Guest speaker Toni Weisskopf, publisher and editor-in-chief of Baen Books, joined current and former attendees of Jody Lyn Nye’s Writers Workshop to share an insider’s view of publishing. With 35 years in publishing at Baen, Weisskopf sees her role as “protecting the reader from bad fiction.” Her main goal is to improve the genre with a focus on great storytelling that people will want to read.

Weisskopf answered a wide range of questions from the audience, including the pros and cons of getting an agent. An agent, she warned, may be a good fit for one author but not for another. It’s important to make sure they work well with you. Always sign an agreement and make sure it includes an exit clause, if needed.

While discussing a few of what she termed the 30 different routes to getting published, Weisskopf noted that it’s impossible to know where the market is going. “That’s the beauty of creative endeavor,” she said. “If you have a story to tell…don’t worry about [the market].”

As for social media, she advised new authors to blog if they like to do it. Having an online presence can be helpful, but it is not a requirement. You can even hire someone to post for you—just make sure the writing is yours. Not good at marketing? That’s not only okay but is also a good reason to go with a traditional publisher. They will do the marketing for you. “If the quality of the work is I-gotta-have-it,” she said, “your social media presence doesn’t matter.”

Baen has always been interested in finding new authors. If you write short stories, Weiskopf’s advice is to submit to contests like the two offered at Baen or at Writers of the Future. Whether your write short stories or novels, always follow submission guidelines, and most importantly, write the best story you can.