Publishing Disrupted

So glad to have author and writing coach Jeff Elkins on Publishing Disrupted!

What do you do when the education or job you worked so hard for no longer fits the life you’re living?

In this episode of Publishing Disrupted, Mick Silva and David Morris are joined by novelist, writing coach, and Dialogue Doctor founder Jeff Elkins for an honest conversation about vocation, disruption, and creative reinvention.

Jeff’s story spans theological training, fifteen years as a successful pastor, an exit from church systems, and a gradual rebuilding of professional iden...

Duration: 01:15:21

What are we doing, where are we going, and will they have snacks there? David and I talked some about our aims for this podcast, and how we (still) don't want to try to boil things down to five takeaways, or share advice much. Mainly, we love exploring fresh takes, and sharing about humans we're excited about. 

Toward that end, we discussed whether there's room for "books that don't do anything," and an idea about how writers might be better served by embracing a writing life rather than worrying too much about SEO and book sales. 

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Duration: 00:47:46

Warning! One unnamed host (who knows who he is) used some choice phrasing that may strip the grease stains out of your earbuds. Our genteel, refined listeners and sensitive types are advised to find a different episode.

That said, this one got real. Très piquant! So, you know, don't listen with your kids in the car. And probably don't recommend it to Aunt Darla, who already thinks you're a heathen for watching R-rated movies. In fact, don't listen to it at all. There's nothing here you can't live without. Not a single takeaway of note. Really, w...

Duration: 00:56:26

Author and poet Marla Taviano knows what it's like when publishing chews you up and spits you out. After four Christian books went out of print despite editors calling her writing "brilliant," she reinvented herself through indie publishing, daily content creation, and radical generosity.

In this conversation, Marla shares how she followed Rachel Held Evans' blueprint of elevating marginalized writers, connecting young Black pastor Trey Ferguson with Lake Drive Books, and championing authors of color. She talks about five years of posting daily with minimal engagement before something finally shifted, her Frog and Toad poem art, and...

Duration: 01:00:59

Publishing has been disrupted. There’s now a better way for the vast majority of authors. In this episode, David and I get into the biggest problems with traditional publishing: consolidatation, huge overhead, low royalties, and unearned advances. Much recent evidence bears out the fact that for the vast majority of newer and mid-level authors, big publishing is simply no longer built to serve them. 

Meanwhile, there's a better hybrid model that partners with authors' upfront investment to create organic, sustainable, and long-term sales, book after book. Listen in as I ask David about the significant benefits and...

Duration: 01:00:18

For too long, publishing professionals, ourselves included, have been chasing the largest possible audiences. But in this episode we tried to take our experience and apply some finer lenses to focus on the far-more diverse independent market. 

We dug into some new research about book readers and their preferences, and discussed the common biases of highbrow and lowbrow book culture. While not immediately obvious, this distinction may offer more helpful way to understand why fiction is dominated by genres, and also why it's such a struggle to find books and book communities that transcend those familiar marketing c...

Duration: 00:41:22

In this, yet another episode of disruption from the bottom up, co-hosts Mick Silva and David Morris talk with author, creator, minister, and new literary agent Rohadi Nagassar about the shifting landscape of publishing and the rise of community-centered creativity. Rohadi discusses his Ink and Root Collective, a writing space for BIPOC authors emphasizing care and connection over commerce. The trio explores themes of decolonizing publishing, the challenges for marginalized authors post-2020, and the need for authentic community and sustainable models outside traditional, profit-driven systems. Together, they imagine a...

Duration: 00:56:40

Sit down and listen in as I ask David Morris, publisher and literary agent, what really makes great authors great. Beyond the usual list of necessary qualities like being a good writer with a great concept and a reasonably sized platform, what makes an author someone we want to work with long-term? 

And surprise! Our definition of "greatness" is a bit different, but let's get real: every creative person dreams of finding this kind of reciprocal cooperation, don't they? 

#1 is humility / teachability - receiving openly without defensivenessAiming for authenticity and connection over a quick winAnd seeking pr...

Duration: 00:43:37

Join the disruption discussion as we welcome two self-employed publishing colleagues to the show, agent Tom Dean, and ghostwriter/editor Andy Rogers. 

Some highlights of our conversation about why we love what we do: 

The "platform paradox" - authors with great books choosing to opt out of traditional publishingThe joy of hand-selling and direct reader connectionIndustry insights about corporate publishing culturePractical advice for authors navigating today's landscapeThe human stories that make these industry shifts meaningful

The opportunities for authors have never been broader--or more confusing. But as our guests helped to prove, if yo...

Duration: 00:54:10

In the shifting landscape of book publishing today, how helpful is the "bestselling book" stamp of approval? As authors face increasingly challenging obstacles to recognition (and sales), is bestseller status a shortcut to fame and fortune? Or is that prize even worth it? 

Come along as we discuss:

New York Times list is not just based on most copies sold.USA Today lists 150 titles without discrimination of type or category.Amazon's velocity-based algorithm is too easy to game. BookScan sales data tracks legitimate sales but is unavailable for mo...

Duration: 00:49:57

In this wide-ranging conversation, Mick and David dive into their personal reading habits as men, as book-lovers, and as supporters of great independent publishing. They explore their current reads—from Austrian history and Michigan ghost ships to literary fiction and classics like The Little Prince—discussing how reading can serve as both intellectual pursuit and spiritual practice.

They examine the stereotype that "men don't read" (spoiler: they definitely do), and share their preferences for physical books over screens, not just because it's "sexier" (according to a recent NYT headline), but because it takes us "out of ourselves" in w...

Duration: 00:50:08

The publishing industry isn’t just changing—it’s completely fragmenting. In our latest episode, we talked about why two former Christian publishing professionals (Mick Silva and David Morris), have shifted so strongly toward a new model of authors aiming not for everyone, but for the readers that specifically fit them. Based on Kevin Kelly’s “1,000 True Fans“ concept, this episode, as usual, gave us plenty to discuss.

   Why a massive reach isn't necessary anymore to succeed as an author   Why you need to be able to define your specific audience in a sentence   How to start finding those "1000 true f...

Duration: 00:39:43

In this episode of Publishing Disrupted, co-hosts Mick Silva and David Morris sit down with their first-ever guest, author Cara Meredith, for an honest and layered conversation about life as a working writer navigating faith, publishing, and purpose.

Cara is the author of the new book Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation, a memoir-meets-cultural-critique that examines how white evangelical institutions shaped—and in many cases harmed—a generation.

Together, we unpack what it really means to pursue writing as vocation, the spiritual and...

Duration: 00:58:39

In this fifth episode, we get into another fundamental shift in the publishing world: book development. The old playbook of “authority from on high” is dead. Long live the authentic voice!

There's the three elements of book proposals: platform (your ability to reach readers), concept (a current, but time-honored topic), and craft (your “method” and ability to deliver the goods). But the craft must now derive primarily from an authentic voice emerging from your personal process, rather than from presumed or external authority.

Which helps explain why “for the Bible tells me so” doesn’t work so well a...

Duration: 00:40:28

Everyone knows the worst part about selling books is the selling part. That darned author-marketing! So in this episode, we break down a recent post by popular author-marketing guru, Dan Blank, and discuss the difference between being "intentional" and being *integrative*--replacing the agenda-driven drudgery with some creative fun while generating interest in your books.

You really can find and craft your authentic voice in today's online world!

Also, David has some takeaways from the Independent Booksellers Association conference, and gets a bit personal about my social media posts, as examples of creative marketing that...

Duration: 00:39:24

"Do I need an editor?" "Is my book any good?" "Do I need an agent?" These have been the common questions of hopeful writers for generations. But these days, looking to navigate the ever-shifting landscape of publishing is far more complex. In this conversation, we pull back the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes in book publishing, and offer some honest insight and guidance about what authors need to succeed, regardless of whether they're publishing conventionally or going independent.

Whether you're pursuing traditional or independent publishing, in this episode we aimed to help answer the...

Duration: 00:35:27

Even our AI assistant had trouble titling this one! But in this second episode, Mick and David picked up their discussion of the major factors disrupting modern publishing, hitting some highlights: 

Big mergers and their impact on book acquisitionsHow authors (and small publishers) can deal with truncated selling cycles Why publishing has become so much more dependent on author publicityand How personal stories (memoirs & author-centered nonfiction) are making a comeback

We close out with some hope that cultural conversations can take center stage in small grassroots publishing again, as the shifting landscape grows ever more diverse...come al...

Duration: 00:42:59

A new podcast from two "former book industry experts." Editor Mick Silva and publisher and literary agent David Morris cover all manner of things for professional authors trying to navigate the ever-changing publishing landscape. 

In this first episode, we introduce some bigger questions: 

Why books still matter Can you make money at "creative expression?"Is being "indy" better than being corporate? Can authors find more fun and less frustration?

David also shared a bit about the biggest disruptor--digital publishing--and what it means for authors. 

Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com

Mick...

Duration: 00:26:38