We are so happy to talk with Tom Lutz. By day, he teaches creative writing at the University of California in Riverside and manages the LA Review of Books, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting writing about literature, culture and the arts. By night, he’s a rocker in bar bands. In between, he’s on a quest to visit every country in the world: 135 down, only 60 to go. This vagabond has dovetailed his wanderlust and passion for writing into seven nonfiction books—some on travel, one on the history of...
Mar 05, 2020•36 min
Join us for a look inside a literary agent's inbox! Listen as she decides, in the moment, what to request, what to reject, and why. Stephanie Winter is an associate agent at P.S. Literary. She first joined the agency as an intern before becoming the agency’s relations assistant. Stephanie is a dedicated bookseller who holds a B.A. from the University of Toronto in English Literature and a M.A. in English: Issues in Modern Culture from University College London. Her experiences of living and trav...
Feb 24, 2020•17 min
We are so excited to welcome internationally bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz to our podcast! Melissa is incredibly successful--she's written more than 50 books, and sold more than 8 million copies. But her path to publication was anything but easy. It took four agents and many "almost but not quite" responses to sell her first book. There are lunches she thought would turn into offers, and years of working at her day job and hoping for the best. Now, Melissa is at the top of her game--and ...
Feb 05, 2020•39 min
We talk with editor-turned-agent Hannah VanVels about how to keep an agent reading, what to put in your first three chapters, and why publishing takes so long (and sometimes even the pieces we’re *most excited about* have to wait). Plus, we discuss her current wishlist, unusual rom com mash-ups, and the different tactics used by editors vs. agents when reading submissions. We also talk about nudging authors (can we have your manuscript, say, now?), the border between editing and over-editing (so...
Jan 22, 2020•16 min
We loved talking with Dana Kaye, a publicist who not only does amazing work for her clients, but who comes up with creative ways to help more writers--and their books--succeed. How do you know if it's worth hiring a publicist? And, if you can't, what can you do on your own? Dana breaks these questions into concrete steps to determine whether you'll get a return on investment--and what you can do for yourself and your work along the way. Contrary to the image of the shiny, terrifying, shoulder pa...
Jan 15, 2020•49 min
Happy New Year! Julie's checking to see how you are all doing and to talk to you about resolutions for 2020. Maybe if you are on Twitter or any form of social media, you’ve noticed people chatting about all of their successes and book deals coming out. To those people, we're so incredibly proud of you. Here's a pep talk for everyone in the query trenches, hoping to make this decade the best writing years yet. Learn more about our podcast here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast
Jan 06, 2020•4 min
This is a very special episode—our LIVE-recorded Holiday Party & Write-In 2019! Book Coach Anna Conathan joins us for an evening of prizes, surprises, writing prompts Q&A, trivia and more! Please note that this episode includes some adult language and themes—so don’t listen in public without earbuds. If you’d like to join our next event live, join our mailing list at ManuscriptAcademy.com/subscribe. You can view the live-recorded VIDEO version of this (with the text chat!) at https://man...
Dec 19, 2019•1 hr 29 min
We are so pleased to invite Anna Conathan, of Anna Conathan Coaching, to the podcast. She's one of our special guests for the 2019 Holiday Party! Get on the list--it's free, fun, available on any smart device. Get yourself on the list (and enter our raffle) here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/rsvp Need a gift for the critique partner who has everything--or maybe for you? Instant download certificates for membership, classes, critiques, consultations and more available at ManuscriptAcademy.com/gi...
Dec 10, 2019•18 min
You likely know Heather Cashman as Brenda Drake's partner in PitchWars. Now an agent at Storm Literary, she brings us wisdom from both sides of the desk--what rejections really mean, what it feels like to send them, and how you should interpret them. Plus, we talk about what it's like to be a new agent, the rejections agents face, and so much more. You can learn more about Heather at heathercashman.com. Included with this episode is an invite to our e-Holiday party, December 16, 8:30pm EDT. Head...
Nov 26, 2019•30 min
We love Norma Perez-Hernandez (editor at Kensington Publishing Corp) for her warmth and humor, and the way she makes publishing approachable, thoughtful and kind. You'll hear how much she cares for her authors, the enormous number of things she does each day, and her ideas on how we can move the industry forward. We also talk about how genres change--how rom coms simply could not work when she started in publishing but are thriving now--and what this means for trends in the industry. We're sure ...
Oct 18, 2019•34 min
Ever wish you could carry around a writing class in your pocket? One with special agent and editor guests, a rad* theme, and way too much coffee? Now you can. Our Write-In Workshop from last week (you can still see the full replay here, if you'd like the video too: https://manuscriptacademy.com/back-to-school-write-in) features all the ways thinking about your character in school--plus the resulting conflicts, social hierarchies, friends and crushes--can give you a deeper understanding of that p...
Oct 10, 2019•1 hr 22 min
Welcome to the #MSWL Day Guide! We speak with KK Hendin and Jessica Sinsheimer about the beginnings of MSWL, how best to search the feeds (and find your agent and editor matches), what to do with that information, and how to improve your chances by showing your work. Search techniques are at about 6:15, and reference ManuscriptWishList.com/search. Need help? Tweet us @KKHendin and @Jsinsheim and @MSWLMA View our new season of live workshops + special events panels, classes and more at Manuscript...
Sep 24, 2019•26 min
One of our newest faculty members, agent Caitlin McDonald, was kind enough to give us a guided tour of her query inbox. Like #TenQueries on Twitter, this is an honest look at what agents actually receive, what works, what doesn't, and why. Caitlin McDonald is an agent at Donald Maass Literary Agency, where she represents adult and young adult fantasy and science fiction as well as select nonfiction titles. She has worked with numerous award-winning and bestselling authors, created high-profile n...
Sep 24, 2019•23 min
Julie Kingsley loves back to school so much, she forced Jessica Sinsheimer to let her jump on top of her soapbox and talk all things writing. Join Julie for this short and concise podcast discussing good writing practice, practical goal setting tips, and more. ** September Special** Julie will be open this month for ten-minute sessions for the low price of $25. This is perfect for people who are new to the Manuscript Academy process, or those who’d just like a regular writer to look at work befo...
Sep 05, 2019•13 min
We talk with Molly Cusick (formerly Molly Jaffa) about her transition from agent to editor, what editorial meetings REALLY look like, and why many publishing rules are made to be broken. As Molly says, love can appear when you least expect it—and this applies to books as well as relationships. We also discuss Coney Island, historical NYC, and how she met her literary husband. (It’s very New York.) You can meet with Molly (and book a written critique) here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/molly-cus...
Aug 21, 2019•27 min
Last week, we joined Melissa Warten, editor at Macmillan, LIVE to discuss publishing timelines, your questions about the industry, and your first pages--all in a helpful, fun panel. While the first pages are just for ticketholders, you can listen in on the Q&A portion of the event here, where Melissa explains just what publishers are doing while you wait...and wait...and wait. You can hear Melissa's first podcast episode, a live meeting with an author--and book a meeting with Melissa--here: ...
Aug 06, 2019•33 min
Macmillan editor Melissa Warten joins extremely brave and awesome writer Brooke Urban to go over her first page on the air. With a focus on the line between mysterious and vague (when are you giving your reader enough information? When are you giving them so much that it takes away all narrative tension?), the 25-word descriptions that can ground your reader, and why (most) everyone hates prologues, we go over universal lessons of keeping an agent reading. Please see below to follow along with B...
Jul 11, 2019•26 min
We spoke with Renee Rosen, author of Park Avenue Summer from Penguin Random House, about her process, her amazing research, and what she wishes writers could know about what it's like after book six. Pitched as Mad Men meets The Devil Wears Prada, the story features a young woman who, just after arriving in NYC from her small hometown, secures a position working for the inimitable Helen Gurley Brown at Cosmopolitan. Renee shares insights from her many years as a published author--the winding roa...
Jul 03, 2019•28 min
This week, Academy co-Founder Julie Kingsley, who's taught writing for more than 20 years, brings you a pep talk on how to keep going--and get un-stuck. This episode includes encouragement, exercises--and a special surprise for you if you keep listening. We also have a FREE write-in coming up June 24--join us at https://manuscriptacademy.com/rsvp. And a LIVE query workshop with Katharine Sands, agent and creator of Pitch To Page (one of our most popular classes) July 1. See: https://manuscriptac...
Jun 18, 2019•17 min
If you've ever wondered why graphic novels are doing so well, this episode is for you. We talked with editor Stephanie Guerdan at HarperCollins about cosplay, Comic Con, and what it really takes to join the industry (the answer may surprise you). Lest you worry that the whole episode is serious, we also chat about tattoos, comics, marine biology, and why no one in publishing can do math.
Jun 13, 2019•42 min
We spoke with Jess Dallow, agent at Brower Literary & Management, about live pitch sessions from the agent side of the desk. We cover when to book them, when you're most likely to get a yes, and how to make them go as well as they possibly can--for you and the agent. (Agents do, after all, want and need to find work they love.) We also talk thrillers, criminal profiling, serial killers, child psychopaths, Sweet Valley High, and how a lot of publishing is an Elizabeth but wants to be a Jessic...
May 29, 2019•38 min
Ever wonder what happens when you meet with an agent? Two very generous people--Danielle Chiotti, agent, and Kayla King, writer--let us listen in on their consultation. In this episode, Danielle reacts to Kayla's page in the moment, asks for clarification, and comes up with solutions on the spot to make Kayla's page (even) stronger. Want to see Danielle's LIVE first pages panel on May 14, 8:30pm EDT? Send your page and a question ahead for a chance of live feedback from Danielle, Jessica and Jul...
May 06, 2019•19 min
Hannah Fergesen of KT Literary joins us to talk about how she moved from film to publishing (and what makes the two industries different and the same), how R&Rs can turn to offers (and vice versa), and why just because we like a project doesn't mean we can take it on. Naturally, we talk about Buffy (it was inevitable), Hannah's fascination with darker works, and why sometimes younger editors take on riskier projects. We also talk about structure—how to make sure that your characters motivate...
Apr 10, 2019•37 min
The wonderful Fiona Kenshole, Senior Agent and Partner at Transatlantic Literary Agency, kindly joined us for a grand experiment--a live recording of this podcast, plus a first pages panel. You'll hear us (try to) pop champagne (you guys, you have no idea what a miracle this is), discuss what works for Fiona, what she sees on our side of the desk--and why everything takes SO long in our industry. Plus we talk first pages, and what makes them work--and how Fiona chooses her clients. Want to see t...
Apr 09, 2019•34 min
Krista Vitola and Liz Kossnar, two wonderful--and very different--editors from Simon & Schuster, joined us to talk about how to have a good relationship with your editor, how to read the signs that someone might be into your type of book--and what they'd love to invent (including, among other things, their own podcast--we'll keep you updated!). These hilarious, insightful ladies have two very distinct styles, which is a great illustration of how personality plays a role in the publishing pro...
Mar 12, 2019•48 min
What's better than a bunch of adults talking about kidlit? This episode, we learn about the hilarious inner workings of Very Serious Adult Meetings about picture books, what's working in the children's literature world, and why we think #Kidding is just as important as #Adulting. Plus, we touch on soccer, Bend It Like Beckham, representation in publishing, spontaneous dance parties, and how Aneeka defied all advice and ended up in the publishing industry. Once you listen to this episode, you'll ...
Feb 19, 2019•36 min
We are so excited to congratulate author Mike Chen and agent Eric Smith on the release of the beautiful, moving novel HERE AND NOW AND THEN with Harlequin MIRA. Mike has been our friend for years and even built the version of ManuscriptWishList.com that you see now. Eric Smith is an agent at P.S. Literary, and a faculty member with us at the Academy. Today on the podcast, we talk editing, long submission times, when to give up—and when you really, really shouldn’t. Eric and Mike have a dynamic w...
Jan 29, 2019•38 min
Samantha Wekstein, agent at Writers House, was generous enough to join us for a #TenQueries episode. We chat with her about how she got into publishing (she worked with Jessica first!), some amazing things she's created along the way--and how this shapes what she looks for. Then we asked her to go through her queries inbox, choose ten at random--and tell us what they are, why they work, what they can do better--and what this means for you at home. You can book a meeting with Samantha at https://...
Dec 05, 2018•36 min
We talk with Stephanie Stein at HarperCollins about California and New York publishing, a typical day in the life of a Big Five editor, and what it takes to impress a publishing person (in books and TV, theater, and otherwise). Stephanie is an absolute editorial rock star--literally every person who receives a critique from her is thrilled, so we talk about her process, and how it is similar and different from her day-to-day editing. She also tells the story of the magical day she (almost litera...
Oct 18, 2018•42 min
Join Jessica and Julie for a First Pages podcast featuring this page by Jasmine Rasmussen. Please feel free to follow along with the page (below) while we read and analyze the text for what works, and for what could be added to make it stronger. Love (Chapter 1) We stop at a grocery store on the way out of town, the one with a gas station and next to the Dollar Tree me and Ava shopped at last week. I type in Mom’s rewards number on my pump, pretending it doesn’t bother me when her name is welcom...
Oct 09, 2018•18 min
