New Books Network David M. Perry, "The Public Scholar: A Practical Handbook" (JHU Press, 2026)
Apr 7, 2026
David M. Perry, medieval historian turned university staffer and freelance writer, offers practical how-tos for scholars wanting to write for the public. He breaks down four core rules for public writing and shows how to craft strong pitches and short, goal-driven essays. He also covers pay and negotiation, using social media to build audience, and the best entry points like opinion pieces and reviews.
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Write A Six Sentence Pitch That States Your Argument
- A pitch must state who you are, what you'll argue, and why it matters in ~6–7 sentences.
- Perry often writes "I will argue..." as a sanity check; if you can't fill it in, you're not ready to pitch.
Ask For Payment After Acceptance And Know Typical Rates
- Negotiate pay after acceptance and expect common freelance rates around $200–$400 for short pieces.
- Perry recounts CNN eventually agreeing to pay $300 when he asked, but they didn't retroactively pay unpaid earlier pieces.
Build Audience Authentically By Sharing More Than You Take
- Use social media to build an audience but give more than you take and be authentic.
- Perry recommends reading and sharing others' work consistently; avoid pretending to engage short-term because audience building takes months or years.
