395. Stuart Rosebrook on the Evolution & Future of Western Writing

In this episode of the Writers and Illustrators of the Future Podcast, host John Goodwin interviews public historian, editor, and author Stuart Rosebrook live from the Western Writers of America Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Recently inducted as the president of the Western Writers of America and serving as Editor at Large for True West Magazine, Stuart shares indispensable industry insights gathered across decades of print media and historical research. The conversation addresses the biggest hurdle facing modern authors: discoverability. Stuart breaks down how authors must remain nimble by finding multiple ways to pitch a single story, utilizing Amazon’s categorical metadata tagging system to stand out, and building direct relationships with book reviewers. He also outlines the crucial elements of a historical manuscript, noting why writers must fight their publishers to include bibliographies and endnotes. Finally, the discussion dives into the exciting evolution of Western literature. Stuart explains how classic cowboy values are moving forward into modern regional mysteries and highlights the organization's groundbreaking new submission categories, including graphic novels and alternate Westerns—a blending of genres that encompasses sci-fi, horror, and fantasy variants.