Everything to Everyone

Hey friends,

I’ve been thinking about this newsletter a lot lately, because recent developments at Substack have forced me to (read Grace Lavery on it if you’re lost) and part of this thinking is how to make sure I’m actually giving people what they can use and/or need in a way that is interesting to both them and me. But that’s pretty tough because everyone comes to this newsletter with different needs. There’s the new writer who needs query letter advice. The published writer who wants inside scoops. The reader who just likes my tweets and thought this would be funny. (Sorry!) But I covered query letters two years ago and can’t do that every week, but also what about contracts and submissions and money and book proposals and and and and. There is so much writers need to know and we’re not all doing this on the timeline.

That’s why a newsletter is kinda a bad way to approach this! Especially one where the UI for searching old posts is not great (it’s on the homepage under an arrow and then you click Archive and then you search) though there is a new feature that I’m getting set up where there will be a list of links on the side of the homepage pointing you to relevant posts. WOO! You know what would be a better way to get writers this information? A BOOK. (Editors, call me.) But I’m working on all of these things.

You may have also noticed that a lot of my advice has boiled down to ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ lately. Maybe that’s just the tenor of the world. Maybe it’s my crotchety old agent vibes coming out. Maybe I’m just nervous of saying THIS IS THE ONE TRUE ANSWER and it not applying to ohhhhh 93% of you out there. But also, it’s just true. Every book is so different. Every circumstance is so different. I’m not going to be able to give you advice that applies directly and distinctly to YOUR situation. But I can give you general ideas of how the broad machinery works, so you can figure out if your situation is normal, good, middling, bad, or an emergency. I might, also, be able to help you figure out your next steps, or at least who to talk to about it. I always say the #1 question I get from my client is “is this normal?” I think that’s what I’m answering here, too.

I’m going to keep talking about query letters. And contracts. And my feelings about books and writing and publishing. Thanks to you who have stuck it out here for a while. Thank you to those who are here for a bit and then have to or want to move on. Thanks to everyone who’s shared this with those who need it. I’m happy to take suggestions of topics to cover and if you’re a paid subscriber, you’re welcome to submit a question for Q&A Thursday—just reply to any Thursday email. Sorry to have a bit of a State of the Newsletter post today, but sometimes that’s just what needs to be done.

(And a reminder to new readers. I am dyslexic. I literally cannot see some of my typos here. Yes, I could hire a copy editor, but that doesn’t currently fit with my workflow right now. Please don’t hold typos against me. Trying my best here.)

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HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY TO HALLIE BATEMAN and her THIRD book DIRECTIONS: Really Good Advice for Getting From Here to There, out now from Workman. This book arose out of Hallie’s excellent Instagram and I love it so so so much.

It’s the perfect present for your friend who needs a boost, a little encouragement, a little kick in the pants. That friend could be yourself.

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Stay safe and get vaccinated.

OXOXOXOX,

Kate