If you have ADHD, you’ve heard it before. Just use a timer. Make detailed lists. Try this app. As if the problem is not knowing these tools exist, rather than how to adapt them for ADHD. Building a sustainable editing practice isn’t about finding the right system. It’s about building one around how your brain actually works.
These days, the printed word faces a six-headed hydra. Artificial intelligence subsists off of human ingenuity and threatens education, entertainment, and the publishing sector.
Most readers don’t have a favorite imprint—most probably couldn’t even name more than a handful. But it’s possible you could have a favorite—or a few favorites—without even realizing it.
“Last year, my voracious appetite was awakened as I realized what kinds of characters and storylines I was craving, and it was not sated—not by a long shot—as there are not nearly the number of romances featuring transmasculine protagonists as my heart strains to read. The market has yet to catch up, and I am excited to see it do so, but in the meantime, here are some of my favorite queer reads of last year and four trends in book cover design I have noticed across them in my quest to read as many queer romances as I can find.”
Are you a fan of manga? Are you someone who would rather scroll through Webtoon than your Instagram feed? Are you a webcomic creator with a dream to publish? You’re in luck because in recent years, there’s been a growth of imprints tailored towards manga, manhwas, manhua, webcomics, graphic novels, and light novels.
Historically, bookstore communities have risen spectacularly to the occasion in times of crisis, and they continue to do so. This is especially true in bookstores that focus on specific minority identities, such as the Black and queer communities. These communities have faced, and continue to confront, threats from a prejudiced world that targets them.
At the end of the day, it can be intimidating to use what little energy you have left to get out of your comfort zone and connect with a wider community. Many indie bookstores have taken on the burden of organizing events and services that address a wide range of patron needs—everything from social engagement to meaningful activism.
What defines a story as “young adult”: the protagonist’s age, the reading level, the story’s contents, the specific themes, or the intended audience? More concerning, how might the presence of a marginalized identity (e.g., BIPOC, feminine, LGBTQ+, disabled) color one’s perception of what is considered—and acceptable—“YA” fiction?
As we have entered the Fall 2025 term, I have had to readdress what the Quick Start Guide project is and its relevance to the publishing industry we hope to soon enter. Most importantly, there has been a major alteration to the scope of the project.