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Jon Yaged: How Book Publishing Works | How I Write

Overview

Shownote

Highlights

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Jon Yaged: How Book Publishing Works | How I Write

How I Write

Mar 18
How I Write

How I Write

Mar 18
OverviewShownoteHighlightsTranscriptChaptersPins

Shownote

This episode is presented by Mercury, the banking platform that makes this show possible. I can’t imagine trying to run my business without them. Learn more at https://mercury.com Do you ever wonder how the book publishing industry works? How does the CEO...

Highlights

What does it really take to publish a book in today’s rapidly shifting industry? This conversation pulls back the curtain with John Yaged, CEO of Macmillan—one of the world’s top-five publishing houses—to reveal how decisions are made, where creativity and commerce intersect, and what aspiring writers truly need to know.
07:30
Macmillan publishes less than one in ten submitted books, around 1200 annually
16:56
Outliers like Harry Potter were rejected by most New York publishers and cannot be predicted algorithmically
32:37
Compared to music and film, publishing is more creator-friendly, with authors receiving a larger percentage of total revenue
42:30
Kids and young adults still have a strong connection to physical books, especially picture books, which are both beautiful and involve complex storytelling
44:43
Children's book authors understand the human psyche deeply because they embrace their inner child and treat kids with respect
54:25
Current copyright law does not protect AI-created works, and there's no clear line to determine human contribution
56:56
Using AI as a research assistant or thought partner is considered a valid tool
1:04:05
The best way to market a book is to read it and find hooks for the community
1:11:14
Authors reading memoirs lend authenticity, whereas professional narrators often better serve fiction
1:13:47
AI enables high-quality audio for books that otherwise wouldn't be available in audio
1:18:33
Back catalogs don't come on the market often because publishers hold rights for a long time
1:20:58
Multiple Macmillan imprints may compete for the same book, offering distinct pitches and valuations

Chapters

Why do most first-time writers never get published directly?
00:00
Can data predict bestsellers—or is editorial instinct still king?
12:08
How do publishers balance commercial pressure with creative courage?
23:23
Why do books published years ago still earn half the revenue?
35:05
What makes a children's book last longer than a celebrity memoir?
44:43
How is AI quietly reshaping book metadata—and what can't it touch?
52:02
Where does AI stop being a tool and start being an author?
56:56
What real advantages does traditional publishing offer self-publishers?
1:01:25
How does Macmillan decide which books to bet on—and why?
1:09:09
Are audiobooks saving reading—or accelerating its decline?
1:13:47
Why can’t you just buy a publisher’s backlist like stock?
1:18:33
How does Macmillan win by letting its own imprints compete?
1:20:58

Transcript

David Perell: You ever wonder how the book publishing industry works, like publishing advances? How does the CEO of a top five publishing house even think? Well, that's what this episode is all about. And my guest is Jon Yaged. He runs Macmillan, which is ...