3 episodes
Launch Wondery
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- Arts
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4.6 • 517 Ratings
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Three out of five people dream of writing a book. Maybe you're one of them. But what does it take to go from dream to launch? Screenwriter John August (Go, Big Fish, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory) sought to find out as he tackled something he’d only ever dreamed of: writing a novel. From Wondery, A Network Of Storytellers, this is a show about putting something out into the world. How will it turn out? You’ll know when we do.
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The Shadow of Harry Potter
Saying “It’s like Harry Potter” is a useful way to describe a book, but He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named should absolutely not be named in children’s publishing. Like Facebook or Instagram, it’s the unicorn that warps the industry, and “sets impossible expectations,” according to editor Connie Hsu.
Most middle-grade fantasy series are duds, so not only might Arlo Finch not become Harry Potter, it might not become anything at all.
To hear more episodes, listen exclusively with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for this and more exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/mT4GXWxqdab
Thank you to our sponsors:
Squarespace - Use the offer code LAUNCH at checkout when you are ready to launch your website at: www.squarespace.com
Linkedin - Get a $50 credit toward your first job posting when you visit them here: www.LinkedIn.com/Launch
Dollar Shave Club - Get a DSC starter kit including a premium razor and shea butter cream for just $5 when you visit them here: www.dollarshaveclub.com/Launch
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. -
A Boy in The Woods
Arlo Finch sprang from a phone call in an Austin hotel room in October 2015 during an epic thunderstorm. Screenwriter John August spent the next month tracing Arlo's journey over seven chapters and realized he had a book series on his hands. After talking to other screenwriters-turned-novelists, August decided it was time to find a publishing house for Arlo. There’s a preemptive offer, with only hours to decide.
To hear more episodes, listen exclusively with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for this and more exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/mT4GXWxqdab
Thank you to our sponsors:
Squarespace - Use the offer code LAUNCH at checkout when you are ready to launch your website when you visit them here: www.squarespace.com
Stamps - Enter code LAUNCH and get a 4 free week trial and a free postage scale when you visit them here: www.stamps.com
Dollar Shave Club - Get a DSC starter kit including a premium razor and shea butter cream for just $5 when you visit them here: www.dollarshaveclub.com/Launch
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. -
Introducing Launch
Three out of five people say they dream of writing a book. Chances are you’re one of them.
But what does it take to actually go from dream to launch?
Screenwriter John August wants to find out. After writing hit films like Big Fish, Go, and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, he did something that he knew nothing about: he wrote a middle-grade novel and started recording his conversations with everyone he talked to about it.
What will happen next? No idea. This is Launch.
To hear more episodes, listen exclusively with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for this and more exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/mT4GXWxqdab
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Customer Reviews
So good.
John August is once again fantastic. Great podcast!
John August in the excellent minutia
We found the free audiobook on a pre-COVID drive back from a cabin in CO. The whole family was immediately drawn in. We loved it so much that we wanted to learn more about its creation.
Loved every minute!
I binged the whole thing in one day! I was entertained by the humor, educated on the ways of getting published and all the steps from the idea in your mind to holding the physical book in your hands. Very well done and thorough. Also creative with all of the side trips to interview bookstore owners and what they do to help you keep your books selling. I especially enjoyed the printing and bindery portion as I’ve been working in small print shops and watched paper being made etc documentaries and newspapers are printed similarly. I’m more graphic designer (not artist or college training, I helped get through the first moving from physical art to digital, but I digress), it was actually really exciting to hear that portion as I could see exactly what you were describing.
If anything about writing a book interests you then you will enjoy this one!