web02.fireside.fm Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:04:43 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Writing It! - Episodes Tagged with “Academic Press” https://writingit.fireside.fm/tags/academic%20press Mon, 23 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0500 "Writing It! The Podcast About Academics & Writing" dives deep into the world of academic writing and publishing. Join us for conversations with academics and editors as we discuss challenges, strategies, and insights from our writing lives. As we share our experiences and helpful hacks, we make the process of writing and getting published a bit more transparent and a bit less overwhelming. en-us episodic The Podcast About Academics & Writing The Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida "Writing It! The Podcast About Academics & Writing" dives deep into the world of academic writing and publishing. Join us for conversations with academics and editors as we discuss challenges, strategies, and insights from our writing lives. As we share our experiences and helpful hacks, we make the process of writing and getting published a bit more transparent and a bit less overwhelming. no academia, academic publishing, writing, literary agents, literary non-fiction, creative writing, academic careers The Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida writingit@jst.ufl.edu Episode 70: "Yes, your editor googles you..." and other things your editor thinks and does with Adina Popescu https://writingit.fireside.fm/70 ead27874-1dae-414a-9e4f-0bd158fde0e0 Mon, 23 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0500 The Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida full The Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida In this episode, we talk with Yale University Press Executive Editor Adina Popescu about what makes her interested in a book manuscript and in an academic author. Our topics include: What the query letter should include; how to approach the conference "book exhibit hall conversation with an editor; what occurs at the mysterious university press "boards" and who is present at those meetings; why and when book manuscripts return to reviewers; why an editor might ask for additional reviews of your manuscript, and how to get the most out of the review process. Adina also talks what has changed the most in publishing and book-reviewing. 38:54 no In this episode, we talk with Yale University Press Executive Editor Adina Popescu about what makes her interested in a book manuscript and in an academic author. Our topics include: What the query letter should include; how to approach the conference "book exhibit hall conversation with an editor; what occurs at the mysterious university press "boards" and who is present at those meetings; why and when book manuscripts return to reviewers; why an editor might ask for additional reviews of your manuscript, and how to get the most out of the review process. Adina also talks what has changed the most in publishing and book-reviewing. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact university press, academic press, editor, dissertation, book publicity, book reviews In this episode, we talk with Yale University Press Executive Editor Adina Popescu about what makes her interested in a book manuscript and in an academic author. Our topics include: What the query letter should include; how to approach the conference "book exhibit hall conversation with an editor; what occurs at the mysterious university press "boards" and who is present at those meetings; why and when book manuscripts return to reviewers; why an editor might ask for additional reviews of your manuscript, and how to get the most out of the review process. Adina also talks what has changed the most in publishing and book-reviewing.

Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here:
https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast

Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact

]]> In this episode, we talk with Yale University Press Executive Editor Adina Popescu about what makes her interested in a book manuscript and in an academic author. Our topics include: What the query letter should include; how to approach the conference "book exhibit hall conversation with an editor; what occurs at the mysterious university press "boards" and who is present at those meetings; why and when book manuscripts return to reviewers; why an editor might ask for additional reviews of your manuscript, and how to get the most out of the review process. Adina also talks what has changed the most in publishing and book-reviewing.

Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here:
https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast

Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact

]]> Episode 28: An Editor's Perspective: Sandra Korn https://writingit.fireside.fm/28 23ecf5f6-dee1-476d-a1e4-6d677d0f4eee Mon, 15 Jul 2024 04:00:00 -0400 The Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida full The Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida In our conversation with Wayne State University Press editor Sandra Korn we address a number of interesting questions on the minds of our listeners: 1) What does it mean when an editor replies to your submissions with, "This isn't a good fit for us"? 2) What's the best way to approach an editor? In the book exhibit hall, during a conference? Through an email? 3) What parts of my manuscript does a university press editor actually read? 3) What does an editor do differently for her writers who are part of the trade division of an academic press? 4) What does an editor think of book publicity events? 5) What excites an acquisitions editor? 40:02 no In our conversation with Wayne State University Press editor Sandra Korn we address a number of interesting questions on the minds of our listeners: 1) What does it mean when an editor replies to your submissions with, "This isn't a good fit for us"? 2) What's the best way to approach an editor? In the book exhibit hall, during a conference? Through an email? 3) What parts of my manuscript does a university press editor actually read? 3) What does an editor do differently for her writers who are part of the trade division of an academic press? 4) What does an editor think of book publicity events? 5) What excites an acquisitions editor? 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 Editor, academic press, dissertation, readability, writing groups, editing In our conversation with Wayne State University Press editor Sandra Korn we address a number of interesting questions on the minds of our listeners: 1) What does it mean when an editor replies to your submissions with, "This isn't a good fit for us"? 2) What's the best way to approach an editor? In the book exhibit hall, during a conference? Through an email? 3) What parts of my manuscript does a university press editor actually read? 3) What does an editor do differently for her writers who are part of the trade division of an academic press? 4) What does an editor think of book publicity events? 5) What excites an acquisitions editor?

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 our conversation with Wayne State University Press editor Sandra Korn we address a number of interesting questions on the minds of our listeners: 1) What does it mean when an editor replies to your submissions with, "This isn't a good fit for us"? 2) What's the best way to approach an editor? In the book exhibit hall, during a conference? Through an email? 3) What parts of my manuscript does a university press editor actually read? 3) What does an editor do differently for her writers who are part of the trade division of an academic press? 4) What does an editor think of book publicity events? 5) What excites an acquisitions editor?

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

]]> Episode 25: The Book Seminar with Sam Freedman https://writingit.fireside.fm/25 a7a43c18-b2bb-4294-963f-6b3ce9b40fc6 Mon, 03 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0400 The Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida full The Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida 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. 57:18 no 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 trade press, academic press, journalism, Columbia University, literary agent, book proposal, book promotion 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

]]> 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

]]> Episode 18: “Why is this a must-read book?” How to show a literary agent/editor that your book is important: a conversation with literary agent and former editor, Susan Rabiner https://writingit.fireside.fm/18 cc32eb4b-1ffb-40d0-8f25-d58cda6966bb Mon, 26 Feb 2024 04:00:00 -0500 The Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida full The Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida 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. 1:00:27 no 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 Book proposal, literary agent, editor, narrative non-fiction, publishing, trade press, academic press, publishing trends, table of contents 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

]]> 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

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