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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 13h

To the writer who did no work on their book today: Did you... Think about your villain's motives? Read another novel and admire the writing? Overhear a conversation and jot down a line of dialogue? Talk about your story to a friend? That sounds to me like you DID work on your book today!

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

SO many querying authors stress over their author bio, but honestly, it should be the easiest part of your query. And no, you do NOT need a bunch of awards and publications to be taken seriously! Don't overthink it. Your bio really only needs 3 things:

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

In good dialogue, subtext is everything. The best dialogue scenes aren't about what's actually being said. They're about what's running BENEATH the conversation. The things we know the characters are feeling, but can't bear to say aloud. Here's what subtext looks like on the page:

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This might be a controversial take, but here goes... A writer complained that his developmental editor had flagged in one of his chapters that the scene's location wasn't clear.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Too many writers forget this: Your first draft is NOT your final draft. It was never supposed to be. It's simply the raw material — the clay from which you'll craft a beautiful sculpture.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I discovered something interesting this week... On QueryTracker's list of Most Requested Fiction Genres, upmarket is #3, but it's not on the top 10 list of what genres writers are submitting. So what's the deal? Are writers really not writing upmarket fiction, or do they just not KNOW they are?

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The most brutal part of querying isn't the rejections. Or the waiting period. It's writing a synopsis. 😫 As much as it feels pointless, the synopsis is a strategic tool that gives agents crucial information about your story.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Bad dialogue is one of the most obvious signs of amateur writing. And it's one of the things that will make a reader set down your story prematurely. Here are the 5 most common dialogue mistakes I see in manuscripts and how to fix them.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The authors who inspire you most have bad writing days too. Days where they want to throw every word in the garbage. Or they just can't write at all. You just never hear about them. A writing career looks effortless from the outside, but the reality is anything but.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Saying your book is like "The Hunger Games" or "Gone Girl" may actually be hurting your query letter. If you're wondering... How do you select appropriate comp titles? Should you comp to mega bestsellers? What about classic novels? Here are your answers!

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A friend of mine shared today that she's writing a book...and that she feels absolutely terrified. This is a woman who worked in Big Five publishing for years. She has an agent. And has partnered with writers her entire career. Yet she's STILL scared.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

As an editor, I deeply believe in the value of getting feedback on your story. But that doesn't mean you should let just anyone read it and give you their thoughts. Because feedback from the wrong person can be actively HARMFUL to your process.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

To the writer who just got a rejection today: To the writer who has been secretly querying for a year: To the writer who's wondering if it's time to give up: I've sat on the other side of that inbox. And you need to understand that the publishing industry is wildly subjective.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Your first page is arguably the most important in your entire novel. It's where your reader — or a literary agent — decides: do I want to keep reading this? After spending years evaluating queries and editing hundreds of books, I've noticed that the best first pages contain these 4 elements.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Do you actually need a prologue? Probably not. First, let me clarify: I'm NOT anti-prologue! But I AM against UNNECESSARY prologues. And most of the time, they're not needed.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Receiving feedback on your manuscript can be an emotional rollercoaster. I've seen writers experience the full spectrum of responses:

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Dear writer, If you're deep in the revising trenches, fearing you're not making your story any better (in fact, maybe making it WORSE), here's what I want you to do... And I promise it'll be the MOST effective thing you can do for your story... And you can do it RIGHT NOW...

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

After editing hundreds of manuscripts over my career, I've finally identified the single biggest gap between good writing and truly great writing. It all comes down to what the author DOESN'T say. 🤐

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I've never done a public query letter critique, but with the launch of THE MODERN GUIDE TO QUERYING LITERARY AGENTS, the timing felt right! See what Patrick of QueryTracker and I think about two query letters — and check if you make any of the same mistakes. www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_V...

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You Sent Me Your Query Letters…They ALL Would Get Rejected

Your query letter is the first impression you make on an agent, but...

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

As a book editor, I'm a firm believer in messy first drafts. No writer — not even your absolute favorite — sits down and produces a perfect first draft. The drafting process is supposed to be exploratory and creative, free-flowing and flawed.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Here's the part of the query letter that authors tend to get the most (unnecessarily) anxious about: The bio. It's the final day of Query Prep Week, where I'm sharing free querying lessons to celebrate the launch of THE MODERN GUIDE TO QUERYING LITERARY AGENTS! 🎉

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I know many of you are gearing up to query (or send out a fresh batch of queries) after Labor Day, so I've made it my mission to help you ensure your letter is top-notch. It’s Day 4 of Query Prep Week, and today we’re tackling the part of the query letter authors dread most: Comp titles.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

This launch week has already been a dream come true, from being a No. 1 New Release to seeing so many of you take pictures of the book! But let's get down to business, because I want you all to feel confident heading into querying season.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Woke up today a published author, and I can't believe it. The Modern Guide to Querying Literary Agents is OFFICIALLY HERE! 🎉 And it's a Number 1 New Release! 🤯 Thank you, thank you!

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Tomorrow’s the day I’ve been waiting for for nearly two years: The Modern Guide to Querying Literary Agents is officially out on the shelves! To celebrate, my co-author Patrick McDonald (of QueryTracker) and I are officially declaring this QUERY PREP WEEK.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Just FOUR DAYS until my book with QueryTracker is finally out in the world! 🎉 We seriously can't wait to share it with you and help you navigate the querying process.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

A musician who hits a wrong note doesn't walk off stage. They finish the piece anyway. An athlete who makes a bad pass doesn't walk off the field. They see the game through until the end. So why do so many writers hit one hard scene and decide to give up on their story entirely?

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I wish more authors thought long and hard about point of view before they started writing... Because choosing the wrong POV can lead to a near-entire rewrite. And I've seen that happen countless times as an editor. 🫠 Here's a quick breakdown if you're not sure which POV suits your story best:

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

A reminder that feels important today: Your worth as a writer is NOT measured by: -Sales numbers -Your follower count -Your number of rejections -How many books you've written -Whether you have a publishing deal If you're writing, you ARE a writer. Full stop.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I still have SO many questions about the $2.5 million book deal that got cancelled. If the author produced evidence, why did the agents pull it? And is a 97% Pangram score "proof" of anything? Here are my thoughts. What are yours? www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvT...

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A $2.5m Book Deal Was Cancelled. Every Author Should Worry.

A debut thriller author was offered a $2.5 million deal from a majo...

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

You'd be surprised how many query letters I've seen over the years that make completely avoidable mistakes. ❌ Messy formatting ❌ Way too long ❌ Aggressive tone Here are 5 simple ways to make sure yours hits the mark.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Why are some books so good that we stay up all night reading — while others put us to sleep? 😴 The difference comes down to a psychological principle known as the Zeigarnik effect.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

A reminder when you're feeling inundated with writing advice: There is no single right way to write a book.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

One of the biggest signs of amateur writing: Overexplaining emotion. The more you explain, the less your reader feels. If you've just shown us a heated fight scene, there's no need to explain afterward that the protagonist is angry and flustered. We just saw it!

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I spent years at a top literary agency reviewing query letters — hundreds of them every single week. And the ones that made me stop in my tracks all had one thing in common:

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

"It was all a dream..." 🌙 💭 It's one of the most cliché (and ineffective) novel openings, but I still see it all the time in early drafts. In this week's video, I break down: 🌟 two dream openings that fall flat 🌟 a famous dream opening that DOES work youtu.be/_-l04swWr6M

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I Read 219 Novel Openings. This One Always Fails.

It's one of the most common mistakes new writers make when starting...

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

You should know WAY more about your main character than you actually put on the page. I know writers who write 10-page character profiles. And others who interview their character like a journalist. You don't necessarily need to do that, but you should know:

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

What you put on the page today doesn't have to be good. It doesn't even have to make sense. It just has to be there...because you can't finish a book you never started. So try to show up for your story today, even in the smallest way. Can you write a single sentence? Come up with one idea?

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

The CEO of Hachette just admitted something I never expected to hear from someone in the industry: That authors don't NEED to go through the Big Five to find massive audiences and success. Watch my video breaking down the 6 trends he says are reshaping the future of books. youtu.be/ZMzmaPplg3A

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6 Publishing Trends That Are Changing Everything in 2026

The CEO of Hachette — one of the Big Five publishers — sat down for...

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I've edited hundreds of novels and truly believe revisions are where the magic happens. But I get it: revising your novel can feel more painful than pulling teeth. Especially if you've poured months — or even years — into it. So here's my 5-step framework to revise without losing your mind. 👇

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

I've edited hundreds of novels, including bestsellers, and here's something that might surprise you... Some of the most talented writers I've ever met are still unpublished. Because they let imposter syndrome paralyze them. Because they gave up after 30 rejections.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

I've been editing books professionally for a decade, and here are 5 things I wish every aspiring author knew from day one. They'll save you SO much time, guesswork, and heartache — especially if your goal is traditional publishing. And as an editor...I can say no. 3 gets overlooked way too much.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

I had an eye-opening conversation with an author this week. She said, "My agent told me she couldn't connect with my protagonist. I don't know what I'm doing wrong." So I asked: "Well, what does your protagonist want at the start of the story?" She didn't have an answer. And that was the problem.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

I recently got this email from a writer, and it broke my heart. Their fears are things I hear nearly every day: ☹️ AI is taking over ☹️ Publishers only want influencers ☹️ Literary fiction is dead ...so is it even worth writing a book? My response might surprise you 👀 youtu.be/GUC_Hdczmek

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Just got the most exciting package of my life...my book is finally here! 🥳 Holding it in my hands for the first time is a feeling I genuinely cannot put into words. If you're feeling overwhelmed, confused, or discouraged by the querying process, we wrote this for you.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

I can't stop thinking about the plot twist in The Housemaid. Everyone was raving about the novel and film, so I couldn't wait to see what all the hype was about, especially as an editor who specializes in psychological and domestic thrillers. But...I was TOTALLY let down.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Confession: the antagonist is often my favorite character to read. The problem is that most writers end up with boring, cookie-cutter villains. So here are my top 5 tricks to write bad characters your readers will LOVE. youtu.be/01NP5ue-JoA

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

What's your biggest reading turnoff — something that'll make you INSTANTLY put a book down? I went down a Reddit rabbit hole digging for readers' biggest pet peeves...and these 6 things kept popping up again and again. Do you agree with this list? 👀

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

"Write every day" works until it doesn't. For some writers, powering through becomes counterproductive, and they end up burning out entirely. Sometimes pushing harder and forcing yourself to sit at your desk stops serving your story. If you think you might be reaching that point...

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

I recently had a tough (but needed) conversation with a client. Even though I'm the one delivering feedback, a part of me is still ALWAYS nervous. No matter how confident I am in my notes, I never know how they will land with the author.

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