iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 5h

Aww, thank you Mary Jane!! A lot of people have giggled with us at panels (one of our writers even typed “Specificity!” into the chat because I ask for it so often) but we do think it’s super important!

010

Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

If you're writing a crime thriller, this one is relevant! We didn't list all of the subgenres, but this could also be helpful for cozy mystery, a detective novel, any adjacent or subgenre. See if you like the classes and you can decide from there: genre.manuscriptacademy.com#schedule

genre.manuscriptacademy.com

Manuscript Academy 10th Anniversary Genre Party

Celebrate ten years of Manuscript Academy with horror, thriller, mystery, and suspense craft classes, live agent feedback, and writer community on October 27, 2026.

010

Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Monsters? Fine. Murder mystery? Sure. Querying? Terrifying. 🎃 If you write horror, thriller, mystery, or suspense, join us October 27 to find critique partners, level up your craft, and learn with writers in your genre. Agent classes + feedback panel + workshop forums. genre.manuscriptacademy.com

genre.manuscriptacademy.com

Manuscript Academy 10th Anniversary Genre Party

Celebrate ten years of Manuscript Academy with horror, thriller, mystery, and suspense craft classes, live agent feedback, and writer community on October 27, 2026.

131

Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Struggling with comp titles? You're not alone! Editor Hannah Robinson has a new fomula to help you find yours--even if your book doesn't fit neatly onto one shelf. 📚 Watch, stream or download to go here! podcast.manuscriptacademy.com#comps

A blue and magenta cover that says Comp Titles Don't Have To Be Scary

092

Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

“Be specific” might be the most common query advice--and the hardest to actually follow. Julia Alexandra, author of Midnight on the Celestial, shares the ONE change that got her an agent. If you’ve been getting form rejections, this one’s for you. Stream here: podcast.manuscriptacademy.com#julia

A cover that says "specificity sells: how Julia Alexandra got her agent" over book covers

130

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

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

130

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

152

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.”

071

Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

It sounds like you did the right thing! We think personalization helps—it’s a ton of work, but so too is writing a book!—and pitching agents who like your genre but may be new to it could still be a good fit. You did well! And can’t control how others perceive the market.

000

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

Wow! Well, to be fair, TV and books don't always line up exactly--but a big project "proving" there's a market usually helps!

120

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.

1244

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.

050

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.

030

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

youtu.be

What Actually Happens in an Acquisitions Meeting | Manuscript Academy

YouTube video by The Manuscript Academy, LLC

051

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.

052

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.

050

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.

020

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.

050

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

010

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.

010

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.

020

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

0132

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.

052

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.

030

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!

030

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.

072

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

You're most welcome! Sorry you're going through that--but trust it will feel better (the way it feels so nice when you've just cleaned--organized, airy, everything where you can easily find it) soon!

010

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. 📚

182

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

0103

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

050

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

080

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

030

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.

020

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.

010

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.

020

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.

083

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.

010

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

030

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

It's so painful to get a near-miss rejection! Did you ever hear about "mosting"? It was a term maybe 10 years ago, when people would talk about dates saying how amazing you were--and then ghosting. Imagine a Champagne rejection can feel like that!

010

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?...

youtu.be

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

YouTube video by The Manuscript Academy, LLC

030

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

060

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

050

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

You're welcome! There are so many terms, we know! Here to help. :)

010

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.

040

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

It means comp title--comparative and competitive titles. So if you say "It's BOOK meets BOOK" or "BOOK meets MOVIE," those are your comp titles.

110

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.

030

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.

152

Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Yeah, that sounds strange! I'm sorry. Note that just about any "data" can be reworked into a chart!

000

Manuscript Academy by #MSWL @manuscriptacademy.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Rude that they’d do this! I suppose ignoring, not engaging…but I’m sorry they did that.

100