Writing an Essay - Tips for Choosing the Right College Essay Topics

Writing an Essay - Tips for Choosing the Right College Essay TopicsFor writing college essays, one of the most important things is to choose the right topic for your assignment. If you can't do that, you may be thinking about starting an essay with a subject that is not even related to your topic. Fortunately, there are many college essay topics available to help you with this dilemma.This article will provide some tips for writing college essays on four topics. If you find that any of these make sense to you, that is great! By following them, you will be able to write a well-written, compelling essay for your college class. Just remember that if a topic does not 'feel' right to you, chances are it will not feel right to your audience either.First, let's look at essay topics on which most students write very little. This list includes areas like life and family, country and culture, and music and religion. The reason they are in this list is that many students who choose these subjec ts as their topics do not necessarily write the essays for school. Instead, they want to find an essay topic to write for their own purposes. This means that the essay topics that they choose for school assignments are likely to be a lot less interesting than the topics that they would choose for essays for fun.Another thing to keep in mind when choosing a topic is whether or not you are the type of person who loves to read about certain topics. For example, if you enjoy history, and you have an interest in African-American history, you may be able to get away with a topic on that topic. Similarly, if you have a more general interest in life and family, you may also be able to get away with a topic on that topic.College essay topics that you may want to avoid include history, political science, and sociology. These are subjects that are generally too broad to write a good college paper. It is not uncommon for students to choose one of these subjects as their topic. If you want to wr ite an essay on this topic, you should not be in such a hurry to get the paper done that you do not take enough time to research the topic thoroughly.Finally, you should look at essay topics that will require you to consider different types of material. For example, you might want to consider an essay on art. A topic like art may not seem related to anything else, but it actually does. While this may sound obvious, many students struggle with this decision, because they may think that they do not have anything to say about art. As a result, they end up taking the wrong kind of topic into consideration, and wind up choosing an essay on art that is either too difficult or too easy for the assignment.When you are looking for college essay topics, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. The first thing that you should keep in mind is that writing an essay is no easy task. In fact, you should know that your paper will need to come out at least somewhat good. If you do not un derstand why that is the case, it is time to take a step back and think about what went wrong with your paper.You should consider what went wrong, and figure out what you can do to make sure that you have a good college paper. If you can make that happen, you can put together a top-notch essay that will give you a chance to get into the college of your choice. Keep these tips in mind, and you should be able to have a successful essay writing experience.

Shortcuts In The Great Gatsby Analysis - 1448 Words

How long does it take for society to find shortcuts? In most cases, the human race is constantly innovating to find faster more efficient ways to do just about everything. Some things, however, are not meant to be rushed. Throughout The Great Gatsby, one of the most prominent themes is that of the American Dream- a so called sense of achievement and reward free to anyone who works for it. Though this idea is nice, the novel goes to show that this concept is very warped and often either unreachable or grabbed for sloppily by taking shortcuts to happiness. Whether this refers to Daisy and Tom, who use other methods to find entertainment as opposed to working for real relationships, Gatsby, who pines over an unachievable desire, or society in†¦show more content†¦For Tom, this means running of to New York when it suits him and finding pleasure from his other romantic affiliations. Daisy is no more faithful. Throughout the novel, Tom expresses distaste for the very type of woman he married as well as the girls he continues to see. The â€Å"modern† woman is supposedly not at all to his taste, with all of the running around and flirtation. After his discovery of Daisy’s affair, he erupts, shaming the lifestyle he himself leads. â€Å"I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife† (Fitzgerald 139). Tom and Daisy represent the failed American Dream completely- each unhappy, corrupt, and pretending to live a lifestyle inconsistent with their actions. The hypocrisy is overwhelming. Next, Gatsby appears to be living the American Dream because he is rich and supposedly well liked. However, his American Dream is never achieved, as Gatsby is actually quite unhappy and lives without fulfillment. His expectations for his American Dream are extremely high and virtually unachievable. After all, the core of his dream rests on reliving the past, and ultimately, Daisy. Daisy is far from perfect. Therefore, â€Å"Gatsby must make her what she is not and must give her every perfection; his love for Daisy has to be lifted above time and reality†Show MoreRelated The Fall of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby Essay1776 Words   |  8 Pagesall showed that a person had been successful in their life and were vital points to the American Dreams of the Characters in the Great Gatsby. Many of them strived in their own way to achieve â€Å"the dream†, however, twisted ideals of love, wealth, and class led to the eventual fall of the American Dream in The Great Gat sby. Love was turned into a conquest in The Great Gatsby instead of what love should really be; deep feelings of care and affection towards a person. According to Marilyn Roberts, â€Å"TheRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesï » ¿TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS The purpose of Text Interpretation and Analysis is a literary and linguistic commentary in which the reader explains what the text reveals under close examination. Any literary work is unique. It is created by the author in accordance with his vision and is permeated with his idea of the world. The reader’s interpretation is also highly individual and depends to a great extent on his knowledge and personal experience. That’s why one cannot lay down a fixed â€Å"model†Read MoreThe Core Competence of the Corporation8328 Words   |  34 PagesHamel is lecturer in business policy and management at the London Business School. Their most recent HBR article, ‘‘Strategic Intent’’ (May–June 1989), won the 1989 McKinsey Award for excellence. This article is based on research funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation. Copyright businesses, but it had no experience as an operating telecommunications company. Yet look at the positions of GTE and NEC in 1988. GTE’s 1988 sales were $16.46 billion, and NEC’s sales were considerably higher

Anxiety And Its Affects Christina Griffey - 1114 Words

Anxiety and Its Affects Christina Griffey Palm Beach State College One of the first things we notice when we meet a person is their outer appearance. More than ever, in today’s society, we put emphasis on what we look like. We are constantly being bombarded by commercials and magazine ads about what makeup to use, what stores to shop at, what the latest health beverage is just to name a few. On social media, there are pages dedicated to fitness and what men and women are supposed to look like after months of working out, fitness inspiration, and at home workouts. Although it is extremely important to feel good about your outer appearance and be physically healthy, mental health is just as important. It is a topic that is†¦show more content†¦If we are not doing well in how we think, it will eventually affect many, if not all, aspects of our lives. Having a mental disorder or illness has a domino effect. For example, if a person goes through an event that makes them have low self-esteem, they will believe they are not good enough. If not dealt with, this could affect the work and school performance, which can affect grades and finances, which can turn into worry, which can turn into health problems. Everything is linked to our minds and it is important to make sure we are aware of how we handle situations so we do not negatively affect ourselves. Anxiety is defined as the body’s natural response to danger, an automatic alarm that goes off when you feel threatened, under pressure, or are facing a stressful situation. A little bit of anxiety can actually help a person stay attentive and on track. If we did not feel a certain level of pressure at a job or school, then perhaps we wouldn’t care about it as much. We might slack or leave a few loose ends that may cause us to fall behind. A little bit is actually beneficial, but unfortunately there are people who have to deal with anxiety as part of a mental illness or disorder. There are different types of anxiety which include: general anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and social phobia. General anxiety disorder is an excessive state of worry that

Analyze strategy of Starbucks Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Analyze strategy of Starbucks. Answer: Introduction This paper discusses the strategy of Starbucks Inc and analyzes how these strategies are modeled to help the company achieve its goals and objectives. The paper analyzes the growth strategy of Starbucks, its marketing and communication strategy as well as market segmentation. An analysis of the financial performance of the company is also done in this paper. Starbucks` strategy Starbucks strategy is anchored around future growth by growing the number of stores across various geographical regions. Starbucks is concentrating on increasing he number of stores especially in Asia Pacific and middle East. The strategy of the company also involves elevating the coffee experience of customers and hence improving customer satisfaction. Driving at home coffee and share occasion strategy will help to diversify and increase the brands product portfolio and hence fueling growth. How is competing for Starbucks Competition for Starbucks is stiff but the company has a strong brand that helps it to be competitive and it has helped the company to maintain its market leadership position(McGee, 89). Some of the main competitors for Starbucks include Dunkin` Donuts and McDonald`s. Competition from substitute drinks such as Soda is also high. Where is competing Competition for Starbucks is widely spread in all regions that the company operates. Competition is very intense in Europe and US. The company differentiates products depending on the market and the type and level of competition. Types of competitive advantage experienced by Starbucks There are two types of competitive advantage; Cost competitive advantage involves a company competing in the market by minimizing cost and hence offering goods and services at lower prices compared to their of the competitor. Differentiation strategy involves a company exploiting its ability to differentiate products and services and hence help the company become more competitive than other players in the industry (Jeyarathmm, 134). The cost may remain high but products offered are unique and hence customers will be attracted to the company. Market segmentation Starbucks segments its market based on a variety of factors. These aspects include; Geographic market segmentation- Starbucks divides its market depending on the geographic location of outlets. This is done according to the continent in which the company is operating. Demographic segmentation- Demographic factors such as gender and age are used by Starbucks when developing products e.g there are special products made for kids. Market positioning Starbucks has positioned itself as the premium and classic coffee outlet globally that focuses on optimizing consumer experiencing and satisfying the needs and desires of customers. Starbucks puts a lot of emphasize on customer experience and this has been instrumental to the company maintaining its strong brand and market position (Strategic Marketing Management,9-76). Vertical scope Starbucks is not vertically integrated. The company specializes in coffee retail through its various outlets in different locations. Starbucks does not engage in coffee production but it monitors the quality of coffee beans which are processed to become the coffee that it offers customers (Hitt, 17-56). Geographical scope Starbucks operates globally. It opens stores in all continents globally depending on market analysis and the forecast demand in a particular market. Starbucks strategy is to reach as many potential customers globally as possible and hence help it meet the goal of serving the world Starbucks coffee (Petit,47 ). Product scope Starbucks has a wide products portfolio. Starbucks main product is coffee and tea but both products are highly differentiated to cater for the tastes and preferences of different customers. There are more than 30 blends of coffee and a single-origin premium coffee (David and David 405-417) . Ready to drink beverages are also a popular product of Starbucks. The other products offered by Starbucks include; Handcrafted beverages, merchandise and fresh food. Performance of Starbucks for the year 2016 For the financial year ended October 2016 Starbucks recorded an operating income of $4.2billion. This is an increase of 16% from the previous years operating income. The growth in income of the company can be attributed to the expansion of the company by opening more stores globally. The sales in Americas also increased by 11% and growth in the Chinese market were very encouraging. The global sales for the year 2016 increased by 4%. The revenue for Starbucks in the year 2016 was recorded at 21.32 billion US dollars. Starbucks stocks have not been performing well recently with the stock price having decreased by 13% in August 2016. Sales growth computation for Starbucks Sales for the year 2015 were $19.2 billion. The sales grew in the following year to $21.32 billion. The following is a computation of the sales growth for the year 2016: Increase in sales= 21.32-19.2=2.12 billion Us dollars Percentage increase in Sales= (2.12/19.2)100=0.11=11% Starbucks sales growth is 11%. Return on Equity Return on equity is the amount of net income that has returned to the business calculated as a percentage of shareholder equity. This ratio is used to measure the profitability of a company by revealing the amount generated from the investments by the shareholders. It is calculated as follows: ROE=Net Income/Shareholders Equity= Net income=$2,757,400 Shareholder=$5,890,700 ROE=2,757,400/5,890,700=0.47 ROE=47% Operating margins The operating profit margin for Starbucks for the 2016 financial year is 18.47%. It is calculated by finding the operating income and dividing it by the revenue of the company. The operating income for Starbucks during this period was $4.17.The revenue for the same period id 21.31B OM=4.17/213.1=0.1847 =18.47 % Long term debt equity ratio This ratio is calculated by dividing the long term debt of the company with the equity of the company. This ratio is used to measure the long term solvency of the company and identify the balance between borrowed capital and owners equity. Long term debt=$3,202,200 Total equity=5,890,700 Debt/Equity ratio=3,202,200/5,890,700=0.5436 =54.4% Analysis of performance based on the calculations The performance of Starbucks can be analyzed from the ratios calculated using the information available concerning the company. Starbucks recorded a sales growth of 11% (Wilson, 109). This means that the company is headed in the right direction and the increase in sales especially in the Americas and China. The growth in sales is a positive for the company and it means that the strategies of the company are working. The return on Equity for Starbucks stands at 47%. This means that for every $1 of stakeholders investment, an investor gets $0.47. This return on equity is good for the investors of the company. A positive return on equity means that the company is able to generate enough profits to recoup good earnings on the investments. The operating margins for the company are also positive and it indicates good performance of the company. The debt/equity ratio of Starbucks is above 50%. This means that the company is operating using more debts than owners equity. Since the debts of the company are more than half of the capital of the business and therefore the management should focus on reducing the debt of the company since it reduces the solvency of the company. This is weakness since the cost of financing the debt may be high and become counterproductive. The arguments on the performance of Starbucks are based on information obtained from the balance sheet of the company. The income statement of the company is also in providing information that is used to access the performance of the company (Cravens and Piercy, 122). Annual audited financial statements are available on the companies` websites. Conclusion The paper analyzes the strategies that Starbucks uses to become competitive and to grow and expand in the market. The growth and expansion strategy of Starbucks is to open more outlets in different regions globally. The company is currently focusing on the China market and the Asia Pacific. Starbucks mainly segments its market geographically and demographically. Starbucks has positioned itself as a premium coffee outlet globally that offers consumers unique customer experience. References Cravens, David W, and Nigel F Piercy. Strategic Marketing. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irvin, 2013. Print. David, Meredith E., and Fred R. David. "Are Key Marketing Topics Adequately Covered In Strategic Management?."Journal of Strategic Marketing 25.5-6 (2016): 405-417. Web. Hitt, M.A. "Relevance Of Strategic Management Theory And Research For Supply Chain Management."Strategic Direction 27.7 (2011): n. pag. Web. McGee, John. Strategic Management. Chichester: Wiley, 2014. Print. Petit, Y. "Advancing Project And Portfolio Management Research: Applying Strategic Management Theories."Strategic Direction 28.9 (2012): n. pag. Web. Strategic Marketing Management. [Place of publication not identified]: Willford Pr, 2016. Print. Wilson, Richard. Strategic Marketing Management. [S.L.]: Routledge, 2017. Print.

Racial and religious differences

Introduction Since the 9/11 attacks, America has increasingly become sensitive to racial and religious differences (Lansford 78). Particularly, racial profiling has dominated how law enforcement officers manage terrorism threats.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Racial and religious differences specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Public perceptions of different religious groups have also changed as more people have become hateful and biased towards certain religious groups (Lansford 78). This paper claims that after the 9/11 attacks, Americans became increasingly biased towards Muslims and minorities from South Asia. Despite the illegality of racial profiling, this paper argues that Asian minorities continue to be victims of hate crime and racial profiling because of their religious affiliation, dressing, and culture. Religious Profiling Some sections of the American society have targeted South Asian minor ities as potential terrorist suspects because of their religious affiliation. For example, some Americans have alienated Muslim women because of their dressing. Particularly Tarlo (103) says the society has alienated Muslim women because they wear the Jilbab (a long garment) and the Niqab (a veil covering the face). While this dressing is normal for Muslim women, after 9/11, Islamic dressing has portrayed Muslims as potential â€Å"enemies† or â€Å"threats† to security (Tarlo 103). Symbolically, western media have used the Jilbab and the Niqab to explain how Muslims are different from other people. Notably, the media have used Islamic dressing to portray how the â€Å"enemy† looks like. Unfortunately, this representation does not have any significance to the characters or the motives of the people who wear them. Tarlo (103) says the use of Islamic dressing to portray Muslims as â€Å"alien,† or the â€Å"enemy,† creates a narrow perception of the faith and its followers.Advertising Looking for critical writing on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Notably, this representation conveys the belief that all Muslims are the same. Therefore, it is difficult to see the difference between ordinary Muslims and â€Å"enemies† who profess the same faith. This representation has played a significant role in creating animosity and hostilities towards South Asians (Women of South Asian Descent Collective 352). This representation has also created public intolerance for Islamic diversity in the society. For example, Tarlo (104) explains an incident where a British school denied a 13-year old Bengali girl the right to wear her Jilbab. The family of the young girl protested this decision and went to court to seek redress. They claimed the school denied the girl the right to express her religious views (Tarlo 104). The court ruled that the girl could wear the Jil bab (Tarlo 104). This decision was controversial because the school refused to accept it. Nonetheless, without delving further into the details of this case, it is crucial to understand the intolerance that exists within western society regarding Islamic practices in a post-9/11 world. For example, the main concern for the school was the symbolic association of the Jilbab with Islamic radical groups. This perception exists in most western societies because, albeit symbolically, people have associated Islamic practices and lifestyles with the â€Å"enemy† (Tarlo 103). The above analysis shows that religious profiling has permeated through many facets of the American society. For example, Jamal and Naber (211) say there were several instances where passengers refused to board the same plane with South Asians because they are Muslims. In many incidents, airline companies have removed the â€Å"suspected passengers† from their airplanes. Jamal and Naber (211) particularly draw our attention to an incident where South West Airlines removed a Muslim man, in New Jersey, because he made other passengers â€Å"uncomfortable.†Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Racial and religious differences specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Similarly, Jamal and Naber (211) explain an incident where a pilot removed a secret service agent of Arab descent from an American Airlines flight because he made other passengers uncomfortable. Such incidents are many. Overall, they show that South Asians have become increasingly alienated in a post-9/11 society. Racial Profiling In a post-9/11 society, Americans have become increasingly critical about the nationalities, origins, and citizenship of South Asians. In fact, according to Lansford (78), law enforcement officers profile South Asians as potential terrorist suspects because of race and ethnicity. Consequently, many South Asians have become easy targets for arrest and detention. Lansford (78) says in the post-9/11 period, the American Justice Department has detained more than 1,200 Muslims (mostly from South Asia). The Women of South Asian Descent Collective (352) say a broader analysis of this trend highlights the lack of acceptance that South Asians have experienced in America. For example, they say the society excludes many South Asian minorities (socially) because of racial prejudice (Women of South Asian Descent Collective 352). For example, the Women of South Asian Descent Collective (352) say some Americans believe South Asians have a different home, other than America (they are not American citizens). This perception exists even for second generation and third generation South Asian who are American citizens by birth. In fact, some of these people have never visited Asia, but the society regards them as â€Å"aliens† in America (Women of South Asian Descent Collective 352). This prejudice mainly exists in the American education system where the society regards South Asian students as â€Å"foreign students.† The Women of South Asian Descent Collective (352) also say this situation is worse for female South Asian students because the society regards them as â€Å"irrelevant.†Advertising Looking for critical writing on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A British movie, Brick Lane, shows how social prejudice creates a divided society, as seen in a post-9/11 period. Produced in 2007, the film focuses on the life of a young Asian girl, Nazneen, who marries a man twice her age (against her will). She lives in a small Asian community – British Bangladeshi community, which is predominantly Muslim. Living in a largely Christian country, the South Asian Muslim community, experiences racial and religious alienation from the rest of the society (Brick Lane). This alienation makes Nazneen nostalgic about her rural home. She finds it difficult to accept London as her home because her community lives as â€Å"aliens† in London. Furthermore, she has to contend with the negative stereotypes that face the Muslim community she belonged to (Brick Lane). The extent of her anguish mirrored her mother’s life because the hardships that faced her mother as a South Asian woman living in London forced her to commit suicide (Brick Lane ). Overall, Brick Lane shows how religious and ethnic prejudices affect the perception of South Asian minorities in many western societies. Conclusion The racial profiling of South Asian minorities in America is a worrisome situation. This paper shows that South Asian Muslims living in America have become increasingly alienated for their religion and race. This prejudice is often unfounded because religion and race do not have any correlation with the characters or the identities of the victims. From a legal standpoint, law enforcement agencies are losing the opportunity to gather reliable intelligence from communities that continue to be victims of racial and religious profiling. This way, racial profiling in America is a zero-sum game. Moreover, racial profiling continues to deny legal American citizens of South Asian descent the right to enjoy their freedoms, as other American citizens do. Works Cited Brick Lane. Ex. Prod. Sarah Gavron. London, UK: Sony. 2007. DVD. Jamal, Amaney, and N. Naber. Nadine Race and Arab Americans Before and  After 9/11: From Invisible Citizens to Visible Subjects, Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2008. Print. Lansford, Tom. 9/11 and the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq: A Chronology and  Reference Guide, New York, NY: ABC-CLIO, 2011. Print. Tarlo, Emma. Visibly Muslim Fashion Politics Faith, New York, NY: Oxford, 2010. Print. Women of South Asian Descent Collective. Our Feet Walk the Sky: Women of the  South Asian Diaspora, San Fransisco, CA: Aunt Lute Books, 1993. Print. This critical writing on Racial and religious differences was written and submitted by user Aiyana Hurst to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

1. Why will a weather derivative be useful for PNW Essays - Economy

1. Why will a weather derivative be useful for PNW Essays - Economy 1. Why will a weather derivative be useful for PNW? 2. What does Enron stand to gain by selling a weather derivative? 3. Should PNW purchase a weather derivative? Why or why not? Earnings per share (EPS) is the portion of a company's profit allocated to each outstanding share ofcommon stock.Earningsper share serves as an indicator of a company's profitability. Capital intensive refers to a business process or an industry that requires large amounts of money and other financial resources to produce a good or service.In finance, thecost of equityis the return (often expressed as a rate of return) a firm theoretically pays to itsequityinvestors, i.e., shareholders, to compensate for the risk they undertake by investing their capital. Ahedgeis an investment position intended to offset potential losses or gains that may be incurred by a companion investment. In simple language, a hedge is used to reduce any substantial losses or gains suffered by an individual or an organization. Cost of debtis the interest a company pays on its borrowings. : Mary Watts , the chief financial officer of Pacific Northwest Electric. Why will a weather derivative be useful for PNW? 1, weather derivative targets at power producers that was exposed to volume risk as a result of changes in weather. Volume related revenue - the deviation of actual acumulative degree days from an established threshold Weather is biggest independent variable in power business Watts analysis - seasonal demand is highly correlated with cumulative HDD 2000-01 is expected to be an unseasonably warm weather- less consumers (use of electricity) - huge impact on earning (devastating) 2, public utility - regulations permit them to pass along costs to consumers Capital intensive firm But there are already a variety of producers on the power grid where consumers can purchase power from. If they pass along costs to consumers , it would result in a loss market. Weather derivative can be an alternative way to compensate the loss in income associated with lost demand instead of increasing prices. What does Enron stand to gain by selling a weather derivative? 1, Enron corporation is the world's leading integrated natural gas and electricity company Discover a method for hedging its own weather risk - help other power producers to manage their own weather risk (customerized products) not just price risk but also volume related risk 2,Better meet customer demands(compared to two other options insurance and capital and commodities markets) exchange traded contracts need to be marked to market frequently - the hedge was pegged to a market index. Should PNW purchase a weather derivative? Why or why not? Yes Gross margin per HDD is 40.30 ? Contract Limit : 20,000 * 400HDD= 8000,000

Ask An Agent What Makes A Self-Published Author Stand Out

Ask An Agent What Makes A Self-Published Author Stand Out Ask an Agent: Paul Lucas on What Makes a Self-Published Author Stand Out Paul Lucas is a literary agent at Janklow Nesbit where he has been representing authors since 2011. His clients come from across the spectrum of fiction (thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, historical and literary) and non-fiction (history, narrative, travel, science and humor). His clients include New York Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore, Anthony Ryan, Alan Flusser, and Katherine Arden.Reedsy: How have you seen attitudes toward self-publishing change since you started out in publishing?Paul Lucas: Attitudes have changed tremendously, particularly since several self-published authors have now become monumental success stories. It is in part  because so many readers came to, and enjoyed, books by self-published authors. Since distributing e-books is so much cheaper and simpler than distributing physical books to bookstores, there are fewer barriers to entry and much easier discovery. As products, the e-books are indistinguishable from other offerings. So if the book is go od, it will receive attention.Which of your clients are self-published? Do you know of big authors that people might not know got their start as self-published authors?My clients that started in self-publishing include Anthony Ryan (NYT bestselling author), Matthew Mather (translated into 15 territories), James Islington, Steve McHugh, Jodi McIsaac and Richard Phillips. Andy Weir, Hugh Howey, AG Riddle, and Blake Crouch are major authors who stand out from the self-publishing world.Sorry there’s a male bias to these writers! Women have been tremendously successful with self-published science fiction and thrillers; I just haven’t signed any other than Jodi. Women absolutely dominate the romance space.In working with self-published authors who transition to traditional publishing, what stands out about them? What are their greatest assets, both personally and professionally?The key to self-publishing is that the writer becomes her own publisher. That means hiring editors , illustrators, and designers and paying for marketing and promotion. The best of them are very professional, and many publish several books a year. It’s easier for them to do so since there is a much longer lead time in traditional publishing.Since many self-published authors enjoy closer access to their fans, it makes it self-sustaining success more achievable. If she feels confident that 20,000-30,000 readers will come to each of her new books, twice a year, a writer can comfortably rise to a six-figure income. Traditional publishers would find it challenging to reach 20,000 readers and might give up on that author if they did not see sales rising. Relishing the challenges of editorial control and developing strong positioning for your book are two critical characteristics for success in self-publishing. "Many self-published authors enjoy closer access to their fans"@canonizer With all of the reading that agents need to do to stay on top of the industry as a whole, how do you prioritize reading self-published work? Do you actively seek it out or hear about it through word-of-mouth or recommendations? In short, how does a self-published book find its way onto the radar of an agent?I typically find self-published books that are rising quickly in e-book sales rankings. It is less word-of-mouth than trawling through the winners on retailers’ sites. Sometimes self-published authors seek out agents but it’s fairly rare for very successful ones to do so these days since agents typically come knocking after they get enough attention.Where do you see self-publishing fitting into the larger publishing industry in the coming years? What is exciting about it? What will traditional publishers have to adapt to? Self-publishing will continue to grow for as long as it remains difficult for new authors to break into traditional publishing. That means it is mo re important than ever to treat a self-published book with the same consideration (or as close as you can get) that a traditionally published book would receive. The more believable the characters, plot, and writing, the easier it will be for readers to engage with it. Similarly, everyone judges books by their covers so it’s worth spending $500-1000 to have one created professionally rather than attempting one’s first MS Paint masterpiece.Publishers have attempted to launch their own digital imprints, which seem to cater to readers of self-published books. I’d recommend that any self-published author contemplating moving to a traditional publisher’s digital imprint do so with caution. Losing control over marketing the book can be jarring for people who have found success marketing their books on their own terms.Frankly, traditional publishing has become mediocre at launching new brand-name authors, especially with ongoing series. There haven’t been many new Anne Rices, James Pattersons, Stuart Woods in the last 5-10 years. Some of the ones now traditionally published earned their names in the self-published ranks. Publishers will need to learn how to develop talent if they want to keep people from wanting to self-publish, rather than publish traditionally.What are the potential obstacles facing self-publishing as it grows?Well, the elephant in the room is whether Amazon will continue to pay such substantial royalties and subsidize  self-published authors through Kindle Unlimited and their other deals. Authors might see a decline in their earnings if those were to disappear but it is unlikely to change how self-published books succeed in the near term since most self-published authors rely on the platform.What would you tell emerging authors who are on the fence about self-publishing?There used to be a stigma to self-publishing; it was synonymous with vanity publishing, which meant that authors would spend several thousand d ollars in exchange for inventory and the possibility of physical distribution. This stigma has all but vanished, particularly in commercial fiction where self-published authors are really thriving. Literary fiction and non-fiction all continue to work better traditionally. Readers seem to have short attention spans these days so discovery for more academically minded projects (or â€Å"serious† or â€Å"literary† or however we are describing high-brow books on a given day) have a big headwind. "This stigma has all but vanished, particularly in commercial fiction"@canonizer Lastly, new authors should keep in mind that it’s very hard for an agent to do anything with a newly self-published book. If it only has hundreds or several thousand sales, they will be unlikely to move it to the traditional space right away. This should not be discouraging – it might lead to far greater rewards.Are you hesitant to self-publish? What is your top reason for wanting to work with a traditional publisher on your first book? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.