Print Run Podcast

This week we talk about the seemingly surface-level elements of books that seem to periodically rise and fall in popularity: things like the vampire in paranormal/YA books, or the cupcake shop in romance novels, or the word “Girl” in EVERY SINGLE LITERARY FICTION TITLE. Who’s driving these trends, and how and why do they change over time? Also included is a JP book of the week and a word on recent layoffs in the industry.

Just the two of us again this week. We discuss the supposed reader experience known as “escapism”—what does it mean, why do people seek it out, and are people actually “escaping” like they think they are when they pick up a good book? Also included is a brief discussion on Henry Holt’s decision to stick with Bill O’Reilly as his publisher, and the debut of a new segment, The Only Good Books!

In light of NYC’s new law forbidding employers from asking job candidates their previous salaries, we talk to editor Allyson Rudolph (@allysonrudolph) about the many issues surrounding pay in the publishing industry. Spoiler alert: there are tons, and it ends up hurting people AND the books. Allyson and Erik also tell a couple stories from their time on an editorial staff together and … hoo, boy. It’s a fun, honest, and wide-ranging interview we think you’ll like!

This week, we discuss what it means to engage in honest critical discussions about writing, why it’s difficult, and how it’s essential to the advancement of the good-faith publishing conversation. Why do people, especially authors, have such a hard time criticizing other books? What does it mean to read critically, versus reading for enjoyment, and has the digital age changed the way books are reviewed? We also talk about why certain books draw criticism and why others seem immune. We also recap this year’s Pulitzer announcements, as well as this weird thing where a guy claims all old Penguin books smell like biscuits. … You tell us, man.

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!

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!

Happy new year! In the first Print Run of 2017, we talk about our holiday break and Milo Yiannopoulos's controversial book deal with Simon & Schuster. We break down the backlash, the backlash to the backlash, and discuss what this deal reveals about most free-speech arguments as well as what we can expect to see from mainstream commercial publishers moving forward.

In addition to spending way too long breaking down Sara Gruen's Hatchimals scheme, we discuss the supposed "censorship" argument made by Abrams Books in light of their controversial release of Bad Little Children's Books. We also analyze the movie Elf, because it has publishing in it and it's the holidays. Stop judging us, I can see you judging us.

In the latest episode of Print Run, we talk about the horrors of recommending books to others, because giving gifts with subtext is what the holidays are all about. Also, we offer some alternative author theme parks to try, rather than the planned Harper Lee tourist spot in Alabama. There's a listener mailbag, a chat about the various dictionaries' words of the year, and Erik reads the winning passage of the 2016 Bad Sex Award. I'm sorry, mom.