CAMPUS WORKSHOPS
Writing Beyond the Academy: Securing an Agent and a Commercial Book Deal
Scholars are frequently called upon to share their expertise with a diverse range of publics outside the confines of academia—from policymakers to civic organizations to the media. A critical part of this public engagement—and the place where it often begins—is the publication of a book with a “trade press” (i.e., a commercial, non-university/academic publisher, with a powerful marketing and publicity apparatus). Not all academics have a desire to do this kind of work. However, for those who do want to engage with the “public sphere”, there is often confusion about where to begin, and a lack of resources to help with the process. Worse, there are sometimes institutional disincentives, in the form of tenure clocks, skepticism from colleagues, or the pressure to produce “real scholarship” that advances the field.
"Scholars to Storytellers" workshops--available in a range of packages to meet the needs of your faculty community--are designed for scholars interested in better understanding the process of finding an agent, landing a commercial book deal, writing in a more accessible register, and other skills related to making the transition into writing for the general public.
Introduction: The World of Trade Publishing (2 hours):
This short, intensive seminar covers the basics of commercial publishing – how it differs from academic publishing, what to expect, the pros and cons of trade publishing, and some of the resources available for scholars wanting to make this transition.
Making the Leap (4 hours):
This seminar includes all of the above, but also provides participants with practical, actionable advice about the nuts and bolts of writing a non-fiction book proposal for a commercial press and the process of finding an agent--including common pitfalls to avoid.
Full Workshop (6-7 hours):
This workshop includes all of the above, plus a hands-on, interactive experience, in which participants will have the opportunity to share short writing samples and drafts of their book proposals, and receive feedback on how they could be re- written to appeal to a more commercial marketplace.
Masterclass (1.5 day):
This workshop includes all of the above, plus up to three Q&A sessions over zoom with (1) a top New York literary agent, (2) an editor at a major trade publisher and/or (3) an author who has successfully made the transition from academic to commercial publishing.
Retreat (2.5 days or more):
Includes all of the above, plus opportunities to share work directly with agent and publisher, close coaching and feedback sessions, group work, writing exercises and more (bespoke options available on consultation).
Workshops are led by John Ghazvinian, Executive Director of the Middle East Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Ghazvinian has two decades of experience as a journalist and academic, having written for such publications as Newsweek, The Nation and the Washington Post. He is the author of Untapped: The Scramble for Africa’s Oil (Harcourt, 2007) and America and Iran: A History, 1720 to the Present (Knopf, 2022) -- named by the New York Times as one of "100 Notable Books of 2021". He is founding director of “Scholars to Storytellers” – an initiative aimed at helping senior academics engage with general audiences.