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.
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.”
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/
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.
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.
I love reading Irina on any subject, so hearing this advice from her specifically is great. Thanks for the interview Naomi!
nice one, it's a real public service putting this info out there!
I was thinking especially of you!
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.”
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.
This was a fantastic interview, entertaining but also chock-full of practical nuggets. Thanks!
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.
Thank you so much for this generous note, Alizah. I do try to represent the field as best I can.
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.
@Irina Dumitrescu is the best!
An enormously helpful conversation that jibes with my pitching experience. (Not that I have any plans to pitch the NYT or NYRB anytime soon...)
How to review books for the NYT- don't