What makes an agent care about your work? What makes an agent care so much that they keep thinking about your manuscript, bringing it up to their friends, their colleagues–and maybe even editors? It’s emotional investment. While agents love all of the other aspects that go into your story, caring about your character is what makes a book … Read more
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. We are thrilled to welcome Sierra Godfrey, author of The Second Chance Hotel and A Very Typical Family, to the Member Lounge. Sierra, along with Mike Chen, built the first ManuscriptWishList.com, and her work as an author is charming, funny, romantic—and set on the gorgeous fictional Greek island … Read more
mswlacademy · Literary Agents of Change: Daniele Hunter and The AALA's New Initiative Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. Join us as we speak with Daniele Hunter, Junior Agent at McIntosh & Otis, AALA member, and AALA DEI committee and Literary Agents of Change member! Becoming a literary agent is not for the faint … Read more
There are many things we love about Anne Elliott. Not only is she smart, compassionate, and an author who sees the world through a literary lens–but she’s able to bring this nuanced way of making meaning into the classroom. Her classes feel like MFA experiences, and her students leave with a new appreciation for interpreting … Read more
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. The votes are in! Science Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative & Supernatural won—and we’ve built this panel to that theme. But even if you’re writing serious nonfiction, or in a completely other genre, this is a great view into what agents love within genres—and how agenting, in general, works. With … Read more
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. We are so happy to welcome happy author-agent pair Adriann Ranta Zurhellen, Folio Literary Management, and author Joslin Brorsen, who created a magical written world specifically for her son. We love hearing how they found each other—how Joslin’s work fits right into Adriann’s #MSWL—and their tips for how to … Read more
We can’t wait! Tuesday, April 18, at 8:30 pm Eastern, join us for a live queries and pages panel with agent Amy Bishop. Submit your work for a chance at live feedback from our panel–plus, of course, a publishing Q&A. This event is designed to be supportive, uplifting, encouraging–and 100% introvert-friendly. (Wear pajamas! We’ll never … Read more
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. We are so excited to get to talk with Lauren DeStefano! Not only have we been fans for more than a decade, but she is just so darn cool in person. We talk about power dynamics, having characters live in different genres (the women of her story are … Read more
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. We absolutely loved making this episode! We started randomly calling (opted in) writers for pep talks—and the result is an inspiring, uplifting, life-affirming episode that shows the brilliance of our writing community while also soothing some common stressors. We discuss:* When do I need to pivot?* Am I … Read more
You’re finally ready to get your book out into the world—and you’re probably hoping for that “Big Five” traditional publishing deal. What can you do to improve your chances? Are there shortcuts? Landmines to avoid? And is “Big Five” really the option that will bring you the most personal satisfaction? Or are there particulars about … Read more
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. We are so happy to welcome Jill Santopolo, a New York Times bestselling author and editor and publisher at Philomel/Penguin Random House. We talk about what it feels like to pitch your book when you’re already in the industry, how to find experts on exactly what you need … Read more
Listen on Soundcloud, Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Curious about how we started? Listen to our 10th Anniversary Episode here. We had the best time with this panel! Many thanks to our amazing panelists, and to our Manuscript Academy members for the queries, questions, and kindness. Vote for YOUR genre (or age group) for the next … Read more
For MSWL’s 10th anniversary (we know! We can’t believe it either!) we’ve invited KK Hendin, co-founder, who made us legit within four minutes of the first tweet. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, or Spotify. ***Did you catch our #MSWL Live Agent Panel? Four agents, two query critiques, one exercise, and one awesome prize. Tune in … Read more
We’re so happy you’re here! #MSWL, ManuscriptWishList.com, and our other resources exist to make agents more accessible, research more convenient, and the whole process more human. Here are some guides to get started: Main guide to searching for agents: http://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/the-comprehensive-search-and-query-guide/. We suggest you make a list of possible agents, then look at each agency website for their latest guidelines. For … Read more
Welcome to the newest arm of Manuscript Wish List®: The Manuscript Academy. The Academy exists for writers who want the best aspects of a conference–the classes, the direct access to experts, the networking, and the personalized critiques–delivered right to you, without paying for flights, hotels, or travel. Our model is different: You can learn on … Read more
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. We are so happy to welcome Dani Segelbaum, Vice President, Literary Agent & Subsidiary Rights Director at Carol Mann Agency. We discuss how the best nonfiction is an experience, how it relates to platform and the real world, how sub rights tie in—and why it’s so much easier … Read more
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. Join us for a deep dive into query revisions with YA fantasy writer, Julia! Julia and Jessica have spent the last few months in revisions, taking a good query and transforming it into an amazing one. Today we share all the insights learned from this process, how to … Read more
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. We love Kaitlyn! She’s so happy, perceptive, kind, and talented—AND a literary agent who’s created community for her writers, a strong sales track record, and a team of authors—all while being a full-time math teacher, educating young minds. Book a meeting with her here: manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-member…aitlyn-sanchez Kaitlyn Sanchez (she/her) joined … Read more
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. Do you have a book that’s “No plot, just vibes”? We’re here to support you! Join agent Taj McCoy to discuss how to feel good from Draft One to Done. We talk about how subconscious themes, sensory details, and putting new twists on familiar tropes can bring your … Read more
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. Content warning: brief mentions of fictional sexual assault off the page throughout the episode. We are so happy to talk with bestselling author Cameron Kelly Rosenblum, author of The Stepping Off Place and, now, The Sharp Edge of Silence. After ten years on submission, Cameron can now sell … Read more
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane with Corey Finkle, the author of picture books, Your Future is Bright and Pop’s Perfect Present. From finding your writing community, the power of small but meaningful interactions at conferences and conventions, and seeing the value of every draft, we … Read more
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. The more we hear about the Writer’s Guild of America West, the more we wonder why book authors don’t have something similar. Did you know that members of The Writer’s Guild of America receive health insurance (good health insurance!), among many other benefits—all for 1.5% of the member’s … Read more
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. Today we have the delightful Ashley Audrain, author of The Push, as we discuss her new book, The Whispers. From the many faces of motherhood, getting inspiration from your neighborhood, pantsing, editing, and creating suspense, we get into what it took to send this book out into the … Read more