Between 2021 and 2023, I had an eighteen-month stint as a book reviewer and literary essayist who wrote for periodicals like The Los Angeles Review of Books, Tablet, The Chronicle Review, The Rumpus, and...probably some other places I’ve forgotten about.
Informative and generous, as other commenters have noted. Thank you! And as an author with a PhD in medieval history, I have really enjoyed reading Irina Dumitrescu's numerous contributions to the NYRB and elsewhere. As a field, medieval history has suffered deep cuts in the past 15 years, so it's especially great to see it representing in the culture at large through her essays and reviews.
That is sad! I love the medieval period: it seems so fruitful, and it feels like it hasn't been picked over quite as much as the other periods--there's still so much that's unstudied and even untranslated.
Great conversation. I like the anecdote about how trying to get rejected led to getting something published. Now when I have an idea for a pitch I’m going to think of it as “trying to get rejected” rather than “trying to get something accepted.”
It does seem like creating that connection to the editor is the most important thing, and rejection can form that connection just as much as an acceptance can
Do people know about the list of editors Adam Morgan maintains at the NBCC? It’s not perfect/always up to date but it’s a good starting point. https://www.bookcritics.org/publications/
I can’t thank you enough for the generosity of this essay and interview. It’s so helpful. I briefly met Boris at the LARB publishing workshop. From the short exchange I found him to be very knowledgeable and open to different ideas and approaches. I wonder how many editors have that same skill set and which publications they are working at.
Boris was great! I am sure he's moved on to better things (I see his name all over the place as a poet and russian-language translator), but it's sad not to have him there anymore. With editors, it's really hard to know who's good and who's not--and even when you figure it out, they inevitably change jobs or leave the industry and you have to start all over!
This was a fantastic interview, entertaining but also chock-full of practical nuggets. Thanks!
Thank you! I'm glad you found it useful =]
Informative and generous, as other commenters have noted. Thank you! And as an author with a PhD in medieval history, I have really enjoyed reading Irina Dumitrescu's numerous contributions to the NYRB and elsewhere. As a field, medieval history has suffered deep cuts in the past 15 years, so it's especially great to see it representing in the culture at large through her essays and reviews.
That is sad! I love the medieval period: it seems so fruitful, and it feels like it hasn't been picked over quite as much as the other periods--there's still so much that's unstudied and even untranslated.
Thank you so much for this generous note, Alizah. I do try to represent the field as best I can.
I love reading Irina on any subject, so hearing this advice from her specifically is great. Thanks for the interview Naomi!
Thank you! She's really great--a very honest, careful writer.
nice one, it's a real public service putting this info out there!
I was thinking especially of you!
@Irina Dumitrescu is the best!
Great conversation. I like the anecdote about how trying to get rejected led to getting something published. Now when I have an idea for a pitch I’m going to think of it as “trying to get rejected” rather than “trying to get something accepted.”
It does seem like creating that connection to the editor is the most important thing, and rejection can form that connection just as much as an acceptance can
Do people know about the list of editors Adam Morgan maintains at the NBCC? It’s not perfect/always up to date but it’s a good starting point. https://www.bookcritics.org/publications/
Yes this is a great resource! I was aware of this but I always forget about it. Maybe I'll write up a post with all these resources about pitching.
I can’t thank you enough for the generosity of this essay and interview. It’s so helpful. I briefly met Boris at the LARB publishing workshop. From the short exchange I found him to be very knowledgeable and open to different ideas and approaches. I wonder how many editors have that same skill set and which publications they are working at.
Boris was great! I am sure he's moved on to better things (I see his name all over the place as a poet and russian-language translator), but it's sad not to have him there anymore. With editors, it's really hard to know who's good and who's not--and even when you figure it out, they inevitably change jobs or leave the industry and you have to start all over!
An enormously helpful conversation that jibes with my pitching experience. (Not that I have any plans to pitch the NYT or NYRB anytime soon...)
I know, me neither. Best to be out of it. But lots of the kids are still aiming for that =]
How to review books for the NYT- don't