Print Run Podcast

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!

This episode features a crazy publishing story from Erik, along with a discussion on the apparently booming industry of dumbing down literary classics for toddlers. We also talk about our best bookstore ideas (spoiler alert: the best idea is cinnamon rolls, as is always the case). Basically, we were Very Serious the last couple weeks and wanted a fun episode this time. Enjoy!

This week, we tackle a pretty big, speculative question: if you were to start a publishing company, what would it look like? We discuss a wide range of facets to this, from editorial vision, publishing models, acquisitions strategies, building a brand, how to cut costs, and more. It's a fun episode; our hope is that more than just making some hypotheticals, we also do some spotlighting of where we feel publishing is really working, where it isn't, and what we would change. Tell us what you think!

In this episode, we discuss ways that modern publishing should address the literary canon's diversity problem. We also fight about whether or not audiobooks count as reading, because frankly we're both petty as hell. At one point we end up talking at length about mice in apartments, which Erik tries pretty hard to make relevant to books but he'll tell you, dear listener, he may not have succeeded. Anyway, it's a fun episode. Join us!