Hungry Authors

Latest Episodes:

15. Learning From Comp Books Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

This week we’re talking about one of the most underutilized tools in publishing: comp books! “Comp” can stand for competing, competitive, complementary, comparable, comparative – there are lots of names, but they all share the purpose of helping you to identify other books like yours. In this episode, Liz and Ariel teach you how to find comps, use those comps as models for your writing, write a great comps analysis in your book proposal, and use your comps to pitch your book to agents and editors.It’s only when you know the other books on your topic that you can contribute something truly new and unique!To learn more about our masterclasses or register for the upcoming beta version of our Book Mapping Course, visit https://hungryauthors.com/.

14. Make Your Boldest Statement with Stephanie Duncan Smith Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

When you’re pitching a book proposal to a publisher, you’ll have to submit a writing sample. But what do acquisitions editors look for in that writing sample? The strength of your writing can make or break the deal – and yet, we spend most of our time worrying about platform and other parts of the proposal. Today, we talk with acquisitions editor Stephanie Duncan Smith about how to improve your writing so that it impresses editors. Stephanie shares so many great insights about making a bold statement, learning to write by reading great books, and the writing that’s caught her eye.Learn more about Stephanie at WritingForYourLife.com, or follow her on Instagram @stephduncansmith.

13. How to Map Your Nonfiction Book Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

Once you’ve clarified the big idea for your book, your next challenge is figuring out how you’re going to bring that big idea to life. In this episode, Liz and Ariel walk you through their book mapping process, giving a brief overview of the three key stages:

Your transformation tale
Book structure
Chapter structure

In each stage, Liz & Ariel teach the questions you should be asking and give examples of how you might visually map out your book’s content.

For more information about book mapping, read “Create a Book Map for Your Nonfiction Book” on Jane Friedman’s blog.

To learn more about our masterclass on April 19, visit bit.ly/bigbookidea.

12. Experiment to Find Your Book Idea with Kent Sanders Mar 27, 2023

Show notes

Today we’re answering the question: How do you know if you have the right book idea? We’re joined by Kent Sanders, ghostwriter and author coach, to chat about why it’s so important to write the right book (and how to avoid writing the wrong book), how to test out your ideas, and how to balance your passion with what your audience wants. Each of us shares what we think makes a great book idea, and we have a friendly debate about what makes for great prescriptive nonfiction and great memoirs.Kent Sanders is the founder of Inkwell Ghostwriting, which helps leaders grow their business through books and other content. He is also the author and co-author of numerous books, including 18 Words to Live By: A Father’s Wisdom on What Matters Most and co-author of The Faith of Elvis: A Story Only a Brother Can Tell with Billy Stanley, Elvis Presley’s stepbrother.In addition to writing books for himself and his clients, Kent loves to help other writers. He is the host of the Daily Writer podcast, which helps writers cultivate the habits for creative success, and the founder of the Daily Writer membership community. He lives just outside of St. Louis and enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and teenage son.To learn more about Kent and the Daily Writer Club, visit https://dailywriterlife.com/ or follow him on social media @dailywriterlife.

11. The Work of Getting Traditionally Published Mar 20, 2023

Show notes

Yes, there’s hope for small platforms – but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to work hard to get your ideas noticed! In this episode, Liz and Ariel talk about what it takes to get published, and kick off a series of episodes on the following pieces of the publishing journey:

Honing your idea
Planning your book
Refining your writing
Understanding the landscape
Finding the right agent
Making a great pitch
Forming good connections
Handling rejection

There’s a lot of work that goes into being traditionally published, so join us in coming weeks to learn more about how to work on each of these pieces.

10. The Hungry Author Journey with Brittany Estes Mar 13, 2023

Show notes

Brittany Estes is the original hungry author! Brittany knew for years that she was meant to write a book, and the idea finally came together at the right time. She and Liz worked together to refine her book idea and her proposal. All of that hard work paid off when she landed an agent and then got a book deal! But that doesn’t mean it was easy; she had to work hard for the past two years to bring this book to fruition. In this episode, we hear about the gumption and devotion to your reader required to make it to the finish line.

Brittany Estes has been coaching and championing women for over ten years. She is a professional and certified life coach who has worked in large churches utilizing her skills. She is also wife to her high school sweetheart and mother to seven children, two through adoption. Days are filled with dance parties, confetti, and all the coffee. Brittany is not your normal mom or pastor’s wife. She is also a tattooed, pink-haired, firecracker of a woman who speaks her mind and cannot be tamed. The freedom she lives in drives her mission to help everyone she meets.

Get Brittany’s book, Flip the Script: Make Your Move From Broken to Brilliant.

Follow Brittany on Instagram: @jbrittanyestes

9. Inside Big 5 Publishing With Stephen Rubin Mar 06, 2023

Show notes

The publishing industry has changed drastically over the past five decades, and publishing executive Stephen Rubin has had a front row seat to it all! In this conversation, Liz & Ariel chat with Stephen about the shifting weight of platform and celebrity in acquisitions, the importance of a great proposal, the role of politics in publishing, trends in the industry, and why he considers himself an optimist.

Stephen Rubin joined Bantam Books in 1984 after a decade-plus career in journalism. Named president and publisher of Doubleday in 1990, he remained there until 2009, interrupted by a three-year stint in London as chairman of Transworld Publishers. He served as president and publisher of Henry Holt until 2020, and currently he is a consulting publisher for Simon & Schuster. Rubin sits on the board of the San Francisco Conservatory for Music and is the founder of the Stephen and Cynthia Rubin Institute for Music Criticism.

Buy Stephen’s book, Words and Music.

Learn more about Publishing Industry Terms & Definitions.

8. Hope for Small Platforms Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

Authors often hear that to get a traditional publishing deal, you have to have a “large” platform. But is that true? And what does “large” really mean? How important is the quality of your writing or your idea? In this episode, Liz and Ariel discuss platform, whether only celebrities can publish memoirs, and interesting new insights from Publishers Marketplace that might disprove this widespread publishing myth.

To learn more about us, follow @hungryauthors on Instagram.

7. Puzzling Out Your Memoir with Alee Anderson Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

Memoir is one of the most popular genres, for both readers and writers. For authors, memoir offers the chance to tell your story, to process the hard things you’ve been through, to share a message of hope and transformation with the world. But memoirs are notoriously tricky to write! In today’s episode, we chatted with Alee Anderson, who specializes in writing trauma-based memoirs, to get her take on the craft (and the business) of writing memoir. Alee thinks of memoirs like a puzzle, and we loved hearing her practical approach to putting them together!

Alee Anderson is a six-figure-earning ghostwriter and editor who has worked in-house at one of the top 5 publishing houses in the world. She works exclusively with trauma survivors to turn their pain into best-selling books. Alee is also the founder of Hey! Young Writer, a mentorship platform where she and her team inspire youth to pursue their passion for writing.

For more information about Alee, visit https://heyyoungwriter.com/ or follow her on Instagram @heyyoungwriter.

6. Learning to Write Prose with Matt Williams Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

Today’s guest, author and producer Matt Williams, shares all about how he made the switch from writing for TV to learning to write prose. Matt has learned the value of practicing writing, listening to your “Spirit Voice,” thinking carefully, and not rushing the process. He has so many nuggets of wisdom to share for aspiring writers, especially those who are interested in improving their craft! Plus, he shares the origin story of Home Improvement, which you do not want to miss!

Matt Williams is best known as the creator and Executive Producer of the hit series Roseanne and the co-creator and Executive Producer of Home Improvement, one of the most successful programs in television history. Williams started his television career when he joined The Cosby Show during its premiere season and worked as a writer/producer on the show for three subsequent seasons. He also co-created the series A Different World. Matt’s work was nominated for Emmy and Humanitas Awards and won a Peabody Award for Outstanding Achievement in Television Writing.

In 1989, Williams formed the bi-coastal production company Wind Dancer Films with principals Carmen Finestra and David McFadzean. Williams’ projects under the Wind Dancer banner include the television programs Carol & Company, Soul Man, Buddies, and the PBS children’s program Ready Jet Go! In film, Matt wrote or produced Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken, Firelight, Where the Heart Is, What Women Want, Bernie, and The Keeping Room.

Matt has directed numerous productions in regional and Off-Broadway theatres. He directed the world premiere of Robby Benson’s musical Open Heart at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Along with Daryl Roth Productions and his partners at Wind Dancer, he co-produced the stage production of Camping with Henry and Tom. He and Wind Dancer co-produced The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin at Playwrights Horizons.

In addition to his many credits, Matt is a founding board member of The New Harmony Project and the Cherry Lane Theatre. Matt is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University School of the Arts Theatre Program. He lives in New York with his wife, actress Angelina Fiordellisi, the Artistic Director of the Cherry Lane Theatre.

IG: @mattallenwilliams

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