The Manuscript Academy #MSWL

We are thrilled to introduce Ali McLafferty, author, teacher, and most recent winner of the as-yet-untitled (Manuscript) Academy Awards.

Ali was nominated by agent Melissa Edwards (Stonesong Literary) for this gorgeous fantasy novel that brings up a lot of issues in our world as well.

We discuss how she polished her query, how many drafts she did of her first page--and what she learned along the way.

Learn more about Ali at https://www.alimclafferty.com/.

Full transcript at https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-ali-mclafferty

TIMESTAMPS:
Feedback on Allie's query letter and first page (00:10:09) Julie and Jessica provide feedback on Allie's query letter and first page, discussing its strengths and areas for improvement.

Allie's revision process for the query letter (00:15:24) Allie discusses her process of revising the query letter, including feedback from friends and an editor, and the changes she made.

The query letter (00:20:22) Discussion on the effectiveness of the query letter's opening and structure, focusing on the emotional impact and the feedback received.

First page of the manuscript (00:21:44) Analysis and feedback on the opening page of the manuscript, highlighting its grounding effect and the portrayal of the character and setting.

Writing process and first draft (00:24:04) Discussion about the unique experience of the book's creation, the absence of significant revisions, and the influence of personal connection and understanding of the material on the first draft.

Genre and target audience (00:35:28) Challenges in defining the genre and target audience for the book, particularly in conveying the blend of fantasy and imagined scientific systems, and the potential for pitching to adult audiences.

Rejection and perseverance (00:34:15) Acknowledgment of the emotional impact of rejections and the importance of perseverance, as well as the advice on finding rewards in the process and maintaining determination.

Pitching and query letter adjustments (00:38:05) Consideration of pitching the book as adult fantasy and the potential adjustments for the query letter to cater to an adult audience without compromising the narrative drive.

Author's website and future queries (00:39:25)

Advice for Writers (00:41:49) Allie shares her advice for aspiring writers, emphasizing the joy of writing and the importance of perseverance.

Touching Moments (00:44:03) Allie recounts a touching moment when her husband was moved by a part of her first book, emphasizing the impact of writing on loved ones.

We love this creativity-packed episode with Melissa Vogan (née Melissa Warten), former editor at Macmillan, current editor at Epic For Kids.

We discuss:
*“Just enough” art notes - and how they’re useful for every genre
*How you can guide the focus of your reader through sensory language
*How to get to the heart of your story
*How to disagree with an editor or agent's feedback
*How to create your first visual work after writing only text-based projects

And much more!

Transcript and timestamps here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-melissa-vogan

Book a consultation with Melissa here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/melissa-warten

Melissa Vogan (Warten) is an editor at Epic for Kids, the leading digital reading platform for children, where she works on IP comics development projects for readers ages 12 and under, including the smash hit series Cat Ninja. Prior to Epic, she spent more than five years on the editorial team at Farrar Straus Giroux Books working on picture books, middle grade, young adult, and select nonfiction and graphic novel projects.

Her notable editorial work includes the popular Cat Ninja and Bright Family franchises, New York Times bestselling titles We Hunt the Flame and We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal, and award-winning titles by Maurene Goo, Barbara O’Connor, Sarah Allen, Hanif Abdurraqib, Tegan and Sara Quin, and Tillie Walden. Melissa is a graduate of Boston College and the Columbia Publishing Course. Find her on Twitter: @melissa_warten

You may remember Julia Alexandra from our episode in the fall when we went over three query versions with her (good, better, best): Well, she now has an agent! Ellen Goff (HG Literary) joins us with Julia to discuss balancing plot, character, and world--if your fantasy novel will hold up without your fantasy elements, which we're now calling "The Goff Test"--and how you can optimize your queries for your most likely success.

Julia now not only has an agent but a book deal as well!

Listen to her earlier episode here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-julia-alexandra

Learn more about Ellen here: https://www.hgliterary.com/ellen

If you've ever had trouble with point of view in your work, wait until you hear the advanced logistical world author Nia Davenport had to navigate for her new novel, Out of Body, which she pitches as Freaky Friday meets Get Out.

Not only does she have best friends, crushes, confused parents, and a villain on the loose--but she weaves it all into a story of identity, personal growth, and becoming an adult in a world where adults can't be trusted.

This is a great work to study if you're struggling in any of these areas--plus, it's FUN. It's a new twist on something familiar, that formula so many in publishing love.

Full transcript here: http://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-nia-davenport

Learn more about Nia here: https://www.nedavenport.com

TIMESTAMPS:

**Character development and world-building (00:03:29)**
Nia explains how she visualizes her character's journey and the unfolding of the plot like watching a movie.

**Creating mystery in the opening chapter (00:06:12)**
Nia discusses the decision to keep the first chapter mysterious and how it sets the tone for the story.

**Maintaining character voice in different bodies (00:07:39)**
Nia talks about the challenge of maintaining the character's voice regardless of the body she is in.

**Nia's publishing journey (00:10:25)**
Nia shares her journey from teaching to becoming a writer and the process of finding her agent, Caitie Flum.

**Advice for aspiring writers (00:17:54)**
Nia advises writers to breathe, take it slow, and keep perfecting their craft, emphasizing the importance of perseverance.

**Developing character relationships (00:19:18)**
Nia explains the power dynamic and genuine friendship between the characters Megan and Elsie.

**Magic and Technology in the Story (00:22:54)**
Nia discusses the use of magic and technology in her book, playing with the reader's perception.

**Empathy and Societal Conversations (00:27:22)**
Nia discusses the current generation's ability to have conversations about socio-emotional health and empathy.

**Tension and Gaslighting (00:34:20)**
Nia discusses the theme of gaslighting and the decision to leave the protagonist feeling isolated for a significant portion of the book.

**Testing Safety and Vulnerability (00:36:33)**
The protagonist's actions to test the safety of the people around her and the vulnerability of teenagers.

**Identity, Race, and Kindness (00:39:09)**
Nia talks about the theme of identity, race, and the importance of choosing kindness and compassion.

**Writing Difficult Subjects (00:41:18)**
Nia advises writers to write what they love and are passionate about, rather than trying to fit into trends.

**Inclusivity in Publishing (00:43:33)**
Nia encourages writers to find a supportive writing community and emphasizes the importance of diverse voices in traditional publishing.

Tennessee, 1960. One extraordinary team of women--and the first all-Black women’s track team--found glory at the Olympic games in Rome. Here in America, their success was "an impossible dream come true."

Now, author Aime Alley Card tells us her personal connection to the team, how she did her astonishing amount of research, and how she found agent Leticia Gomez to represent the work, now available from Lyons Press: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-tigerbelles-the-american-team-that-changed-the-face-of-women-s-sports-aime-alley-card/18574403?ean=9781493073887

Learn more about Aime here: https://www.aimecard.com
Learn more about Leticia here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/leticia-gomez

Episode transcript here: http://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-leticia-gomez-aime-alley-card

Join our interactive Says/Does Activity + view transcript here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/sara-schonfeld

We discuss editing with love and patience, acquiring in the age of book bans (let's just say Florida doesn't get to choose what the rest of the country reads), how to make your book feel "fresh"--and why so many editors ask for "a new twist on something familiar."

Book a meeting with Sara here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/sara-schonfeld

Timestamps:
**Sara's Journey into Publishing (00:00:40)**
Sara shares her accidental entry into publishing and the influence of her professors.

**What Editors Look for in Manuscripts (00:03:37)**
Sara discusses her preference for manuscripts and the importance of compelling writing.

**Creating Compelling First Pages (00:04:58)**
The challenges and advice for authors in creating engaging first pages.

**Balancing Worldbuilding and Character Development in Fantasy (00:06:54)**
Sara's perspective on worldbuilding and character-driven fantasy stories.

**Freshness in Writing (00:12:14)**
Sara discusses the concept of freshness in writing and the balance between familiarity and authenticity.

**Revising and Streamlining Writing (00:15:32)**
Sara's tips for effective revision and streamlining of storytelling elements.

**Interconnectedness in storytelling (00:24:19)**
Julie and Sara discuss the interconnectedness of different elements in a story and how changes affect the overall narrative.

**Flexibility in story revision (00:25:13)**
Sara emphasizes the importance of being flexible during story revision and trying out different approaches.

**The "says/does" outline (00:26:15)**
Sara explains the "says/does" outline as a helpful tool for authors to reflect on their writing and ensure effective communication of the story.

**Reading recommendations (00:30:41)**
Sara shares her current reading list and recommends a book she finds relatable.

**Creativity and self-doubt (00:34:25)**
Sara discusses the challenges of maintaining creativity and self-belief in a competitive publishing industry.

**Humor in storytelling (00:37:00)**
Sara discusses the refreshing humor in "Murder on a School Night" and the importance of originality in storytelling.

**Book Banning and Publishing (00:38:50)**
Discussion on book banning, including the pushback faced and examples of flagged content, and the importance of not letting it influence acquisitions.

**Reading and Writing with Love (00:43:25)**
The significance of reading as a writer, advice to read with joy and love, and the act of writing as an invitation to share one's experience and heart.

**Where to Find Sara Online (00:44:39)**
Sara's online presence, including her Twitter handle, website, and involvement with the Manuscript Academy.

Sara Schonfeld is an editor at HarperCollins Children’s, working on picture books, middle grade, and teen. After starting her publishing career at Penguin Random House, she joined HarperCollins in 2019. She lives in New York City, and spends most of her time reading, kickboxing, baking, or generally pretending she’s in a Nora Ephron film.

As an author and an editor, she approaches each project with curiosity. Her goal is to ask the questions that get an author inspired and help them uncover the heart of their story—whatever feeling inspired them to put words to paper, and whatever feeling they hope readers take away from the final book.