S2 E40 - The Downside of Blockbuster Advances, ft Ed Wilson (literary agent)

Sunyi and Scott have always maintained that "bigger is better" when it comes to book deals, and that any downsides will also apply to smaller advance sizes. But Ed Wilson, the literary agent and director Johnson & Alcock, believes the discussion is much more nuanced, and that 'blockbuster' book advances can sometimes be a symptom of publishing not working well. With 18 years of experience in the industry, Ed brings a shrewd but frank perspective on a variety of important topics in trad publishing--along with some thoughts on American football, and the shininess of Scott's teeth. Oh, and we think you'll love his "petty hill" segment at the end!Topics covered: Book advance sizes, and what they mean for your careerLeverage, and managing publishing relationshipsWhether publishers really can "stall" an author's careerCrucial contract clauses for the modern authorThe importance of literary agent relationshipsEditors getting insider book dealsFootball comparisonsBookscan inaccuracyAnd more!