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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

We had such a wonderful time! So glad you could join us, Dor! 🥰☕

Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Wondering if your book is commercial, literary or upmarket? You're not alone! Agent Kaitlyn Sanchez @kaitlynleann17.bsky.social (Bradford) breaks it down in a fun, easy-to-understand way--with real examples. Watch here: youtu.be/AMGl98NhtT4 Listen here: manuscriptacademy.com/podcast/comm...

youtu.be

Is Your Book Commercial, Literary, or Upmarket? Agent Kaitlyn Sanchez Explains

YouTube video by The Manuscript Academy, LLC

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Agents can love your book—but not know the best next step. If they don’t have the vision for where to send and how to help you succeed, *even if they think your work is great* they can still say no. Don’t take that as “You’re not good enough.” Take it as “Someone else will help you more.”

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Researching the market? Check the date on that advice. A post from a few years ago might say a genre is over, while editors are asking for it today (hello, dystopia!). Trends move. No genre is out of style forever. Keep writing the book you love.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Mixing four genres in your pitch? Pick the one or two that tell an agent where your book lives on the shelf, then let the query show off the rest. For example, instead of labelling it Humor, make your query funny. You can still write the mashup. You're just making it easier to say yes.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Sometimes the hardest query edit is cutting something charming. That doesn't mean it's bad! It just means it can wait for the manuscript. The shorter your query, the faster an agent gets to your pages.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

She went from 1000+ rejections to New York Times bestselling author. How did she do it? Tune in for this mini episode with Hachette Book Group editor @borahaze91.bsky.social and author Jordan Stephanie Gray: youtu.be/iDHihJcz1Uc?... Our NEW podcast season here: 📚 podcast.manuscriptacademy.com

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What Actually Happens in an Acquisitions Meeting | Manuscript Academy

YouTube video by The Manuscript Academy, LLC

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

A rejection for this book is not a rejection for *you*--just this project. Most authors get signed with a later project, not their first. Keep writing, keep revising, and query again with the next one. Your career is so much bigger than any single manuscript.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Agents often read queries at the end of long days--or really quickly in the office. You have ~20 seconds to make sense. Sounds scary, but you can plan accordingly. Put the most compelling details of your story where a skimming, undercaffeinated reader will catch them.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This week we have TWO feedback opporunities for our members! Tomorrow, 2pm ET, Anjanette Barr (Dunham Literary) will do YourQueries Live for our members. Wednesday, 8:30pm ET, Ruqayyah Daud (Hachette Book Group) joins us for a Query & Page Panel. Can't wait! Instructions in your inbox, members.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Big blocks of description can slow down your first page's pacing. Instead, try a line of action, a line of dialogue, a thought from your protagonist about things they hope for or fear, a line of description. Your first page needs to meet the reader at life pace (fast!) to get them hooked.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

One of our favorite inventions for this season is the Genre Party--events each month to celebrate a specific genre. This month's is Science Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative & Dystopian--and comes with 5 agent + editor mini classes, a feedback panel + add-on 1:1 meetings. genre.manuscriptacademy.com

Graphic is cheerful loopy text saying Genre Party over a cafe background with Science Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative & Dystopian: September 30, 2026

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

We can't believe it's been ten years!!! 🎉 What a gift to get to spend them with writers like you. We're planning a ton of special events for our 10th Anniversary (2026-2027) season. See an event preview here: anniversary.manuscriptacademy.com

anniversary.manuscriptacademy.com

Manuscript Academy — 10th Anniversary

Ten years of Manuscript Academy. Celebrate a decade of daring to write with events, expert access, and surprises for writers.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

10 years ago we rented a theater, hired a film crew, and tried to film over loud NYC jackhammers. That was day one of Manuscript Academy. This season is our biggest yet. Preview below. 🎬 Choose from Apple Podcast, Soundcloud, Spotify or YouTube: podcast.manuscriptacademy.com#episode-1

podcast.manuscriptacademy.com

The Manuscript Academy Podcast | 10th Anniversary Season

Watch and listen to publishing conversations that help you write smarter, query stronger, and publish with confidence.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

You don't need to spend your writing career afraid of comp titles. Editor Hannah Robinson has a formula for you--and the reassurance that you already know how to do this. Free mini class here: youtu.be/9xTy1RMkNSw #amquerying #writingcommunity #publishingtips

youtu.be

How to Find Comp Titles for Your Book (Without the Anxiety) | Author Comp Title Guide

YouTube video by The Manuscript Academy, LLC

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Your idea isn't getting rejected because it's not good enough. It's unclear because it's still floating at 10,000 feet. Bring it down to earth, drop into your character or ideal reader, and watch what happens. 📚https://manuscriptacademy.com/all-vibes-no-plot-clarity 📺 youtu.be/EI2b6Wh9hG0?...

manuscriptacademy.com

All Vibes, No Plot: Why Clarity Is the Price of Admission for Big Ideas

Big ideas need somewhere to land. Here's why clarity--not oversimplification--is what turns a brilliant idea into a book readers love.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Yes, it's true! We're celebrating our 10th Anniversary 🎉🎉 this year, and to celebrate, we have a year of surprises, inventions + cheer. First up: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative & Dystopian writers, join us for classes, panel, pitches, workshop forum + more: genre.manuscriptacademy.com

genre.manuscriptacademy.com

Manuscript Academy 10th Anniversary Genre Party

Celebrate ten years of Manuscript Academy with a genre-focused online event: craft classes, a live agent feedback panel, 1:1 pitch practice, and a writer community. September 30, 2026.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

We just got to speak with another of our writers with an amazing success story. Julie and I were grinning the whole time! What a joy to hear about something going well for someone great. Coming soon! Can't wait!

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

You're not imagining it. Everything is taking forever. Please don't fret if you don't hear back on your query within three months. It's not long enough assume a no. Please don't blame yourself for the wait. There isn't a "good projects get a faster response" metric--most agent read in order.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

There's a point in every revision where it feels like when you clean out your closet and--suddenly--everything is on the floor. In fact, it looks worse than when you started, and you wish you'd left well enough alone. This isn't you. This is part of the process. Keep going. 📚

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Every customized rejection you receive--even the ones that hurt to read--are a compliment. Agents don't have time to lie to you. The "send me the next" rejection is true, too. If you get anything more than a form letter, they saw potential. They wouldn't bother otherwise. 💙 #AmQuerying

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Gentle reminder: if you're cringing about your early querying attempts, you are NOT alone. It's not a sign you're doing it wrong--it's just the part before this mysterious business + very specific skill clicks. youtu.be/j6dd-mPvEUM?... #AmQuerying #WritersOfBluesky

youtu.be

I Sent 30 Terrible Queries Before I Got Good At This (And You Will Too)

YouTube video by The Manuscript Academy, LLC

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

"Take your time. Publishing's not going anywhere. There are no book emergencies." --Agent Eric Smith at our live panel Breathe. Revise. Send when it's ready. Let your work sit until nothing new occurs to you for two weeks (until after you hit send, of course). #AmWriting #QueryTips

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Nobody starts good at querying. ✅ The second she admitted her first 30 queries were bad, the chat lost it: "yep" "at least 30" "sadly so" "so guilty, sent like 100" "hello, hi, it me" Turns out literally everyone has a rough draft era. You're not behind--you're just in yours. youtu.be/j6dd-mPvEUM

youtu.be

I Sent 30 Terrible Queries Before I Got Good At This (And You Will Too)

YouTube video by The Manuscript Academy, LLC

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

A query can be functionally perfect and still be missing atmosphere. Cozy isn't just a mood, it's specific sensory detail--wet floors, fried clams, the smell of a kitchen. Let your setting do some of the emotional and aesthetic work.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Our favorite dystopian pitches don't start with the world. They start with a feeling we already recognize. This week's breakthrough moment at our Interactive Query Workshop: describing a fictional future by pointing straight at a pressure a lot of us are already living with, right now.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

If you've edited so long that every rough edge is sanded smooth, that's worth noticing. Sometimes the thing you polished away was the complexity that made the story feel alive. Just as you can't cultivate sourdough in an autoclave, you can't capture the imagination with lifeless perfection.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

There's an interesting paradox: The more specific you get with your character's emotional world, the bigger and more universal your book feels to a reader. Reach for the exact, specific feeling--or combination of feelings--for that exact moment.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

If your query has been sitting for 90 days, that is no longer an automatic no. Response times have expanded. Don't assume rejection just because the silence is long and it's painful to wait. Assume it can take around six months. It's not you. Or your book. Just the queue.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Your first book is your MFA without the debt. Every word you write carries all the words before it. The manuscript that didn't sell? It's teaching you how to write the one that will. 💙 #AmWriting #WritingLife #KeepWriting

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

415 rejections, 4 book deals, and a Disney debut. Manuscript Academy alum Shanna Upchurch spent 10 years writing, querying, and counting rejections with a special jar of beads. Her debut picture book The Honeybee Highway is out with Disney. 🐝 youtu.be/jlaSt5uuxgE?...

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415 Rejections, 4 Book Deals, and a Disney Debut: Shanna Upchurch's Road to Publication

YouTube video by The Manuscript Academy, LLC

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

From our agent panel: "Even those really mean rejections are a compliment, because they wouldn't bother if they didn't think you had a chance. They sound mad because they see the potential, and in their mind, you're not reaching it." #AmQuerying #WritingCommunity

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

What does "fascinating, ambitious, electrifying"--followed by a "no" mean? It means you're knocking on the right doors. Keep going! Agents don't have time to lie about your potential. We know it's painful! But it's really hopeful too. #AmQuerying #WritingCommunity #WritersOfBluesky

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Reminder: a good comp isn't there to prove you're original. It's there to do work for you. It sets expectations and fills in details from reader's imagination. (Probably the parts they liked best from that work.) Use that to your advantage.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Query letter tip from yesterday's agent session: don't spoil your own ending. A query is the back cover copy, not the synopsis. Give us the hook that pulls us in, then let the pages do the rest of the convincing. You're allowed to keep a few secrets.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

No comp titles for your book's plot? No problem! Comp the fanbase. "For readers who loved [author]'s worldbuilding but want more romance" works better than forcing a match that isn't there.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

A pass is NOT proof your book isn't good. It's proof that one particular agent, on one particular day, wasn't the right home for it. Your list is long for a reason. Keep going.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Waiting to hear back is one of the hardest parts of this process. It's not you. It's the industry. When you check in, check in on a good day--a day you're feeling like "I get to create so many beautiful things!" and not "They probably hate it anyway." I swear we can feel the difference.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Query letter tip from the agent's side of the inbox: what we remember isn't the plot summary, it's the voice. Let your query sound like your book. And like you. A little personality goes further than a perfect synopsis ever will.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

We had such a wonderful time with you this week! Summer Academy is a highlight of our year. We loved the brilliant things you wrote (and so quickly!) to the prompts, and the way you supported each other. Please be friends. The critique partner, query feedback, and page feedback forums are open!🥰

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Comps aren't a scavenger hunt. You don't need the exact combo of tropes and settings. You need the vibe. Ask yourself: who would love this book, and what else do they love? Start there and the rest gets easier.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

We can't wait! The lovely Linda Camacho (our friend! A great agent!) joins us at 2pm ET for our Summer Academy Workshop. @lindacamacho.bsky.social Join us for 5 agents, 4 days, an agent feedback panel, daily agent sessions, daily workshopping, a craft class + more! summer.manuscriptacademy.com

A book on a beach towel with a starfish and with the words "Summer Academy July 28-31, 2026"

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Even agents know querying is hard! At our YourQueries Live event with agent Melissa Edwards this week, she said: "You're allowed to be a little salty about the process, because the process is complicated and long and opaque and confusing." Permission granted. Now keep going.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Agent Fiona Kenshole's three questions every pitch needs to answer: 1. Why read this? 2. Why now? 3. Why you? If your pitch can't answer all three, it isn't ready yet.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Looking for critique partners? Query feedback swaps? A "my gosh this is hard" support group? We have ~8,200 writers in our free Facebook community who would love to meet you. manuscriptacademy.com/facebook

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Kevin McGarry: Writer to Writer

ALT: Kevin McGarry: Writer to Writer

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Summer querying tip from agent Eric Smith: "If an agency is open to query letters, you should just be pitching them. My inbox gets really quiet in the summertime." 📬

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Your verbal pitch has exactly one job: make the agent curious enough to want your pages. That's it. You don't need to explain your entire plot. Or convincingly perform extroversion. Or impress with flashiness and charm. Just. One. Job. manuscriptacademy.com/how-to-pitch-your-book-introverts

manuscriptacademy.com

How to Pitch Your Book If You're an Introvert | The Manuscript Academy

Pitching your book doesn't have to be terrifying. Learn the exact formulas agents use — plus introvert-friendly ways to practice — so you can walk into any pitch feeling ready.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Picture a rubber ball on the edge of a table. Nothing happens if it falls. Now picture a bowling ball. Now put a baby underneath it. That's the whole idea behind stakes: it's not how dangerous the thing is, it's danger multiplied by how much you'd lose. manuscriptacademy.com/narrative-te...

manuscriptacademy.com

How to Create Tension in a Novel: The Stakes Formula

A literary agent explains why universal likability is a warning sign, not a goal--and why a strong point of view matters more than broad appeal.

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Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

"For most things I've requested, I knew within the first couple sentences." — agent Kelly Van Sant in our #YourQueries Live / #TenQueries style event on how fast agents actually decide

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