Sara Wigal

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Sara Wigal, Associate Professor and Director of Publishing at Belmont University, Executive Director of Ami McConnell Literary Agency, and Executive Director of WriterFest, who discusses her background in publishing and her current roles, as well as the evolution of the publishing industry, including the impact of technology and AI. During the interview, Sara talks about her career journey from being a literary publicist to becoming an Associate Professor and Director of Publishing at Belmont University, where she teaches students interested in writing and book publishing. She emphasizes that despite technological changes and concerns about reading habits, the book publishing industry remains vibrant and lucrative, with books continuing to play a significant role in entertainment and education.

Sara discusses the evolution of reading formats, from oral storytelling to e-books, and emphasizes that despite technological changes, the fundamental act of storytelling remains constant. She highlights the recent surge in audiobook popularity and addresses concerns about AI’s impact on the publishing industry, particularly regarding copyright and intellectual property issues. Sara expresses optimism about the potential for ethical AI use to enhance human creativity, while acknowledging the ongoing debate about AI’s role in the industry.

Sara talks about her collaboration with Ami McConnell to establish a literary agency. She shares insight on the different publishing paths available for authors and emphasizes the importance of literary agents, especially in the traditional publishing process. Sara then provides advice for aspiring authors, including reading their work aloud and familiarizing themselves with existing works in their genre. She also shares tips on balancing creativity with the business aspects of writing and publishing, and provides contact information for those interested in learning more about Belmont’s publishing program, WriterFest, and her work as a literary agent.

Visit https://www.belmont.edu/academics/maj… to learn more about Majoring in Publishing at Belmont University. Visit https://www.writerfestnashville.com to learn more about WriterFest. Visit https://www.amimcconnell.com to learn more about the Ami McConnell Literary Agency.

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