TODAY: FSG editor Jackson Howard
Today I’m talking to Jackson Howard, Senior Editor at Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and its imprints MCD and AUWA (headed by Questlove). Jackson has acquired and published literary novels and nonfiction books by Catherine Lacey, Laura van den Berg, Bryan Washington, Henry Hoke, Jonathan Escoffery, and Kaitlyn Tiffany, among many others. He is on the team that created the FSG Fellowship.
Join me today at 1pm EST, when I’ll be asking Jackson:
What makes an FSG title?
When so many creative writers feel a tension between wanting to make art and also wanting to earn income for their art, how does he navigate publishing transgressive books that are also commercially viable for the imprint?
What’s on his wishlist?
Where does he go to scout new talent? How does he make matches between emerging writers and agents?
What are common challenges that writers face when it comes to the editorial process?
When, if ever, do novelists have to think about platform?
How does he see the relationship between creative writing MFA programs and book publishing? Does he seek authors who have MFAs?
What does he wish more writers understood about the current state of book publishing, and the workload facing editors?
I will interview Jackson for about 30 minutes and then open it up to your questions! This is a rare opportunity to speak directly to a senior editor at one of the most legendary imprints in publishing.
If you can’t attend live, there will be a recording available to watch for 7 days.
As a reminder, this is a private, off-the-record conversation, exclusively available to my diamond medallion members. You may not post quotes from the conversation anywhere on the internet, or create content out of my events. Keeping the Chat Room series private allows both me and my guests to speak candidly.