With Series Potential Podcast

Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, Zilla Writes

A weekly podcast sharing everything you wish you knew about breaking into trad pub (& how we’re leveling up to get there) 📚 Co-hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes. withseriespotential.substack.com

  1. Oct 27

    S2E9: Professional (Heated) Rivalry

    Let’s end season two with a bang! This week, we're chatting about rivalries that develop between writers as we balance professional relationships and friendships with the competitive nature of trad pub. What would you like to hear about in season three? Let us know in the comments or our subscribers-only Substack chat! With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing. Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne). This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information. Music by The Cysquatch. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit withseriespotential.substack.com

    S2E9: Professional (Heated) Rivalry

  2. Oct 20

    S2E8: Book Girl Math

    We’re all writers here, but it’s time to crunch some numbers. This week we’re doing a deep dive into all the math you need to know for your publishing career: breaking down advances, royalties, agent fees, and more! Referenced Resources: * https://when-do-i-earn-out.web.app/ * https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Xsx6rKJtafa8f_prlYYD3zRxaXYVDaPXbasvt_iA2vA/edit?gid=1798364047#gid=1798364047 Results of last week’s first and last line guessing game: Anna - The Banshee of Clan Murtagh * First Line: In the depths of the forest that lies beyond the house of Murtagh, there lives a girl and her Lady mother. The girl has been dead for a very long time. * Last Line: “She called herself Eithne.” Ivy - Sculptor of the Winds * First Line: The body was bloated, thick veins of black running beneath the sun-dark skin, branching out from the missing chunk of flesh in the dead man’s shoulder. * Last Line: Crunch. Zilla as R.J. Hawthorne - What We Fed It * First Line: Something like five thousand people die abroad every year. Only a handful of them happen in Wales, but even still, I’ve planned for that. * Last Line: “Not tonight,” I say. “Tonight’s about her.” With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing. Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne). This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information. Music by The Cysquatch. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit withseriespotential.substack.com

    S2E8: Book Girl Math

  3. Oct 13

    S2E7: First Lines vs Last Lines: The Final Showdown

    What’s more important—the first line of a book, or the last? This week on the pod, we took this question head-on by breaking down the first and last lines of our own novels (including a guessing game that you can play along with us). Plus, we made the first lines of iconic books battle to the death with the ultimate first line bracket. Check it out in our Instagram story highlights, along with a blank bracket to fill out yourself. Want to join our first and last lines guessing game? Follow along here: * Crunch. * Something like five thousand people die abroad every year. Only a handful of them happen in Wales, but even still, I’ve planned for that. * In the depths of the forest that lies beyond the house of Murtagh, there lives a girl and her Lady mother. The girl has been dead for a very long time. * The body was bloated, thick veins of black running beneath the sun-dark skin, branching out from the missing chunk of flesh in the dead man’s shoulder. * “She called herself Eithne.” * “Not tonight,” I say. “Tonight’s about her.” With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing. Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne). This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information. Music by The Cysquatch. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit withseriespotential.substack.com

    S2E7: First Lines vs Last Lines: The Final Showdown

  4. Oct 6

    S2E6: Authors Behaving Badly

    How can authors stay on the good side of publishing (and the internet)? This week we’re digging into the bad and the ugly of author behavior, and how to avoid common pitfalls along the trad pub journey. With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing. Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne). This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information. Music by The Cysquatch. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit withseriespotential.substack.com

    S2E6: Authors Behaving Badly

  5. Sep 29

    S2E5: Agent Styles 101

    No two agents have the same style, and the right agent for one writer won’t be the right agent for everyone. We’ve crowd sourced statistics about agent styles for editing, submission, communication, and more, to help you find your best possible partner. Referenced articles: https://stdennard.substack.com/p/magical-cookies-or-dont-write-the https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/05/ai-generated-stories-rated-better-quality-than-human-written-ones-study-finds With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing. Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne). This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information. Music by The Cysquatch. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit withseriespotential.substack.com

    S2E5: Agent Styles 101

  6. Sep 22

    S2E4: In Defense of Romantasy

    Whether you call it fantasy romance, romantic fantasy, or romantasy, join us on our tirade as we defend this hotly-debated genre blend, its place in the market, and throw more than a little shade on those who use it to tear down other writers’ success. Referenced Craft Book: Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass. With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing. Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne). This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information. Music by The Cysquatch. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit withseriespotential.substack.com

    S2E4: In Defense of Romantasy

  7. Sep 15

    Emergency Broadcast: ZILLA HAS A BOOK DEAL

    Join us for a special emergency tell-all broadcast as we take you through the journey of the very first With Series Potential book deal! With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing. Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne). This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information. Music by The Cysquatch. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit withseriespotential.substack.com

    Emergency Broadcast: ZILLA HAS A BOOK DEAL

  8. Sep 8

    S2E3: The Platform Question

    Do you really need to blow up on BookTok to get a book deal? This week, we’re digging into publishing’s hottest topic—your author platform—and dishing our hottest takes on the subject. Referenced Articles and Videos: * Do you need social media as an aspiring author/debut author/writer in 2026? • Meredith E. Phillips * I Spent $44,000 Launching My Book. Three of Those Dollars Worked. With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing. Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne). This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information. Music by The Cysquatch. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit withseriespotential.substack.com

    S2E3: The Platform Question
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

A weekly podcast sharing everything you wish you knew about breaking into trad pub (& how we’re leveling up to get there) 📚 Co-hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes. withseriespotential.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, Zilla Writes
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ivy T. Woods
  • Show Website
    With Series Potential Podcast

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