We talk with agent Whitney Ross at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency about why she never says she *doesn’t* want something in her inbox, the different levels of editors and why they matter–why you don’t need a master’s to work in publishing. Then we veer into delicious territory, talking about the best chocolate chip cookies, … Read more
This is such a special episode! if you listen to just one (or if you need a pick-me-up after last week…) check this out. Stream here: https://soundcloud.com/user-965795498/jen-gunnels Jessica Sinsheimer went into the Tor/Macmillan offices to speak with the intrepid editor Jen Gunnels. We talk about why she never sends an editorial letter without a phone call, … Read more
Longtime critique partners Julie Kingsley and Cameron Rosenblum (@ckellyrose, YA author repped by Brianne Johnson at Writers House, librarian) discuss a page from the brave and talented writer Lauren Shade, @laurentshade. Want to submit YOUR page for a chance of being on a First Pages episode? Send your first page–as a Word doc, please–to … Read more
Join Kelly Van Sant, literary agent at Red Sofa Literary, to analyze ten random queries in her inbox. Along the way, learn how she decides when to say yes, when to say no, and when to decide later–how common it is that people don’t even get her name right–and why a query doesn’t have to … Read more
This week on the podcast, we spoke with Hanna Alkaf, author of THE WEIGHT OF OUR SKY (Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster, 2019), about multiple agent offers–managing your writing career and writing friendships when you don’t live in the United States–and the amazing story of her role in Malaysia’s most recent election. We can’t even tell you … Read more
by Ann Leslie Tuttle, Agent at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret Most of us have had this experience where we’re walking down a street to a familiar destination but suddenly the route looks different because we’re approaching the spot from another direction. To me, that’s what it has felt like making the shift to agenting after spending … Read more
by Julie Kingsley I spent much of April floored by a head cold. It wasn’t one of those just have a few sniffles colds, but a solid melting into the floor bug. I spent nine days on the couch watching hours and hours of television. This, as you could imagine, filled me with creative self-loathing, … Read more
Melissa Edwards (agent at Stonesong Literary, former lawyer, and founder of MLE Consulting) joins us to talk contracts, specialties, and what happens when another kind of lawyer attempts to negotiate a publishing contract. You’ll learn the worst clause she’s ever seen (it’s so bad you guys), what will stay the same pretty much no matter … Read more
by Julie Kingsley Back in college, I had a professor who railed on the notion that the writing was about sacrifice. I recall him yelling, “If you want to be an effective working writer you will say no to dinner with friends, that day at the beach, the trip to the mall. Instead, you need … Read more
We spoke with agent Erik Hane of Red Sofa Literary about how he got his start, how he used to think fiction writers were hired like contractors–and the programs he’d build if given the funding. We also spend a brief moment talking about how #MeToo has come to publishing. Plus, some dangerous-sounding winter sports Erik … Read more