The Manuscript Academy

The Manuscript Academy brings you conversations with agents, editors, and writers who can help you on your publishing journey.

Last refreshed: June 28th, 2025 at 4:27 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Episode Fourteen: First Page Podcast With Agent Caitie Flum

In this new feature, we invite an expert--tonight, Caitie Flum of Liza Dawson Associates--have them pick a page from our kind volunteers. We then talk about the lessons in this page--what editorial feedback we'd suggest--and how this can apply to the pages you're writing at home. Want to volunteer as tribute? Submit your page for consideration by sending it to Academy@ManuscriptWishList.com as a Word document. Please put "First Pages Podcast in the subject line." If you'd like to follow along at...

Mar 09, 2017•14 min

Episode Thirteen: Our First First Pages Episode

Welcome to our very first First Pages episode! In this new series, we'll be discussing the most interesting first pages we can get our hands on--YOURS! We'll ask agents and editors to join us in finding the lessons in these pages that not only improve this work--but give you ideas for your own. Want to submit a page for consideration? Send it to Academy@ManuscriptWishList.com. We're joined this week by the lovely and talented literary agent Linda Camacho of the Prospect Agency. You can view her ...

Feb 28, 2017•12 min

Platform, Publishing & Publicity in Your Pajamas

This week we talk with publicist and literary agent Dawn Michelle Hardy of Serendipity Literary Agency. We talk about publicity, and the surprising amount you can do from home, plus profit and loss statements, running marathons--and what really happens when you get rejected by a publisher. We also talk about research nonfiction writers should do BEFORE starting a proposal. And Dawn shares a fantastic story about a nervous writer pitching her in person--and what she did to calm her down. You don'...

Feb 23, 2017•39 min

Episode Eleven: PubLaw, Negotiation, and An Interview With Lawyer-Turned-Agent Melissa Edwards

We talk with Melissa Edwards of Stonesong Literary about the transition from lawyer to agent, PubLaw basics, and how she really should start a Melissa Explains It All Podcast. We also talk about her favorite podcasts, what negotiation looks like within Publishing--and that someone should really make a product called Not So Tights for women who like to be warm AND comfortable.

Jan 26, 2017•34 min

Episode Ten: An Interview With Harlequin Editor Carly Silver

We speak with Harlequin editor Carly Silver about corgis, men in kilts--and whether giving birth to a baby or a book is harder. We also talk about fangirling (and when even editors have to keep their cool), the loooooooong edit process, and an average month in Carly's editing life. We also talk about how trends can help publishers find money for similar work. Added bonus: We think Google should fund what she has in mind as a 20% project. Check it out! You can learn more about Carly at @CarlyASil...

Jan 19, 2017•34 min

Holiday Pep Talk

This pep talk was inspired by that extremely uncomfortable phenomenon of going home for the holidays, only to be grilled by your relatives. It was made with the generous contributions of writers just like you. We hope this will give you some cheer when your family asks, "Soooo--are you still writing?" "Are you a New York Times besteller yet?" "How much money do you make?" Explaining the writing life to your family can be hard, especially during the holidays. So when they start asking you why you...

Dec 21, 2016•11 min

Episode Nine: How To Be A Writer During The Holidays

Julie and Jessica talk about the best methods for dealing with annoying questions from relatives about your writing. 1) Deflect! 2) Drink. 3) All the other smart things we mention in this podcast. Give us a listen!

Dec 21, 2016•8 min

Episode Eight: A Conversation With Agent Kurestin Armada

We speak with literary agent Kurestin Armada about knitting, horror films, rejection--and why the passion projects are often, actually, the most practical. We also talk victory gardens, practical flowers, and what it means to read for pleasure when you're an agent. BONUS: If you're listening to this podcast, Kurestin thinks you're in good shape.

Dec 15, 2016•39 min

Episode 007: Party. Holiday Party.

In this episode, Julie and Jessica tell you about the (FREE! Awesome!) Manuscript Academy holiday party coming up December 13. Need props? Yes! Maybe. For best results, listen to this podcast first.

Dec 07, 2016•2 min

Episode Six: How To Spend Ten Minutes With An Agent

In this episode, Jessica and Julie how tell you how best to spend ten minutes with an agent--whether in a pitch session, an office hour, a craft meeting, or stuck in an elevator.

Dec 07, 2016•8 min

Episode Five: A Conversation With Agent Lane Heymont

We talk with Lane about photographing supermoons, what he'd do as Super Lane, and being a guy who sells romance. But not bromance. We also talk about what agents fear during pitch sessions, killing characters in picture books, and why being a veterinarian might not be the best back-up career for someone in publishing.

Nov 27, 2016•23 min

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