Inkwell Insights

Podcasts, Books, and the Modern Market

In this episode of INL Insights, host Blake discusses the recent hiatus from podcasting and the challenges faced in balancing work, life, and creative pursuits. He delves into the complexities of the book buying, selling, creating, and distributing processes, specifically highlighting the logistical hurdles with book distribution partners like Ingram. Blake shares personal stories about maintaining an online bookstore, unexpected inventory issues, and the substantial effort required to manage and curate book selections. He also extends an invitation for potential co-hosts and updates listeners on changes to his Howdy Curiosity bookstore model. The episode covers broader industry insights, critiques inefficiencies, and calls for modernization in the publishing industry. 00:00 Welcome to INL Insights 00:57 Housekeeping and Updates 02:24 The Challenges of Podcasting 05:32 The Ideal Podcast Vision 06:39 Changes to Howdy Curiosity 17:41 The Book Distribution Dilemma 28:12 Ingram: The Giant in Book Distribution 31:22 The Frustrations of Using Ingram 46:01 The Need for Modernization in Publishing 53:31 Conclusion and Call to Action 00:57 Housekeeping and Apologies 02:06 Podcasting Challenges and Aspirations 06:39 Bookstore Inventory Issues 17:41 The Struggles of Book Fulfillment 28:12 Ingram's Complicated Processes 46:01 The Future of Publishing 53:31 Conclusion and Call to Action

When Silicon Meets Stories: AI's Publishing Paradox and Le Guin's Legacy of Hope

Blake explores two stories that reveal where literature stands in 2025: industry leaders at the U.S. Book Show choosing "human neighborhoods" over algorithmic efficiency, and the announcement of the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize shortlist celebrating books that imagine genuine alternatives to how we live now. While AI makes content creation cheaper, it also makes that content worthless—but human creativity becomes more precious than ever. This episode examines why authentic community building trumps viral reach, what publishers are learning about reader preferences, and how literature's capacity to imagine new possibilities remains irreplaceable.  For further reading, checkout:  - https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/97945-u-s-book-show-2025-ai-looms-large-across-publishing-sectors.html - https://lithub.com/heres-the-shortlist-for-the-2025-ursula-k-le-guin-prize-for-fiction/ - https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/index.html

Why Machines Can't Write Novels (And Why That Matters)

Blake dives into the explosive revelation that tech giants like Meta have been training AI models on millions of pirated books from shadow libraries like LibGen—all without author consent or compensation. From Ta-Nehisi Coates to Sarah Silverman, major authors are fighting back with lawsuits. But this isn't just about copyright law; it's about the fundamental nature of human creativity and what we lose when machines try to replicate the irreplaceable human process of storytelling.

Writing for the Internet... Ew.

In this episode of Inkwell Insights, host Blake Reichenbach explores how internet writing practices have evolved and impacted the craft of writing itself. Key Takeaways for Writers: Recognizing Manipulation in Digital Marketing: The episode begins by exposing the "test email" clickbait strategy, serving as a reminder for writers to maintain authenticity rather than resorting to manipulative tactics for audience engagement. Understanding the Evolution of Digital Writing: Tracing the journey from early hypertext to modern content creation provides context for why writing standards have shifted, helping writers understand the forces that shape current expectations. The Impact of Monetization: The discussion of ad networks reveals how economic incentives fundamentally altered writing priorities—from quality to quantity, depth to clickability—a crucial insight for writers navigating today's publishing landscape. Resisting Harmful "Rules" for Web Writing: Blake challenges prevailing wisdom about writing for the internet (6th-grade reading level, excessive simplification, constant skimmability), encouraging writers to reject these constraints when they diminish quality. Recognizing How Reading Habits Have Changed: Understanding how shortened attention spans affect both readers and writers helps content creators develop more effective strategies while remaining true to their craft. A Call for Intentional Literary Cultivation: The episode concludes with an invitation for writers to deliberately nurture deeper thinking and reading practices, positioning thoughtful writing as resistance against the "dumbing down" of literary culture. This episode offers writers valuable perspective on how economic and technological forces have shaped writing practices, while providing encouragement to maintain artistic integrity in an environment that often prioritizes metrics over meaning.

Literary Agents 101 with CeCe Lyra

Cecilia (“CeCe”) Lyra is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency representing adult fiction and non-fiction. She is drawn to books with strong hooks and smooth writing, told with originality, nuance, and authenticity. A long-term strategic thinker, CeCe prioritizes the creative reach and sustainable longevity of her authors’ careers, and she is especially looking for clients with whom she can build fruitful, lasting relationships. Both a storyteller and a storyseller, CeCe believes that stories are empathy-generating machines capable of healing, connecting, and enacting true change. As a mixed race Latinx immigrant, CeCe understands the power of seeing oneself reflected in books, hence her passion for championing under or misrepresented voices and narratives that contribute to a larger cultural conversation. CeCe is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA). The popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, for which CeCe is a co-host, has over three million downloads. CeCe is also a recovering lawyer, but asks that you do not hold that against her.