The Manuscript Academy

#MSWL
  • 4.8 (297)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

The Manuscript Academy brings you conversations with agents, editors, and writers who can help you on your publishing journey.

  1. 1d ago

    From 1,000 Rejections To New York Times Bestseller

    How does an author go from 1,000 rejections to New York Times Bestseller? Tune in to find out! Senior editor Ruqayyah Daud (LBYR/Requited/Hachette Book Group) and her author Jordan Stephanie Gray sit down to talk about what actually happens between "I love this manuscript" and a book on shelves: what really goes on in an acquisitions meeting, why a "no" is almost never about your writing, the call that changed Jordan's career while she was at Disney World — and how an author who got 1,000 rejections ended up a New York Times bestseller. Whether you're drafting your first manuscript or waiting on submission, this one's for you. 0:00 Meet Ruqayyah and Jordan 1:58 The call that changed everything 7:09 Inside an acquisitions meeting 9:44 The real reason most manuscripts get rejected 13:02 Do editors still edit? 14:21 How to handle reviews and get off Goodreads 16:32 Advice for every writer still in the query trenches JORDAN STEPHANIE GRAY is the New York Times bestselling author of the young adult paranormal romantasy Bitten and the adult mermaid romantasy The Wicked Sea. When she isn't lounging by the pool and typing away at her computer, she is likely cuddling her pugs in sunny Florida. Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @jordanstephaniegray, and visit her website jordanstephaniegray.com. RUQAYYAH DAUD is a senior editor at LBYR and Requited. She acquires everything from middle grade through New Adult. Some of her titles include the #1 New York Times bestseller Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma, the critically acclaimed As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh, and the buzzed-about romantasy Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray. Learn more about Manuscript Academy: https://manuscriptacademy.com Find your agent match: https://manuscriptwishlist.com Book a 1:1 consultation with a literary agent: https://manuscriptacademy.com/consultations Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts — it helps other writers find the show.

    From 1,000 Rejections To New York Times Bestseller

  2. Sep 15

    The Comp Title Formula That Actually Works (with Hannah Robinson)

    Comp titles are second only to platform as the most feared part of a writer's journey--but they don't have to be scary. In this episode, editor and author coach Hannah Robinson breaks comp titles down into something writers already do instinctively every day: describing an unfamiliar thing by connecting it to something familiar. Hannah walks through her "Magic Madlib" formula — [Your Title] meets [Comp A] meets [Comp B], perfect for readers who love [detail] of [Comp C] — and explains the concept of triangulation, why your comps don't need to be exact matches to your book, and how to balance a big "category killer" comp (think Harry Potter or The Body Keeps the Score) with something more realistic to your own platform and sales track. You'll walk away with a repeatable framework for finding comps that make agents, editors, and readers lean in — plus real examples pulled straight from published book descriptions and jacket copy. Hannah is a freelance editor, collaborator, and author coach specializing in practical nonfiction. Before going independent, she worked in-house at HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette Book Group. IN THIS EPISODE: — Why comp titles feel so intimidating (and why they shouldn't) — The Magic Madlib formula for building your comp title — Real comp examples from published books and jacket copy — Triangulation: using comps as a known baseline, not an exact match — The 4 basics every strong comp should hit: genre, format, sales track, and recency — How to responsibly use a "category killer" comp — What to do when your best comp is older than 3 years — Listener Q&A: What exactly is a category killer? LINKS & RESOURCES: Manuscript Academy: https://manuscriptacademy.com Meet Hannah: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/hannah-robinson Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:20 The Magic Madlib formula, previewed 01:00 Warm-up: describing things using comps 04:10 Why comp titles matter 04:40 The Magic Madlib formula explained 05:00 Real comp title examples from published books 05:40 Triangulation: comps as baselines, not exact matches 06:10 The 4 basics every strong comp should hit 09:30 Make it your own: advanced comp strategies 10:10 More real comp examples 11:50 Wrap-up & Q&A: What is a "category killer"?

    The Comp Title Formula That Actually Works (with Hannah Robinson)

  3. Sep 15

    10 Years of Manuscript Academy: Jessica & Julie Kick Off Our Anniversary Season

    It's Manuscript Academy's 10th anniversary season--and to kick it off, co-founders Jessica Sinsheimer (agent, Context Literary Agency, co-founder of #MSWL, Manuscript Wish List®, and The Manuscript Academy®) and Julie Kingsley (award-winning author, media professor + co-founder of The Manuscript Academy®) are here to catch you up on everything coming this year. Ten years ago, The Manuscript Academy officially launched in September 2016, with their very first filming day on September 17th in a rented New York theater (jackhammers, unfortunately, included). A decade later, we're marking the milestone with a full slate of anniversary programming, including: ***A new 10-minute episode format — every episode this season, agent mini-classes, editor interviews, and author conversations on query letters, comp titles, pacing, platform, and more, all in a bite-sized format. ***Genre Celebration events, kicking off with science fiction, fantasy, speculative, and dystopian fiction --five mini classes from agents and editors, a live feedback panel, optional one-to-one pitch sessions, and dedicated query, page, and critique-partner forums. Learn more at https://genre.manuscriptacademy.com/. ***A Founding Member Reunion Month for anyone who was part of Manuscript Academy back in 2016. ***A worldwide ambassador project, with more details coming soon. Hint: You'll need a printer, a few sheets of paper, a bookstore, and a sense of mischief. ***A few things they're not confirming or denying yet — including a possible in-person event later this year. Interested in our free offerings? Chekc out our blog library, YouTube channel, and free event replays at ManuscriptAcademy.com/free. Need help with your query letter? Check out our 1:1 agent consultations with literary agents and editors. Learn more about our annervsary events at anniversary.manuscriptacademy.com and our programming at ManuscriptAcademy.com.

    10 Years of Manuscript Academy: Jessica & Julie Kick Off Our Anniversary Season

  4. Jun 11

    Hannah Clip From Practice Round

    Hannah Clip From Practice Round by #MSWL

  5. Jun 11

    MemberCast: Office Hours February 26

    Join us for a members-only chat answering YOUR questions, exclusive teasers on upcoming Academy features, and going over your pages, live. This was live-recorded February 26, 1:00pm. If you'd like to submit your work (or questions!) for feedback, help, or compassionate insight, please do so at https://manuscriptacademy.com/office-hours.

  6. 12/18/2024

    Why Does Publishing Take So Darn Long? With Special Guest Agent Stefanie Molina

    Have you ever wondered why Publishing seems to take so much longer than any other industry? We posed this question to agent Stefanie Molina, Ladderbird Literary--and discuss what it means for agents, editors, and - most of all - writers. Want to talk about your work with Stefanie? Schedule a time here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/stefanie-molina We discuss: Current Trends in Publishing (00:03:57)
 What Makes A work “Fresh”? (00:05:01)
 The Importance of BIPOC Voices in Literature (00:06:32) Communication Challenges in Publishing (00:08:33)
 Literary Agents of Change (00:10:52) Advice for Writers in the Querying Process (00:15:48) Agents’ Constant Thoughts on Clients (00:28:56)
 Hope for Industry Change (00:39:31) Scholarship Opportunities (00:44:47)

  7. 12/02/2024

    How To Make Your Work More Addictive: Pacing, Structure & Symmetry with Agent Liv Ivanov

    We are so happy to welcome Liv Ivanov, agent at Creative Media Agency, to the podcast! In this episode, we talk about making your work more addictive (we can all dream of the "I read it in one sitting" agent response!) through: *Effective pacing *Structure *Tension *Symmetry *The MICE Quotient And more! Liv shares her insights on avoiding excessive exposition, the balance between tension and pacing, and the importance of character development. She also highlights techniques like reverse outlining and reading aloud to improve manuscripts. We also learn what Liv would like to have in her inbox. Meet Liv here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/liv-ivanov

  8. 11/21/2024

    How To Make Your Work More Commercial with Agent Alyssa Jennette (Stonesong Literary)

    How do you make your work more commercial--and why is commercial the trend right now? Join agent Alyssa Jennette (Stonesong Literary) as we talk about: 1) Why is commercial trending right now? 2) What can ALL genres (including literary) do to appeal to readers in this moment? 3) Why you should focus revision efforts on stakes, character, payoff and more to make your commercial and literary works more 4) Why literary and upmarket writers don't need to panic. This is part of a larger podcast episode (15 minutes) coming soon. Meet Alyssa here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/alyssa-jennette Video clip of this episode here: https://youtu.be/F8wl9mwyc9k?si=Tg-lfxW2dBC6CpxR Learn more at https://manuscriptacademy.com/

See All (257)

4.8
out of 5
297 Ratings

About

The Manuscript Academy brings you conversations with agents, editors, and writers who can help you on your publishing journey.

Information

  • Creator
    #MSWL
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    258
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Manuscript Academy

You Might Also Like