London Writers' Salon

• #147: Jane Friedman — The Publishing Industry is Changing. Here’s What Writers Should Know About Pitching, Platforms & Protecting Their Work

  What does it take to craft a pitch that truly grabs attention in today’s publishing world? In this conversation, Jane Friedman—publishing industry expert and author of The Business of Being a Writer shares her journey into the publishing world and she shares her advice for writers looking to perfect their submission materials and navigate the ever-changing publishing landscape.We discuss:How to craft a compelling pitch that stands outThe balance between art and business for writersCommon myths about pitching and the publishing industrySelf-publishing vs. traditional publishing: What to knowProtecting your writing in the age of AIHow to adapt to the evolving publishing landscape and stay realistic about successUnderstanding the real costs and considerations of hybrid publishing*Resources and Links:📑Interview TranscriptRoxane Gay - World of WakandaMonica ByrneKate McKean SubstackJane’s WebsiteSubmissions materialsJane’s Website - publishing paths -  traditional vs alt publishingCreated By HumansJane’s books*JANE FRIEDMANJane Friedman has over 25 years of experience in publishing and is a trusted voice in the industry. She is the author of The Business of Being a Writer and publishes The Hot Sheet and The Bottom Line newsletters, which are read by over 40,000 writers and publishing professionals. Jane’s expertise has been featured in major outlets like The New York Times, NPR, and BBC. She’s an educator, speaker, and a leading authority on the business of writing. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

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• #146: Alda Sigmundsdóttir — How Blogging Changed My Life, Indie Publishing 101, Memoir, Writing About Culture With Integrity

  Alda Sigmundsdóttir is a journalist, author, and independent publisher who has built a thriving literary life outside the traditional system. From blogging about Iceland to launching her own press, Alda has published over 11 books and grown a loyal global readership—while staying in full control of her creative work.We discuss: Alda’s early writing career and transition to self-publishingWhat she learned from being traditionally publishedThe freedom and responsibility of going indieHow she built and nurtured a global readershipHer approach to writing about people, culture, and the pastLessons from promoting across genres and writing memoirMindset shifts and skills that supported her success *ABOUT ALDA SIGMUNDSDÓTTIRAlda Sigmundsdóttir is a writer, speaker, and independent publisher based in Reykjavík, Iceland. She’s the author of over 10 books exploring Icelandic culture and society, and the memoir Daughter. She writes two popular Substack newsletters (Letter from Iceland and The Recovery Salon), runs her own publishing house (Little Books Publishing), and teaches a course on going indie.*RESOURCES & LINKS:📑Interview TranscriptAlda's 'Going Indie' course  - LWSAUTHOR for $100 off (Valid until the end of June)Free webinar - Building an Audience for your BooksAlda’s Substack Post - Women on TopLiving Inside the MeltdownThe Little Book of the Icelanders in the Old Days Daughter - Alda’s Memoir The Recovery Salon - Alda’s Second Substack Alda’s Website For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

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• #145: Maggie O’Farrell — Confessions of a Novelist: Writing from Instinct, Why Revision is Essential, Facing Doubt & Finding the Story’s Heartbeat (From the Vault)

  Award-winning and bestselling author Maggie O’Farrell Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait author takes us behind the scenes of her creative process—from the early struggles of starting out to the discipline and instinct that shape her acclaimed novels.We explore the irresistible drive to write, the role of characters in steering a story, and how she blends history with imagination. Maggie also shares her thoughts on revision, redrafting without ego, and what it really takes to endure in the writing life.We discuss:The insatiable urge to write and the challenges of beginning a novelLetting characters lead and reshaping a story mid-draftWeaving fact and fiction in historical narrativesWhy revision is where the real writing happensHonest feedback, creative resilience, and writing for the long haulABOUT MAGGIE O'FARRELLMaggie O’Farrell is the author of Hamnet (winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award) and I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death, both Sunday Times number 1 bestsellers. Her other works include The Marriage Portrait, The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, After You’d Gone, The Hand That First Held Mine (winner of the Costa Novel Award), and Instructions for a Heatwave. Maggie’s work is praised for its lyrical prose, emotional depth, and its ability to bring overlooked historical figures to life.*RESOURCES & LINKS📄 Transcript (unedited)ArvonUpcoming Arvon CoursesThe Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'FarrellHamnet by Maggie O'FarrellI Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell“My Last Duchess” by Robert BrowningAlessandro Allori's portrait of Lucrezia D’ MediciRead Zoe's notes from the interview*This podcast was done in collaboration with Arvon, the UK’s leading creative writing charity. Arvon passionately believes that everyone can benefit from the transformative power of creative writing. It hosts residential, online and community-based writing courses and events, embracing over 6,000 people each year, tutored by some of the most respected writers in the UK today.  Find out more at arvon.org.*This episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

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• #144: Eleanor Anstruther – The Book Industry Rejected Me. So I Built My Own Audience on Substack; Serialising Online, Writing Literary Fiction; Being an Independent Artist, Creating Your Artist DNA

  What if the traditional publishing world says “no”? Eleanor Anstruther—acclaimed novelist and creator of The Literary Obsessive—shares her bold leap into indie publishing, serialising fiction and memoir on Substack, and why you need an Artist DNA to draw an audience.We discuss: Her aristocratic background and experience living in a communeNavigating rejection and the pivot to serialising work onlineThe realities (and surprises) of building a paid readership on SubstackAdvice for writers considering serialisation and indie publishingHow to build a creative communityPractical tips: drafting, book sales, pricing subscriptions, and more*ABOUT ELEANOR ANSTRUTHEREleanor Anstruther grew up in London, studied History of Art at Manchester, and spent twelve years travelling the world and starting a commune before turning to writing. Her debut novel, A Perfect Explanation, was longlisted for major prizes. Today, she serialises her fiction and memoir on Substack, where she’s built a passionate readership and runs the celebrated interview series 8 Questions. Connect with her via The Literary Obsessive on Substack.*RESOURCES & LINKS📑Interview TranscriptThe Literary Obsessive on SubstackA Perfect Explanation by Eleanor AnstrutherIn Judgement of Others by Eleanor AnstrutherContact form Glitter Balls by Michelle HowarthA Memoir in 65 Postcards & The Recovery Diaries by Eleanor AnstrutherSarah Fay SubstackBen Wakeman's SubstackSimon K JonesTroubador Publishing *This episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

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• #143: Julia Cameron – How to Reignite Your Creativity Through Daily Rituals, Believing Mirrors & The Artist’s Way (From the Vault)

  Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way and one of the most influential voices on creativity of the last three decades, shares timeless wisdom on nurturing the artist within.We discuss: Morning Pages and Artist Dates as tools for creative recovery.Why being of service is at the heart of writing.Writing in dialogue with intuition (and the divine).How to handle criticism, praise, and creative resistance.Stories from a life in service of art, including poetry, musicals, and spiritual practice. *ABOUT JULIA CAMERONJulia Cameron is the author of forty books, including her bestselling works on the creative process: The Artist’s Way, Seeking Wisdom, The Listening Path, Walking In This World and Finding Water. Her work has been translated into more than forty languages. Also a novelist, playwright, songwriter, and poet, she has multiple credits in theatre, film, and television. Her memoir Floor Sample takes behind the scenes of her extraordinary life and career as a writer and teacher.Connect with Julia:Twitter:@j_cameronliveWebsite: juliacameronlive.comRESOURCES & LINKSMorning PagesArtist's DateJulia's musical: AvalonJulia's poemsJulia's memoir, published in the UK: Floor SampleAll of Julia's booksThis episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers’ Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS’ SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you’re enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

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