Publishing tip #11: Seek an agent the same way you seek an editor. Ask friends and colleagues about their agents and their experience working with them. When you do find an agent you wish to contact, you can do so with a recommendation from someone is already represented.
Publishing tip #10: I love my agent, Sandy Dijkstra. But I do not recommend seeking an agent for a first book: you’re an unknown author and having an agent can limit your submission options. If your first book is successful, and you want to try a trade press, then seek an agent.
Later today, at 2:00 pm, I’ll hold a conversation with Dr. Omar Ali about my book *Freedom Ship* for Let’s Learn, a free online
learning/teaching community. Scan the QR code below and join us!
Yes, John, will do. You can also check for new listings on the film’s website: becomingbenjaminlay.com
Thank you! So glad to hear that you liked it.
The doors to the Benjamin Lay Room in the Friends House in London, UK.
The cover art for: Becoming Benjamin Lay a new documentary featuring Mark Povinelli. There is a picture of him at the top. Director is Tony Buba. Executive Producer is Marcus Rediker.
A photo of me in front of the Friends House in London, UK.
I saw The Return of Benjamin Lay at the Friends House earlier today; it was inspiring on so many levels! It features actor Mark Povinelli, director Tony Buba, and producer @marcusrediker.bsky.social. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading more about Benjamin Lay very soon.
Feeling gratitude this morning. I got to make two films with Tony Buba; a book with Peter Linebaugh; a play with Naomi Wallace; four graphic novels with David Lester & Paul Buhle; a children’s book with Michelle Markel and Sarah Bachman. I am lucky man to work with such supremely gifted people.
Join me in supporting “Books from Below” in Newcastle. Sending to solidarity to all of the organizers!
100 pages into The Fearless Benjamin Lay by @marcusrediker.bsky.social and Diogenes and the Cinics are introduced and it’s giving me life. There’s something comforting knowing that the wealthy have been properly despised by the spiritually sound for ages. Benjamin is such a badass, too!
He probably would not have used the term “badass’ but he was, by design, a formidable and confrontational personality!
Yesterday I had lunch with a former student of mine, Julius Page, who was a high-flying, All-Big East basketball player during Pitt’s glory years. He has now published a book *One Who Knows* about his own journey and works in education to help underprivileged, at-risk children. Very proud of him.
What a tremendous pleasure it has been to make a second film with this guy, the legendary filmmaker Tony Buba. Here we are onstage Saturday at the premiere of *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, which was screened at the Carnegie One Library in Braddock. Thanks for everything, Tony.
We had a blast with the 300 family members, friends, co-workers, comrades, colleagues, and the people of Braddock and Pittsburgh who showed up yesterday for the world premiere of *Becoming Benjamin Lay* at the Carnegie Library in Braddock. Thanks to all who attended!
Pittsburgh people! Join us today at 4:00 pm for the world premiere of *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, our new documentary film about history, politics, and how to resist an unjust world. Carnegie Library, Braddock, 419 Library Street. Join us! Tickets here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/becoming-b...
We have the first review of our new documentary film, *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, written by Jordan Snowden for the *Pittsburgh Review of Books*, and it’s a good one! Join us tomorrow (Saturday, April 11) for the premiere at the Carnegie Library in Braddock, 4:00 pm.
pghrev.com/becoming-ben...
Publishing tip #9: Try to find an editor who believes in your project and shares your vision of it. An author’s ability to affect what people inside the publishing house think about the book is limited. Your editor will be your advocate and hopefully will generate in-house enthusiasm.
To any and all who write on 19c America and want to improve the quality of their writing, a simple piece of advice: quote Frederick Douglass as much as you can and bask in the glow of his eloquence.
Join us Saturday, April 11 at 4:00 pm for the world premiere of our new documentary film, *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, at the Carnegie Library, 419 Library St., Braddock, PA. For tickets scan the QR code below or go here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/becoming-b...
Publishing tip #8: Beware heavy-handed, interventionist editors. Some will develop their own conception of what your book should be and a few will actually fight you over it (and they might be right!) Find out early on exactly what changes the editor has in mind for your manuscript.
Publishing tip #7: Editors come in many stripes, hands-on, hands-off, and everywhere in-between. Try to find someone who fits your specific needs. Some authors need help with structure/argument, others with writing; a few might not need much help at all.
Couldn’t agree more!
Publishing tip #6: Try to find an editor who actually edits, someone who will help you think hard, conceptually and structurally, about your project. Editing is increasingly a lost art as universities cut subsidies to their presses, but there are still great editors out there.
Publishing tip #5: Choose your editor carefully. I’ve worked with five excellent editors at three different presses (on eleven books) and I’ve learned a lot from each one. The choice of editor, even more than the press you pick, will be formative for your book and for you as a writer.
The writing tips I published one by one here have now been gathered up and published by Ed Simon in the *Pittsburgh Review of Books*. Happy to make them available here:
pghrev.com/sixteen-writ...
Be sure to check out the relatively new PRoB while you are there!
Excellent, Eladio!
Publishing tip #4: Try to make personal contact with editors early, after a year or so of research. The ideal place to do this is in the book stalls at the AHA, OAH, ASA, etc., where editors always show up. Drop by, have a friendly conversation, mention your work, plant a seed.
Publishing tip #3: Don’t approach editors until it is completely clear in your own mind exactly what the contribution of your book project actually is. Do not overstate its importance and do not understate it. Be precise and seek the editor’s reaction to your summary.
Dear friends, please join us for the world premiere of our new documentary film, *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, Sat., April 11, 4:00 pm, Carnegie Library, 419 Library St., Braddock PA. Please help us publicize the event as we have a big venue to fill! Tickets here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/becoming-b...
Publishing tip #2: Ask all your friends and colleagues who work in your field or a related one about their presses and editors. When you are in the final six months of completing your project, make appointments with a few editors to make your pitch in person.
If anyone wants an e-book of *The Slave Ship: A Human History*, it is on sale today on Amazon for $1.99.