David Moldawer
Strategic advisor, book collaborator, and literary agent.
Hi, I’m David. For more than twenty years, I’ve helped people who know a lot and have done a lot figure out what they want to say and who needs to hear it. Sometimes that ends in a book, and sometimes it doesn’t. Either way, I’d love to hear what you’re working on.
Working with me
Three ways to collaborate
Idea development and platform strategy
Through Moldawer Advisory Practice, I help founders, executives, and experts find the idea they can own and reach the right people with it.
Proposal development and book collaboration
Through Bookitect, I develop proposals, edit manuscripts, and collaborate on writing books.
Author representation
I represent a select list of nonfiction authors.
Closed to submissions
About
Background
I spent the first decade of my career as an editor at top New York book publishing imprints, including St. Martin’s Press and Portfolio. From there, I founded Bookitect, where I’ve developed book proposals and written books with some of the world’s most influential thought leaders. In addition to my writing work, I represent a select list of clients as a literary agent and advise founders, executives, and experts on thought leadership strategy.
I live in Montclair, New Jersey, with my wife and children.
Books
Selected work
- Atomic Habits by James Clear (Avery, 2018). I developed the book proposal. Clear: “Thanks to his work, I landed in-person meetings with seven publishers and signed a major book deal with Penguin Random House.” #1 New York Times bestseller, over 25 million copies sold, translated into 60+ languages.
- How to Be Good at Life by Ben Meer (Avery, 2026). I developed the book proposal. Meer: “I’d spent years building an online following, but establishing mainstream credibility was a new problem. David Moldawer understood how to position my expertise so that it carried real weight beyond my own audience. If you’re an expert or creator who wants to be taken seriously as a thought leader, he’s the strategist to consult.” Instant #1 New York Times bestseller.
- Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal (Celadon, 2023). I developed the book proposal. New York Times bestseller.
- Idea Man by Paul Allen (Portfolio, 2011). I acquired and edited the book. New York Times bestseller.
- The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman (Portfolio, 2010). I acquired and edited the book.
- Creative Calling by Chase Jarvis (HarperBusiness, 2019). I collaborated with the author on the book. Wall Street Journal bestseller.
Career
Where I’ve worked and studied
- Founder and principal, Moldawer Advisory Practice (2026 to present)
- Senior Agent, Writers House (2025 to 2026)
- Founder, Bookitect (2015 to present)
- Head of Money and Life Education, CreativeLive (2013 to 2015)
- Editor at St. Martin’s Press, Portfolio, McGraw-Hill and Amazon Publishing (2006 to 2013)
- Editorial assistant, Riverhead Books (2004 to 2006)
- Staff writer, H.W. Wilson (2003)
- B.A., Amherst College
Writing
The Maven Game
My weekly newsletter on the craft of expertise. Three places to start:
Listen
Podcast interviews
- Real Relationships Real Revenue with Mo Bunnell. Episode: “The Key to Getting Your Book Published.”
- Free Time with Jenny Blake. Episode 103: “How to Land a Literary Agent and Publisher.”
- Free Time with Jenny Blake. Episode 105: “Don’t Write the Wrong Book!”
- The Dave Crenshaw Success Show. Episode: “The Book Whisperer.”
- The Selfish Gift. Episode: “How to Write a Truly Great Book.”
- Cool Tools with Kevin Kelly. Episode 194.
- The Watchung Booksellers Podcast. Episode 25: “Ghostwriting.”
- Dave Crenshaw. Video: “How to Write a Better Book.”
- YouTube. Video: “The Creative Process Behind Book Writing.”
- YouTube. Video: “How to Manage Multiple Projects Without Getting Overwhelmed.”
- Creator Science with Jay Clouse. Episode 163: “Diving deep into book publishing with an industry insider.”
Elsewhere