Landing a Book Deal in 2026 with Jane Friedman

Learn the principles of traditional publishing overseas, and how current market trends affect you.

In this comprehensive 3-hour class, you’ll learn not just the foundational principles of getting your book published, but you’ll also gain expert insight into the changing landscape of the publishing industry, and how you can navigate your own path toward success. Learn what it takes to capture the attention of a traditional publisher or literary agent today, how books get bought and sold in the major English-speaking markets (with a look at 2026 trends in particular), and how authors can approach the process with the right expectations and mindset.

Learning outcomes

As part of this workshop, you will learn to:

• Understand the differences among the key traditional publishing paths. Big Five, midsize, independent, university ...

• Look at what's happening in the English language market and what's driving sales in fiction and nonfiction right now.

• Query like a professional. Your one-page query letter should be short and sweet and pack a punch. Learn what it means to sell your story (or nonfiction idea), and how to avoid problems that plague writers in this critical document.

• Know your rights. You don’t have to be a lawyer to learn how to spot a bad contract or a predatory company, or to understand best practices of traditional publishing.

Format

This is a hybrid workshop with a focus on publishing industry; it will be held in-person at State Library of Queensland and live streamed to an online audience via Zoom. This workshop is intended for beginner and emerging writers, but is suitable for writers of all levels and backgrounds.

This workshop will be recorded, and a replay video will be made available to all participants for 7 days after the workshop.

About Jane

Jane Friedman has spent her entire career in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry. Her latest book is The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal. She works with organizations such as the Australian Society of Authors and Romance Writers of Australia to bring transparency to the business of publishing. Learn more at JaneFriedman.com.

For more information about Queensland Writers Centre’s Program and answers to FAQs, please visit our website.