It's the Rewriting That Makes You an Author
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What inspired Haili Blassingame's debut novel?
What's up, everyone? This is Cece. So I recently grabbed lunch with an acquiring editor from HarperCollins who told me that the number of submissions she's been getting has nearly doubled. And I wasn't surprised at all because every agent and editor I know has been talking about how the volume of submission keeps increasing. So personally, that is a wonderful thing, because it's more reading for me, but it also means I have more chances of matching with authors. I consider it a privilege to review queries on Books with Hooks, and of course, in my submissions inbox. But at the same time, I talk to writers who tell me that they wish agents would read more than a few pages because... And I quote, my story gets better in chapter two.
I have to be honest, this kills me. It's like me wanting chocolate chip cookies to have the nutritional value of kale.
How did a viral essay lead to finding a literary agent?
It's just not realistic. Like it or not, no agent, no acquiring editor is going to stick around to see if a submission gets better. It's not because we're mean, it's because we get dozens and dozens every day. I know it's harsh, but ambitious writers embrace harsh realities. So here it goes. It's your job to make your opening pages irresistible, to make agents crave it, to make agents want to read more. That's why I'm so excited about my upcoming course, Starting It Right. How to begin your story in the best place and in the best way. I created this course after studying hundreds of books. I've mapped out elements that are present in the beginning of all successful novels and memoirs.
What challenges do writers face when creating 'unlikable' characters?
And I've designed checklists, actual checklists, that you can use to ensure that your story's beginning is seducing your reader. We'll cover how to write a great first line, different types of beginnings and how you can choose the best one, the best place to start and the best way to start, yes, these are totally different things, when it makes sense to add a prologue and when it doesn't, how to frame your inciting incident in an appealing way, how to balance exposition and mystery, how to include context but not weigh it down with too much backstory, and what to do if your story has more than one POV or timeline. Most of all, I'm going to show you how to make readers want to turn to Chapter 2.
Join me for this multi-day course designed to help you break through the noise. You'll leave with a clear, actionable breakdown of exactly what goes into a terrific beginning. If you've already signed up, come prepared to take lots of notes. We're talking hundreds of slides with real-world examples and specific techniques, plus a super fun surprise that I can't wait to share. I hope to see you there.
and welcome to our show, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing. I'm best-selling author Bianca Murray and I'm joined by Cece Lira of Wendy Sherman Associates and Carly Waters of PS Literary.
How can fiction interrogate personal and political realities?
Hi everyone, today's guest is a producer for the NPR program 1A. She has written for publications like the New Republic and the New York Times, in which she published the viral My Choice Isn't Marriage or Loneliness for Modern Love. She was one of 12 SAS selected to write a follow-up piece for the column's 20th anniversary in October 2024. She's also been a guest on the Modern Love podcast, NPR's Life Kit and NPR's 1A. She previously worked on NPR's Code Switch and Weekend Edition. She is pursuing an MFA in creative writing from American University. She lives in Washington, D.C. It's my pleasure to welcome Hayley Blassengame. Hayley, welcome to the show.
Thanks so much for having me.
What is the importance of sensitivity readers in writing?
So much NPR in that bio. Gosh.
I mean, you know, you've got to use everything you can in your bio, right? And we say this to authors all the time. Up your author bio. Love saying NPR so much. Okay. So for those of you who are not watching on our YouTube channel, will you also hold up your copy, Hayley? Because you've got the hardcover. There we go.
How does the process of rewriting transform a writer into an author?
The book we're discussing is They All Fall in Love in the End. It's a stunning like hot pink cover, kind of paintings, almost like it sort of made me think of Blue Sisters.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What inspired Haili Blassingame's debut novel?
0:03–0:56
2
How did a viral essay lead to finding a literary agent?
0:56–1:44
3
What challenges do writers face when creating 'unlikable' characters?
1:44–3:19
4
How can fiction interrogate personal and political realities?
3:19–4:04
5
What is the importance of sensitivity readers in writing?
4:04–4:25
6
How does the process of rewriting transform a writer into an author?
4:25–5:05
7
What techniques enhance dialogue in character development?
5:05–6:18
8
How can writers convey messages organically in their stories?
6:18–38:21