Many first-time authors, whether accomplished academics or passionate amateurs, underestimate the time and revision involved in working with a book publisher. In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson interviews Michael Thomson, Acquisitions Editor at Wipf and Stock Publishers, which publishes books on theology and biblical studies, among other topics. They discuss the joys and struggles of the writing, editing, and publishing process.
Authors need to identify what kind of book they're writing and who their audience is. They need to learn when to use more or fewer stories and examples. And good authors listen to the people around them for critical feedback. After a publisher accepts the manuscript, preparing the book for publication can take around a year.
Michael also shares the difficulties of being an editor. Often, editing requires a careful balance between preserving the author's original work (and feelings) and developing the book's marketability. He reveals some of the secrets of book publishing, such as whether authors get to pick their own titles and covers (they don't) or how much money they make (not that much). However, for those who are ready and willing, the process can be rewarding and beneficial.
Show notes:
Show notes by Micah Long.
Credits for the music used in TBM podcast can be found at: hebraicthought.org/credits.
Revelation 101: Leaving Behind Left Behind (Jason Staples)
Would Moses Forgive Student Debt? (Michael Rhodes)
A Jewish View of the Afterlife in the Hebrew Bible (Jeremiah Unterman)
Thinking Biblically about Institutions (Ari Lamm)
The Bonhoeffer of Ethiopia (Abeneazer Urga)
ICYMI: What Is the Point of Prayer? Does It Change God’s Mind? (John C. Peckham)
The Dangers of Celebrity in the Church (Katelyn Beaty)
Forming Trauma-Safe Churches (Scott Harrower and Joshua Cockayne)
Repentance in Deed and Word (Shalom Carmy)
Q&A Series: Is There Marriage in Heaven? (Dru Johnson)
Discussing the New CHT Book on Gender in the Bible (Feat. 3 of the Contributors)
ICYMI: How the Translation of ’Faith’ in the Bible Falls Short (Matt Bates)
How the Early Church Engaged with Scripture (Brian J. Wright)
Entering the Hell and Heartbreak of the Grotesque Book of Judges (Daniel Stulac)
True Sabbath Isn’t Narcissism Disguised as Self-Care (Kelsey Osgood)
African Perspectives on Multiculturalism and Economic Justice (Gift Mtukwa)
Reissue: What Does Reconciliation Mean for Sexual Abuse Survivors? (Rachael and Jacob Denhollander)
Who Is the ’Foreigner’ We’re Supposed to Love? (M. Daniel Carroll R.)
Knowing God through Welcoming the Stranger (Mark Glanville)
Reissue: Violence in the Bible Isn’t What You Think It Is (Matt Lynch)
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