08.000Z One of the hallmarks of a good non-fiction author is whether s/he can write a book whose message stays with you. In other words, no author sets out to write a forgettable text. The same holds true for bands, artists, filmmakers, and other creative types, but I'll stick with scribes here. By this standard, [Dan Pink](https://www.danpink.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) stands out. The messages of his books resonate with countless readers, including me. In my case, they have inspired [long blog posts](https://www.philsimon.com/blog/higher-education/shackles/?ref=racketpublishing.com), sometimes years after I've read them. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Author Horror Story #4: Courier URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/author-horror-story-4-courier/ Last updated: 2025-08-03T18:04:26.000Z Tom and Sandra couldn't believe their eyes. They stared at each other over Skype in utter disbelief. (Yeah, it was the pre-Zoom days.) Almost at once, they said, "*This* is what their designers came up with?" The two co-authors had just spent all of 2012 jointly penning the manuscript for their first book. They were stoked to write for a widely respected publisher. With two months until their putative pub date, their new project manager had finally sent over the cover mockups. (The previous PM had dropped the ball here, as well as on a number of other tasks.) Tom and Sandra were each understandably excited, but they decided to look at them together virtually. The two were in for quite the shock. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Building a Better Research Ingestion Engine URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/research-ingestion-engines/ Last updated: 2026-01-20T02:37:59.000Z The right mindset and tool can help authors increase efficiency, organize their content better, save time, and yield superior results. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Author Horror Story #3: The Moving Target URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/author-horror-story-3-moving-target/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:17:26.000Z After a decade-long stint as a technology advisor at a prominent consultancy, Valerie decided to hang her own shingle in 2006\. She slowly and steadily built her client base, mailing list, and web presence. Maybe a book could serve as the ultimate professional credential—a business card on steroids. A few of her colleagues had become published authors and seemed to benefit from their new *bona fides*. She worked on a proposal, sent it to some publishers, somehow avoided [the slush pile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slush%5Fpile?ref=racketpublishing.com), and soon inked a deal with Acme to write her first book in 2010\. (The publisher's name is obviously a pseudonym.) _This post is for subscribers only._ ### How to Format Your Manuscript Like a Pro URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/how-to-format-your-manuscript/ Last updated: 2025-12-26T02:25:56.000Z I know a thing or six about writing books. After all, I have penned [14 of them](https://www.philsimon.com/books?ref=racketpublishing.com), [edited one](https://www.amazon.com/101-Lightbulb-Moments-Data-Management/dp/0982930291?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com), worked on several ghostwriting projects, and started two hybrid publishing outfits. Toss in all of the blog posts and end-user training guides from my consulting days, I'm sure that I've spent more than 10,000 hours in Microsoft Word. It's been my killer app for much of my career. It's fair to call me *proficient*. At the risk of being immodest, each of my editors and project managers has complimented me on my pristine manuscripts. Today, I'll show you how to make your submissions as clean as possible. Trust me: Your editor, proofreader, book designer, and ebook conversion specialist will thank you later—not to mention your readers when your book finally drops. _This post is for subscribers on the ⭐️ Premium tier only._ ### Eliminating Grunt Work One Automation at a Time URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/grunt-work/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:01:07.000Z Automation and modern technologies are core tenets of [the Racket ethos](https://www.racketpublishing.com/about/). Long story short: New tools can minimize or even eliminate some of the manual work involved in any project—including writing a full-length book. You may have read that last sentence and been unimpressed. After all, doesn't every organization constantly try to up its game? Sadly, and as I know from years of experience, many don't. Most relevant here, legacy publishers typically resist change. Employees tend to rely upon dated stalwarts to manage their writing projects, including: - E-mail - Attachments (along with the resulting confusion over which version of a file is current) - Microsoft Excel instead of a proper project management tool Well, it's no longer 1998\. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### What Authors Can Learn From Accountants and Payroll Managers URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/payroll-accounting-authors/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T00:58:02.000Z Accountants and payroll professionals worth their salt may come off as rigid, meticulous, and excessively detail-oriented in the workplace. You might even use the word *prosaic*. To that, I say, "Good." These traits are occupational features, not bugs. The last thing you want is a big-picture, overly, er, creative person responsible for overseeing your organization's bank accounts or accounts receivable department. Let the chief marketing officer think about pie-in-the-sky ideas. "I don't care if I get paid on Friday," said no employee or vendor ever. Not coincidentally, numbers-oriented folks tend to strictly abide by their organizations' internal processes—or quickly find themselves switching careers or employers. To wit, the accountant who closes the firm's quarterly or annual books a few days too early risks filing inaccurate state and federal financial reports. In a publicly traded company, [the CFO may be headed to the clink](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarbanes%E2%80%93Oxley%5FAct?ref=racketpublishing.com). The payroll manager who calculates employee taxes without first figuring out overtime will earn the ire of workers, union officials, and finance folks. Make no mistake: [Order matters](https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/strategy-operations/payroll-finance/payroll-checklist/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Big time. ## Publishing Parallels _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Author Horror Story #2: Errors Galore URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/author-horror-story-2-errors-galore/ Last updated: 2025-09-14T16:39:01.000Z Mark had spent over a year writing his first book—a guide to digital marketing. He found the subject interesting, and he enjoyed the concentration that long-form writing required. In a few hours, he would finally hold the fruits of his labor in his hands. As part of his contract with his publisher, Mark would receive 25 complimentary copies of the book. In a twist of fate, the books were scheduled to arrive on his birthday. He couldn't think of a better present. Now, they were on their way to his home, and he could hardly wait. He checked the location of the UPS truck every 15 minutes. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Traditional Publisher's Conundrum URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/conundrum/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:12:38.000Z Merriam-Webster defines the word [as follows](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conundrum?ref=racketpublishing.com): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/conundrum.png) A particularly interesting one has increasingly permeated the publishing world over the last decade—one that affects first-time authors and even experienced scribes. ## A Thought Experiment Consider the following scenario: _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Author Horror Story #1: The Case of the Missing Books URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/author-horror-story-1/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:16:52.000Z Catherine arrived a the venue Sunday night, a full 16 hours before her scheduled keynote talk. She was nervous, but not for the reason you might expect. Over the years, she had given dozens of speeches to audiences exceeding one thousand people. On stage, she was cool as a cucumber. No, her consternation that night stemmed from a niggling logistical issue: She *still* didn't know if the 200 books the conference organizer ordered for this event would arrive in time. To state the obvious, she couldn't very well sign them after her talk if they weren't there. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Wrong Kind of Workout URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-wrong-kind-of-workout/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:08:19.000Z Lime Time Fitness is no mom-and-pop outfit. It sports [nearly 200 locations](https://www.lifetime.life/locations.html?ref=racketpublishing.com) sprinkled across the US, [with plans for expansion](https://www.lifetime.life/coming-soon-clubs.html?ref=racketpublishing.com). Monthly dues aren't cheap, but I take my fitness seriously and get my money's worth. I can justify its monthly cost. [Normatecs](https://hyperice.com/products/normatec-3-legs/?ref=racketpublishing.com) don't suck. While stretching the other day, I noticed the following sign on the floor—and something seemed off. See if you notice the error. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Author Lessons From a Historic Emmy Snub URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/emmy-snub/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:19:57.000Z Over the course of its amazing six-season run, *Better Call Saul* earned more than its fair share of [plaudits](https://www.npr.org/2022/08/16/1117671911/better-call-saul-finale-soars-as-a-meditation-on-consequences-and-regret?ref=racketpublishing.com) and critical acclaim, including 53 Emmy nominations. Ultimately, the masterful *Breaking Bad* prequel won exactly [zero](https://deadline.com/2024/01/better-call-saul-no-emmy-wins-53-nominations-1235728468/?ref=racketpublishing.com) of them. (Yes, it's a record—but not exactly a brag-worthy one.) _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Control URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/control/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:21:53.000Z Many things distinguish traditional publishing from both self- and hybrid publishing. The biggest is control. Say that you're a first-time author with a respectable following—or [platform](https://janefriedman.com/author-platform-definition/?ref=racketpublishing.com), in industry parlance. You are lucky enough to land a deal with Penguin, Wiley, Hachette, or the like. Congrats. You may reasonably expect to provide input into your forthcoming book's: _This post is for subscribers only._ ### What's Your Writing Style? URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/whats-your-writing-style/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:16:28.000Z If I'm not mistaken, Spotify first launched the whole music year-in-review trend. [Wrapped](https://www.spotify.com/us/wrapped/?ref=racketpublishing.com) provides an interesting perspective on the songs that moved you in the past year. Since then, [YouTube Music](https://routenote.com/blog/youtube-music-2022-recap/?ref=racketpublishing.com), [Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/replay?ref=racketpublishing.com), and countless other music services have done the same. Now, count [Grammarly](https://grammarly.go2cloud.org/SH3Ij?ref=racketpublishing.com) among the companies using artificial intelligence to jump on this train. The company emailed me the following image earlier this week: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/style.jpg) _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Is It Wise to Revise? URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/wise-to-revise/ Last updated: 2025-10-05T15:54:13.000Z In early 2010, Cengage released the second edition of my first book, [*Why New Systems Fail*](https://www.amazon.com/Why-New-Systems-Fail-Successful/dp/1435456440/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=3A9P1NLHGNV3J&keywords=Why+New+Systems+Fail+simon&qid=1704755529&s=books&sprefix=why+new+systems+fail+simo%2Cstripbooks%2C173&sr=1-1&ref=racketpublishing.com). Since that time, I've thought about updating some of my prior texts but ultimately decided against it. Today, I'll pose some questions that authors should ask and honestly answer before embarking on a proper rewrite. ## Is it your decision to make? ![Descriptive alt text](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/wnsf_cover.jpg) Let's start with the obvious query. Say that you want to release a second edition. Legally, however, you lack the right. When traditional publishers ink deals with authors, the contracts spell out who gets to do what with the content. If this is the case and you independently release a second edition of your title, you're breaching your contract and asking for trouble. Of course, you can ask your publisher to rescind the rights to your title. If the answer is *yes*, then read the tea leaves: Your book is not selling well, and future sales will be minimal. Before proceeding, though, wait until you sign an agreement granting you the book's rights. It will take months for that contract to arrive. If you self-published your title or worked with a hybrid publisher like Racket, then you're in the clear. (Years ago, I heard of some subsidy presses including [restrictive language in their client agreements about the ownership of intellectual property](https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-get-back-the-rights-for-my-book-from-a-self-publishing-vanity-publishing-company-like-AuthorHouse?ref=racketpublishing.com). If this is the case, run.) _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Two Simple Rules for Authors URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/two-simple-rules-for-authors/ Last updated: 2025-06-15T19:49:10.000Z It is a chilly evening in November 2008\. I'm getting in my miles on a treadmill after work in a gym near my New Jersey home. During the day, I'm consulting in NYC. The rest of the time, I'm in the midst of writing [my first book](https://www.philsimon.com/books/why-new-systems-fail?ref=racketpublishing.com). Suddenly, a thought occurs to me about how my work as an IT consultant reminds me of [one of my favorite *Pulp Fiction* scenes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMRap8SjQ-I&ref=racketpublishing.com) (NSFW). I pause the treadmill, get off, approach the front desk, ask the attendant for a pencil and paper, and jot down a note. I then resume my run. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### A 2024 Amazon Prediction URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/2024-amazon-prediction/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:22:23.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/geddy.jpg) On November 14, 2023, Rush frontman and virtuoso bassist Geddy Lee released his long-awaited memoir. I'll [cut to the chase](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqRx49TwP9E&ref=racketpublishing.com): [*My Effin' Life*](https://www.amazon.com/My-Effin-Life-Geddy-Lee-ebook/dp/B0BK99YN8H/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=3PKCF86JEC57S&keywords=geddy+lee+my+effin+life&qid=1704288589&s=books&sprefix=Geddy+Lee%2Cstripbooks%2C210&sr=1-1?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) doesn't just deliver. It is freakin' amazing. I blew through the 500-page book in a week. (I only wish that I could have attended [the book tour](https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2023/12/16/6047/Geddy-Lees-Toronto-book-tour-stop-at-Massey-Hall-featuring-Alex-Lifeson-filmed-for-a-CBC-Music-Live-at-Massey-Hall-series-special?ref=racketpublishing.com). [YouTube videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrXtFaVNEGo&ref=racketpublishing.com) were the best I could do, but let's return to the topic at hand.) _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Discerning Author URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-discerning-author/ Last updated: 2025-12-27T14:50:03.000Z Even a college sophomore should know that [economics is the study of scarcity](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/scarcity.asp?ref=racketpublishing.com). When a country, firm, department, or team chooses to accomplish X, by definition, [it opts to forgo Y and Z](https://www.philsimon.com/blog/ai/priorities?ref=racketpublishing.com). Make no mistake: The same axiom applies to authors. Choices matter, and authors should be discerning. In this post, I'll discuss two opportunities on which I passed in 2023, why I did so, and what you can learn from my decisions. ## Opportunities in the Twitter Chaos Soon after the acquisition closed, Elon Musk began dismantling Twitter and concurrently pissing off developers, advertisers, [users](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/18/technology/elon-musk-twitter-policies-chaos.html?ref=racketpublishing.com), employees, and even [San Francisco residents](https://apnews.com/article/twitter-x-sign-lightup-san-francisco-elon-musk-fa81d70c13c98a2cc7f03c2561a01258?ref=racketpublishing.com). More than a few tech companies smelled opportunity. [Meta launched Reels](https://about.fb.com/news/2021/09/launching-reels-on-facebook-us/?ref=racketpublishing.com), and [Substack added Notes](https://on.substack.com/p/introducing-notes). [Bluesky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluesky?ref=racketpublishing.com) became a thing. For its part, Mastodon and its community tried to usher in an era of decentralized social media. Early in 2023, my agent approached me about penning [*Mastodon For Dummies*](https://www.amazon.com/Mastodon-Dummies-Computer-Tech/dp/139419336X?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com). I thought about it over the course of a few days and spoke to a few trusted friends. I thanked my agent for the offer but ultimately declined. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mfd.jpg) **Mastodon For Dummies* Two reasons drove my thinking. First, I doubted that Mastodon could sustain its initial buzz and user growth. [I was right](https://searchengineland.com/mastodon-shows-declined-growth-despite-concerns-with-twitter-392787?ref=racketpublishing.com#:~:text=Mastodon%20was%20all%20the%20craze,The%20growth%20and%20decline.), and color me amazed if the number of users doesn't positively correlate with book sales. (Judging by the paltry number of Amazon reviews for *Mastodon For Dummies*, it didn't exactly sell like hotcakes.) Second, I didn't—and still don't—see how *any* author can write a comprehensive guide about a tech product these days. (How *Zoom For Dummies* still sells 100 copies per month absolutely mystifies me.) ## Hopping on the AI Train _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### A New Coat of Paint URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/a-new-coat-of-paint/ Last updated: 2025-07-12T07:58:51.000Z I just finished reading [*When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing*](https://www.amazon.com/When-Scientific-Secrets-Perfect-Timing/dp/0735210624?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) by Dan Pink. It's an excellent read that made me think. One takeaway: Along with anniversaries, the start of the year is often a time for new beginnings. Against that backdrop, it was time to refresh the look of this site. The primary change involves its accent color. I swapped out the anodyne green for [a more exciting one](https://www.color-hex.com/color/50c878?ref=racketpublishing.com). The kids call it *emerald*, I'm told. ## 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. If you find any instances of [the old color](https://www.color-hex.com/color/6c935b?ref=racketpublishing.com), leave a comment below or [let me know](https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect). I'd appreciate it. Oh, and while we're at it, if your book needs a similar refresh, [we can do that](https://www.racketpublishing.com/services/), too. Thanks, and happy new year. ### Bumps URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/bumps/ Last updated: 2025-12-27T13:35:18.000Z On *any* project, there will be bumps. The project's specific modality is irrelevant. Whether it's in-person, remote, or hybrid, at some point, a colleague, team, vendor, or partner will drop the ball, forget to do something, miss a deadline, and the like. To paraphrase from *The Matrix*, [it is an evitability](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIbEj1CIpuU&ref=racketpublishing.com). The type of project doesn't matter either. Whether you're launching a new application, building a physical product, or [opening a restaurant](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5FaRiio2c2oA&ref=racketpublishing.com), bet on a problem or six. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Publication of Reimagining Payments URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publication-reimagining-payments/ Last updated: 2025-05-27T20:59:47.000Z ![RePay](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/3d_good-1.jpg) I am pleased to announce the publication of *Reimagining Payments: The Business Case for Digital Currencies* by [Michelle Ann Gitlitz](https://www.michellegitlitz.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com). Over the last 18 months, Michelle worked closely with [the Racket team](https://www.racketpublishing.com/about/#team) to bring her first book to market—[and she's thrilled with the result](https://www.racketpublishing.com/praise). [𝗕𝗨𝗬 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞](https://www.amazon.com/Reimagining-Payments-Business-Digital-Currencies-ebook/dp/B0BW7LT8XR/?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) ### Breaking Down the 252 Tasks Involved in Writing a Business Book URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/252-tasks-business-book/ Last updated: 2025-08-17T17:26:46.000Z Many things separate first-time or would-be writers with experienced scribes. Perspective is a biggie. The former typically think of writing a book as one massive project and, as such, don't know where to begin. The single task seems overwhelming, causing more than a few to give up. Those of us who have done it a bunch of times know that the opposite is true: Penning a proper business text is actually oodles of individual tasks. Authors need to complete some items in a sequential manner. [Starting with personas](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/writer-personas/) is always wise. For example, one can't proofread a book before actually writing the damn thing. It's best to sign off on a template for the interior *before* laying the entire book out. Other tasks they can do in parallel. Authors *should* think about marketing before they even start thinking about writing, not as the months-long project ends. (More on this later.) If you like, kick the tires on prospective audiobook narrators while you're noodling with titles and subtitles. ## Looking at the Data Tech is embedded in [Racket's DNA](https://www.racketpublishing.com/tools/), and proper project management tools like [Notion](https://notion.grsm.io/philsimon?ref=racketpublishing.com) allow for interesting analysis. This weekend, author Michelle Gitliz, the [Racket team](https://www.racketpublishing.com/about/#team), and I neared completion of *Reimagining Payments: The Business Case for Digital Currencies*. Including the index, the book's length will be roughly 260 pages. I was curious about how many tasks it took from idea to final product. The answer: 252\. Here's a graph breaking them down into different buckets: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/tasks.png) \\ Note that all tasks count the same. That is, I didn't attempt to put hours behind any of them, and writing the book took far more than thrice the time needed to complete Amazon-related tasks. If you're interested in percentages, see the donut chart below: _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Ghostwriter as a Chef URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-ghostwriter-as-a-chef/ Last updated: 2025-08-17T17:29:19.000Z There are oodles of ways to write a nonfiction book these days. In no particular order, here are a few popular ones: _This post is for subscribers only._ ### A Note to Indie Authors on the Recent Spotify Announcement URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/spotify-audiobooks/ Last updated: 2025-06-23T01:26:14.000Z Many indie authors use Findaway Voices to distribute their audiobooks to a wide array of outlets. I have for three of my last four titles. Spotify's recent [announcement](https://newsroom.spotify.com/2023-10-03/audiobooks-included-in-spotify-premium/?ref=racketpublishing.com) to let premium members access 15 hours of free audiobook listening every month is, in a word, *concerning*. I spent way too much money using proper narrators to just give my content away for free—or pennies on the dollar. Consider disabling that option for your titles. I have. Not coincidentally, [Spotify now owns Findaway](https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/28/23280187/spotify-findaway-audiobook-podcasts-audible-amazon?ref=racketpublishing.com). > There is no sense in giving your content away for free. I wish that I could have done the same for copyrighted books that Meta illegally used to train [its newfangled AI tools](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/08/books3-ai-meta-llama-pirated-books/675063/?ref=racketpublishing.com). I suspect that lawsuits are coming no later than next year, but I digress. [How to Format Your Manuscript Like a Pro - Racket PublishingA few gangster Microsoft Word tips can make everyone’s life easier—especially yours.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/image-2-9.jpg)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/woman-1.jpeg)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/how-to-format-your-manuscript/) ## What You Need to Know An 8-hour audiobook for $15 is a freakin' bargain. Go bowling or to a [TopGolf](https://topgolf.com/us/gilbert/?ref=racketpublishing.com) for half that time, and your bill will be much higher. There is no sense in giving your content away for free. ## 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. ### The Folly of Mental Project Management URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/folly/ Last updated: 2025-06-23T01:44:32.000Z Over the course of my career, I've penned eight books with traditional publishers. In each case, my editor or primary contact never shared a project plan with me. When I asked to see one, I heard crickets. After a while, I stopped asking. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Update on Latest Racket Title URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/update-reimagining-payments/ Last updated: 2023-10-12T13:53:26.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/3d_good.jpg) Here is a quick update on Racket's forthcoming book [*Reimagining Payments: The Business Case for Digital Currencies*](https://www.amazon.com/Reimagining-Payments-Business-Digital-Currencies-ebook/dp/B0BW7LT8XR/?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) hits the shelves in December 2023. Pre-order it [here](https://www.amazon.com/Reimagining-Payments-Business-Digital-Currencies-ebook/dp/B0BW7LT8XR/?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com). ### Appearance on Beyond the Cover Podcast URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/beyond-the-cover-podcast/ Last updated: 2026-06-15T13:22:40.000Z Amy Shamroe of [Jenkins Group](https://www.jenkinsgroupinc.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) let me appear on her pod to talk about writing, publishing, my evolution as an author, [*The Nine*](https://www.philsimon.com/books/the-nine?ref=racketpublishing.com), and how COVID-19 changed work. Somehow, I worked Kierkegaard, Pearl Jam, Toni Morrison, and football into the discussion. It was an absolute blast. [The 46 Non-Writing Hats Skilled Non-Fiction Ghostwriters Wear - Racket PublishingThoughts on one of the most diverse, interesting, challenging, and rewarding jobs on the planet.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/image-2-7.jpg)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/hats.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/ghostwriter-hats/) Give it a listen below. ### On Writing, AI, and Xerox Machines URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/on-writing-ai-and-xerox-machines/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:19:40.000Z Looking for quick, anodyne text? Something passable, for the most part grammatically correct, and ostensibly professional? You're in luck. Tools like ChatGPT, [JasperAI](https://www.jasper.ai/?ref=racketpublishing.com), and many others can spew out ostensibly passable prose in no time. Apart from standalone tools, text-generation capabilities have already arrived in [Microsoft Word](https://beebom.com/how-add-chatgpt-microsoft-word/?ref=racketpublishing.com), [Google Docs](https://workspace.google.com/blog/product-announcements/generative-ai?ref=racketpublishing.com), and other word processors. Ditto for just about every other mainstream software application, like [Notion](https://www.notion.so/product/ai?ref=racketpublishing.com). _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Reading the McGraw Hill Tea Leaves URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/mcgraw-hill/ Last updated: 2025-07-18T16:28:11.000Z McGraw Hill set up shop nearly 150 years ago. It's still solvent, but the publisher has stopped acquiring the rights to new business books. Yes, [for real](https://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2023/07/mcgraw-hill-stops-business-book-acquisitions/?ref=racketpublishing.com). From Publishers Marketplace: McGraw Hill Professional “has made the strategic decision to cease frontlist acquisitions in the business category.” Upcoming titles have been canceled, though authors can keep their first advance. As a result, the business editorial team is being laid off. In a word, *wow*. A storied traditional publisher has exited the game—probably for good. Not long ago, hybrid publisher Scribe [closed its doors](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/announcements/scribe-media-clients/) as well, but questionable leadership seems to have driven that decision. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### A Note to Former Scribe Media Clients URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/scribe-media-clients/ Last updated: 2026-01-13T17:44:07.000Z A week ago, hybrid publisher Scribe Media [abruptly closed operations](https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/inno/stories/news/2023/05/30/scribe-media-shuts-down-and-lays-off-90-employees.html?ref=racketpublishing.com). I can only imagine the frustration of the company's former employees, contractors, and clients. Writing a quality book is hard enough. Finding a new service provider midstream only adds to the complexity. If Racket can help, fill out [this form](https://www.racketpublishing.com/connect/). Our [team of experienced professionals](https://www.racketpublishing.com/about/#team) can get your project back on track. ## Elevate Your Wriring 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. Best and good luck on resuming your writing projects. [Building a Better Research Ingestion Engine - Racket PublishingThe right mindset and tool can help authors increase efficiency, organize their content better, save time, and yield superior results.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/image-2-5.jpg)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/research-1.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writing/research-ingestion-engines/) ### Blind Spots URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/blind-spots/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:24:36.000Z They affect every writer. This list includes A-list rockstars who routinely churn out bestselling books, first-time scribes, and everyone in between. One of the many perils of true self-publishing is the lack of a professional editor. (In other words, the author does it all.) Friends and beta readers can certainly be helpful but make no mistake: amateurs rarely possess the skills to offer meaningful criticisms, much less the fixes to them. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Publication of The Nine URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publication-the-nine/ Last updated: 2025-06-10T11:12:50.000Z I am pleased to announce the publication of *The Nine: The Tectonic Forces Reshaping the Workplace.* Racket's third [title](https://www.racketpublishing.com/titles) is my best work to date. Check out the trailer, praise, and a few excerpts on [the book's main page](https://www.philsimon.com/books/the-nine?ref=racketpublishing.com). I hope that you'll check it out. [Meet RacketHub - Racket PublishingRacket Publishing’s first product is an insanely powerful, flexible, and intuitive book management system built for authors, coaches, ghostwriters, and publishers.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-24.png)Racket PublishingPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/rackethub_logo_icon_1000x1000.png)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/meet-rackethub/) [BUY THE BOOK](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRTHYMKH?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) ### The Author as a Chief Product Officer URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-author-as-a-chief-product-officer/ Last updated: 2025-06-23T01:45:04.000Z Wikipedia defines a [chief product officer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief%5Fproduct%5Fofficer?ref=racketpublishing.com) as follows: a corporate title referring to an executive responsible for various product-related activities in an organization. The CPO ... focus(es) ... on bringing the product strategy to align with the business strategy and to deploy that throughout the organization. They are most common in technology companies or organizations where technology is now a large part of the way they serve customers (such as banks and newspapers). In a nutshell, the person who occupies this role in a company represents the face of the product to the public. If the sounds challenging, trust your instincts. ([Just ask many of the former execs at Twitter](https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-executive-turnover-leave-disney-sale-chart-2016-9?ref=racketpublishing.com).) ## Parallels _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Non-Fiction Advantage (and Disadvantage) URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/non-fiction-advantage-and-disadvantage/ Last updated: 2025-07-23T12:42:36.000Z Last night I attended a [PEN America](https://pen.org/pen-america-chapter-arizona/?ref=racketpublishing.com) event. Over the course of two hours, I met several first-time authors whose books were dropping over the coming months. One penned an interesting novel. Another wrote a collection of poetry based on her life experiences. Part of me was a smidge jealous. After all, their works were timeless. If their publishers released them into the wild next week or next year, not that much would change. With rare exceptions, there's no ticking clock on a piece of fiction. ## The Other Half Non-fiction writers, of course, face a starkly different environment. If you're writing about tech or [cryptocurrency criminals](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394196067?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com), speed kills. Every day may well result in fewer sales. It's that simple. Wait too long on a subject, and you and your publisher may be delivering a book that's DOA. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### New Racket Title Coming URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/new-racket-title-coming/ Last updated: 2025-06-20T18:10:01.000Z ![Reimagining](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/3d_good.jpg) Here is some news on the fourth Racket release. At the end of 2021, cryptocurrencies were all the rage. Enthusiasts on both Wall Street and Main Street were downright giddy. Less than a year later, however, the landscape couldn’t have been more different. A number of crypto projects and companies imploded. At the same time, asset values and trading volumes plummeted. The cataclysmic events and crypto winter served as catnip for crypto naysayers in the business community—and an excuse to dismiss digital currencies outright. Although understandable, this mindset is ultimately misguided. Despite recent challenges, digital currencies are *already* serving important purposes, particularly when it comes to payments. What’s more, ignoring their massive benefits is downright irresponsible for any profit-seeking enterprise. So what are the benefits? And how can organizations start to pay with or accept digital currencies? What risks should they be aware of and what mistakes should they avoid? In *Reimagining Payments: The Business Case for Digital Currencies,* prominent cryptocurrency attorney and expert [Michelle Ann Gitlitz](https://www.michellegitlitz.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) answers these questions in spades. Brimming with rich case studies, examples, analysis, and synthesis, Gitlitz adeptly demonstrates how digital currencies allow firms to: - Reach new consumer bases. - Provide consumers with additional payment choices. - Reduce the cost and friction of conducting transactions. - And more. Brass tacks: Organizations cannot realize the manifold benefits of digital currency payments until business leaders truly understand their utility. The book will arrive in the fall of 2023. [BUY THE BOOK](https://www.amazon.com/Reimagining-Payments-Business-Digital-Currencies-ebook/dp/B0BW7LT8XR/?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com) ### For Whom? The Importance of Writer Personas URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/writer-personas/ Last updated: 2025-09-14T17:17:23.000Z Software developers frequently use [personas](https://xd.adobe.com/ideas/process/user-research/putting-personas-to-work-in-ux-design/?ref=racketpublishing.com) when building apps. Think of them as archetypes—and many programmers assign them names and other valuable details. They look like this: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/peter.jpg) Harry is the head of HR for a mid-sized healthcare organization. He's heard about X but hasn't noodled with it yet. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Should Authors Leave Twitter? URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/should-authors-leave-twitter/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:20:34.000Z 🎧 Listen to an audio version of this article on [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ordgizvyl5ADWlUhyB4ps?ref=racketpublishing.com), [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-form-with-phil-simon/id1655239223?ref=racketpublishing.com), and [beyond](https://anchor.fm/philsimon?ref=racketpublishing.com). _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Complimentarity URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/complimentarity/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:20:11.000Z In 1994, a whip-smart hedge fund employee moved to Bellevue, WA. He knew that the web was growing at an insane rate. Why not start a business to sell books online? _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Publication of Low-Code/No-Code URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/low-code-no-code/ Last updated: 2025-07-06T23:06:10.000Z ![Low-Code/No-Code: Citizen Developers and the Surprising Future of Business Applications ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/lc.png) Good news. *Low-Code/No-Code: Citizen Developers and the Surprising Future of Business Applications* is now available for purchase. [BUY THE BOOK](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B9R48W99/ref=dbs%5Fa%5Fdef%5Frwt%5Fbibl%5Fvppi%5Fi0?ref=racketpublishing.com) ### The Case for Advance Review Copies URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-case-for-advance-copies/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:20:23.000Z You've nearly burned your eyes out staring at the screen. You've meticulously pored over every endnote, footnote, and heading. You understandably want to send this bad boy to the printer, start selling your book, and begin earning sales. [Don't](https://youtu.be/RTBXMuIh1G8?t=87&ref=racketpublishing.com). Print it out—ideally as a physical book, not just at FedEx Office. Odds are you'll be surprised at what you find in [advance review copies](https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/advance-review-copies/6582/what-is-an-advance-review-copy-and-how-is-it-useful-for-authors---article?ref=racketpublishing.com). _This post is for subscribers only._ ### On Books and Oceans URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/on-books-and-oceans/ Last updated: 2025-11-07T21:16:39.000Z In their 2005 book [*Blue Ocean Strategy*](https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Ocean-Strategy-Uncontested-Competition/dp/1591396190?philsim-20&ref=racketpublishing.com), W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne group types of business ventures into two buckets. Red oceans are intensely competitive areas, such as desktop computers à la 2006\. Blue oceans are untested areas, such as Amazon Web Services à la 2006. You weren't going to make a killing launching a new desktop fifteen years ago. [Dell's net profit margins](https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/DELL/dell/profit-margins?ref=racketpublishing.com) certainly weren't [Prada's](https://finbox.com/SEHK:1913/explorer/gp%5Fmargin?ref=racketpublishing.com). Beige boxes didn't hold the appeal of sleek MacBook Pros—and they still don't. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Thoughts on Books, Co-Authors, and Babies URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/thoughts-on-books-co-authors-and-babies/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:22:47.000Z Few books on software applications or development last more than a few years. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/mmm.jpg) [*The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering*](https://tinyurl.com/2d2v8oe2?ref=racketpublishing.com) is the exception that provdes the rule. The premise of Frederick Brooks' seminal text is nothing if not simple. In a nutshell, nine women can't give birth to a baby in a month. The same maxim holds true for developing software. Bring a new coder up to speed by definition requires a step backward. Any efficience gains aren't likely to happen immediately. It turns out that writing books follows a similar law. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Rhea Seahorn, Better Call Saul, and Planning URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/rhea-seahorn-better-call-saul-and-planning/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:26:01.000Z Eisenhower famously said, "Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable." _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Publication of Project Management in the Hybrid Workplace URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/publication-project-management-in-the-hybrid-workplace/ Last updated: 2025-05-27T20:15:37.000Z ![PMHW class=](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/2025/05/PMHW.png) I am pleased to announce that *Project Management in the Hybrid Workplace* is now available for purchase. Why give it a read? Lots of reasons, but here's a biggie. As I'm well aware, the existing canon of PM books is nothing if not substantial. Still, the vast majority of [the 60,000 or so texts on the topic](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%22project+management%22&i=stripbooks&s=relevanceexprank&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=46&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=13&unfiltered=1&ref=sr%5Fadv%5Fb) dropped pre-COVID. The pandemic changed many things—not the least of which is how, when, and why we work. That ship has long sailed. What's more, to put it mildly, [we weren't that good at managing projects and launching new projects when we all met in person and worked synchronously](https://teamstage.io/project-management-statistics/?ref=racketpublishing.com). [Racket PublishingRacket is a boutique, author-centric hybrid publisher that uses state-of-the-art technology to help busy professionals release important non-fiction books.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/icon/newball-1-4.png)Racket Publishing![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/thumbnail/Racket-Publishing-4.jpg)](https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/gates/) I have written what I believe is a timely, relevant, interesting, and jargon-free text about a vital topic. I also think that it's my best book to date, and I hope you'll consider checking it out. [𝗕𝗨𝗬 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞](https://tinyurl.com/PMHWPS?ref=racketpublishing.com) ### The Importance of Book Covers URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-importance-of-book-covers/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T01:22:34.000Z Authors who want to maximize the impact of their books ought to enter reputable book contests. (The operative word is *reputable*.) Plenty of scam artists prey upon the dreams of scribes who want their books to reach the masses. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Case for Author Experiments URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/the-case-for-author-experiments/ Last updated: 2025-06-23T01:44:58.000Z I've written before about the difficulty and import of [nailing your book's title, subtitle, and cover image](https://www.philsimon.com/blog/publishing/nailing-book-title-subtitle/?ref=racketpublishing.com). TL;DR: It ain't easy. Against this backdrop of uncertainty and the need to stick the landing, what should you do? How can you maximize the odds that you're picking the right one? In this post, I'll provide one approach to answering this question. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Announcing New Racket Publishing Author Marketing Course URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/new-author-marketing-course/ Last updated: 2025-06-23T01:27:21.000Z I am no stranger to the written word. At this point in my life, it’s fair to say that I know a thing or six about writing books. Ditto for publishing and marketing them. Now, for the first time, I’m ready to share knowledge and experience that I’ve gained over the last twelve years in an online course. I’m thrilled to announce [The Author Flywheel: How to Intelligently and Affordably Market Your Book](https://philsimon.teachable.com/p/the-author-flywheel?ref=racketpublishing.com). The course is based upon the notion of a flywheel—a powerful business concept that Amazon, Netflix, [Uber](https://andrewchen.com/ubers-virtuous-cycle-5-important-reads-about-uber/?ref=racketpublishing.com), and other companies have used to achieve astonishing results. (Hat tip: Jim Collins.) I have packed the course with nearly three hours of entertaining, informative, and practical videos—but I didn't stop there. I included a bevy of supplemental material. Regardless of medium, all of the content serves to advance a single objective: to teach you how to effectively and affordably promote your book. ## 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. ## Course Audience I developed The Author Flywheel for all sorts of writers. You’ll benefit whether you are: - A first-time author and or an experienced scribe - A writer working on a fiction or non-fiction book - Self-publishing or working with traditional publishers > I developed The Author Flywheel for all sorts of writers. I can’t guarantee results. No one can ensure that a book becomes a bestseller—not even a blue-chip PR firm. If someone says as much, run. In this course, I open up my playbook of author marketing hacks. I offer my most valuable advice—especially on how to avoid making painful and sometimes expensive mistakes. If you’re looking to get as bang for your marketing buck as possible, then this is the course for you. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/33/fa/33fa879c-f3fb-496e-890f-14505310beac/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/inaction.jpg) Filming the course. Thanks to professional help and equipment, I seem to vaguely know what I'm talking about. #TryTheVeal Here's an overview video of the course: [Optical Narrative](https://www.opticalnarrative.com/?ref=racketpublishing.com) knocked the A/V out of the park. I'm stoked about The Author Flywheel. It is the course that I wish I had taken back when I published my first book way back in 2009\. I hope that you'll check it out. [𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘](https://www.racketpublishing.com/products-courses/) ### How Author Indecision Leads to Missed Opportunities URL: https://www.racketpublishing.com/blog/authors-books-indecision/ Last updated: 2025-06-23T01:44:19.000Z Kierkegaard once [said](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren%5FKierkegaard?ref=racketpublishing.com), "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards." I was thinking of the Danish philosopher's timeless quote the other day when a new book dropped. Unlike most new releases, I was especially interested because I played a role in it—sort of. _This post is for subscribers only._