Are you a scholar sitting on a manuscript that you think could be a book — but you have no idea where to start? In this episode of The Publishing Playbook, host Sarah Russo sits down with Laura Portwood-Stacer, founder of Manuscript Works and author of two books about academic publishing: “The Book Proposal Book” and “Make Your Manuscript Work.” Laura shares what pulled her out of academia and into editorial consulting, and why “publish or perish” no longer guarantees the payoff it once promised. She breaks down the essential elements of a strong academic book proposal, the real differences between the types of publishers out there, and why authors and editors are on the same team more often than they realize. Laura also dishes on whether academic authors actually need a literary agent, and how generative AI is reshaping trust in publishing. Plus: what it was really like competing on “Jeopardy!”

For more information on Laura’s work, please visit Manuscript Works.

Books mentioned in this episode:

“The Book Proposal Book” by Laura Portwood-Stacer

“Make Your Manuscript Work” by Laura Portwood-Stacer

“Trans Technologies” by Oliver Haimson (both Laura and the Page One team worked with Oliver on his book)

“The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” by Bettany Hughes

Key Moments

00:00 – “That’s Not the Answer” 😤
Laura names the fantasy that finishing a book will magically change your life, and why that unrealistic expectation sets writers up for disappointment.

03:25 – “Publish or Perish” Isn't So Simple Anymore 📚
Laura explains why the old academic career formula has broken down: you can do everything right and still lose the job, the promotion, or the department.

07:12 - The Anatomy of a Strong Book Proposal 📝
Laura walks through exactly what publishers are looking for, breaking down the unspoken checklist most scholars never see.

10:40 – “You’re on the Same Team” 🤝
Laura pushes back on the idea that authors and editors are adversaries, arguing most writers misunderstand just how aligned they actually are with their publisher.

16:37 - Trade, Academic Trade, or Monograph? 🎯
Sarah and Laura unpack the three buckets publishers sort academic books into, and why so many authors overestimate how “trade” their book really is.

20:33 - Do You Actually Need an Agent? 🙋
Laura levels with authors chasing representation: most scholars publishing with university or academic presses don’t need one at all.

21:13 - AI Has Made Everyone a “Paranoid Reader” 🤖
Laura gets candid about how generative AI is eroding trust between editors and authors — and why she resents having become an accidental AI expert.

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What does it take to turn a self-published book into a traditional publishing deal? Science writer Siri Carpenter — executive director of The Open Notebook and author of The Craft of Science Writing — joins host Sarah Russo on The Publishing Playbook to break down her path from self-publishing to an expanded second edition with University of Chicago Press.

Siri shares how she landed an agent after self-publishing, why course adoption became the key to her book’s success, and the design decisions that helped it stand out. She also previews her newest project, The Best Science Stories and How They Work (also published by UCP), which features articles and annotations from Mary Roach, Ed Yong, and other leading science journalists.

Plus: Siri's take on empathy as a core writing skill, how science writers can combat misinformation, and what she’s currently reading, underwater!

In this episode:

• Why Siri self-published The Craft of Science Writing before going the traditional route
• How course adoption drove sales and caught a publisher’s attention
• The behind-the-scenes story of landing a University of Chicago Press deal
• What makes The Best Science Stories and How They Work different from a typical writing anthology
• Why empathy is essential in all good writing

If you’re a writer, editor, or aspiring author weighing self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, this episode is for you. Subscribe to The Publishing Playbook for new episodes every week.

For more information on Siri’s work, please visit The Open Notebook

Books mentioned in this episode:

“The Craft of Science Writing,” edited by Siri Carpenter

“The Best Science Stories and How They Work,” edited by Siri Carpenter

“A Sand County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There,” by Aldo Leopold

“Why We Swim,” by Bonnie Tsui

“You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World,” by Ada Limón

“The Sea Around Us,” by Rachel Carson

Key Moments

00:57 — Why Siri Started The Open Notebook 📓

Siri opens up about feeling isolated as a freelance science writer, and how a friendship with a fellow journalist sparked the side project that became a major nonprofit.

02:58 — The Real Reason Siri Self-Published Her First Book 📖

Agents wouldn't touch "The Craft of Science Writing,” so Siri went the self-publishing route instead, admitting just how naive she was about the workload ahead.

05:18 — From Self-Published to University of Chicago Press 🎓

Siri walks through how a self-published book still sold over 3,000 copies and eventually landed her an agent and a traditional book deal for a second edition.

10:32 — Designing a Book You Can Read in a Hammock 🌳

Siri describes the collaborative design process behind “The Best Science Stories and How They Work,” where original articles sit side-by-side with expert annotations in the margins.

15:39 — “Every Story Is a Science Story” — Even Traffic Reports 🚗

Siri unpacks The Open Notebook’s tagline with a hilarious real-life story about a stranger shouting “what’s a science story today?” out a truck window.

19:46 — Can Journalists Actually Fight Misinformation? 🔍

Siri gets real about the uphill battle science journalists face against well-funded disinformation campaigns, and the role storytelling still plays in helping readers think critically.

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Great books don't happen by accident. Sarah Crichton, one of publishing's most respected voices and the founder of Sarah Crichton Books at FSG, joins host Sarah Russo for an unfiltered conversation about what it takes to acquire, edit, and launch books that last. They cover everything: crashing books in secret, fighting for the right jacket design, discovering A Long Way Gone by child soldier, Ishmael Beah, the differences between being a publisher and an editor, what to understand about hiring a developmental editor, and more. Whether you're an author, aspiring editor, or publishing professional, this episode is a masterclass.

For more information on Sarah Crichton’s work, visit her website: Sarah’s website or connect with her on LinkedIn

Books mentioned in this episode:

“Cyberwar” by Kathleen Hall Jamieson

“A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier” by Ishmael Beah

“What Is the What” by Dave Eggers

“A Mighty Heart” by Mariane Pearl, co-written with Sarah Crichton

“Portrait of a Marriage: A Memoir” by Judy Crichton and Jennifer Crichton

“Fierce Attachments” by Vivian Gornick

“The Odd Woman and the City” by Vivian Gornick

“M Train” by Patti Smith

Key Moments

00:44 — How Magazine Editors Think About Readers Sarah Crichton explains how her magazine background gave her a superpower most book editors lack: never forgetting the reader exists.

02:27 — What It Really Means to "Crash" a Book Sarah C. breaks down the secret, adrenaline-fueled process of rushing a book to publication in weeks instead of years.

05:09 — The Editor vs. Publisher Divide (And Why It's Disappearing) Hear about the traditional difference between an editor and a publisher — and why the line between them is blurring

07:22 — How She Turned a Rejected Manuscript into a National Phenomenon

Sarah C. tells the story of discovering “A Long Way Gone” by Ishmael Beah — a book passed over by every publisher — and how a deliberate cover strategy and the first-ever Starbucks book pick turned it into a classroom staple.

14:58 — What Sarah Looks for in a Manuscript (and Why a Great Title Matters More Than You Think)

Sarah reveals what makes her sit up when reading a submission, and the brutal reality of how critics decide what to review.

17:08 — Developmental Editors, Self-Publishing, and "Hitting the Lottery" Sarah gets candid about the economics of book doctoring, shares the story of self-publishing her late mother's memoir, and explains the role of a developmental editor.

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