What is book editing (and how do I do it right)? | A People’s Guide to Publishing

Book editing! Surely it’s easy, right? Especially if you’re someone who has read like, a lot of books. Nope! This week Joe and Elly talk book editing, why it’s a technical skill, and how to do it right.

(This is a re-broadcast of an episode from 2019, if you’re like “why are Joe and Elly talking about their outfits from last week? That’s not what they wore last week.”)

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

Events! Microcosm In Your Town

Want to meet us in person, check out our books, or see an author speak? We’ve got author events and convention events coming up!

Upcoming Author Events

Danny Caine has a few public and conference events lined up this fall for his books and zines! Find him at:

David Connell will be part of a panel event on psychedelics following the release of Cooking with Magic Mushrooms: the Psilocybin Cookbook. Colorado, check it out at:

Interested in having an author at your store or event? Reach out!!


Microcosm at Roller Con 2023

Upcoming Tabling Events

Upcoming Trade Shows and Industry Events

Usually not open to the public, these industry events are a chance for store buyers to peruse our books, write orders, and chat about terms. We plan to either attend or exhibit at the following events. If you’ll be there too, drop us a line—we’d love to meet you.

Interested in having an author at your store or event? Reach out!!

Planning an event and want us to be part of it (speaking, author readings, movie screenings, setting up a book and zine pop-up shop, etc.)? Let us know!!

In the Portland area? We can set up a book fair at your workplace like the ones your school used to have.


Why Are So Many Books So Mediocre? | A People’s Guide to Publishing

A reader asks a very straightforward question— why are so many books so mediocre? Is it a new trend? How do we measure quality?

Jane Friedman of the Hot Sheet joins us again this week to find the answers!

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

Disabled Witchcraft Q&A

A conversation with author Kandi Zeller

What inspired you to write your book?

As a disabled person, I wanted to create a resource that could serve as an accessible, adaptable grimoire for other witchy spoonies, drawing from my own experiences. Disabled Witchcraft is really more about starting the conversation rather than being the end of it. 

What was it like to publish with Microcosm?

It was a great experience. Everyone was communicative and committed to making the book the best it could be, and it’s always been a dream of mine to publish a book. I’m really honored to have had this opportunity to work with the team to create a resource so close to my heart.

What was the submission/query process like for you?

I really appreciated how detailed the submissions guidelines were. That helped me figure out how to create an outline from my idea and set a good foundation for the book. 

What else have you written?

I have a weekly Substack newsletter called All The Threads, which is a place where I write about random, whimsical practices at the intersections of spirituality, creativity, and justice. 

What are you currently reading? 

A lot of graphic novels and zines. My TBR is always ridiculously long. I recently finished Fangs by Sarah Andersen and Kim Reaper: Grim Beginnings by Sarah Graley, and both were adorable. 

What’s the best book you read in the last year?

So hard to choose, but my favorite was probably Batcat by Meggie Ramm. Such a sweet adventure story with queer overtones and just a dash of spooky vibes. 

What’s next for you? 

I’m working on a little horror poetry zine about my experience of growing up in a high-control religious environment, using the lens of monster myth. It’s just the kind of nerdiness I enjoy in my spare time!

Want to keep reading? Check out Disabled Witchcraft: 90 Rituals for Limited-Spoon Practitioners by Kandi Zeller, out now!

How does being an editor make you a better author? w/ Kandi Zeller | A People’s Guide to Publishing

Being a book editor and an author can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you have unique insight into how a book is developed before you even get started. On the other hand, you can end up getting in your own way trying to make it “perfect”. And if you’re an editor for the publisher of your own book, how do you balance that?

We sat down with Disabled Witchcraft author (and Microcosm editor!) Kandi Zeller to talk writing, disability, witchcraft, cookies, and a really cool bookstore.

Get your copy of Disabled Witchcraft here.

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

This is why we don’t use AI: A Story in Screenshots

This past week one of the platforms we sell on generously offered to “optimize” some of our product listings, unasked, and gave us the examples below of what they would do.

Our text is on the left, theirs is on the right.

It uh, didn’t go well.

Positive changes! Thought-provoking! Terrible SEO buzzwords!

This next one’s my favorite.

Ah yes, the whimsical world of the Eggplant Eating a Hot Dog Sticker!

I gave them my thoughts.

This was after a few rewrites because “what on EARTH” might have been too harsh.

Mailchimp occasionally offers to rewrite the newsletter using AI as well. It is… not great!

THE HOGWARTS OF FALL SEASONS?
This one is just downright offensive.

If any of those images are too small or don’t load, you can head over to this thread on Twitter, where I’ve posted them all.

So rest assured, we don’t use AI. It’s bad for the environment, and it can’t keep up with my wit, charm, and bad grammar.

This blog was taken from our weekly newsletter. Want to see more like this? Subscribe!

Cooking with Magic Mushrooms: The Psilocybin Cookbook

Turn your trip into a culinary treat—head to the kitchen to make your next psilocybin experience unforgettable

Magic mushrooms offer so many marvels, from transformative healing to excitement. One thing they are not known for is flavor. David Connell’s quest to make psilocybin palatable led him to develop recipes that integrate small, measured quantities of shrooms into tasty food and drink.

Stop gnawing on bitter, fibrous stalks and begin your journey with a calming, pleasant snack or sip. These healthy, delicious recipes are lactose-free, with gluten-free substitutions throughout, and have no added sugars. Photographs and illustrations will inspire your explorations of food, fungi, and consciousness.

Read on for an excerpt of Cooking with Magic Mushrooms: the Psilocybin Cookbook  by David Connell, now available from our site or your local bookseller!

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How Should a Publisher Manage Their Brand? | A People’s Guide to Publishing

Branding tells the consumer who you are, what your vibe is, and (probably most importantly) that you publish books. Past wisdom has focused on authors in the branding and marketing, but the market has since shifted to focus even more on publishers and imprints as the communication point.

This week on the podcast, Joe and Elly offer their thoughts and insights on how to get started with your publisher branding.

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

Call For Submissions: Disability & Bikes in Space!

We are seeking speculative feminist fiction about disability and bicycles for the 14th anthology in the Bikes In Space series of books, guest edited by Jennifer Lee Rossman!

We want feminist stories about the intersection of bicycling and disability, in any speculative fiction genre. Science fiction, fantasy, horror, weird western… combinations of genres are also welcome! No poetry, erotica, fanfic, or gore for this series.

Stories must include intrinsic themes or elements of disability as well as bicycles (or tricycles, or other nonmotorized wheeled conveyance). We take a broad view of feminism, but avoiding unreflective sexist tropes is always a green flag, as is queering things up.

“Disability” here includes physical disabilities as well as cognitive and invisible, all flavors of neurodivergent, mental illness, chronic pain and fatigue, and any other conditions that you have experienced.

Authors do not need to disclose or “prove” their disabilities, but should identify as disabled. Non-disabled family, friends, and caregivers, we appreciate you but this is not the place for your stories.

We also welcome stories about and from people at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities.

Word count: 500-6000

Format: Word or PDF

Anonymous review: Submission review will be masked. Please put a working title for your story at the top of the document that matches the title in the submissions form. Do not include your name or contact info in the document itself. 

Submit stories via this google form: https://forms.gle/f1B8QUJ6Ajbq6JaP6

Submission deadline: March 1, 2025

The Practical Witch’s Almanac 2025: Rebel Wisdom

Learn, defy, and evolve on your pagan path

The essential core of witchcraft is wisdom and change. We’ve always been rebellious and defiant, and our own traditions are not exempt from challenge. Delve into iconic witchcraft traditions like the utterance of “blessed be” and the influential Wiccan Rede, exploring their origins and relevance today. This introspective journey isn’t just about history; it’s an empowering quest. It challenges you to assess these traditions’ place in your craft. Embrace, adapt, or boldly defy these customs—this edition empowers you to shape your craft’s evolution on your terms as you travel your unique spiritual path.

This year’s edition includes:

  • Weekly Schedules
  • Monthly Lunar Planners
  • Moon Signs & Phases
  • Sabbat Times & Dates
  • Eclipses & Meteor Showers
  • Spells & Recipes
  • Correspondences & References
  • and much more!

Read on for an excerpt of The Practical Witch’s Almanac: Rebel Wisdom by Friday Gladheart, now available from our site or your local bookseller!

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