Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This episode is presented by Wispr Flow, a tool that turns voice notes into clear writing. I use it every day and recommend it to every writer I know. Try it for free at ref.wisprflow.ai/howiwrite
Learn more about Alpha School at https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:54 What publishers actually do
00:06:56 How to get your book published
00:12:00 What literary agents do
00:14:22 How to deal with disagreement
00:18:46 Making money vs making art
00:25:39 Does marketing actually matter
00:29:23 Choose the right editor
00:35:10 Should you market your own book
00:39:12 The biggest money trap
00:42:52 How bookstores came back
00:46:34 Why moral sense matters
00:50:46 Mystery and thriller rules
00:53:35 Why horror is having a comeback
00:56:56 Kids books sell forever
01:00:39 US, UK, and French markets
01:07:20 Paperbacks, ebooks and audiobooks
01:11:15 Gen Z's return to physical books
01:17:24 Most books lose money
01:19:59 Why should you publish with Hachette
David Shelley is on the show today and he’s the CEO of Hachette, one of the Big Five publishers. In this conversation, I focused on two things. First, how should writers navigate the publishing industry? Second, how does the publishing industry actually work?
Who better to learn from than someone at the top of the field? David has spent more than 30 years in book publishing, and his company sells roughly 220 million books every year, generating about $3.5 billion in annual revenue.
*About the host*
Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible.
*Follow me*
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470
YouTube: youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv
X: https://x.com/david_perell
This episode is presented by Wispr Flow, a tool that turns voice notes into clear writing. I use it every day and recommend it to every writer I know. Try it for free at ref.wisprflow.ai/howiwrite
Learn more about Alpha School at https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:54 What publishers actually do
00:06:56 How to get your book published
00:12:00 What literary agents do
00:14:22 How to deal with disagreement
00:18:46 Making money vs making art
00:25:39 Does marketing actually matter
00:29:23 Choose the right editor
00:35:10 Should you market your own book
00:39:12 The biggest money trap
00:42:52 How bookstores came back
00:46:34 Why moral sense matters
00:50:46 Mystery and thriller rules
00:53:35 Why horror is having a comeback
00:56:56 Kids books sell forever
01:00:39 US, UK, and French markets
01:07:20 Paperbacks, ebooks and audiobooks
01:11:15 Gen Z's return to physical books
01:17:24 Most books lose money
01:19:59 Why should you publish with Hachette
David Shelley is on the show today and he’s the CEO of Hachette, one of the Big Five publishers. In this conversation, I focused on two things. First, how should writers navigate the publishing industry? Second, how does the publishing industry actually work?
Who better to learn from than someone at the top of the field? David has spent more than 30 years in book publishing, and his company sells roughly 220 million books every year, generating about $3.5 billion in annual revenue.
*About the host*
Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible.
*Follow me*
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470
YouTube: youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv
X: https://x.com/david_perell
