PODCAST · society
The Manuscript Academy
by #MSWL
The Manuscript Academy brings you conversations with agents, editors, and writers who can help you on your publishing journey.
Episodes
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Why This Book, Why Now, Why You: Fiona Kenshole on Queries That Get Read
Out of the 200 stories that land in an agent’s inbox, why should yours be the one she reads? Agent Fiona Kenshole of Transatlantic Agency joins us from our Presentation Party to share what she looks for in a query, and why there are really no hard rules, only what works. Before agenting, Fiona…
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Specificity Sells: How Julia Alexandra Found Her Agent and Book Deal
Julia Alexandra knows rejection. After querying in high school and again in graduate school, she hit a wall of passes on a book she now admits wasn't ready. Worse, she spent years self-rejecting, holding back books that were probably ready long before she sent them. In this episode, Jessica...
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Commercial, Literary, or Upmarket? Untangling the Terms We All Use (with Kaitlyn Sanchez)
It's one of the most common questions in our inbox: what's the difference between commercial, literary, and upmarket fiction, and which one is my book? (Video version here https://youtu.be/AMGl98NhtT4?si=mGcpIWTloL_HgMms) This week, agent Kaitlyn Sanchez of Bradford Literary finally makes it make...
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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:...
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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...
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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...
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Hannah Clip From Practice Round
Hannah Clip From Practice Round by #MSWL
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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...
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New Season Preview: From Comp Titles to Virtual Spaces: What's Next at The Manuscript Academy
Also on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/QaWwJ8O5NFA In this episode of the Manuscript Academy Podcast, hosts Julie Kingsley and Jessica Sinsheimer introduce new tools and features for writers, including a comp title finder, an advanced agent search, and a writer group creator. They discuss the...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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The Formula For Successful Books with Editor Ivan Taurisano
Is there a formula for success? What do you do when "A new twist on something familiar" starts to feel overly simplistic? Enter editor Ivan Taurisano, editor at Abrams, who works from the opposite direction of most editors: he can think of a concept that's marketable, then put together the team…
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Live Recorded: How To Present Yourself As A Good Investment To Agents, Editors, Booksellers & Beyond
In this 1-hour session, you will learn the essential steps to position yourself and your book as valuable investments to agents, editors, bookstores, and beyond. (Want more? Join our workshop October 22-24, How To Be Your Own Best Marketer:...
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How To Be Your Own Best Marketer Whether Querying, Agented or Ready To Launch
Promoting your book isn’t about making noise—it’s about making a difference for readers who need your story. In this Manuscript Academy episode, we’re happy to join nonfiction book coach and marketer Allison Lane to: – Break down exactly how to shift your mindset from fear to confidence and why...
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The Art of Feedback: What To Take, What To Ignore & How To Know The Difference
We love Bonnie Jo Pierson. Not only is she a Manuscript Academy alum and a published author, she’s a member of a 20-person writing group—and an expert on knowing what feedback to take, what to ignore, and how to tell the difference. After 17 years of writing, her novel is ready—and we talk about...
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Live Recorded: Mystery Editor Consultation with Macmillan Editor Christina Lopez
Today is a special live recording of the Manuscript Academy podcast! In front of Manuscript Academy members, Jessica and Julie are joined by faculty member and Macmillan editor Christina Lopez in another installment of our Mystery Agent/Editor segment. Listen in as Christina critiques writer...
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Your Book Is Not For Everyone (Thank Goodness!): Author Positioning with Norton Editor Emma Peters
Have you ever been tempted to say "My book is for everyone"? We get it! It sounds like the perfect way to convince an agent your book is a slam dunk bestseller--right? Wrong. Realistically, no book is for everyone--and this is a great thing. We're happy to join Emma Peters, editor at W.W. Norton,...
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Metaphor, Math, Editing, & How You Can Get Your Message to Your Reader Effectively
We are so excited to welcome math teacher Ben Orlin to the podcast! Ben Orlin is a math teacher who can't draw. His book Math with Bad Drawings (2018) has sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide, and has since been followed by Change is the Only Constant (2019), Math Games with Bad Drawings…
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Messy Characters, Building Tension & How Agents Should Advocate For Your Work with Agent Nour Sallam
We are so happy to welcome Nour Sallam, agent at P.S. Literary, to the podcast! We discuss: *How agents should advocate for clients from signing to offers to contracts to publication and beyond *Why messy characters and their interiority are often the one thing missing from your work *Why we…
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Genres, Tropes, Trends, and Finding Your Agent Fit with Agent Erica Bauman
We are so pleased to welcome agent Erica Bauman from Aevitas Creative Management to the podcast! We discuss: *How to make your work more atmospheric *Where to place emphasis when writing between genres *Balancing keeping the reader in their heads vs. their senses *When the genre of our world gets...
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Querying, Middle School, And How Mistakes + Embarrassment Often Lead To Book Deals
Debut author Kristy Jackson joins Julie and Jessica to talk about her new middle grade book, MORTIFIED, now out in bookstores everywhere! From embarrassing middle school moments to querying hiccups, Kristy talks about her 20+ year-long writing journey, how she found the right agent for her, and…
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Preparing For Your International Bestseller: Liv Constantine on Crafting Unputdownable Characters
In the first installment of the Manuscript Academy Book Club, we have Liv Constantine, the pen name for internationally bestselling sister duo Lynne and Valerie Constantine! Joined by Jessica, Julie, and the Manuscript Academy community, Valerie and Lynne answer your questions about how to...
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Finding Your Voice: On the Page, In Your Life with Agent Katharine Sands + Jessica Doyle-Mekkes
You’ve heard of the all-important voice—but how do you make it more vivid, both on the page—and in your life? Enter Jessica Doyle-Mekkes, an author, voice coach, and eloquent speaker on how your voice in your life and your voice on the page are linked, vitally important—and within your control to...
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Hollywood Versus New York: Publishing, Film, Options, Etiquette + What Makes A Hook?
We are thrilled to introduce our very own Julie Kingsley's debut novel! It's called The Space Between You and Me and came out this week! "That summer, I finally grew into myself. The problem? I grew too fast. And fruit that grows too fast often bursts in the sunshine." With her agent Lane Heymont...
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Emotional Range, Sensory Details, And Pitching Works On Difficult Topics
Content Warning: This podcast discusses suicide, grief, and loss. Pam O'Hara's beautiful writing captivated our expert audience during a recent Manuscript Academy panel, so much so that it was picked for our 2024 MSWL Agent Choice Awards. Pam joins Jessica and Julie to speak about her stunning...
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Live Recorded: Query Class with Agent Dr. Emmy Nordstrom Higdon
Watch the free video version, slides and all (and get a coupon for our workshop!) at https://manuscriptacademy.com/emmy Join our Three-Day Keep An Agent Reading Workshop, May 28-30, here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/product/keep-an-agent-reading-workshop TIMESTAMPS: Essential Elements of a…
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Mini Lesson: What Author Elizabeth Holden Did Right In Her Query & First Page
We are honored that author Elizabeth (Liz) Holden, author of the forthcoming YA novel Mighty Millie Novak, allowed us to go through her work as a teaching tool for you--what each element accomplishes, WHY it works, and how you can do the same in your own query and first page. If you'd like to...
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The Roller Derby of Querying: How Author Elizabeth Holden Found Her Agent
View our in-depth video of what Liz did right in her query letter and first page here: https://www.youtube.com/@manuscriptacademy Meet Elizabeth Holden, Physics professor, travel entrepreneur, and author of Mighty Millie Novak, a YA novel coming out from Flux Publishing in August....
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Finding Your Perfect Agent Fit with Agent Ismita Hussain and Author Jessica Guerrieri
Please note: This episode contains mentions of alcoholism, recovery, and sobriety. We are so happy to welcome author Jessica Guerrieri and agent Ismita Hussain (Great Dog Literary) to the podcast. They're a great example of what to look for in an author-agent relationship--they're creative,...
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Tuesday, May 7, 8:30pm ET: Free Query Workshop With Agent Emmy Nordstrom Higdon
We are so grateful to Emmy Nordstrom Higdon, agent at Westwood Creative Associates, who has offered to teach a free workshop for you all about the elements of querying—interest, emphasis, tension—that keep a busy agent reading in 2024. Get your free ticket (or replay ticket!) here:...
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Writing Fantasy That Mirrors Our World With (Manuscript) Academy Award Winner Ali McLafferty
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...
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Details, Focus and Visual Storytelling To Bring Any Genre To Life with Editor Melissa Warten Vogan
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…
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Good, Better, Best, Agented! Julia Alexandra and Agent Ellen Goff on Plot, Character & World
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...
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Learning Advanced Point of View, Romantic Tension & Betrayal From A New Body-Swapping Novel
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…
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Success Stories: Aime Alley Card, Agent Leticia Gomez And One Olympic Team That Changed Everything
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...
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What Editors Look For: Fresh Takes On Familiar Stories with Harper Editor Sara Schonfeld
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...
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Research, Marketing & Successful Small Press Publishing with Author JB Harris
Sometimes publishing your novel takes an unexpected route. In today's episode, Jessica and Julie speak with author JB Harris to discuss how she pivoted when agents told her the manuscript she'd been working on for 11 years would be hard to break out during COVID. We cover querying, finding the...
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How To Build Romantic Tension In Any Genre with Author Lynn Painter
We’ve never seen a romantic comedy like this one! Happily Never After breaks ALL* the rom com rules, while still maintaining tension, interest, narrative arcs, and everything you need in a satisfying read. Learn the rules our favorite way—by watching Lynn breaks them, succeed, and tell you how…
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Red And Green Flags When Querying Agents with Agent Emmy Nordstrom Higdon
We are thrilled to welcome Emmy Nordstrom Higdon, agent at Westwood Creative Associates, to talk with us about the red and green flags when querying agents--how you can show (mostly) green flags, recognize agent red flags, and give yourself the best odds of a positive, productive working...
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Writing Dialogue That Brings Complicated Characters To Life with Author Karen Outen
Even our podcast editor describes author Karen Outen as "a breath of fresh air." After twenty years of work, her book, Dixon Descending, features two brothers with a seemingly impossible goal: To be the first Black American men to summit Everest. We discuss how Karen learned to write realistic...
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Personal, Political, Published: Finding Agents For Important, Sensitive Topics with Annie Cardi
CONTENT WARNING: Mentions of abortion, grooming, assault. Annie Cardi's new book, Red, is a very modern take on The Scarlet Letter. Today, Annie joins Jessica and Julie to discuss the importance of tough topics in YA novels, how to create "quiet" books that pack a punch, and writing advice for…
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Building Character, Enhancing POV, and Principles of (E)motion with Author Sara Read
A smart, poignant novel perfect for fans of Lessons in Chemistry “An incredible STEMinist read.”—The Honey Pop Transcript, timestamps and video clips here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-sara-read Join Julie and Jessica as they talk to the fabulous Sara Read, the author of the recent book...
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Rejection Interpretation, Pivots & Annual Submission Strategy Workshop (January 23-25)
Join our workshop here! https://manuscriptacademy.com/product/three-day-submission-strategy-workshop Are you a writer thinking about querying? Or have you already queried, and you're worried that a rejection you received means you should pivot, edit for months, or--worst of all--give up? This is...
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"Good Enough" Versus Fit: Executive Editor Erica Finkel On Improving Your Odds Of Yes
We're thrilled to welcome Abrams editor Erica Finkel to the podcast to discuss editorial board meetings, the top reasons writers get rejected--and how "fit" means far more than you'd think. Book a meeting with Erica here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/erica-finkel Erica Finkel...
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Seventh Annual Holiday Party with Kaitlyn Sanchez, Linda Camacho, Kiana Nguyen & Stephanie Winter
We are thrilled to welcome you to the replay of our SEVENTH (woo hoo!) Annual Holiday Party. In this event, writers nominated writers for feedback from our agent panel. Each agent chose a nominator-nominee pair to come up, read their work, and receive support and feedback in front of our…
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December Announcements: Classes, Mystery Agent + Our FREE Holiday Party
We can’t wait—what an exciting month! December 5, 8:30pm ET: Our You Belong Here class with Nancy Tandon and Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo: https://manuscriptacademy.com/you-belong-here December 6, 1pm ET: For Members, we have our Mystery Agent consultation with Jenissa Graham. Apply to be on the next…
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Live Q&A + Collaborative Query Consultations With Editor Jonathan Baker
Query writing is a craft in and of itself and so often, even the experts disagree on the best approach (hint: that just means there are number of ways to write an amazing query!). Today we're joined by the very talented, multi-hyphenate writer, coach, and former copy editor, reader, bookseller…
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How To Talk To Your Family About Writing: A Holiday Pep Talk (Replay)
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 made with the generous contributions of writers just like you. We hope this will give you some cheer when your family asks, "Soooo--are you still...
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MSWL Live Agent Panel with T.S Ferguson, Kelly Van Sant, Jenissa Graham + Claire Harris
In October, we wrapped up the month with a deliciously spooky Halloween #MSWL panel. Join us for a live panel recording with agents T.S Ferguson, Kelly Van Sant, Jenissa Graham, and Claire Harris as they take us through their creepy wishlists and fun bookish activities. But even if you’re writing...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Manuscript Academy have?
The Manuscript Academy currently has 258 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Manuscript Academy about?
The Manuscript Academy brings you conversations with agents, editors, and writers who can help you on your publishing journey.
How often does The Manuscript Academy release new episodes?
The Manuscript Academy publishes regularly with 258 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Manuscript Academy?
You can listen to The Manuscript Academy on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Manuscript Academy?
The Manuscript Academy is created and hosted by #MSWL.
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