Why I built it
I wanted to see the whole system before choosing.
When I tried to publish After Nihilism: Is Meaning Still Possible?, there was no shortage of advice. An agent could explain querying. A self-publishing expert could explain Amazon. An editor could explain editing. A service company could explain its package.
Each answer could be useful, but almost every answer began inside one route. I was still trying to answer the earlier question: what are all the ways this book could reach a reader, and what would each choice actually ask of me?
That question became Publishing Map: five publishing routes, twelve stages, what they cost, how long they take, who pays, who does the work, who keeps the rights, and where things commonly go wrong. There is a guided side for the decision in front of you and a complete reference for anyone who wants to inspect the evidence.
I think transparency is more useful than pretending I have no stake.
I founded Wordsmith, an editorial company. I disclose that plainly. Neutrality does not come from hiding the person or company behind a resource; it comes from showing the evidence, comparing alternatives even-handedly, and making corrections when the evidence changes.
Publishing Map is free and ungated. No provider pays for placement or ranking. Wordsmith appears only where it is relevant, beside other options. Every material figure links to a source. If I have something wrong, send me the exact line and a better source. I will fix it.
I wrote a book, too.
After Nihilism: Is Meaning Still Possible? asks whether meaning is still possible after inherited certainties collapse. Trying to get that book into the world is what sent me down this particular rabbit hole.
The map will stay free. If it helped, the best thing you can do is send it to a writer who needs it. If you would like to support me personally, you can read or buy the book.
See After Nihilism: Is Meaning Still Possible?