Welcome new friends! There are a lot of new faces around here and I wanted to thank you for subscribing as well as give you a tour of the grounds. There’s lots of information to discover and much more to come.
The sidebar on the homepage is full of posts on oft-requested topics: query letters, finding an agent, contracts, book proposals, author life.
Here’s another list of popular topics, for your perusal!
Let’s pretend you’re a writer just starting out on the agent and publishing journey. You’ll want to start here:
If you’re a new paid subscriber, thank you! Check out the Fifty Queries Club and if you have a question for Q&A Thursday, just respond to any Thursday email and ask away!
NOW, let’s have a thread. We haven’t done that in a while. Let me know what you want to know. Let me know what you’re hoping for—writing and publishing wise—for 2022. Let me know what you’re reading! Ask your fellow readers about their favorite post!
These newsletters are incredible. Thank you so much for all the resources and all the pep-talks. I have to smile a lot as I read your words of recognition - yes, I want it to be easy; I want an agent/publisher just to recognize how great my book is and voila! it'll be published - easy peasy. I'm 54 still slogging away at this, constantly debating whether to quit. But seriously, your newsletters make me feel less like a loser, less like giving up - having a sense of humour about it all. I will become a paid subscriber - your wisdom is cheaper than therapy! Thank you.
I’m curious to hear everyone’s thoughts on the relationship between reading and writing. Do you read mostly within or outside of the genre you write in? How has writing changed your relationship with reading? Do you read less when you’re writing a lot and vice versa?
Oh these are interesting questions! I tend to read in the genre I'm writing in before I start writing (much like Kate) as well as in between drafts/revisions. I have a hard time reading the same genre that I'm actively writing in. I do tend to read a lot when I write, just from different genres (if I'm writing sff, I'll read lit fic or nonfic or vice versa). what about you?
Thanks Sara, interesting to hear! I could NOT read anything in my genre (climate nonfiction) when I was writing my first book, I felt like it interfered with finding my own voice. I also find I lose the pleasure of losing myself in a book when I'm reading something in my own genre as I'm thinking more critically about it rather than being swept away and absorbing it as a whole. It feels like work, not pleasure. My reading in general went down a lot when I was intensively writing and editing to get my book out the door. A major joy has been rediscovering reading books this year and giving myself permission to read widely across a lot of genres that are new for me (thrillers/mystery, romance, young adult) as well as my usual nonfiction and novels. :)
Hi Kate! I just subscribed to your newsletter and I'm so excited. It seems like it'll be a great resource--so thank you in advance for what I'm sure will be lots of wisdom. I'm not at the point where I'm ready to query, but I'm hoping that in the next year or so, I will be. I am interested in writing a range of things (from memoir to lit fic to science fiction/fantasy to short story) and I was wondering if, when I do get to the point of querying, will I be looking for an agent who can represent all my various interests/genres or would I want to have different agents? Is it common for writers to have more than one agent? Thanks!
I stopped working on of my novel (draft 3) during the summer when I started interviewing for jobs. Now I'm trying to navigate my new job, sitting long hours at the computer (besides planning a move across the ocean) and it's honestly exhausting ...so I find it hard to start writing again. Do you have any advice on how to get back into the groove without burning myself out to death?
Also, thank you for this newsletter! Every time it pops in my inbox it's giving me a much-needed reminder that I once used to be busy writing a book.
It's so hard, right? I feel like this a lot. What helps me is that I have to accept that my output will probably be less than I want it to be and that is ok and also that REST is essential. I will be bad at everything if I don't rest. AND that i-don't-wanna felling is normal and everyone has it and sometimes I just have to get over it and write for 15 minutes and if that's all I have, that's ok. It's better than nothing. Go easy on yourself.
First of all: thanks for sharing so much insider knowledge with the rest of us! Your newsletter has been such a great way to learn and connect with the writing world, especially as someone with a corporate career. I loved your "Five Years and Six Drafts" post, especially as a writer nearing 40(!) who has *twice* come painfully close to selling a novel. In 2022, I'll be making attempt number 3, so more stories about perseverance and endurance are always appreciated!
.....maybe. It's a tough call for me right now because my client list is so full. It's not that I don't want to, it's that I might not be a good agent to anyone if I add more to my plate.
Another related question. I think I am ready to query. I have gone back through all your old posts which are so helpful! I even have a document that I created with all your best advice that I need. I have done so much research on agents and have a long list of those I want to query. But now I'm nervous! Do I just go for it. What's the push I need?!
I mean, not querying means you have zero chance of getting an agent. Querying increases your chances greatly! Just do it!! (It's scary for everyone. Even me! But don't let fear stop you.)
Well, it's seemingly free, abundant, can't-avoid-it publicity. It's a snowball rolling down a hill. It's the epitome of "everyone is talking about..." And that can sell books. When I first saw your question I thought it was more complicated than that. But it's not. It's a hail mary pass. The problem is people think they can orchestrate going viral, and I don't think it works (well) that way.
I think the people I've seen advocate it the most are debut authors looking for agents--it does seem a bit chimeric to pin your hopes on that, though. I would think a track record of solid work would be the thing to do to build platform--blogging, writing for publications on your topic, etc. Or am I imagining that?
Aiming for going viral is like trying to win the lottery. It might work! Chances are, it won't. People who go viral do get attention from agents. But so do people who just put in the work.
These newsletters are incredible. Thank you so much for all the resources and all the pep-talks. I have to smile a lot as I read your words of recognition - yes, I want it to be easy; I want an agent/publisher just to recognize how great my book is and voila! it'll be published - easy peasy. I'm 54 still slogging away at this, constantly debating whether to quit. But seriously, your newsletters make me feel less like a loser, less like giving up - having a sense of humour about it all. I will become a paid subscriber - your wisdom is cheaper than therapy! Thank you.
Thank you so much!!!
I’m curious to hear everyone’s thoughts on the relationship between reading and writing. Do you read mostly within or outside of the genre you write in? How has writing changed your relationship with reading? Do you read less when you’re writing a lot and vice versa?
I read a lot in the genre I"m writing in BEFORE I start writing. I trail off a bit while I'm writing because I'm writing. :) Otherwise I read widely!
Oh these are interesting questions! I tend to read in the genre I'm writing in before I start writing (much like Kate) as well as in between drafts/revisions. I have a hard time reading the same genre that I'm actively writing in. I do tend to read a lot when I write, just from different genres (if I'm writing sff, I'll read lit fic or nonfic or vice versa). what about you?
Thanks Sara, interesting to hear! I could NOT read anything in my genre (climate nonfiction) when I was writing my first book, I felt like it interfered with finding my own voice. I also find I lose the pleasure of losing myself in a book when I'm reading something in my own genre as I'm thinking more critically about it rather than being swept away and absorbing it as a whole. It feels like work, not pleasure. My reading in general went down a lot when I was intensively writing and editing to get my book out the door. A major joy has been rediscovering reading books this year and giving myself permission to read widely across a lot of genres that are new for me (thrillers/mystery, romance, young adult) as well as my usual nonfiction and novels. :)
Hi Kate! I just subscribed to your newsletter and I'm so excited. It seems like it'll be a great resource--so thank you in advance for what I'm sure will be lots of wisdom. I'm not at the point where I'm ready to query, but I'm hoping that in the next year or so, I will be. I am interested in writing a range of things (from memoir to lit fic to science fiction/fantasy to short story) and I was wondering if, when I do get to the point of querying, will I be looking for an agent who can represent all my various interests/genres or would I want to have different agents? Is it common for writers to have more than one agent? Thanks!
HI! Sorry--I answered this in my head and not IRL! You can find your answer here: https://katemckean.substack.com/p/how-many-agents-is-enough !
Hi Kate!
I stopped working on of my novel (draft 3) during the summer when I started interviewing for jobs. Now I'm trying to navigate my new job, sitting long hours at the computer (besides planning a move across the ocean) and it's honestly exhausting ...so I find it hard to start writing again. Do you have any advice on how to get back into the groove without burning myself out to death?
Also, thank you for this newsletter! Every time it pops in my inbox it's giving me a much-needed reminder that I once used to be busy writing a book.
It's so hard, right? I feel like this a lot. What helps me is that I have to accept that my output will probably be less than I want it to be and that is ok and also that REST is essential. I will be bad at everything if I don't rest. AND that i-don't-wanna felling is normal and everyone has it and sometimes I just have to get over it and write for 15 minutes and if that's all I have, that's ok. It's better than nothing. Go easy on yourself.
Thank you!
First of all: thanks for sharing so much insider knowledge with the rest of us! Your newsletter has been such a great way to learn and connect with the writing world, especially as someone with a corporate career. I loved your "Five Years and Six Drafts" post, especially as a writer nearing 40(!) who has *twice* come painfully close to selling a novel. In 2022, I'll be making attempt number 3, so more stories about perseverance and endurance are always appreciated!
You're welcome and good luck!
Will you be opening for queries in 2022?
.....maybe. It's a tough call for me right now because my client list is so full. It's not that I don't want to, it's that I might not be a good agent to anyone if I add more to my plate.
totally understand that!
Another related question. I think I am ready to query. I have gone back through all your old posts which are so helpful! I even have a document that I created with all your best advice that I need. I have done so much research on agents and have a long list of those I want to query. But now I'm nervous! Do I just go for it. What's the push I need?!
I mean, not querying means you have zero chance of getting an agent. Querying increases your chances greatly! Just do it!! (It's scary for everyone. Even me! But don't let fear stop you.)
Thanks! needed a little pep talk and I'm ready to go! Thanks for all the advice on this newsletter. It is a gem!
Thank you for this great roundup Kate! I will go back and catch up on some posts I missed.
Happy reading!
Why is "going viral" to sell a book emphasized so much by some people?
As in authors who really want it or as in publishers who rely on it? Or both?
Both.
Well, it's seemingly free, abundant, can't-avoid-it publicity. It's a snowball rolling down a hill. It's the epitome of "everyone is talking about..." And that can sell books. When I first saw your question I thought it was more complicated than that. But it's not. It's a hail mary pass. The problem is people think they can orchestrate going viral, and I don't think it works (well) that way.
I think the people I've seen advocate it the most are debut authors looking for agents--it does seem a bit chimeric to pin your hopes on that, though. I would think a track record of solid work would be the thing to do to build platform--blogging, writing for publications on your topic, etc. Or am I imagining that?
Aiming for going viral is like trying to win the lottery. It might work! Chances are, it won't. People who go viral do get attention from agents. But so do people who just put in the work.