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Michelle Witte

@michellewitte.bsky.social
4.2K followers 566 following 3.3K posts

Literary agent with Mansion Street Literary (currently closed to queries) and mental health advocate. I also write craptastic books. She/her. www.michellewitteliterary.com

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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 57m
Yeah, I kinda lost it and posted several threads to respond to rampant misinformation I'm seeing. I don't know if you saw the panic, but I seriously thought some writers were going to head to their bomb shelters. So far it's been okay, but people don't seem to like experts there very much.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 1h
The Bookseller is the main U.K. source of news on book publishing, and is a weekly subscription for the magazine. They have job listings as well. www.thebookseller.com
thebookseller.com
Home
In this week's issue:Lead Story: Paid-for PublishingCountry Focus: WalesBookshop Spotlight: Welsh IndependentsAuthor Profile: Rebecca HumphriesPaperback Preview: July 2022
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 1h
Another one that I forgot about because I mostly check their People Roundup columns to keep tabs on which editors have changed jobs or been hired: Publishing Trends publishingtrends.com They have a free newsletter as well.
publishingtrends.com
Home - Publishing Trends
Publishing Trends is a monthly newsletter that provides news and opinion on the rapidly changing world of book publishing in all its forms.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 1h
Shelf Awareness has a newsletter for publishing professionals and also one for readers. I used to subscribe and read it religiously. I should probably get back in that habit. They have a job board with listings as well. www.shelf-awareness.com
shelf-awareness.com
Shelf Awareness
Welcome to the Web site for Shelf Awareness: Daily Enlightenment for the Book Trade, the free e-mail newsletter dedicated to helping the people in stores, ...
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 1h
Publishers Lunch is the newsletter for subscribers to Publishers Marketplace. It includes deal announcements and a job board. lunch.publishersmarketplace.com
lunch.publishersmarketplace.com
Publishers Lunch
The Publishing Industry's Daily Essential Read
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 1h
michelledwitte Publishers Weekly has several newsletters. Pro newsletter is subscription and covers everything. The Fanatic is free and for comics/SFF/pop culture. I subscribe to the free Children's Bookshelf. Book Life has a free newsletter related to self-publishing. They also have job listings.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 1h
Today over on Threads many writers had a freakout because rumors were going around that publishing is imploding (it's not; Threads just loves drama). But I posted info on a bunch of publishing newsletters that provide actual info for people who want to stay informed, so I'll share those here.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Reminder: I only accept queries via Query Manager. Anyone who emails me directly with a query (whether I’m currently accepting submissions or not) will receive an automatic response directing them to my Query Manager page and informing them that their email will be deleted unread.
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Agathe Chave-Lucas 🇫🇷🇪🇸 @agathechavelucas.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I can't wait to share more about the amazing Sophie Germain (1776-1831), who won a national prize in math at a time when women could not even go to university (& whose name should be added on the Eiffel Tower next year). She was a huge inspiration for me, & I hope she'll be one for others too!
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Then there's the fantasy series starting with THEOREMS OF SHATTERED BRIGHTNESS, set in a word where mathematics is magic, and let me tell you the descriptions of the magic system will blow your mind. It gave me the same feels as watching The Mummy movie for the first time (in the best way).
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I'm so excited that I can finally talk about these incredible books by @agathechavelucas.bsky.social. The first is a YA historical fiction novel-in-verse about the life of mathematician Sophie Germain, who had to fight the social strictures of her time just to be able to study mathematics.
Deal Announcement
THE MANY REVOLUTIONS OF SOPHIE GERMAIN, THEOREMS OF SHATTERED BRIGHTNESS
By Agathe Chave-Lucas
Imprint: Norton Waverly
Agathe Chave-Lucas's THE MANY REVOLUTIONS OF SOPHIE GERMAIN, a historical novel-in-verse set during the French Revolution about the under-recognized woman mathematician who had to fight social strictures just to be able to study math; plus THEOREMS OF SHATTERED BRIGHTNESS and a second book in a fantasy series set in a world where math is magic, to Karen Lotz at Norton Waverly, in a six-figure deal, at auction, in a three-book deal, for publication starting in fall 2027, by Michelle Witte at Mansion Street Literary Management (world).
Children's: Young Adult Fiction
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
It may take longer than you like to get caught up, but if you keep at it, slow but steady, you’ll get there eventually.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Hush for a moment and just listen. Your brain is trying to tell you it’s time to panic, but it’s not true. You don’t have to get everything done right now. Break all of the tasks down into manageable blocks, figure out the priorities, then take it step-by-step.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Heading into the Sunday Scaries I’m feeling extra anxious because I got behind on work after an extended business trip, and then days later coming down with a cold that is overstaying its welcome. This is the pep talk I need (and maybe someone else needs to hear it too):
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I’ll share more details soon, but there’s a teaser near the end of this article about a piece of news I’ve been sitting on for one of my authors for months that we can now share. Congrats to @agathechavelucas.bsky.social for having three books with the new imprint Norton Waverly from @wwnorton.com!
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
That sounds great. Katie is fantastic. And the Query Tracker link will be on at least through the end of the year if not longer, so you don’t need to rush.
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Reposted by Michelle Witte
Amber @theprimrosecorner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Happy #kidlitart postcard day! This is Forrest the Fox and he is so ready for October 🍁 My name is Amber Payne and I am an author + illustrator focused on playful, whimsical and nostalgic stories and illustrations. Currently open to publishing projects!! 📚 Rep'd by @michellewitte.bsky.social
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I'm right there with you Darwin. Stupid cold.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Thanks!
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Thanks. I'm mostly whining because it is now the runny nose stage of cold, which is the worst thing in the world (I may be exaggerating slightly).
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Me today:
static.klipy.com
Messy Fluffy Cat Looks Tired and Groggy
Alt: A cat who has definitely seen better days, with its fur all skewompus.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Me this past week: Oh, this cold isn’t too bad, I’ll be fine once it fades away. GUESS WHO SHOULDA KEPT THEIR DANG MOUTH SHUT AND NOT JINXED EVERYTHING
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The audacity . . . of being so cute.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
WHO does he think he is, stealing my spot?! HOW DARE
Seat thief, aka a brown and white tabby cat looking at the camera like, “What? Do you need something?” while resting in a burgundy recliner.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Of course!
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
And I’m currently cuddling with this guy and getting all the kisses, so THEY should be jealous of ME.
A brown and white tabby cat resting his head on his person’s arm. It’s me, that’s my arm and it’s totally not numb (yet).
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I was not there because I’m still getting over a cold and also did a bunch of traveling earlier this month. I’m not jealous at all because I got to all the good pitches first. SUCKERS.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Someone mentioned this on Threads so it may be helpful to share here as well: A lot of agents were attending the AALA conference in NYC today, so you may see more #DVpit requests in the coming days. So don’t fear if you haven’t gotten any likes yet. It may still be coming. Just bad timing.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I don’t work with romance so I’m not the right fit, but kudos on the great comps.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Either. Whichever you prefer or whatever feels right. (I’m a lot more relaxed about comps in general than a lot of people. Great comps can help, but it doesn’t bother me if they’re not perfect.)
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
*a hint* I need to stop posting while getting ready in the morning.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
(This is a that if you don’t have at least one pitch that is just the protagonist + plot + stakes, there’s still time to write one. I spent hours last night giving people feedback on how to craft pitches if you want to see how it’s done.)
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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 30/09/2026
To creatives thinking of trying out the new Tweet platform: make sure you read through the Terms of Service carefully. User content may be used to train AI and machine-learning models. For those who missed it: www.engadget.com/2251699/new-...
A screenshot of a terms of service excerpt with a section highlighted in blue that reads: "Tweet may also use User Content and related information to develop, train, test, evaluate, and improve artificial intelligence and machine-learning models, algorithms, content-moderation tools, recommendation systems, safety systems, and other data-driven technologies used by or for Tweet." The unhighlighted text immediately following states: "Tweet may engage service providers to assist with these activities, subject to appropriate contractual restrictions and the Privacy Policy."
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I know it’s early, but many pitches I’m seeing in #dvpit don’t include the plot. I’ll come back later, but just as an fyi, I personally don’t ❤️ any pitch that doesn’t mention the plot, or that is only (or even mostly) tropes and vibes. If I don’t know what the plot & stakes are, I’ll scroll past.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I’ll be perusing #DVpit today throughout the day but mostly later in the afternoon. If I like your pitch, submit your query and 10 pages using this link: querytracker.net/query/michel.... I’m mostly looking for projects by POC creators this time for any genre in MG & YA, and cozy SF/F in NA & adult.
querytracker.net
Query Michelle Witte at Mansion Street Literary Management
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Good luck!
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I'm starting to fade, so that's it for me critiquing pitches tonight. But I wish you all the best of luck! I have a busy morning but will stop by #dvpit in the afternoon/evening. Before I start liking pitches I'll post the link to my Query Manager as well as what kinds of things I'll be looking at.
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Veronica Bartles @vbartles.com · 30/09/2026
Yes! My favorite kind of feedback is the type that says "this is what I'm taking away from what you've written here. Is that the impact you intended?" #KidLitChat
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This is exactly the point of offering a critique or feedback: to point out the issue without trying to solve it for the writer. What they'll come up with is much better than anything I can suggest, so my job is to let them know when something isn't working and even more important, why. #kidlitchat
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
If the story is focused on the character and her career, I'd go with a different tone for the pitch. Think of The Time Traveler's Wife, which is about time travel and has stakes, but it focused on their marriage. The stakes and tone of how it is described are different than Doctor Who, for ex.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I don't know if psychometric is the best term to use. None of the definitions I looked up seem to fit what you're describing. Also, the stakes seem rather low for the kind of trouble that can result from messing with time travel. Not just her career/relationship issues, but breaking time itself.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Absolutely. It's nice that they knew you well enough to know how you'd react as well, and be able to take more blunt feedback. Those are the kinds of critique partners to never let go, if you can.
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Greg Pincus @gregpincus.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Good editors or critiquers make me a better writer with their thoughts and notes. It's not that they offer solutions (usually) but they help me understand what will make something better on levels that I'm not reaching. That's what I look for. #kidlitchat
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Yes, you want to be absolutely clear here who is part of the romance, because most readers will assume it's the two humans (based solely on the pitch). Unless it's a dragon shifter, as I know those were popular for a while, but I don't know romance tropes well.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I think the confusion is in how the princess is being referred to in one spot at "her princess." Perhaps a stronger verb here would help: "she has a runaway princess" What does that mean? Did she kidnap the princess? Find her? Can't get rid of the princess? A lot of the action is unclear.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I was a little confused and thought for a second that the princess was the dragon. There aren't any tags, so I'm not sure if this is a romance, but it almost reads as one. Or is the romance between the princess and the sorcerer?
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I always tell writers that I view being an agent as their business partner. We're working together toward the common goal of selling their book (so ideally both making money so we can eat). I don't view it as hiring another person but as a partnership. #kidlitchat
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The thing with pitch contests is that you only have a few seconds to grab an agent/editor's attention, so it has to be clear, concise, and show the important points: 1) the protagonist, 2) the plot, and 3) the stakes and why it matters.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I'm sure the concepts are different. I'm sure some agents will be familiar with it but also some who aren't. Proper nouns in a pitch can potentially limit who understands what it means if they aren't familiar with the concept or place.
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Michelle Witte @michellewitte.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
That first sentence is unclear. What is Ruinview? Pitches need to be easy to understand, so perhaps describe it instead. Proper names can be saved for the query. Also, what are the tiles? Is it literal? Your stakes are here, it's just very confusing what this world is. A game? A city?
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