The Manuscript Academy

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 nonfiction proposals, and been a contracts manager. Caitlin seeks to elevate diverse voices and is always looking for new ways to help aspiring authors. You can meet with Caitlin and book a critique with her here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/caitlin-mcdonald

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 before you meet with our expert faculty. Meetings go live Wednessday, September 11 for members, and Thursday, September 12 for non-members, at https://manuscriptacademy.com/10-minutes-with-an-expert.

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-cusick Books she mentioned: Side Effects May Vary and Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

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: https://manuscriptacademy.com/melissa-warten And you can learn more about our live events (past and future!) here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/live

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 Brooke's page. To view Melissa's live event on Monday, July 29, 8:30pm EDT, please visit ManuscriptAcademy.com/live. Tickets are $9.99, or the cost of a Kindle e-book. You can also schedule your own consultation with Melissa here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/10-minutes-with-an-expert You can see more of Brooke's work at http://annelutzauthor.com (Anne Lutz is her pen name). * Brooke's page: Preface My mother always painted the Wicked Ones with black eyes--deep, heavy, soulless black. Everyone knew the Wickeds were evil, but my mom claimed it was more than that. She said the Wickeds were demons trapped in human corpses, just waiting to burn the world to ash. It wasn’t until years after my mother died that the world did burn. But the Wickeds didn’t set the fire. I did. Chapter One Tonight will be spectacular--it has to be. I tighten my ponytail and stare between the curtains. People filter in through the admissions gate and find seats on the curved stands that lie on either side of the arena. There are young families and elderly couples and lovey-dovey teens. But the number of attendees is dismal at best. “How’s it look?” asks Alder. He knocks into my shoulder as he pushes his way in front of me. His lanky body blocks the tiny sliver of audience. After a moment, he twists to frown at me. “That’s not good.” “I know,” I say. “But there’s still time. It’s not even seven yet.” “It’s six-fifty, Nova,” says Alder. He sticks his nose up when he speaks, as though being right is more important than being optimistic. “There’s still time,” I repeat. But honestly, this is what we expected. Or maybe not everyone expected this. They at least feared this, held the thought somewhere in the back of their mind. Alder scrunches his face at me. His features are pointed and suspicious, like he’s a rat, waiting to steal my last bite of cheese.

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 road she took, the reviews she received, and the things she learned along the way. We're particularly fond of how she describes retracing her character's steps, literally, and how she got inside the apartment where she would have lived, and found the bus stop where Helen commuted each morning. We also talk about the specific choices on her first page, which bring readers right into the world she's created.  We also learn her super powers--creating perfect salads and power washing--and, yes, the recipe is in the show notes.  We hope you enjoy.    NBS (Nice Big Salad) Recipe Big bowl of mixed greens (I prefer the Spring Mix) ½ Avocado diced Fresh Basil (about 10 good size leaves) torn into smaller pieces I medium shallot minced ½ cup hearts of palm ½ cup red or yellow beets diced ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved Top with feta or goat cheese Toss, chop and serve with the dressing of your choice, although I rarely use salad dressing because it’s just so good the way it is!

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://manuscriptacademy.com/pitch-to-page To use your coupon in this episode, go to https://manuscriptacademy.com/get-started and click Live Consultation.

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.

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 Jessica. We also cover when it’s okay to respond to rejections, Jess's personal superpower (one we've never heard before), and her best tips for writers. Listen in! You can follow Jess on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/jldallow

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 Julie--or send it ahead and watch the digital replay on your phone, tablet or laptop. https://manuscriptacademy.com/danielle. You can find Kayla at kaylakingbooks.com and on Twitter @KaylaMKing. Here's Kayla's first page, shared here with the permission of the author: Home existed on the map beneath the painted bee’s wings. Camryn memorized the design of her city as a distraction. The framed artwork used to calm her, but now she couldn’t contain her anxiety. She sat on the cool metal table with four pristine walls of the clinic around her. Waiting. All week she’d worried about what would happen next. One needle. One dose. Once every year. The past few days, Camryn counted those facts from one to three on her fingers. She hoped the practice would settle her nerves. The last time she searched trypanophobia, the results provided breathing exercises, and suggested focusing on a word or phrase to subdue her fear of the needle. She focused on three: the word, and occasionally, the number. Counting consumed her uncertainty most days. But not today. Everything gleamed like the tip of the needle within the white-walled room; too clean and perfect and permeated with the pungent smell of antiseptic. “One. Two. Three. Two. One.” Those words were a whisper, but even in her head they sounded like Gram. The memory of the voice couldn’t soothe Camryn because it made her think of Gram before she’d gotten sick. It took a knock outside the door to silence the thought. “Are we ready?” Dr. Rambert was supposed to administer the injection, but he smelled like spearmint. He corrupted her calm. Camryn took three deep breaths, and offered a small smile, hoping to convince the doctor and her mom that she would be okay. “Please, Mom?” Camryn tried to keep her voice steady because the thought of the needle shook her. She focused on the painting of the honey bee, but remembered reading about how they died after stinging. The thought made her feel worse. She couldn’t remember why the painting was supposed to placate her nerves. “This should feel like routine by now,” Dr. Rambert said. “You need it.” Her mom always sounded so detached at the clinic, and right now, Camryn needed her to sound like a mom. “But it’s real.” Camryn didn’t want to explain her trypanophobia again. Talking about the fear only made it worse. Her mom moved to the side of the table. “This has always been nonsensical. I thought you’d outgrow it by now.” Camryn’s reasoning was too real. The memory of Gram’s failed injection was real, too. She remembered the way a similar needle pierced Gram’s skin. The injection had atrophied the muscle to the point where she could no longer lift her arm to hold a book or a cup of tea. “Please?” Camryn wasn’t sure anyone heard because she hadn’t taken in enough air to say the word. She couldn’t breathe. But she must have looked ready then because her mom sterilized her arm with a clear solution, making her eyes water. The smell stung inside her nose. She closed her eyes, and waited.

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 action, why this can be so difficult, and how to make sure your character is active—so your story maintains tension, so readers (and agents!) keep turning pages. Hannah's class, Structure, Characters + Narrative Beats, is now availble. Tickets are $25 for the recorded, edited class + Live Q&A April 24, 8:30pm EDT. Join here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/structure You can find Hannah's podcast, Good Witches, Bad Bitches, here: https://www.patreon.com/gwbbpodcast And find Hannah on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/hannahfergesen

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 the full (hour and a half!) live-recorded video? Head to http://manuscriptacademy.com/live. Tickets are $9.99 (more than a coffee, less than an adult beverage). Want to meet with Fiona? Head to https://manuscriptacademy.com/fiona-kenshole to book a meeting or written critique. We hope you enjoy this grand experiment and, yes, there will be more! Join us at ManuscriptAcademy.com/subscribe for our FREE newsletter (including a free class, articles and more) to hear about the next one--we hope to see you there!

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 process. You can find Liz at https://twitter.com/liz_adventures and https://www.instagram.com/zuhbeth. You can find Krista at https://twitter.com/kav_tepedino and https://www.instagram.com/kav_tepedino/. Like this podcast? Send us a coffee (we really do love caffeine). https://ko-fi.com/mswlacademy

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 be so glad she did. Aneeka is an editor at Viking Children’s Books (Penguin Random House). She works on Picture Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult Fiction and Narrative Nonfiction. Aneeka likes humor in stories for all ages, contemporary/realistic fiction in the Middle Grade and Young Adult spaces, and character-driven picture books. In her free time she loves to play recreational soccer, watch comedy specials on Netflix, and drink lots of coffee in hipster Brooklyn cafes. Before Viking, she worked at Little, Brown Children’s (Hachette Book Group). Learn more and book a written critique or live e-meeting with Aneeka here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/aneeka-kalia Follow her on Twitter here: @neeks_kalia12

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 we love—they’re a great example of what can happen when agent and author become not just partners, but a creative team. We also discuss what happens when authors have a Slack channel and their agent isn't invited, what to do when, as an author, YOU have the power over your submissions process--and how Mike and his business partner Sierra got connected with MSWL. You can meet with Eric here: ManuscriptAcademy.com/ten-minutes-with-an-expert You can buy Mike's book here: https://www.booksinc.net/book/9780778369042