Book Math

This month's subscriber exclusive

I listen to a lot of podcasts related to the publishing industry: booksellers, authors, and other publishers sharing their knowledge and experiences, hoping to keep learning as much as I can. It’s often an efficient way to stay tuned into the work while running errands or trying to carve out a little brain space from kid stuff during the day.

Many of the episodes I listen to (and Substack posts I read) give me more insight into the various viewpoints that affect different levels of publishing. But sometimes, I encounter writers or other industry professionals who lack a certain perspective about the realities that presses contend with as they work to bring books into the world. To be honest, it’s one reason I’ve also taken to avoiding Twitter (made ever easier as its lifespan continues to seem more precarious by the week): the assumptions a lot of people make can be troubling, and I don’t think that space is the best medium for trying to share opinions that require more nuance or data beyond the limits of a thread-spool emoji.

So I’m trying a new workshop or “shop talk” model next week. While I’ve enjoyed offering a wide range of workshops this year and learning with some really talented writers, I’m also trying to think through the ways that we can better serve the literary ecosystem by providing more practical/tangible information—which often seems lacking or difficult to find. So consider this an experiment of sorts! Here’s a bit of what to expect—and read on/subscribe to get a 50% discount for the workshop and join the conversation next week.