The Art of Deciding
Sara Collins - Booker Prize judge and lawyer turned award-winning author
Published: 6 March 2025 at 02:00 Europe/London
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Episode notes
The Booker Prize is the biggest literary award in the world. It can change lives and make careers. But who decides which is the best book? How do you take a collection of subjective opinions and choose a winner? Sara Collins is a prize-winning author, broadcaster, podcaster, former lawyer and, in 2024, was a Booker judge. She takes us inside the process – which starts with reading 156 books! – and reveals her own thoughts on Samantha Harvey’s Orbital, the eventual winner.
Chapters:
[02:10] Who decides who wins?
[06:05] A lawyer’s turn to literature
[10:30] The science behind judging art
[14:20] The emotional toll of choosing a winner
[18:15] Finding the right story
[22:05] Advice for writers and decision-makers
[25:00] Closing thoughts: the power of a well-made decision
Key Takeaways:
- There is no scientific process for judging art—subjectivity is inevitable.
- A fair judging process must create an open space for disagreement and discussion.
- Making difficult decisions means feeling the regret, but ultimately moving forward with confidence.
- The best stories are the ones that give you butterflies—you have to love what you write.
- Life is short—choose the path that truly excites and fulfils you.
References & Mentions:
- Confessions of Franny Langton (Winner of the Costa First Novel Award) https://www.amazon.co.za/Confessions-Frannie-Langton-Novel/dp/0062851802
- The Booker Prize https://thebookerprizes.com/
- Orbital – The 2024 Booker Prize winner https://www.amazon.co.za/Orbital-Novel-Booker-Prize-Winner/dp/0802161545
- How to Write a Book with Elizabeth Day https://podcasts.apple.com/cd/podcast/introducing-how-to-write-a-book-episode-1-the-idea-part-1/id1407451189?i=1000662933815
The Art of Deciding has been featured in The Guardian Podcast Newsletter, Podnews, The List, and the Podbible newsletter and more.
Series Producer: Jayne Morgan of Podcart - https://www.podcart.co.uk/
Bruce Whitfield is an award winning journalist, best-selling author and speaker https://www.brucewhitfield.com/
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