Episode 80: What It Means to Show That This Book Has Value to Readers with Laura Portwood-Stacer episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 13, 2026 · 40 MIN

Episode 80: What It Means to Show That This Book Has Value to Readers with Laura Portwood-Stacer

from Writing It! · host The Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida

We’re speaking with Laura Portwood-Stacer, Ph.D., publishing consultant, developmental editor, and author of The Book Proposal Book: A Guide for Scholarly Authors) and [Make Your Manuscript Work: A Guide to Developmental Editing for Scholarly Writers], both published by Princeton University Press. We talk about the importance of clarifying your argument as a way to show the value of your book. We also talk about the challenges of turning a dissertation into book; the many meanings of “platform” for authors, what a “comparable books” section of a book proposal can do for you; what your title signals to a potential press (even if it ends up changing); how to think about your conversation with a potential editor; why it’s so important to practice talking about your book; why being in marketing mode is really about figuring out how to connect with readers. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contact us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 13, 2026

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Episode 80: What It Means to Show That This Book Has Value to Readers with Laura Portwood-Stacer

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