The Manuscript Academy
Episodes
53: Live Pitches, Thrillers, And A Large Emotional and Aesthetic Range
29 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We spoke with Jess Dallow, agent at Brower Literary & Management, about live pitch sessions from the agent side of the desk. We cover when to book the...
52: A Real Live Consultation with Agent Danielle Chiotti
06 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder what happens when you meet with an agent? Two very generous people--Danielle Chiotti, agent, and Kayla King, writer--let us listen in on t...
51: Structure, Characters + Narrative Beats with agent Hannah Fergesen
10 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah Fergesen of KT Literary joins us to talk about how she moved from film to publishing (and what makes the two industries different and the same)...
50: Our LIVE 50th Episode Extravaganza with Fiona Kenshole
09 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The wonderful Fiona Kenshole, Senior Agent and Partner at Transatlantic Literary Agency, kindly joined us for a grand experiment--a live recording of ...
49: Simon & Schuster Editors Liz Kossnar and Krista Vitola
12 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Krista Vitola and Liz Kossnar, two wonderful--and very different--editors from Simon & Schuster, joined us to talk about how to have a good relationsh...
Picture Books and Adults Talking Kidlit With Editor Aneeka Kalia at Viking/Penguin Random House
19 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What's better than a bunch of adults talking about kidlit? This episode, we learn about the hilarious inner workings of Very Serious Adult Meetings ab...
Agent-Author Team Eric Smith + Mike Chen: When NOT to Give Up
29 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We are so excited to congratulate author Mike Chen and agent Eric Smith on the release of the beautiful, moving novel HERE AND NOW AND THEN with Har...
46: #TenQueries with Samantha Wekstein, Writers House
05 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Samantha Wekstein, agent at Writers House, was generous enough to join us for a #TenQueries episode. We chat with her about how she got into publishin...
Episode 45: Stephanie Stein from HarperCollins Children's/HarperTeen
18 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with Stephanie Stein at HarperCollins about California and New York publishing, a typical day in the life of a Big Five editor, and what it ta...
First Pages Podcast: Something Beautiful by Jasmine Rasmussen
09 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Join Jessica and Julie for a First Pages podcast featuring this page by Jasmine Rasmussen. Please feel free to follow along with the page (below) whil...
Episode 43: Great First Lines with Agent John Cusick
12 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We speak with agent John M. Cusick of Folio Literary Management about great first lines, what they can do for your work--and how they can make a good ...
Episode 42: Literary Libations
05 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Grab your favorite drink, maybe a nice pot of hot oolong tea, or a dry martini with a twist. If you’re in the autumn mood, pour a nice glass of fres...
Episode 41: #TenQueries with Agent Roseanne Wells
15 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Agent Roseanne Wells of The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency goes through her query inbox, narrating for us both what's in there and what writers ca...
Episode 40: Jennifer Thermes: Finding Your Creative Voice
01 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Julie talks with award-winning author-illustrator Jennifer Thermes about the relationship between text, images, and the picture book process--why it t...
Episode 39: Editors, Query Mistakes, and The Best Cookies Ever
16 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Episode 38: Most Likely to Survive The Zombie Apocalypse: Jen Gunnels at Tor/Macmillan
02 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Please note: This episode contains adult language, but because Jen uses it so artfully, we couldn't stand to bleep it out. If you're listening aroun...
Episode 37: The Literary Life with Lilly Dancyger
22 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We spoke with Lilly Dancyger, writer, editor of Narratively, and creator of Memoir Monday, a weekly newsletter and monthly reading series co-curated b...
Episode 36: #TenQueries with Agent Kelly Van Sant
12 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Episode 35: Author Hanna Alkaf
07 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We speak with the amazing Hanna Alkaf, author of THE WEIGHT OF OUR SKY, (Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster, 2019), about multiple offers--managing your wr...
Episode 34: #TenQueries with Jessica
16 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We join Jessica to talk #TenQueries in her inbox, and what we can learn from them--and from submissions in general. In addition to common mistakes a...
Episode 33: The Least Cynical People In Publishing
08 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
So Jessica threw a party. For interns--sixty of them, recommended by agents and editors. With a small recorder and a lot of luck, she asked them YOUR ...
Agents, Lawyers, and Book Contracts: With Agent And Lawyer Melissa Edwards
16 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Melissa Edwards (agent at Stonesong Literary, former lawyer, and founder of MLE Consulting) joins us to talk contracts, specialties, and what happens ...
Episode 31: First Pages with Author Cameron Rosenblum
04 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Longtime critique partners Julie Kingsley and Cameron Rosenblum dive into another first page for The Manuscript Academy Podcast. Join them for a quic...
Episode 30: Publishing Entrepreneurship, Couchsurfing, and Erik Hane from Red Sofa Literary
12 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We speak with agent Erik Hane of Red Sofa Literary about how he got his start, how he used to think fiction writers were hired--and the programs he'd ...
Episode 29: The Creation of Brooding YA Hero PLUS A New Class!
23 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We speak with author Carrie DiRisio, the voice behind Brooding YA Hero, plus her agent, Melissa Edwards at Stonesong Literary, and her editor, Alison ...
Episode 28: An Interview with Kiana Nguyen
22 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We speak with literary agent Kiana Nguyen of Donald Maass Agency about being a writer AND agent, her days as a park ranger in California and New York,...
Episode 27: GOAL! Video Podcast
08 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Happy 2018! We're here to talk about your goals, and how best to accomplish them. NEW FEATURE: You can now *watch* this podcast as a video. In fact,...
Episode 26: We're on a Boat! OR: The International Writer
30 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with agent Kurestin Armada (P.S. Literary) and her client, Amy Schaefer, who not only got an offer of representation while in another country-...
Episode 25: The Holiday e-Party of the Season
29 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Join us December 11, at 8:00pm EST, for a happy hour featuring writers, agents, editors--all coming together to celebrate the season. PLUS there will ...
Episode 24: Pitch Sessions: Tips from Melissa Edwards
14 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
For the first in this series (all about live meetings!), we talk with agent Melissa Edwards at Stonesong about live pitches, e-consultations, and what...
Episode 23: Comp Titles with Rachel Ekstrom Courage
12 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We asked Rachel Ekstrom Courage to talk about comp titles--comparative and competitive works that can, when used correctly in your pitch, give an agen...
Episode 22: #TenQueries with agent John Cusick
06 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We asked agent John Cusick at Folio Literary to narrate his inbox, #TenQueries style. Just like #TenQueries on Twitter, he described what he was see...
Season Two!
03 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In our Season Two launch, Jessica and Julie talk about the Academy's plans for our second year of business (wooo!). We'll tell you a bit about our new...
The August Episode
22 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Jessica and Julie are melting. It's over 100 degrees, and it's August--that mythical time that Publishing slows down (even more) for a month. In thi...
Episode Twenty: A Conversation With Stephanie Fretwell-Hill of Red Fox Literary
18 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with agent Stephanie Fretwell-Hill of Red Fox Literary about what happens when things go wrong during international work travel--and how the p...
Episode Nineteen: A Conversation with Jaime Coyne of St Martin's/Macmillan
06 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with editor Jaime Coyne, of St. Martin's Press/Macmillan, about the joys and stresses of being and editor who also writes--or did also write--...
Episode Eighteen: Five Days To A Fab First Page
02 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
You heard it here first! Join The Manuscript Academy--along with editors and agents from top houses and agencies--for five daily lessons, five videos,...
Episode Seventeen: First Pages With Kelly Van Sant
02 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We speak with the lovely and talented Kelly Van Sant, agent at D4E0 Literary, about a new first page from author Erin Shachory. If you'd like to subm...
Episode Sixteen: Reaction: The First Pages Podcast
19 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with Lindsey Danis about her experience being workshopped on our podcast, the changes she's implemented, and whether she wanted to reach throu...
Episode Fifteen: A Conversation with Agent Caitie Flum
24 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk with literary agent Caitie Flum of Liza Dawson Associates about online communities (and where to find your people), teleporti...
Episode Fourteen: First Page Podcast With Agent Caitie Flum
09 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In this new feature, we invite an expert--tonight, Caitie Flum of Liza Dawson Associates--have them pick a page from our kind volunteers. We then talk...
Episode Thirteen: Our First First Pages Episode
28 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to our very first First Pages episode! In this new series, we'll be discussing the most interesting first pages we can get our hands on--YOURS...
Platform, Publishing & Publicity in Your Pajamas
23 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week we talk with publicist and literary agent Dawn Michelle Hardy of Serendipity Literary Agency. We talk about publicity, and the surprising am...
Episode Eleven: PubLaw, Negotiation, and An Interview With Lawyer-Turned-Agent Melissa Edwards
26 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with Melissa Edwards of Stonesong Literary about the transition from lawyer to agent, PubLaw basics, and how she really should start a Melissa...
Episode Ten: An Interview With Harlequin Editor Carly Silver
19 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We speak with Harlequin editor Carly Silver about corgis, men in kilts--and whether giving birth to a baby or a book is harder. We also talk about fan...
Holiday Pep Talk
21 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This pep talk was inspired by that extremely uncomfortable phenomenon of going home for the holidays, only to be grilled by your relatives. It was mad...
Episode Nine: How To Be A Writer During The Holidays
21 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Julie and Jessica talk about the best methods for dealing with annoying questions from relatives about your writing. 1) Deflect! 2) Drink. 3) All the ...
Episode Eight: A Conversation With Agent Kurestin Armada
15 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
We speak with literary agent Kurestin Armada about knitting, horror films, rejection--and why the passion projects are often, actually, the most pract...
Episode 007: Party. Holiday Party.
07 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Julie and Jessica tell you about the (FREE! Awesome!) Manuscript Academy holiday party coming up December 13. Need props? Yes! Maybe....
Episode Six: How To Spend Ten Minutes With An Agent
07 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Jessica and Julie how tell you how best to spend ten minutes with an agent--whether in a pitch session, an office hour, a craft meeti...
Episode Five: A Conversation With Agent Lane Heymont
27 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with Lane about photographing supermoons, what he'd do as Super Lane, and being a guy who sells romance. But not bromance. We also talk about ...
Episode Four: A Conversation With Agent Linda Camacho
21 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a chat with literary agent Linda Camacho (Prospect Agency) to talk about marketing, agents getting rejected, and the horror films you shou...
Episode Three: A Conversation With Amanda Shih
16 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a conversation with Perigee/Penguin editor Amanda Shih. We'll discuss rejection, boxing, platform--and how to have your very own art heist...
Episode Two: The Story of the Jackhammers
04 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Julie and Jessica talk about filming day, jackhammers, dogs, cats, and how filming in homes makes for a more interactive experience.
Episode One: Origin Stories
02 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Julie, Jessica, and a crazy little project called The Manuscript Academy. Hint: It all started with a bus.