This week, we take a look at how writing and publishing have become separate conversations, and how this divide isn’t good for anyone in any part of the writing world. Why is there such an oversized emphasis on query formatting, pitch elements, and the “myth of the checklist?” We talk about how to reclaim a more natural place when discussing the writing process, allowing all of us to get back to thinking about what we love in this field: the writing and the books.

Description: This week, dear listener, is about regrets. What books did we let go or pass on, that ended up doing well in other hands, and what does that say about the nature of professional and subjective taste? Other than that, the regrets are… Really something. A dude lighting books on fire and burning down his neighborhood. James Patterson blurbing himself, which more fills us with regret, because he’s clearly got life figured out way better than we do. And lots more!

This week, we tackle a seemingly simple question that no two people seem to have the same answer to: what does “literary” mean? Is it a genre, or the lack of one? Does it imply sophistication or prestige, or is it shorthand for pretentious or privileged? Does it mean different things to different people in the book world? Does it mean whatever we want it to mean? We try to arrive at a definition. And discuss how the term functions in both art and publishing conversation.

This week, we examine the phenomenon of THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas, and break down why exactly it was able to debut at the top of the bestseller lists. Then, in light of Laura being mad at some tweets, we have a spirited discussion about whether or not getting an MFA “matters” for writers. We even fit in some listener questions at the end!

On the occasion of Erik finishing a manuscript he's been dragging his feet on for five years, we talk about the strange and naive myths we believed about publishing before entering the industry, and the ways expectations have not matched up with reality. What's unexpectedly good about working in publishing, and what unexpectedly sucks? Also, we talk about the novels we wrote as children, including Laura's quest narrative in a fancy notebook, and the fact that Erik didn't understand typesetting as a child and thought every finished book was handwritten. He's ... well folks, he's not very bright.

This week we're joined by Carly Silver, an assistant editor at Harlequin Books! We talk about what it's like to work as an editor at a romance publisher, whether any of the meetings get a little awkward, and the ins and outs (um, phrasing) of how romance novels are acquired and discussed in house. Plus, we discuss commissioning books as agents, and how that approach differs from the query process.

This week, we take a look at some of the trends and tropes in social media in the book world, from writers, agents, editors, and publishing houses. Why can't anyone on writer Twitter make a good joke? Are hashtags like #ownvoices mostly used for shallow virtue signalling and brand building? We debate this stuff and more. We also respond to the op ed from Milo's agent in Publisher's Weekly. This bit is especially funny in hindsight, since Simon & Schuster cancelled the book about half an hour after we finished recording. Owned.

In our latest episode, we bring to you the first-ever Print Run interview, a conversation with author and librarian Lily Anderson (@ms_lilyanderson). We talk about her upcoming book, her experience in the publishing process, how her work as a school librarian gives her unique insight into children’s publishing, what she’d change about the industry, and more. The show also has the standard Tom Cruise news and a #pubtip at the end, of course.

This week, we look at the strange and often hilarious ways that women's bodies get described in fiction, and talk about how that descriptive tradition weighs on writers even today. Then, Erik decides to apply to be James Patterson's coauthor, and his sample chapter is ... well, it's really something.

This week, we talk about some of the sillier allusions to 1984 happening right now in media (in light of the book becoming Amazon's top seller). We break down Roxane Gay pulling her book from Simon & Schuster, and discuss the complications she might face in finding another publisher. Also included: proposed book laws that failed this week, the potential defunding of the NEA, and a listener mailbag!