What does it really take to get a top editor’s attention — and keep it past the first page? Phoebe Morgan is a fiction publisher at Simon & Schuster and the author of five psychological thrillers, so she knows what it’s like on both sides of the submission email.
In this episode, Phoebe pulls back the curtain on what happens inside acquisition meetings, why your book’s hook matters more than you think, and what she’s really looking for in those crucial first 20 pages. She also talks about the emotional reality of receiving edits as a writer, her Substack The Honest Editor, and her advice for aspiring authors navigating the publishing world.
Whether you’re writing your first novel or trying to crack the code of commercial fiction, this conversation is packed with honest, practical insight from someone who lives and breathes both sides of the industry.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Why Hooks Sell Books
0:25 Welcome & Guest Intro
1:24 From Journalism to Publishing
2:33 Becoming a Novelist Too
4:07 Editor First, Author Second
5:00 The Two Roles Feed Each Other
5:53 The Honest Editor Substack
7:21 The First 20 Pages Test
9:24 Great Hook Examples
12:34 Publishing Myths & Money
15:14 Championing a Book In-House
18:38 Book Envy & Admired Writers
19:18 Finding Your Voice
20:08 Character Voices Challenge
21:07 Describing Characters
21:54 Inside The Trip
23:11 Surviving Tough Edits
24:49 Pitching Your Own Book
25:24 Flow State & The Slog
27:45 Pushing Back on Notes
29:34 Advice for New Writers
31:06 AI in Publishing
32:58 Book Recommendation
33:38 Life Beyond Books
34:18 Closing Thanks
ABOUT THE GUEST
Phoebe Morgan is a fiction publisher at Simon & Schuster and the author of The Doll’s House, The Girl Next Door, The Wild Girls, and The Trip. Find her Substack: The Honest Editor.
ABOUT THE HOST
Eleanor Ray writes uplifting book club fiction about hope, connection, and the unexpected turns life can take. Her most recent novel, See the Stars, is out now in paperback. Find out more at http://www.eleanorraybooks.com and follow @EleanorRayBooks on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
#WritingCommunity #PublishingIndustry #WritingAdvice #GetPublished
Eleanor Ray 