Writing It!

Today, we’re speaking with the award-winning author, columnist, and professor Sam Freedman, of Columbia Journalism School, and the author, most recently, of Into the Bright Sunshine: Young Hubert Humphrey and the Fight for Civil Rights (winner of the 2024 Hillman Prize for Book Journalism), about his class at Columbia School of Journalism, The Book Seminar. We talk about what Sam teaches his lucky students (this very successful Columbia seminar has been offered for over 30 years, and has resulted in over 100 published books), and about his own decades-long career as an author, and the view of the publishing industry it has provided him. We address what it means to craft a good book proposal; the importance of making the case for your book’s readership; the benefits of landing in an academic press, even if you were aiming for a trade press; how to think about the “comp. titles/authors” section of your proposal; pre-publication blurbs; pitching an agent; planning your own book promotion; and finally, why timing is sometimes everything. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact

We’re speaking with the editor of the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Andrea Jain, who is professor of religious studies at Indiana University, Indianapolis, and the author of Peace Love Yoga: The Politics of Global Spirituality (2020) and Selling Yoga: From Counterculture to Pop Culture. 2014. Jain tells us about her own path to her editorial position, and speaks about what academics can do to position themselves for journal editor roles. Jain talks about the importance of taking initiative in approaching editors, how to be considered for an editorial board, and how respond to readers reports. We also speak about the importance of taking time off. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact

Today we talk to NYU Professor Eric Klinenberg about how his academic career led to other kinds of writing—and what he's learned from writing a book about a time that many people would rather forget. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact

We speak with Yale Professor Maurice Samuels about writing biography, and the importance of finding stories we feel compelled to tell. Samuels talks about finding the right writing voice; when to share writing with colleagues and friends; potential benefits and consequences of publishing with a trade press; creating a table of contents that helps readers; the importance of footnotes; and how our career stage might influence the kind of books we write. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact

If you’re like us, you’ve probably noticed that many academics write for The Conversation media outlet. The site does not pay writers, so why is it such a popular site for academics to publish their research? To find out what The Conversation offers, we’re speaking Beth Daley, the site’s Executive Editor. Daley explains that since 4-5 million readers visit The Conversation website every week, the site provides an unusual opportunity for academics to engage with the public. As Creative Commons stories, The Conversation stories can be republished by other publications, including The Washington Post, LA Times, Yahoo News, and local news sites. Daley explains why you don’t need to have a fully formed article to pitch to The Conversation, and what kinds of skills and opportunities writers have received through as a result of publishing in The Conversation. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact

In this episode we speak with historian Nina Caputo and illustrator Liz Clarke about their book, Debating Truth: The Barcelona Disputation of 1263, A Graphic History, published in the Oxford University Press Graphic History Series. We talk about the particular kind of research and writing required for a graphic history; how collaboration between academic and illustrator works; how graphic histories figure into tenure and promotion; what academics can learn about writing from working on a graphic history; why graphic history can be a worthwhile medium for a scholar to reach broader audiences; and what kinds of details illustrators need from academics to create a beautiful book. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact

We're talking with LIz Bucar, professor of religion at Northeastern University, and a prizewinning author about the program she directs Sacred Writes: Public Scholarship on Religion. We talk about the essential ingredients of a good pitch (including the ALL-CAP subject line) to a magazine/newspaper editor; how to communicate timeliness; and how to follow up in a way that invites a future relationship with the editor. Liz also explains what kinds of social media might work for scholars. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact If you'd like to learn more about Sacred Writes, follow this link: https://cssh.northeastern.edu/sacred-writes/Links:Sacred Writes: Public Scholarship on Religion

In this episode we speak with Thinking Like Your Editor author and agent, Susan Rabiner about how academics can best present their book project to an agent or editor. We talk about what a strong book proposal, cover letter, and sample chapters need to do. We also talk about what it means to write your academic book with strong narrative; the significance of the table of contents; why academic writers cannot rely on facts alone to make a point; the importance of figuring out your “core audience”; understanding your book’s central questions; what to expect (and not expect) from a literary agent and from a trade press; why an academic press might be a better fit for your book; and why it’s okay not to earn out your advance. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast

You don’t have to be a parent to get something out of our conversation with Professor Laura Yares about “Writing While Parenting.” In this conversation, we speak about how to get writing done while caretaking; how to best take advantage of limited time to write; writing when the family stakes are high; time-blocking; lingering Covid trauma; finding and building an academic writing community; letting our writing lie fallow; dealing with the loneliness of parenting within academia; leaning in to the creative parts of our academic jobs; and the importance of modeling good “professor-ing with a family” boundaries. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast

We’re speaking with UF English Professor Margaret Galvan about writing a book with lots of images; how to find a press that can accommodate image-rich manuscripts; what a book publicist will actually do for you; how to cultivate a relationship with your publicist and editor; how to be thoughtful about book promotion; when and why to apply for a fellowship for book two; the importance of finding colleagues and friends who will get excited about your book; and handling the details of getting a manuscript ready for production. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast